Public Preference for Vocational Majors

A current YouGov survey finds most Americans think majors tied to direct job outcomes — nursing (62%), engineering (58%), and computer science (57%) — are 'very good' decisions for students entering college today. Differences by gender, age and party show women tilt toward health and social fields while men and Republicans skew to engineering, CS and finance, and younger adults show more interest in psychology and the arts. — If the public sees college primarily as vocational preparation, expect political pressure on universities, funding priorities, admissions messaging, and curricula to tilt toward applied STEM and health programs rather than broad liberal‑arts offerings.