What Does Best Colleges by Major Mean?
A ranking of colleges by major asks a narrower question than an overall ranking: which colleges give an undergraduate the best education in one field. The answer depends on things an overall ranking does not measure, such as whether undergraduates join faculty research, whether the major ends in a thesis or capstone, how students are admitted to the major, and whether the department offers the degree at all.
That is why the same university can be the right choice for one major and a poor fit for another. Harvard, Columbia, and Chicago offer no major named international relations, Yale and Princeton have no journalism major, and Princeton teaches creative writing only as a minor. Each of our guides says so plainly, because a family building a list needs to know what a degree actually requires.
Which Major Guides Has Oriel Admissions Published?
The table below lists every guide in the series, grouped by field, with what each guide compares and one question it answers. The 18 guides published in October 2026 each compare about 30 programs and include a section on what admissions officers look for in applicants to that major.
| Major guide | What the guide compares | One question it answers | Field |
|---|---|---|---|
| Biology | Undergraduate research, honors theses, and general versus specialized life science majors | Should you major in biology or a more specialized life science? | Sciences and math |
| Neuroscience | Stand-alone neuroscience departments versus interdisciplinary programs, and research access | Is neuroscience its own department or an interdisciplinary program? | Sciences and math |
| Chemistry | ACS-certified degrees, undergraduate research, and honors | Should a student major in chemistry or biochemistry? | Sciences and math |
| Physics | Advanced labs, required research, and senior theses | What is the difference between physics, applied physics, and engineering physics? | Sciences and math |
| Astronomy and astrophysics | Telescope access and astrophysics tracks inside physics | What is the difference between an astronomy and an astrophysics major? | Sciences and math |
| Math | Proof-based honors courses, summer research, and Putnam results | Which colleges do best on the Putnam Competition? | Sciences and math |
| Environmental science | Field stations, internships, and capstones | What is the difference between environmental science and environmental studies? | Sciences and math |
| Marine biology | Coastal field stations, marine labs, and field courses | Should you major in marine biology or in biology? | Sciences and math |
| Psychology | Research labs, thesis rules, and BA versus BS degrees | Is psychology a capped or impacted major anywhere? | Social sciences |
| Economics | Math requirements, thesis paths, and STEM designation | Should a student study economics or business? | Social sciences |
| Political science | Research, Washington, DC programs, and senior theses | Which colleges offer the best Washington, DC programs for political science? | Social sciences |
| International relations | Language requirements, study abroad, and schools of foreign service | Do Harvard, Columbia, and Chicago offer an international relations major? | Social sciences |
| English and creative writing | Creative writing majors, workshop access, and senior manuscripts | Which colleges offer a full creative writing major? | Humanities |
| History | Thesis length, archives, and honors rules | Is history a good major for law school? | Humanities |
| Philosophy | Logic requirements, senior theses, and PPE majors | Do philosophy majors do well on the LSAT? | Humanities |
| Pre-med | Medical school outcomes, advising, and early clinical experience | Does it matter where you go to college for pre-med? | Professional paths |
| Pre-law | Law school results, advising, and six-year law degree paths | What should a pre-law student major in? | Professional paths |
| Business | Undergraduate business schools and career placement | Which business program has the best career placement? | Professional paths |
| Engineering | Engineering schools, competitive specialties, and value | What specialties are most competitive in engineering? | Professional paths |
| Computer science | Computer science programs and admission by major | Does being a CS major make it harder to get in? | Professional paths |
| Artificial intelligence | AI majors and AI taught inside computer science degrees | How do students get into an AI major at each college? | Professional paths |
| Architecture | Five-year B.Arch programs, four-year degrees, and direct admission | What is the difference between a B.Arch and a BA or BS in architecture? | Professional paths |
| Journalism | Professional student newsrooms, ACEJMC accreditation, and journalism at colleges without the major | Do Harvard, Yale, Princeton, and Stanford have journalism majors? | Professional paths |
How Does Oriel Admissions Judge an Undergraduate Program?
The 18 newest guides use the same method, so a student comparing two majors is comparing like with like.
- The degree as the university names it. A BS in Mathematics, a Creative Writing Concentration inside English, and a Global Studies BA are different degrees, and the tables say which one each school offers.
- One concrete feature from the university. Each row gives a requirement or program taken from the university’s own catalog or department pages, such as a required thesis, an advanced lab, a field station, or a language requirement.
- How students enter the major. The guides flag majors that admit by application after enrollment, majors that are capped, and programs that admit freshmen directly.
- Research and capstones. Undergraduate research, senior theses, and capstone projects show whether students finish with original work.
- Primary sources only. Field-wide figures come from federal and professional sources such as the National Center for Education Statistics and the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and claims such as first or oldest are attributed to the university that makes them.
What Do the Selectivity Labels in Each Guide Mean?
The tables in the newest guides label each school Most selective, Highly selective, Selective, or Less selective. The labels describe how hard the university is to get into overall, based on its published undergraduate admission rate, so a student can see at a glance which schools are reaches, targets, and likely admits for their profile. They are groupings, not rankings within the major.
Wherever a school name is linked, the link leads to our analysis of that university’s acceptance rate or admissions process with the current figures. Admission rates for every college are also published by the federal government on College Navigator.
Does Your Intended Major Change Your Chances of Admission?
At some universities, yes. Schools that admit students to a specific college or major, such as engineering, computer science, nursing, or architecture programs, often have very different admission rates by major. Our guide to college acceptance rates by major explains which schools admit by major and which do not, and our guide to intended major strategy explains how to choose the major listed on the application.
Even where the major does not change the odds, it shapes how the application reads. A student who lists physics should show the most advanced mathematics available, and a student who lists English should show a body of polished writing. Each major guide ends with what admissions officers look for in that applicant.
How Should a Student Use These Guides to Build a College List?
- Start with the major, then the school. Read the guide for the intended major first and note which schools offer the exact degree the student wants.
- Read the requirement column. A required thesis, a capped major, or a language requirement can matter more than the school name.
- Balance the selectivity labels. Every list needs schools from more than one selectivity group.
- Compare neighboring majors. Biology, neuroscience, and chemistry overlap, as do political science, international relations, and economics, so read the guides side by side.
- Check how to switch majors. Many students change majors, so look at how hard it is to move into or out of the major at each school.
Which Guides Fit a Student Who Has Not Chosen a Major?
Students who are still deciding should read two or three guides in fields they enjoy and compare the requirements, because the differences in coursework and research often settle the question. Liberal arts colleges let students explore before declaring, and our guide to liberal arts colleges versus research universities explains the trade-offs. Students drawn to medicine or law can start with the pre-med and pre-law guides, which explain why neither is a major.
Oriel Admissions builds college lists with students starting in 9th or 10th grade, using these guides to match the student’s intended major to the schools where that major is strongest, and to plan the coursework, summer programs, and independent work that admissions officers in that field expect.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Best Colleges by Major
It depends on the major. A university that is strong for one field may not offer another as a major at all. Oriel Admissions publishes separate guides for 23 majors, and the 18 newest each compare about 30 programs by degree, requirements, and selectivity.
Biology, neuroscience, chemistry, physics, astronomy, math, environmental science, marine biology, psychology, economics, political science, international relations, English and creative writing, history, philosophy, pre-med, pre-law, business, engineering, computer science, artificial intelligence, architecture, and journalism.
The newest guides include highly selective private universities, public universities, liberal arts colleges, and strong programs that admit a larger share of applicants. Every row gives the degree as the university names it and one concrete requirement or feature from the university itself.
Most selective, Highly selective, Selective, and Less selective group schools by how hard they are to get into overall, based on published undergraduate admission rates. They help a student balance a list and are not rankings within the major.
At universities that admit by college or major, it can. Engineering, computer science, nursing, and architecture programs often have different admission rates from the rest of the university. Elsewhere the major mainly shapes how the application reads.
Both matter, but the major decides what the student will actually study. A student should confirm that each school offers the exact degree they want, with the research, thesis, or field experience they need, before weighing reputation.
Read the guides for two or three fields the student enjoys and compare the requirements. Liberal arts colleges and universities that admit students without a major make it easier to explore before declaring.
Oriel Admissions builds college lists with students starting in 9th or 10th grade, matching the intended major to the schools where it is strongest and planning the coursework and activities that admissions officers in that field expect.
Sources: NCES College Navigator, NCES Digest of Education Statistics, BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
About Oriel Admissions
Oriel Admissions is a Princeton-based college admissions consulting firm advising families nationwide on elite university admissions strategy. Our team brings deep expertise across every dimension of the application, and our distinctive 360 approach develops strategy, positioning, activities, essays, and interviews as one coherent whole. To discuss your family’s admissions strategy, schedule a consultation.
