Encoura Report: Non-'Big Five' Majors Need Clearer Outcomes Data
Boston – September 15, 2026 -- Encoura has published a new analysis showing that academic fields outside higher education's most popular majors are drawing sustained student interest but lack the outcomes visibility needed to compete for enrollment. The Eduventures Admitted Student 2026 Trend Report, titled "Beyond the Big Five: Exploring Majors Outside the Mainstream," draws on more than 42,000 responses collected over three years through Eduventures Admitted Student Research.
Report identifies a 'Next Five' tier of academic fields trailing the dominant majors
The study defines the "Big Five" fields — Biology, Business, Computer Science, Engineering, and Health Professions — as benefiting from clear career pathways and employer pipelines. It identifies a "Next Five" tier — Visual and Performing Arts, Psychology, Education, Social Sciences, and Physical Sciences — as the next most significant area of admitted-student interest.