Gender Differences in the College Major Selection Process

This study examines gender differences in the college major selection process by evaluating how six influence categories and 18 factors impact the process. Rising sophomores at U.S. colleges (N=150) identified their top major choices and estimated the corresponding median salaries. After the actual salary data were reviewed, 46% of the respondents changed their selections. The respondents ranked six influence categories: personal interest, intrinsic major characteristics, major-related information, family, college, and high school factors. They rated 18 specific factors—including salary data, social media, YouTube, and family members—on a 5-point Likert scale. The findings revealed that the popularity of the major, books and websites in the traditional media category, YouTube and social media in general, and the influence of grandparents are more important to men than women. A probit regression model confirmed that Bankrate salary data significantly predict major-switching likelihood postintervention. A linear regression model identified personal interest, intrinsic major characteristics, salary data, YouTube, and books as significant predictors of actual median salary estimates. Forty-eight percent of women developed interest in their major by their sophomore year in high school, whereas 29% of men did.