Students are taking a more careful approach to their higher education amid the questionable economy and new policies by the Trump administration cracking down on student loan relief.

More Americans are earning double majors due to fears one degree won’t be enough to make it in the job market and fears that their student loans will be harder to repay in the future.

“There's certainly more anxiety about taking out student loans, as well as choosing majors — many students feel pressure to choose a major that will 'pay off,” said Katie Wood, lending expert at Nerd Wallet.

A Hechinger Report analyzing federal data found substantial increases at some schools in double majors from 2014 to 2024. In the 2023-2024 school year, 12 percent of graduates had a double major, compared to 6 percent back in 2014.

Drexel University had the biggest jump in double majors, a 591 percent increase, with Harvard University following at 334 percent and Belmont University at 317 percent.

“It reflects a strategic mindset — students are pairing passion with practicality. We’re seeing combinations like psychology and data analytics or English and marketing. That said, a double major can also mean higher tuition or extra semesters, so it’s important to weigh the return on investment,” said Ken Ruggiero, CEO of Ascent, a college and loan planning company.

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