Which degrees hold up against AI? The 2026 jobs data

In the 2026 data, health care and degree-level computing jobs are still projected to grow: the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects nurse practitioner jobs to grow 41% and data scientist jobs 34.6% from 2025 to 2035. Source · BLS Employment Projections

Most Americans still expect AI to cost jobs: 71% say it will lead to fewer jobs in the U.S. over the next 20 years, up from 64% in 2024. Source · Pew Research, Aug. 18, 2026

Students are already moving. In spring 2026, undergraduate enrollment in health professions grew 6.0% to 7.1%, while computer science fell 8.4% to 11.2%. Source · National Student Clearinghouse The job projections are more mixed than “avoid tech,” and nobody can say for sure which jobs AI will change most.

Worry about AI is rising, especially among young adults

52% of Americans say they’re more concerned than excited about AI in daily life, up from 37% in 2021. For the first time, a majority of adults under 30, 55%, say the same. Source · Pew Research

Only 5% expect AI to lead to more jobs over the next 20 years. That worry is showing up in what people choose to study.

Students are moving toward health care

For the third year in a row, health professions enrollment rose at every credential level and type of school. At four-year schools it passed one million students, reaching 1.05 million. Source · National Student Clearinghouse

Field	Change
Health professions, all school types	+6.0% to +7.1%
Computer and information sciences, four-year schools	−8.4%
Computer and information sciences, mostly associate-granting schools	−9.3%
Computer and information sciences, two-year schools	−11.2%

Field Health professions, all school types

Change +6.0% to +7.1%

Field Computer and information sciences, four-year schools

Change −8.4%

Field Computer and information sciences, mostly associate-granting schools

Change −9.3%

Field Computer and information sciences, two-year schools

Change −11.2%

Health professions and engineering added the most four-year students: about 61,000 and 41,000. The Clearinghouse reads the computer science drop as growth leveling off after earlier years of fast gains.

Projected job growth splits inside computing

BLSBLS, Bureau of Labor Statistics. The U.S. Department of Labor agency that publishes pay and job outlook figures for each occupation. projections for 2025 to 2035 don’t show computing in decline across the board. Degree-level jobs like data scientists and information security analysts are projected to grow fast. The jobs projected to shrink are support and administration roles. Source · BLS Employment Projections

Job	Field	Typical entry education	Growth, 2025-35	Openings a year	Median pay
Nurse practitioners	Health	Master's degree	41%	29,400	$132,300
Data scientists	Computing	Bachelor's degree	34.6%	24,800	$120,230
Medical and health services managers	Health	Bachelor's degree	24.2%	62,300	$123,860
Physician assistants	Health	Master's degree	21.1%	11,500	$135,880
Information security analysts	Computing	Bachelor's degree	21%	14,100	$129,180
Software developers	Computing	Bachelor's degree	10.2%	95,300	$135,980
Registered nurses	Health	Bachelor's degree	5.6%	180,800	$97,550
Computer network support specialists	Computing	Associate's degree	1.2%	9,000	$76,220
Computer user support specialists	Computing	Some college, no degree	-3.5%	39,700	$61,860
Network and computer systems administrators	Computing	Bachelor's degree	-4.1%	13,400	$99,130

Job Nurse practitioners

Field Health

Typical entry education Master's degree

Growth, 2025-35 41%

Openings a year 29,400

Median pay $132,300

Job Data scientists

Field Computing

Typical entry education Bachelor's degree

Growth, 2025-35 34.6%

Openings a year 24,800

Median pay $120,230

Job Medical and health services managers

Field Health

Typical entry education Bachelor's degree

Growth, 2025-35 24.2%

Openings a year 62,300

Median pay $123,860

Job Physician assistants

Field Health

Typical entry education Master's degree

Growth, 2025-35 21.1%

Openings a year 11,500

Median pay $135,880

Job Information security analysts

Field Computing

Typical entry education Bachelor's degree

Growth, 2025-35 21%

Openings a year 14,100

Median pay $129,180

Job Software developers

Field Computing

Typical entry education Bachelor's degree

Growth, 2025-35 10.2%

Openings a year 95,300

Median pay $135,980

Job Registered nurses

Field Health

Typical entry education Bachelor's degree

Growth, 2025-35 5.6%

Openings a year 180,800

Median pay $97,550

Job Computer network support specialists

Field Computing

Typical entry education Associate's degree

Growth, 2025-35 1.2%

Openings a year 9,000

Median pay $76,220

Job Computer user support specialists

Field Computing

Typical entry education Some college, no degree

Growth, 2025-35 -3.5%

Openings a year 39,700

Median pay $61,860

Job Network and computer systems administrators

Field Computing

Typical entry education Bachelor's degree

Growth, 2025-35 -4.1%

Openings a year 13,400

Median pay $99,130

Four checks before you choose a degree

• Look at the job, not the label. “Computing” covers fast-growing and shrinking jobs alike. Check the specific job a program leads to.
• Weigh openings with growth. A large field with steady growth can offer more openings than a small field growing fast.
• Expect in-person training in health care. BLS notes that all nursing programs include supervised clinical experience, so expect in-person hours even if classes are online. Source · BLS, Registered nurses
• Check the payback. Pay and cost decide whether a degree is worth it for you.

Frequently asked questions

Is computer science still worth studying?

BLS still projects strong growth for software developers (10.2%) and data scientists (34.6%). The drop in enrollment is a shift in student choices, not a BLS projection.

Which health care jobs can I start with a degree online?

Health administration, RN-to-BSN completion and some graduate nursing programs offer online classes. Our guide to health care careers you can start online covers what’s online and what isn’t.

Your next step is a field that fits you

Demand is one half of the decision. Degree Match points you to a field that fits the work you like, with its BLS pay. The ROI Calculator then shows how long that program takes to pay back for you.