Computer Science Overtakes Accounting as Major With Top Offer Rate for the Class of 2011

More than 56 percent of computer science majors who have applied for a job have received an offer making it the major with the highest offer rate from the Class of 2011, according to results of a new survey conducted by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE).

This is the first time since 2008, when NACE began tracking offer rates its annual Student Survey, that computer science majors have topped the list. In previous surveys, accounting majors had the highest offer rate. In NACE’s 2011 Student Survey, however, accounting majors came in second, with 53.8 percent of those who have applied for jobs receiving offers.  

“The difference between the two majors is that the offer rate for computer science majors has increased 13.8 percentage points this year, while the offer rate for accounting majors is up 8.3 percentage points,” says Marilyn Mackes, NACE executive director.  

Meanwhile, economics (50.9 percent offer rate) and engineering (50 percent) majors also saw strong offer rates. Conversely, education (19.5 percent), English (23.5 percent), and healthcare (28.7 percent) had weak offer rates. The offer rates for all of these majors dropped from last year; healthcare (-8.4 percentage points) saw the biggest decline followed by English (-5.6 percentage points) and education (-2.8 percentage points).

Overall, job offers are up. This year, 41.2 percent of the members of the current class who applied for a job have received at least one offer, compared with 38.2 percent of the Class of 2010 at this time last year.