Can You Get Into a Top University First, Then Transfer Into a More Competitive Major Later?

When students choose a college major, what do you think is the most important factor they consider?

Naturally, the first and most essential factor should be how well the major aligns with their interests and aptitude.

But the second—and in my view, equally critical—factor is the numbers.

Today, I’d like to walk you through some of the data I use when advising students on how to choose their majors. I encourage you to take a look and reflect on how this might inform your own decisions.

Is a College Degree Still Valuable?

These days, there are so many alternative learning pathways outside of traditional universities. Perhaps that's why surveys show that only 25% of people now believe a college degree is “very important.” Another 30% say it’s “somewhat important,” and a striking 40% say it’s “not important at all.”

So 20 or 30 years from now, maybe college won’t be necessary. But as of today, the data still tells a different story.

When we examine economic outcomes, the differences are quite stark. On average, college graduates earn significantly more than those with only a high school diploma. One study even estimates that a bachelor’s degree holder earns over $650,000 more across a 40-year career.

Beyond financial earnings, there are non-economic indicators of life satisfaction. Over 60% of those with a bachelor’s degree say their job is central to their identity. Among those without a college degree, only 38% say the same.

So in both economic and personal terms, data suggests that a college degree still confers higher life satisfaction.

Thinking in Terms of ROI (Return on Investment)

When families think about choosing a major, ROI—Return on Investment—is often top of mind.

Let’s consider the cost of attending college:

Private University (4 years): approx. $166,160
Public University (out-of-state): approx. $116,600
Public University (in-state): approx. $45,040

Now suppose you spend roughly $120,000 on college. If you skip college and instead work right after high school, you might earn a net income (after living costs) of about $80,000 to $100,000 over those four years. So in total, you’re down about $200,000—including tuition and opportunity cost.

That sounds like a loss, right? But it’s not the full picture.

Given the higher post-college earnings, most graduates recoup that loss quickly, often within the first decade of their careers.

But Major Matters—A Lot

Not all degrees yield the same ROI. And this is where the problem lies: the ROI varies dramatically depending on the field of study.

Let’s look at some major categories:

Low ROI: Education
Moderate ROI: Humanities, Social Sciences, Business, Biology
High ROI: Computer Science, Engineering

The gap can be massive. This is why choosing the right major can significantly impact your long-term financial outcome.

It’s no coincidence that just six majors account for over 58% of all students:

Business
Health
Social Sciences & History
Biological Sciences
Psychology
Engineering / Computer Science

Now let’s take Education as an example. Although it provides about $180,000 in additional lifetime income, that’s only about one-third of what some higher-paying majors bring in.

Looking at ROI rankings, we see:

STEM – Highest ROI
Business
Biological Sciences
Humanities
Social Sciences

Admission Rates by Major

Let’s look at UCLA as a case study:

Computer Science acceptance rate: 3.1%
Nursing: 0.8%
English: 51%

There’s a huge difference in selectivity, and it correlates with ROI. The more lucrative the major, the more competitive the admissions process.

So, some students think: “What if I apply to an easier major to get into the school, and then switch later?” It's a valid question, and we’ll examine whether that’s actually possible.

But first, let’s talk about school name value.

Does School Prestige Matter?

Rather than relying on opinion, let’s look at Net Present Value (NPV)—a measure of how much more income a graduate earns over 40 years, minus the cost of education.

According to a study by Georgetown University, top schools like Stanford, Harvard, MIT, UPenn, UC Berkeley, and University of Michigan all score high on NPV.

In simple terms: Yes, attending a more prestigious university often leads to higher lifetime earnings.

Types of Majors by “Specificity”

Let’s divide majors into three categories based on vocational specificity:

1. High-Specificity Majors

Examples: Engineering, Nursing, Aerospace, Electrical, Computer Science, Chemical Engineering
Characteristics:
- High starting salaries
- Low unemployment
- Low underemployment (meaning graduates usually work in jobs relevant to their major)

These degrees often serve as direct credentials for employment.

2. Low-Specificity Majors

Examples: Philosophy, Art History, Theater, Fine Arts, Humanities
Characteristics:
- Higher unemployment
- High underemployment

For example:

Art History unemployment rate: 8.0%
Humanities: 7.9%
(compared to the national college grad average of ~4%)

Again, this isn’t to diminish these majors—it’s just what the data shows.

3. Medium-Specificity Majors

Examples: Business Administration, Marketing, Finance
Characteristics:
- Wide variation in outcomes
- Some graduates earn very high salaries, others far less
- Low unemployment but high underemployment

Career Stability vs. Salary

Let’s talk about job stability and salary across majors.

Some majors offer:

High job security but low salary:
- e.g., Elementary Education, Special Education

Others provide:

High security and high salary:
- e.g., Aerospace Engineering, Chemical Engineering

Some fields offer neither:

Low security and low salary:
- e.g., Criminal Justice, Anthropology

This is where students start to think: “Can I enter with an easier major, and transfer to a better one later?”

The answer depends on the college’s internal structure and policies.

Can You Transfer Into a Competitive Major Later?

Let’s classify universities into three models when it comes to major flexibility:

• The Explorer Model

Examples: Brown, Caltech

Highly flexible.
Students explore broadly in their first 1–2 years.
Major declaration happens late.
You don’t apply to a specific major—so “gaming” the system (like applying to English because it’s easier) doesn’t really work.

• The Specialist Model

Examples: Carnegie Mellon, Georgia Tech, some UC programs

Students apply directly into a specific school or major.
Changing majors is difficult, often requiring a formal internal transfer process with high competition.
In some cases, it’s nearly impossible.

• The Hybrid Model

Examples: Cornell, UPenn, Duke, U Michigan, Princeton

Most colleges fall into this category.
You apply to a college within the university (e.g., College of Arts & Sciences).
Changing majors within the same college is relatively easy.
Changing colleges (e.g., from Arts & Sciences to Engineering) requires internal transfer, which is much harder.

For example, at Princeton, major changes within the same school are very common, making it a more flexible Hybrid Model.

By contrast, at UPenn or Cornell, internal transfers across colleges are competitive and not guaranteed.

Final Summary

So where does this leave us?

If a student selects a high-specificity major:

They enjoy low unemployment, low underemployment, and higher salary.
Choosing a strong school and the right major amplifies outcomes.

But if the goal is to “get in first, then switch,” you need to know the model of the school:

Explorer: Very flexible; strategy may work
Specialist: Not flexible; strategy likely won’t work
Hybrid: Depends on the school; case-by-case

When helping our students apply, we look at all these factors. Sometimes it’s better to aim for a slightly lower-ranked school in order to secure the right major. Other times, getting into a top-tier university first, then strategizing about a future major change, makes sense.

So here’s the key question I often get from families:

"Should my child get into the best school possible, then try to transfer to a better major?
Or should they aim for a less competitive school but start with their preferred major?"

There is no one-size-fits-all answer.
Use the data. Know the models. Make a strategic decision.

Thank you.