Otterbein’s top fields are business administration, nursing, allied health, education, and communication and media studies, but the national job market may not have the careers to support them.
While Science, technology, engineering, and math (commonly referred to as STEM) are the leading fields of employment in the current economy, admission statistics have shown they are not the common choices among students at Otterbein.
Otterbein’s administration has attempted to shift its focus toward STEM in light of the national trend. The Otterbein senate approved a new engineering department next year which will feature three majors.
Although Otterbein is attempting to focus on its STEM programs, many students will stay in their desired majors regardless of the economic uncertainty. Junior communications major Matt Cole said, “I stay in the 'comm' department because I love everything I’m doing and feel supported in it.”
The vast majority of students at Otterbein are not in STEM majors. Out of the largest departments at Otterbein, none of them are considered true STEM fields.
While some may consider nursing to be a STEM field, many define STEM as fields of research and not treatment.
Education and allied health are top majors at Otterbein but have been shown to be some of the worst paying majors after graduation.
English education major Carl Wiencek said he wasn’t concerned about the low pay. “If you’re going to be an educator, you’re definitely not doing it for the financial prestige.”
While the top majors at Otterbein may not be the highest earning ones, Otterbein’s post-graduation employment rates are in line with the national average-- roughly 63 percent.
