What degree is most in demand right now? Top choices for 2025 jobs

When you hear someone say, "Get a degree," they’re usually thinking of a path that leads to a job-not just a piece of paper. But not all degrees are created equal when it comes to getting hired. In 2025, the job market isn’t just looking for graduates. It’s looking for people who can solve real problems with tech, data, and systems that businesses actually use. So what degree is most in demand? The answer isn’t what you might expect from 10 years ago.

Health Informatics is pulling ahead

It’s not nursing. It’s not medicine. It’s health informatics. This degree blends healthcare knowledge with data systems, coding, and patient record management. Hospitals, insurance companies, and even telehealth platforms are scrambling to hire people who can make sense of electronic health records, automate billing, and spot trends in patient outcomes using software tools like Epic and Cerner. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts a 16% growth in health informatics roles by 2030-faster than almost any other field. And you don’t need to be a doctor to get in. Many online programs let you start with a bachelor’s in biology, IT, or even business, then specialize in healthcare data.

One graduate from the University of Florida’s online program went from working in a clinic’s front office to managing a team that redesigned how 200,000 patient records were stored and accessed. Her salary jumped from $42,000 to $78,000 in two years. That’s not an outlier. It’s becoming the norm.

Data science and analytics still lead the pack

If you’ve heard one degree is "in demand," it’s probably data science. And for good reason. Every company-from grocery chains to ride-share apps-now runs on data. But the people who can turn raw numbers into decisions are still in short supply. A degree in data science teaches you how to clean messy datasets, build predictive models, and use tools like Python, SQL, and Tableau. It’s not just about math. It’s about asking the right questions.

Companies aren’t hiring PhDs anymore. They’re hiring bootcamp grads with online degrees from institutions like Coursera, edX, or Southern New Hampshire University who can show a portfolio of real projects. One hiring manager at a fintech startup in London told me they’ve hired 17 people in the last year with online data science certificates. None had traditional degrees. All had GitHub profiles with clean code and clear explanations of what they built.

Cybersecurity is no longer optional

Every week, another company gets hacked. Small businesses. Schools. Local governments. The cost of a single breach? On average, $4.45 million in 2025, according to IBM. That’s why cybersecurity degrees are exploding. But here’s the twist: you don’t need a computer science degree to get in. Many employers now accept certifications like CompTIA Security+ or CISSP paired with an associate’s or bachelor’s in IT, information systems, or even criminal justice.

Online programs from institutions like Arizona State University and Liberty University offer hands-on labs where students simulate ransomware attacks, set up firewalls, and audit network traffic. Graduates are landing jobs as security analysts at hospitals, banks, and even local police departments. One student from a rural community in Ohio completed her degree while working nights at a call center. Within six months of graduating, she was hired by a regional healthcare provider to monitor their network 24/7. Her starting salary? $68,000.

Project management is the quiet winner

It’s not flashy. It doesn’t involve coding. But every tech team, every marketing campaign, every product launch needs someone to keep it on track. That’s where project management comes in. The Project Management Institute reports that by 2027, organizations will need nearly 90 million project management roles globally. And most of those don’t require engineering degrees.

Online degrees in project management-like those from Penn State or the University of Maryland-teach you how to use tools like Asana, Jira, and Microsoft Project. They teach you how to write clear scope documents, manage budgets, and lead teams across time zones. A former retail manager in Manchester got her online degree while raising two kids. Within a year, she was managing a team of 12 developers building a new app for her company. Her pay went up 50%.

What about computer science? Still worth it?

Yes-but only if you’re willing to specialize. A general computer science degree is still valuable, but it’s no longer enough. Employers want people who can code in specific contexts: cloud infrastructure (AWS, Azure), mobile apps (Swift, Kotlin), or AI systems. If you’re getting a CS degree online, pair it with a specialization. Take extra courses in cloud security, DevOps, or machine learning. Build something public. Contribute to open-source projects. Without those, you’re competing with thousands of other grads who have the same diploma.

One student from Georgia Tech’s online CS program didn’t just take classes-he built a tool that automated invoice processing for small businesses. He posted it on GitHub. A startup in Berlin found it. They hired him before he even graduated.

Degrees that are losing steam

Let’s be honest: some degrees still get handed out in huge numbers-but the jobs aren’t following. General business administration? Too broad. Communications? Too many applicants for too few roles. English literature? Great for critical thinking, but unless you pair it with digital skills, you’ll struggle to find entry-level work.

Employers aren’t rejecting these degrees. They’re just not hiring for them anymore. If you have one of these, don’t panic. But do something about it. Add a certification in digital marketing, learn Excel at an advanced level, or take a course in UX research. The degree is your foundation. The skills are your ladder.

What you need to do right now

Here’s the simple checklist if you’re thinking about going back to school:

1. Look at job postings-not just in big cities, but in your area. What skills are they asking for? If you see "Python," "SQL," "AWS," or "Jira" repeatedly, that’s your signal.
2. Find an online program that offers hands-on projects, not just lectures. Check if they have career services that connect you with employers.
3. Build something-even if it’s small. A website. A dashboard. A spreadsheet that automates a task. Put it online. People hire based on what you’ve done, not what you studied.
4. Get certified along the way. A degree takes years. A Google Data Analytics Certificate takes six months. You can stack them.

There’s no single "best" degree anymore. There’s only the one that matches the skills companies are paying for. The most in-demand degree in 2025 isn’t about prestige. It’s about practicality. It’s about solving problems that actually matter.

Real stories, real results

A 32-year-old single mom in Birmingham finished her online degree in health informatics while working part-time at a pharmacy. She now manages data for a regional hospital system. Her kids are in college. She’s debt-free. She didn’t change careers. She upgraded it.

A 24-year-old in Leeds dropped out of a traditional university after two years. He took a 12-month online cybersecurity bootcamp. He got hired by a cybersecurity firm that serves local schools. He’s now training other new hires.

These aren’t rare exceptions. They’re the new normal.

What to do next

Don’t wait for the perfect program. Start with one course. Pick a skill that shows up in five job postings you’re interested in. Enroll in a free or low-cost class on Coursera or edX. Finish it. Build something small. Then go from there. The job market isn’t waiting for you to have everything figured out. It’s waiting for you to take the first step.