Choosing a college major is perhaps one of the most crucial decisions we make in our life – a decision that shapes our future as professionals. However, it is also amongst the most difficult decisions which usually depend on a variety of factors that change from time to time.

If you are at a stage in life when the decision is looming large over you, then help is just around the corner. We have short-listed a few college majors that offer promising job prospects and growth opportunities in the coming years.

These college majors are handpicked from a range of healthcare, information technology, and business degree programs, based on the U.S. Department of Labor’s projection of much faster than average growth for these occupations.

So, here are some of the popular college majors that are likely to offer the best career prospects in the next few years.

College Major: Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting

Profession: Accountant

Career Path: Accountants are the custodians of an individual or a company’s financial health. Depending on their job profile, they are responsible for preparing financial records, perform internal audits, tax planning, etc. The role of an accountant has now become much wider in scope than mere bookkeeping or auditing. They have the all important job of giving financial and investment advice to individuals and companies. In fact, accountants are among the first people companies consult when making important financial decisions.

Employment Opportunities: Accountants may be employed with public accounting firms, small businesses, large multinational corporations, banks, nonprofit organizations, or federal agencies. A lot of accountants choose to work independently and are self-employed.

Earning Potential: $59,430 per annum*

College Major: Bachelor’s Degree in Respiratory Therapy

Profession: Respiratory Therapist

Career Path: The core job of a respiratory therapist (RT) involves diagnosing, treating, and caring for patients with breathing or other cardiopulmonary disorders. According to the American Association for Respiratory Care, an RT’s day to day work includes interviewing patients and conducting physical examinations to determine the best course of treatment, managing ventilators and artificial airway devices for patients, educating patients and their families about lung diseases, etc.

Employment Opportunities: The majority of respiratory therapists work in the anesthesiology, respiratory care, or pulmonary departments; newborn and pediatric division; emergency room; and intensive care units of big hospitals. Some RTs work at doctors’ offices, home healthcare services, nursing care facilities, rehabilitation centers, respiratory equipment rental firms, etc.

Earning Potential: $52,200 per annum**

College Major: Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science

Profession: Software Engineer

Career Path: One of the most popular computer degree programs, a bachelor’s degree in computer science is the preferred education qualification for software engineering positions. Software engineers use their extensive knowledge of computing theory to design, develop, test, and evaluate different types of software applications per users’ needs. They create algorithms, which are later converted into a series of logical instructions or code by programmers who make computers perform specific tasks.

Employment Opportunities: Computer software engineers work in a variety of industries ranging from IT firms, telecommunications, and electronic equipment manufacturers to media, financial institutions, and federal agencies. Some software engineers also work as consultants.

Earning Potential: $85,430 per annum***

*Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2010-11 Edition, Accountants and Auditors

**Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2010-11 Edition, Respiratory Therapists

***Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2010-11 Edition, Computer Software Engineers and Computer Programmers