Right behind CS in popularity is Human Biology, pulling in about 15% of undergrads. This is the Swiss Army knife of majors—it covers everything from genetics to public health to bioethics. If you’re pre-med but also love a good debate about healthcare inequality, this is your jam.
The vibe here is different: less startup hustle, more “I cried during my anatomy class but I’m still going to med school.” (Spoiler: Stanford students cry in the library—it’s essentially a tradition.) It’s a major that attracts the type of person who volunteers at clinics on weekends and somehow still has time to run a student-run nonprofit.
Economics: The Sleeper Hit for Future Dictators of the World
Okay, that subtitle is dramatic, but Stanford’s Economics department is no joke. Roughly 12% of students enroll, making it a strong third-place contender. It’s the go-to for anyone who wants to sound smart at dinner parties: “I’m studying behavioral economics—it’s basically psychology with graphs.”
What’s ironic is that many Econ majors later pivot to consulting or finance, then secretly miss the freedom of writing long papers about “rational irrationality.” One grad told me, “I spent four years learning why people make bad financial decisions, then immediately made one by moving to San Francisco.” Relatable.
Stanford Bachelor's Degrees by Major : r/stanford
