Students are finding top majors through trending professions and the pedigree of local college programs.

Topping the list for Slippery Rock University is exercise science.

According to Amanda Yale, chief enrollment management officer, the exercise science program has seen a boom because of the degree's versatility.

Students who graduate with bachelor's degrees in exercise science can roll that education into a number of different graduate programs that can shape their future.

Students could move into physical therapy, physician assistant, occupational therapy and athletic training graduate programs, among others in the medical field.

“Any health programs leading into graduate programs are growing right now,” Yale said.

Another top major at SRU is one not found at many other colleges.

Yale said the university's safety management program already boasts a large population of students, but it has even more potential for growth with the finished remodeling of the Strain Safety Building.

The building underwent a $7.5 million major renovation and reopened in September.

“There's a very strong market demand, and that's the reason for the investment in the safety management building,” Yale said.

Special education is another field with high demand, according to Yale, adding that a dual major in early childhood development helps diversify the degree.

The dual major combination ranks third on SRU's list of top enrolled majors.

Yale said both undergraduate and graduate levels of the program are growing at SRU.

“The baby boomers who are retiring are making space for teachers who are now graduating,” Yale said.

Butler County Community College has its own niche in areas of study.

Exploratory studies came in at the top of the list, but Morgan Rizzardi, associate director of admissions for BC3, said this makes sense.

Rizzardi said colleges seldom identify students as undecided anymore because when they enter exploratory studies, they are exploring the possibilities of their future by taking a variety and array of classes.

She said this major also incorporates students who might be taking a specific set of courses that don't fit into a BC3-offered major but will transfer into a four-year degree elsewhere.

Beyond general studies, BC3's top majors are in areas for which the school has become known, especially in business degrees.

Both business administration and business management majors also made it into BC3's top-five enrollment by major.

Rizzardi said business administration is a program focused on helping students transfer to another institution.

“It's designed with that in mind. Students (who) know they want to go into finance, or accounting or marketing,” she said. “They're all drawn to business administration because of the flexibility it has to transfer.”

Rizzardi said SRU's business management program also offers students a chance to find higher paying management-level positions in the business world. She said students could vary from recent high school graduates to those already working full time who are looking to take a step up the ladder.

“There are so many different avenues that students recognize in the business field,” Rizzardi said.

Coming in between the two business majors was nursing with more than 140 students enrolled.

“There's definitely a need for registered nurses in our service area,” Rizzardi said.

While it may be third on the top-five list, Rizzardi said BC3 takes great pride in its nursing program, and employers are taking notice.

“When people think of BC3, they think of our nursing program and the quality and standards we uphold,” Rizzardi said.

Rizzardi said BC3 has its top majors that stand out, but there are plenty of majors that are growing, even though they don't have numbers in the triple digits.

She said BC3 offers a place for people to grow, and it offers a chance for fields to grow.

<b>Butler County Community College</b>1. General studies: 7682. Business administration: 1773. Nursing, RN: 1454. Business management: 1015. Psychology: 99<b>Slippery Rock University</b>1. Exercise science: 6452. Safety management: 4793. Early childhood/special education (PK-8): 4674. Exploratory: 3595. Psychology: 341<b>Clarion university</b>1. Library science (master’s): 3392. Nursing, four year: 3143. Speech pathology and audiology: 1684. Biology: 1645. Management: 158<b>Grove City College*</B>1. Mechanical engineering2. Computer science3. Accounting4. Biology/health5. Exercise science<b>Indiana University of Pennsylvania</b>1. Business, management, marketing, and related support services2. Social sciences3. Health professions and related programs4. Family and consumer sciences/human sciences5. Visual and performing arts<b>California University of Pennsylvania</b>1. Bachelor’s in criminal justice: 4212. Master’s in exercise science and health promotion: 3443. Bachelor’s in nursing (RN-BSN): 3154. Bachelor’s in business administration: 2515. Bachelor’s in biology: 236Rankings and figures are provided by the schools listed.*Enrollment figures not available