If you live in rural Alabama, there’s a good chance you’re surrounded by teachers. Or, at the very least, people who studied education in college.

But that could be changing.

Education is the most common area of study in 29 of Alabama’s 67 counties. That’s according to data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey for 2018,

Interestingly, though, it’s not the most common academic focus for the state as a whole. That distinction goes to science and engineering, which is typically the most common umbrella of majors in Alabama’s urban counties - including the state’s Big Four: Jefferson, home of Birmingham; Madison, home of Huntsville; Mobile; and Montgomery.

Education is the most popular type of college major in a plurality of Alabama counties, but not the most popular statewide. | Graphic by Ramsey Archibald

The Census collects data on college majors by age, race and sex, but groups them together into five overarching categories. The categories are science and engineering; science and engineering related fields; business; education; and arts, humanities and others.

Fewer women study education

In general, Alabamians have changed their preferred field of study over the years. One of the key changes is among young women.

Fewer women are majoring in education now than in years past. The Census shows 43 percent of Alabama women 65 and older with at least a bachelor’s degree have that degree in education. For women between 25 and 39, that number is just 16 percent.

Education degrees falling in popularity

Because of this large falloff, education degrees, while still the most popular in a plurality of Alabama counties, have seen a drop in overall popularity in Alabama.

Education is the second most popular area of study among Alabamians 65 and older, at 26 percent - just behind science and engineering at 28 percent.

But it’s the fourth most popular the state population under 65. Just under 17 percent of adults 25 and older with at least a graduate degree majored in education.

Men prefer science and engineering

There doesn’t appear to be as much of a generational difference for men. The most popular major for men 65 and older, between 40 and 64, and between 25 and 39 is the same - science and engineering. Fewer young men got degrees in education than older men, but not by as big a margin.

Both young men and young women got more degrees in arts, humanities and others than older Alabamians.

Here’s the full list of the types of majors and their popularity.

Alabama loves... Science? | Graphic by Ramsey Archibald

The Alabama Commission on Higher Education collects much more detailed data on the number of degrees each institution in Alabama gives in a particular major.

Most popular area of study by university

Here’s a list of the most popular degree in the last 10 years for each of the state’s public, four-year universities, along with the number of bachelor’s degrees awarded in that specific major.

Alabama A&M - Biology/Biological Sciences, General (490 degrees)

Alabama State - Criminal Justice/Safety Studies (621 degrees)

Athens State - Elementary Education and Teaching (1,451 degrees)

Auburn - Business Administration and Management, General (2,216 degrees)

Auburn Montgomery - Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse (1,220 degrees)

Jacksonville State - Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse (2,907 degrees)

Troy - Psychology, General (2,149 degrees)

Alabama - Business Administration and Management, General (4,103 degrees)

UAB - Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse (3,093 degrees)

UAH - Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse (1,871 degrees)

Montevallo - Elementary Education and Teaching (421 degrees)

North Alabama - Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse (1,556 degrees)

South Alabama - Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse (3,095 degrees)

West Alabama - Physical Education Teaching and Coaching (241 degrees)

Do you have an idea for a data story about Alabama? Email Ramsey Archibald at rarchibald@al.com, and follow him on Twitter @RamseyArchibald.