Gen Z college students are buckling up to enter one of the toughest entry-level job markets in years. With the unemployment rate for recent graduates ticking up—and some employers predicting the class of 2026 will face an even steeper climb—students are looking for an edge.

For many, the new saving grace is double majoring.

At public and private colleges across the country, the pursuit of two distinct focuses is seeing an exponential rise, according to data analyzed by The Hechinger Report. At Drexel University, the number of double majors jumped 591% between 2014 and 2024. At Harvard, the practice has grown by 334%, and at UC–San Diego, it is up by 169%.

Beyond the academic clout and a relatively small income boost, double majoring can offer a significant shield against economic volati

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