consulting majors

Consulting Majors & How to Become a Consultant

As one of the highest grossing careers, consulting has increased in popularity among college students. Consulting is so wide-ranging, however, it can be hard to parse out exactly how to become a consultant on your own. With few colleges offering specific consulting majors, understanding the field is crucial if you want to explore the consulting career path. 

This guide will help you learn more about the consulting industry, and how to best set yourself up for success. We’ll cover: 

  • What a consultant actually does
  • Skills needed as a consultant
  • Different types of consulting
  • How to pick the best major for consulting
  • Top tips on how to become a consultant and advancing your consulting career

Consulting is a burgeoning field with plenty of opportunity. However, before we discuss how to get into consulting, let’s look at what consulting actually means. 

What is consulting?

In general, a consultant provides professional advice or guidance on a matter of their expertise. Often, consultants help businesses make the best decisions to optimize growth, streamline processes, and solve problems. Consultants sometimes work for a third party organization and are brought on to review a business’s practices. They provide specialized insights to help businesses drive growth, or solve a specific problem. 

However, there are many different types of consulting, across many industries. Businesses in IT, finance, human resources, and management all use consultants for a variety of reasons. So, while a business consultant may do one thing, an IT consultant will do another. 

With such a wide range of roles, it can be hard to figure out exactly how to become a consultant. Later, we’ll break down how to get into consulting, and provide tips to start your consulting career path! But first, let’s focus on better understanding a popular consulting career: business consultants. 

What does a business consultant do?

consulting majors

If you’re interested in learning how to become a consultant, you might wonder: what does a business consultant do, exactly? The day-to-day tasks for a consultant may change, depending on which projects they’re assigned. But, generally, business consultants analyze business data, assess different client needs, identify inefficiencies, and make recommendations to help businesses succeed. 

Often, consultants are brought in to organizations to help cut costs for businesses, develop marketing strategies, build better financial management processes, as well as provide guidance in many other projects. There are plenty of facets to being a business consultant, and while it’s a popular consulting field, it’s certainly not the only one. In the next section, we’ll outline some of the different types of consulting to give you a better sense of what your consulting career path could look like. 

Exploring Different Types of Consulting

If you’re wondering how to become a consultant, it’s important to learn about the various types of consulting that businesses employ. Your consulting career path may shift and change, and knowing the different options available to you can help you build up a variety of skills. 

Here are seven different types of consulting for you to consider: 

7 Types of Consulting

consulting majors

1. Management Consulting

One of the most common forms of consulting, management consulting covers a wide range of operational tasks and processes. Management consulting helps businesses review the management of day-to-day operations, resources, and general organizational concerns. 

2. Strategy Consulting

If you’re interested in high-level thinking and problem solving, strategy consulting may be a great consulting career path for you. Strategy consultants help businesses think through strategic planning, reacting to new economic or governmental policy. They work with senior leadership closely. 

consulting majors
consulting majors

3. Marketing Consulting

Marketing consultants help businesses market their ideas and/or products, and they help with overall marketing strategy. Working directly with products, advertising, and content, marketing consultants help businesses grow.  

4. Operations Consulting

Focused on the everyday tasks, operations consultants help businesses improve their processes and streamline their operations. Operations consultants work with many different facets of a specific business, helping businesses create the most efficient strategy to succeed. 

consulting majors
consulting majors

5. Financial Consulting

Financial consultants help ensure profitability and that businesses are financially healthy. Focused on risk management, financial growth, and identifying new opportunities, financial consultants are a crucial element of successful businesses.  

6. IT Consulting

Oftentimes coming from a tech background, IT consultants help businesses manage the technological aspects of their business. From identifying new tech advances to implementing new systems, IT consultants can help streamline a business’s processes and ensure they remain competitive. 

consulting majors
consulting majors

7. HR Consulting

Human resources is often one of the most crucial elements of any given business, and HR consultants help businesses improve their workforce. HR consultants can help transform the workplace culture, improve employee relationships, and grow a solid workforce. 

What skills does a consultant need?

Consultants often wear many different hats. As such, the skills consulting majors need to develop are varied. In general, consultants help improve businesses, however, different types of consulting will require different skills. We’ve compiled a list of 7 key skills you’ll need to develop your consulting career path. 

7 Skills for Consultants

consulting majors

Analytical skills

Arguably the most crucial ability, analytical skills are imperative for any consultant to provide quality consulting services. At their core, consultants help businesses improve–this means they need to analyze many different aspects of a business to make suggestions. All types of consulting will require analysis, so building your analytical skills will be key in your consulting career path. 

Problem solving

Consultants are key in solving a business’s problems, from growing profits to improving a specific process. Being able to effectively solve problems is the basis of many types of consulting jobs, and it is a crucial skill consultants need. Often, consultants need to be creative with their problem solving, employing new ideas and experimenting. 

Communication skills

Often serving as an expert in a specific field, consultants need to be able to effectively communicate ideas to leadership, employees, and other stakeholders. Communications can be one of the best majors for consulting, as students learn the most effective methods to transmit information, ideas, and plans. 

Project management

Consultants often manage many different projects simultaneously, so excellent project management is key. Often taking on higher-level management roles, consultants help businesses manage all aspects of their routines. Learning how to manage many different projects at once can help one learn how to get into consulting. 

Client relationship management

Businesses typically hire consultants to make improvements and offer suggestions. As such, consultants need to manage their relationships well. Learning how to meet a client’s expectations, as well as communicate progress, delays, and ideas, are key.  

Time Management

A crucial skill in many workplaces, time management is essential for consultants. Indeed, consultants typically balance many different ideas, projects, and tasks at once. As such, learning how to effectively manage time is key when learning how to become a consultant.  

Collaboration

Consultants work closely with leadership, other employees, and each other to improve a business. Therefore, consultants need to be able to effectively collaborate with others on new ideas and projects, as well as implementing new processes. 

How do you become a consultant?

If you’re interested in learning how to become a consultant, you’ll need a combination of education, experience, and a strong network. With so many different types of consulting, it can be confusing to know exactly how to get into consulting, but getting the basic skills down is a great place to start. 

While many schools don’t have formal consulting majors, being intentional about your field of study can help set yourself up for a great consulting career path. Most consultants have a minimum of a bachelor’s degree, but many consultants also pursue an advanced degree, such as an MBA, or even a PhD.

Experience is also crucial in learning how to become a consultant–you can’t offer solid advice or suggestions to business if you don’t have the experience to back it up! Internships can be a great way to build up your experience and skill set. 

Finally, networking is essential for consultants. Building up your network and connections within a specific field will help you bring in new business, foster collaboration, and ensure that you progress in your consulting career path. Talking with other consultants is also a great way to see if consulting is right for you. Their expertise and individual paths can help you determine which of the consulting majors might align best with your strengths and interests. 

Top 10 Best Majors for Consulting

As we’ve discussed, few colleges offer specific consulting majors. Many students will first major in a field, then pursue a consulting role in that field. That being said, there are specific majors that equip students with the skills necessary to pursue many different types of consulting jobs. 

Here are the top 10 best majors for consulting: 

10 Best Consulting Majors

consulting majors

1. Economics

If you’re interested in financial consulting, strategy consulting, or simply want to ensure your skills are broad enough for many different types of consulting, an economics major may be a great option for you. The best colleges for economics help students build the analytical skills needed for a great career in consulting. An economics major can help you learn big picture theories that help businesses optimize their growth. If you’re not sure what speciality you’re interested in, an economics major is one of the best majors for consulting. 

2. Business

Often considered one of the highest paying college majors, business is one of the best majors for consulting. Business degrees are the closest thing to formal consulting majors as they help equip students with the skills needed to make the best business decisions possible. Most consultants likely have a background in business. If you’re wondering how to become a consultant, studying business in some capacity is an excellent place to start. 

consulting majors
consulting majors

3. Finance

Studying finance is a great first step in a consulting career path. Finance degrees are considered one of the strongest consulting majors because they help prepare students to analyze risk and growth opportunities for businesses. Additionally, these degrees can help set you up for a lucrative career as a financial consultant. With its focus on maximizing profitability, finance is definitely one of the best majors for consulting. 

4. Management

As management consultants are one of the most popular types of consulting, a management degree is one of the best consulting majors. If you’re interested in learning how to become a consultant, studying management can equip you with the core skills you’ll need. Management majors learn the best way to optimize resources, which can be a great basis for a consulting career.

consulting majors
consulting majors

5. Accounting

If you’re looking for a more specialized form of consulting, majoring in accounting can be a great way to differentiate yourself. Accounting is a crucial part of any successful business. And, knowing the ins and outs of accounting practices is a great skill to bring to your consulting practice. For students who love math and are looking into how to get into consulting, an accounting degree is a solid option. 

6. Engineering

Engineering consulting is a growing industry, as businesses look to improve their assets and streamline their operations. If you have a science background, engineering consulting can be a great pathway to utilize your skillset in a variety of different ways. An engineering major can help you build a specific skillset that can help differentiate yourself within the applicant pool. 

consulting majors
consulting majors

7. Data Science/Statistics

As data becomes more and more crucial across many different industries, more colleges are adding data science majors to their offerings of consulting majors . Considered one of the best college majors for the future, data science/statistics equips students with strong analytical and problem solving skills. If you’re looking into how to get into consulting, statistics/data science are great consulting majors.  

8. Computer Science

With so many businesses relying on complex computer systems, computer science is one of the best majors for consulting. Learning the specifics of various computer systems and developing your technical skills is a great first step in learning how to become a consultant. IT consulting is only becoming more and more essential, so if you have the skills and motivation, consider a computer science major as part of your consulting career path. 

consulting majors
consulting majors

9. Political Science

A political science major is another one of the consulting majors that can help equip students with the communication skills needed in various types of consulting. While it may not necessarily prepare students for a career in business consulting, political consultants are a major part of our political system. Learning how to run campaigns, make policy decisions, and effectively communicate political strategy can help you learn how to become a consultant for politicians. 

10. Psychology

If you’re not interested in studying business, psychology is a great option for consulting majors. Consultants often need to know how people operate–especially if they’re consulting on consumer behavior or HR issues. For students interested in learning how to get into consulting, majoring or minoring in psychology can help build a solid foundation. 

consulting majors

The Value of Specialization in Consulting

As consultants tend to be experts in their field, gaining experience and specializing in a specific industry is a great way to strengthen your consulting career path. If you’re researching how to become a consultant and what consulting majors to pursue, specializing in healthcare, cybersecurity, machine learning, education, or another field of interest is a great way to differentiate yourself. 

Double majoring is also a great way to develop your background in another field, while ensuring you are able to learn how to become a consultant. For example, if you’re interested in engineering consulting, consider double majoring in business and engineering. This would give you the engineering background as well as the business knowledge needed to succeed in engineering consulting. 

Without formal consulting majors, students can be strategic with their undergraduate degrees. Researching the best colleges for business can help you learn the types of programs available to help you learn how to become a consultant. In the next section, we’ll break down how to pick the best major for you, whether you’re considering the highest paying college majors or ones that will help you specialize your expertise! 

Choosing the best major for you

consulting majors

If you’re interested in learning how to become a consultant, choosing your major is key. While there are no specific consulting majors, utilizing your undergraduate degree wisely can help set you up for success in the consulting industry. You should consider your personal interests and strengths, as well as career goals when selecting your major. 

Your personal interests will play a huge role in learning how to become a consultant. The best consultants have a passion for the industry they’re in, so consider which subjects you find most interesting when selecting your major. While business may be one of the highest paying college majors, it’s not everyone’s cup of tea. Consultants come from every educational background, so think through which majors align with your personal interests. 

Considering your strengths and weaknesses is also key in picking the best consulting majors. If you aren’t great at math, consider studying communications or marketing. On the other hand, if math is your strong suit, research the best colleges for economics, or consider a math and business double major. Defining your strongest qualities will allow you to narrow down your career goals, helping you learn how to become a consultant in your areas of interest and aptitude.  

Having your future career in mind will also help you pick the best major for consulting. What kind of consulting interests you the most? Is it IT consulting, HR consulting, or strategy consulting? Researching the different types of consulting will help you learn more about the industry, and will help you identify the best consulting majors for the future you. 

If you’re researching how to get into consulting, you’ll know that picking your major is only one piece of the puzzle. Gaining experience through internships will also be key–both in developing experience and growing your network of connections. We’ll break down the internship process in the next section, so keep reading! 

Gaining experience through internships

If you’re wondering how to become a consultant, gaining experience through internships is essential. Without formal consulting majors, students who are interested in learning how to get into consulting need to carve out their own path. Internships provide students with the opportunity to get hands-on experience and enhance their networking skills–both of which are crucial steps in learning how to become a consultant. 

As consulting is dependent on providing advice or guidance to different businesses, it’s no wonder that experience is key. Learning the ins and outs of a specific industry is a great way to set yourself up for success as a consultant. Building industry-specific skills and knowledge will give you the insights needed to become a great consultant. 

Internships also provide the opportunity for you to build up your professional network, and they can even sometimes lead to a full-time job offer upon graduation. In learning how to become a consultant, having a vast network of industry professionals, mentors, and other consultants can help you find the perfect role. 

If you’re interested in learning more about internships, check out our guide on Summer Internships for High School Students

Advancing your consultant career path through networking

consulting majors

The biggest tip for students learning how to get into consulting is to network, network, network! Meeting other industry professionals, learning about their companies and past work experiences, and understanding how to market yourself are all huge bonuses when it comes to becoming a consultant. 

In learning how to become a consultant, networking can help you get your foot in the door. So, how do you network? Without formal consulting majors, learning softer skills like networking can be difficult. A great place to start is your college’s alumni network–attending alumni events can be a great place to meet a wide range of professionals. 

Many students need to seek out networking opportunities on their own, however, some of the best colleges for business will facilitate great networking events. Keep an eye out for events organized by your school, as well as any professional clubs offered. In learning how to become a consultant, it’ll become clear that networking is a core part of the job. 

If your school’s events aren’t cutting it, utilize websites like LinkedIn–build up your profile and reach out to consultants in industries you’re interested in. Getting a sense of the network in your area, as well as what connections you can build via your alumni network, can help you learn how to become a consultant.  

Advanced Degrees for consultants

As you learn how to become a consultant, you may consider pursuing an advanced degree, such as an MBA, Master’s degree, or even a PhD. Similar to undergraduate degrees, there are few formal consulting majors within advanced degree programs. Even so, many consultants find an advanced degree helps to round out their education. 

Many consultants looking to move into top-tier consulting firms or further specialize technical consulting, will pursue advanced degrees. MBA programs are uniquely suited for consultants, providing them with advanced business knowledge and building their network. Many of the best colleges for business also offer MBA programs for you to consider. 

Advanced degrees can help consultants enhance their credibility, expand their knowledge and skillset, and increase their earning potential. However, advanced degrees aren’t right for everyone. Advanced degrees can be expensive and often take years to complete. Some consultants are better off using that time to build up tangible experience in the field. 

Overall, advanced degrees are a great option for consultants, but may not fit your specific goals. Talking with your peers, mentors, and other professionals in your field can help you decide if pursuing an advanced degree is right for you!

5 Tips for How to Become a Consultant

If you’re interested in learning how to become a consultant, we’ve compiled our top 5 tips to help you break into the industry. In addition to researching the best consulting majors, these tips will help you learn more about how to become a consultant using your strengths and interests. 

Here are our top 5 tips for how to become a consultant: 

5 Tips to Become a Consultant

consulting majors

1. Master communication and presentation skills.

Consultants often have to present crucial information to a wide range of stakeholders, so honing your communication and presentation skills is key. Seeking leadership positions in your extracurriculars, taking speech classes, and practicing presentations are all great ways to build up these skills. 


2. Develop a strong personal brand and network.

Knowing how to market your specific skillset is key in learning how to become a consultant. Think about what you bring to the table, and make sure the people around you know that too. Define your top two to three skills and make those the focus of your personal brand.  

consulting majors
consulting majors


3. Gain experience through internships.

If you can, try to participate in multiple internships throughout your high school and undergraduate career. This will give you a sense of what kind of business or consulting you’re interested in. Gaining experience is invaluable when learning how to become a consultant. 

4. Prepare for case interviews.

Many consultants will encounter case studies as part of their interviewing process–businesses want to understand how you’d react within specific situations. As you search and apply for jobs, prepare for these kinds of case interviews by thinking through your responses beforehand. 

consulting majors
consulting majors

5. Stay up to date with current trends and practices.

Businesses will employ consultants to help them advance into a new territory, or take advantage of a new technology. It’s crucial that you stay on top of current trends and business practices to help your skills remain relevant and essential. 

How to Become a Consultant: 10 Best Majors for Consulting- Takeaways

Consulting is a vast field needed in many different industries. As such, it requires ample skillsets. In learning how to become a consultant, students often discover their core skills as well as how to effectively market them. Students interested in becoming consultants can major in anything–but, as we’ve seen, there are specific majors students can pursue that will help them advance their consulting career. 

The best college majors for the future will set students up with a wide range of skills that they can utilize as consultants. Economics, business, and finance majors can provide students with a great consulting foundation. Beyond your major, gaining experience through internships and networking are also crucial in learning how to become a consultant. 

For more information on different majors, programs, and internships, utilize the many CollegeAdvisor resources available to you! From the best colleges for economics to jobs for business majors, CollegeAdvisor was built to help students like you through the college search and application process. Be sure to explore our various guides, webinars, and resources to help best prepare you for college and your future career!

consulting majors

This article was written by Jessica Klein. Looking for more admissions support? Click here to schedule a free meeting with one of our Admissions Specialists. During your meeting, our team will discuss your profile and help you find targeted ways to increase your admissions odds at top schools. We’ll also answer any questions and discuss how CollegeAdvisor.com can support you in the college application process.