For some college students, one major is enough to map out a career path. For others, a single field of study may not fully capture their academic interests or professional goals. At the University of Southern Mississippi, double majoring is an option, but whether it is worth the added time, cost and responsibility depends largely on the student.
Russell Willis, associate provost for student success, said his office’s mission is centered on helping students reach graduation.
“Everything we do has the end goal of getting students to degrees,” Willis said.
He said that student success initiatives are designed to help students persist from freshman year to graduation.
When it comes to double majoring, Willis said it is “not overly common” at Southern Miss. The reason, he explained, is largely practical.
“You’re taking on not only more coursework, but potentially more money, because it’s going to take longer,” he said. “It’s almost impossible to double major in a four-year period. It’s just, it would be really hard to do that, especially if you’re doing two degrees that are diverse.”
National statistics, he said, show that students who double major typically add at least one or two additional semesters. That extension comes with financial implications. Tuition at Southern Miss is about $5,000 per semester, meaning students could be adding $5,000 to $10,000 or more to complete a second major. In addition to tuition, students also delay entering the workforce or graduate school.
“You’re missing out on some potential money you’d be making if you’re working to get that double major,” Willis said.
Research, according to Willis, does not show a strong short-term payoff for double majors in terms of immediate job outcomes.
“There’s not any immediate better job outcomes,” he said.
While he acknowledged that a diverse skill set could be beneficial 10 to 15 years down the road — especially during economic downturns or company downsizing — he emphasized that the measurable short-term return is limited.
Instead, Willis pointed to internships as the most impactful factor in post-graduation success.
“What research does show is, if you complete an internship, that is the number one thing that leads to a better job outcome,” he said. “Really, the number one thing students should be doing in terms of their degree is an internship, as opposed to double majoring.”
He also suggested alternatives such as adding a minor or earning certifications through the university’s Coursera platform, which is free to students and does not extend the time to graduation.
While Willis does not discourage students from pursuing a second major out of passion, he questions its general value as a career strategy.
“If you’re just looking at it in a way to enhance your skill set or enhance your career outcomes, I’m just not sure it’s worth it,” he said. “Just having a bunch of degrees doesn’t really mean much.”
For Lurah Anderson, however, double majoring has been a deliberate and rewarding choice. Anderson is pursuing degrees in psychology and speech pathology. She began as a psychology major but decided to add speech-language pathology after gaining work experience.
“I started working in the field that I wanted to go into, and I realized that I really loved the communication aspect of my job,” she said. “So that’s when I decided to add speech language pathology.”
Unlike the typical experience Willis described, Anderson entered Southern Miss with an associate’s degree earned during high school, allowing her to complete two years of coursework early. As a result, she has been able to balance both majors without extending her graduation timeline.
“I’m still going to graduate within the four years that I would have,” she said, calling her situation “a special circumstance.”
Anderson acknowledged that double majoring is not widely promoted in advising appointments.
“I don’t think it’s really talked about,” she said. “Usually, I feel like in advisement, they’ll say, add this minor … but it’s never really talked about the possibility of it being a major. They do not recommend to double major.”
She believes the decision depends more on the individual student than the field of study. “I think if you’re coming to school to get a job and that’s your main goal, then I wouldn’t say pick up another major,” she said. “Focus on internships, focus on finding work.” However, she said her goal in college extended beyond immediate employment. “I really wanted to come to college and just learn things.”
For Anderson, the additional coursework has not significantly increased her workload due to careful advising. Socially, she said double-majoring has expanded her network. “I have made more friends because I’ve had to form study groups with different people,” she said. “It forced me to get out of my comfort zone.”
Even if the path had required extra time or expense, Anderson said she would have continued. “I would still do it even if it took more time and money because it’s gotten me ready for the field that I want to go into,” she said. “It’s going to make me a better speech pathologist one day.”
At Southern Miss, the question of whether double majoring is worth it does not have a universal answer. For administrators like Willis, the financial, logistical and statistical realities make it a decision that requires careful consideration. For students like Anderson, the value lies in personal growth, preparation and passion. Ultimately, the choice reflects a balance between practicality and purpose, one that each student must weigh individually.