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Top 8 College Majors With the Highest Average IQs
📚 Which College Majors Have the Highest IQs? Let’s Settle This.
So apparently, your degree might say something about your intelligence.
Researchers at ETS (Educational Testing Service - the people behind SATs) crunched IQ scores across different college majors. And the results are wild…
Some majors are packed with brainiacs… and some, well, not so much.
This isn’t about flexing IQ numbers or saying you’re dumb if you picked something else, it’s just interesting to see what fields tend to attract the sharpest minds.
Let’s break down the top 8 majors with the highest average IQs.
See if yours made the list. 👀
Table of Contents
🪐 #1 – Physics & Astronomy (Avg IQ: 133)

No surprise here.
If you’re studying black holes, quantum fields, or why time slows near a planet with 7x Earth’s mass, yeah, you’re probably cooking with a higher wattage.
Physics & Astronomy majors top the chart with an average IQ of 133.
It’s the land of big brains and even bigger questions, electricity, thermodynamics, spacetime, particles, gravity… basically trying to decode the universe.
These are the people who think math is a language.
And while the rest of us are googling “how do microwaves work,” they’re writing 20-page proofs on why the universe hasn’t collapsed yet.
If you’ve picked this major, congrats. You’re officially one of the smartest groups on campus (statistically, at least).
🧮 #2 – Mathematical Sciences (Avg IQ: 130)

Math majors aren’t just good at numbers.
They are numbers.
With an average IQ of 130, Mathematical Sciences comes in hot at #2, right behind the physicists who use math to explain the cosmos.
But make no mistake, these are the people building the foundations everyone else stands on.
We’re talking abstract algebra, number theory, logic, computer science, quantitative biology, and stuff you and I wouldn’t even know how to Google properly.
It’s also the major of Terrence Tao, aka the Mozart of Math, who started solving calculus problems at 7, and now has over 300 research papers.
Meanwhile, we’re still counting calories on MyFitnessPal.
If you like patterns, proofs, and living in a realm where everything has to make sense, this is your kingdom.
🧠 #3 – Philosophy (Avg IQ: 129)

You ever sit around overthinking life until your brain hurts?
Congrats, you’re built for philosophy.
With an average IQ of 129, philosophy majors are trained to question everything, reality, morality, free will, time, death, what it means to be you.
These aren’t shower thoughts.
They’re arguments backed by logic, ethics, and enough caffeine to fuel a small army.
They read dead guys like Socrates and Descartes, then write 4,000-word essays asking, “What even is truth?”
This major isn’t for the faint of mind. It’s for the ones who argue for fun, write essays that sound like riddles, and can’t stop asking “why?”
If you like thinking about thinking, this is your playground.
🛠 #4 – Materials Engineering (Avg IQ: 129)

This one’s for the builders, tinkerers, and quiet geniuses who turn atoms into innovation.
Materials Engineering majors work with everything, metals, ceramics, polymers, nanotech. Their job? Make stuff stronger, lighter, smarter.
Airplane wings, biomedical implants, space tech, microchips, they design the materials behind them.
The average IQ here is 129, and it makes sense. You need chemistry, physics, and problem-solving that’d melt most brains.
It’s not as hyped as software engineering, but without these people, the future literally wouldn’t hold together.
💰 #5 – Economics (Avg IQ: 128)

Economics majors are basically the psychologists of money.
They don’t just study graphs and GDP. They study human behavior, incentives, trade-offs, and decision-making under uncertainty.
It’s math, logic, and philosophy wrapped into one, with real-world impact.
The average IQ here is 128, and that tracks. You need strong reasoning, stats skills, and a bit of predictive intuition to survive Econ.
Also… economists are the kind of people who read Freakonomics for fun. Enough said.
⚗️ #6 – Chemical Engineering (Avg IQ: 128)

This major is brain fuel and chaos control combined.
Chemical engineers juggle physics, chemistry, biology, and math to build things like medicine, clean energy, and processed food.
Sounds simple, but imagine designing a fuel cell that doesn’t explode, or scaling a vaccine from test tube to global supply chain. Yeah.
With an average IQ of 128, it’s one of the most mentally demanding majors on Earth. And still somehow underrated.
They’re not just chem nerds, they’re real-world alchemists turning raw matter into breakthroughs.
🛠 #7 – Mechanical & General Engineering (Avg IQ: 126)

Engineering dominates this list for a reason.
Mechanical and general engineering students are like modern-day Da Vincis, solving problems across mechanics, thermodynamics, robotics, and design.
They build everything from engines to prosthetic limbs to satellites.
It’s not just about formulas, it’s problem-solving under pressure, constantly iterating and optimizing real systems.
With an average IQ of 126, these students need brains wired for logic, precision, and creativity. Thinkers and builders.
💰 #8 – Finance & Banking (Avg IQ: 125)

Last on the list, but still in the top 1%.
Finance majors don’t just chase money, they predict markets, manage risk, and decode global economics with scary precision.
From investment banking to algorithmic trading, this world runs on numbers, fast decisions, and pattern recognition.
Their average IQ? 125. That’s "very superior" territory.
If you’ve ever tried reading a hedge fund’s strategy memo and felt like your brain melted, now you know why.
❓ So… does your major really reflect your IQ?
Not exactly.
This list isn’t saying you're dumb if you didn’t study physics or math. Intelligence comes in many forms, creative, emotional, social, spatial, and IQ tests don’t measure them all.
But it does show one thing clearly:
The harder the thinking, the higher the average IQ.
Majors that require logic, abstract reasoning, problem-solving, and deep analysis attract sharper minds.
And just like muscles, your brain adapts to the challenge you give it.
So if you're not in one of these majors, don’t worry. Just make sure whatever you’re doing pushes your brain, not numbs it.
🧠 BONUS: My Favorite Brain Support

If you’re in one of these IQ-heavy majors (or just trying to think harder daily), your brain takes a beating.
Long study hours. Abstract problems. Mental fatigue.
That’s where Mind Lab Pro comes in.
It’s the nootropic I take during intense learning phases, especially when I’m trying to study complex stuff like logic, math, or code. Helps with:
🔹 Mental clarity
🔹 Working memory
🔹 Focus under pressure
If your brain feels like it’s lagging but your ambitions aren’t, this stuff helps close the gap.
No jitters. No crash. Just clean brain power.
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