Why is engineering so popular now?

[Anonymous]

Why is engineering so popular now? I never remember it being discussed so much and it seems like in the past 5 years so many high school kids are saying they want to go into engineering and if you ask why they don’t seem to know.

It used to be computer science was the hot major, along with the usual pre-med, pre-law.

But now seems engineering is what all parents are clamoring for their kids to go into.

Why?

[Anonymous]

Students that are strong in math and science and want a ROI for their college degree. It's not that hard to understand its appeal.

[Anonymous]

Schools cost a lot more money now. Kids aren’t stupid. Most know their parents have saved for years and will be taking loans that will take years to pay off. The least they can do is major in something that will allow them to be self sufficient

[Anonymous]

Engineering was popular in the late 80’s and early 90’s.

It’s not new.

[Anonymous]

Engineering degrees = job opportunities

[Anonymous]

I think the combo of (1) college is proportionately more expensive and so emphasis on ROI has gone way up and (2) information is so accessible and so they now get tiktoks and such saying "5 highest paying majors" etc and so there's more awareness about what careers lead to more money.

[Anonymous]

I have two sons.

One is majoring in engineering largely because he thinks it is a practical thing to major in. He wants to be employable. He is mildly interested in it.

The other is a nerd who is super into math and physics and engineering and he wants to major in it because he loves it.

[Anonymous]

Computer Science is damn popular, but I don't actually notice an uptick in traditional engineering popularity.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Computer Science is damn popular, but I don't actually notice an uptick in traditional engineering popularity.

In schools with applications to specific majors, I engineering along with CS and business are almost always the hardest to get into and it usually isn’t particularly close

[Anonymous]

Engineering is a broad field and there is a lot of recruitment being done to ensure a good pipeline. We need to replace a huge amount of critical infrastructure. In addition to needing a ton of engineers, we also need high end electricians, machinists, welders, carpenters. If you want to be incredibly hot on the job market, learn welding AND become an engineer. $$$$$

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Engineering was popular in the late 80’s and early 90’s.

It’s not new.

+1

[Anonymous]

Majors that are considered more quantitative have been climbing for years. Business, comp sci, engineering, etc. Plus you find a lot of people branch out from these majors into other fields. For example, there are a healthy number of engineering majors in private equity. It's just a different set of equations and problem-solving.

There is the perception that if you are the English major in a stack of resumes that includes finance and engineering, you are odd duck.

[Anonymous]

Engineering has been "popular" since the 80s.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Majors that are considered more quantitative have been climbing for years. Business, comp sci, engineering, etc. Plus you find a lot of people branch out from these majors into other fields. For example, there are a healthy number of engineering majors in private equity. It's just a different set of equations and problem-solving.

There is the perception that if you are the English major in a stack of resumes that includes finance and engineering, you are odd duck.

Saying it won't make it so.

[Anonymous]

A lot of kids are going engineering school and choosing diff tracks whether that is Computer Engineering, Aerospace, Civil, Chemical, Pharmaceutical, Petroleum, etc. I think there’s a big market for people in these fields as technology evolves.