Why is engineering major so popular?

[Anonymous]

Mine was a math/science kid from the beginning and we have engineers on my side of the family, so engineering has been on his radar from very early on. He’s 2/3 through an AeroE degree and very happy. In our circle and school, however, there does not seem to be a large interest in engineering. Any mathy kids seem to want finance.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Mine was a math/science kid from the beginning and we have engineers on my side of the family, so engineering has been on his radar from very early on. He’s 2/3 through an AeroE degree and very happy. In our circle and school, however, there does not seem to be a large interest in engineering. Any mathy kids seem to want finance.

I believe the degree to have for the highest paid jobs in finance is quant finance. Which is made up of a lot of engineers.

[Anonymous]

People with the $$ know where the best and most important investment in our education is.

https://www.ajc.com/education/2025/09/georgia-tech-receives-100-million-gift-largest-in-schools-history/

[Anonymous]

Engineering majors/careers has just become code for really smart people that can just figure things out and create new things. They can do many things in finance, engineering fields etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Engineering majors/careers has just become code for really smart people that can just figure things out and create new things. They can do many things in finance, engineering fields etc.

This! I'm a civil engineer (graduated in the 90s) and my classmates have all sorts of jobs - finance, construction management, lobbyist, teacher, lawyer - along with more "typical" engineering jobs. If you can graduate with an engineering degree, many companies know that you can handle lots of different things.

[Anonymous]

So long ago at Freshman Orientation a girl introduced my major as "Computer Programming". one of the smallest departments. miss those days. Could talk to the others about: Dr Who, Star Trek, and joke about Terminator. Revenge of the Nerds was a possibility. And off course - we could easily get a girl friend just didn't want to.

Now it's filled with corporate climbers looking for power and money. The field has never dressed so well, never spoken so eloquently, and always camera ready.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They usually get much higher salaries out of the gate than liberal arts majors.

Usually they have better math ability, as shown by coursework taken in high school and college. And standardized testing.

Often they learn some helpful computer programming basics in college. That can be mildly helpful.

The DMV has a lot of highly-paid liberal arts majors because of it's focus on politics, law, global trade, etc. It can be harder in other places to get your career off the ground with some of those majors.

My whole life, engineering undergrads have usually made $10s of K more in starting salary vs. English and Econ majors.

Don't assume your neighborhood is representative.

at our high school, finance/business/PE/wharton kinda kids have better math ability. even the top kids going into humanities have very solid math (1550 on SATs). Engineering kids are the kids who got a 1440 or 1480 on the SAT.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They usually get much higher salaries out of the gate than liberal arts majors.

Usually they have better math ability, as shown by coursework taken in high school and college. And standardized testing.

Often they learn some helpful computer programming basics in college. That can be mildly helpful.

The DMV has a lot of highly-paid liberal arts majors because of it's focus on politics, law, global trade, etc. It can be harder in other places to get your career off the ground with some of those majors.

My whole life, engineering undergrads have usually made $10s of K more in starting salary vs. English and Econ majors.

Don't assume your neighborhood is representative.

at our high school, finance/business/PE/wharton kinda kids have better math ability. even the top kids going into humanities have very solid math (1550 on SATs). Engineering kids are the kids who got a 1440 or 1480 on the SAT.

lol please stop

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They usually get much higher salaries out of the gate than liberal arts majors.

Usually they have better math ability, as shown by coursework taken in high school and college. And standardized testing.

Often they learn some helpful computer programming basics in college. That can be mildly helpful.

The DMV has a lot of highly-paid liberal arts majors because of it's focus on politics, law, global trade, etc. It can be harder in other places to get your career off the ground with some of those majors.

My whole life, engineering undergrads have usually made $10s of K more in starting salary vs. English and Econ majors.

Don't assume your neighborhood is representative.

at our high school, finance/business/PE/wharton kinda kids have better math ability. even the top kids going into humanities have very solid math (1550 on SATs). Engineering kids are the kids who got a 1440 or 1480 on the SAT.

Are you a teacher or school counselor?

[Anonymous]

All of my kid’s friends are going into Engineering.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They usually get much higher salaries out of the gate than liberal arts majors.

Usually they have better math ability, as shown by coursework taken in high school and college. And standardized testing.

Often they learn some helpful computer programming basics in college. That can be mildly helpful.

The DMV has a lot of highly-paid liberal arts majors because of it's focus on politics, law, global trade, etc. It can be harder in other places to get your career off the ground with some of those majors.

My whole life, engineering undergrads have usually made $10s of K more in starting salary vs. English and Econ majors.

Don't assume your neighborhood is representative.

at our high school, finance/business/PE/wharton kinda kids have better math ability. even the top kids going into humanities have very solid math (1550 on SATs). Engineering kids are the kids who got a 1440 or 1480 on the SAT.

Are you a teacher or school counselor?

More than likely just a parent who's kid is not an engineering major I'm sure but business or humanities. "I know all the kids at my kid's high school and the really smart ones don't do engineering or science They prefer humanities or business" lol ridiculous on its face.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why are there so many kids who want to major in engineering? When I take a look around among adults, those with engineering jobs don’t stand out as being more wildly successful or wealthier or happier compared to other professionals. Sure they do well and I respect them, but the outsized emphasis during college admissions doesn’t seem proportionate to the career outcome.

For my kid, it's because math/science was always their thing. Sure they took advanced LA/Humanities as well, but they just get science/math. Kid graduated college with a 3.9+ from a T40 with degree in Chem Eng. They love it, had a 4.0 in their chem eng courses. So it's about choosing something they love

[Anonymous]

If the kid isn't a disaster in math and science, it's an opportunity to join a part of the economy middle class families can be proud of.

Intellectual work that leads to making things and making progress, not endless talking and churning out paper.

Not part of the service economy, which many see as shameful McJobs.

[Anonymous]

engineering is kinda great because it hardly matters where you go - and it doesnt require a masters or further degree. and it's not that hard to get into a place like Purdue, which is maybe not "elite" but very good program.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Because it’s so much more fun and interesting than liberal arts. Engineering gives you real knowledge to actual solve problems- not just talk/debate about them as nauseum and get nothing done. Engineering is collaborative, not argumentative. The writing is straightforward, to the point, says what you mean. The classes are so interesting. The work is impactful and rewarding. Know anyone with a pacemaker or clean water running to their house? Or internet or a car? All that is engineering. Engineers overall are collaborative, smart, open-minded, and tolerant. They aim to make the world better.

Yes, at every funeral I've ever been to they read a car manual and play recordings of a pacemaker.