10 Best Degrees for Millennials

With hundreds of different degrees available, it’s hard to know which one is right for you. But given that millennials are inherently creative, innovative, trailblazing individuals, it’s easy to find fields that would best fit us.

Whether you’re just starting college or wanting to go back and get a degree that suits you, these are the top 10 degrees for millennials.

1. Media

If you would’ve told my great-grandparents, grandparents, or even my parents that someone could make money by posting, sharing, and growing a social media platform, they probably would’ve laughed. Social media is a new (and amazing) invention that keeps us connected to others at all times. Media is a broad but perfect degree for millennials because it gives them room to grow and learn while also diving deeper into a field they’re naturally familiar with.

Media isn’t limited to social media. Print media is a great way to feed your creative side while also making money. Radio, film, and video are also more specialized fields you can go into that are always changing and adapting to the current market—so you won’t have to worry about doing the same thing day in and day out.

2. Marketing

Marketing is all about creating new, efficient ways to get the consumer to buy, read, or do what you want them to. Millennials are made for this job because we love finding unique and creative ways of doing things.

One of the best things about a marketing degree: You can use your skills in virtually any industry out there. Every company’s overall goal is to sell something.

3. Computer Sciences

Millennials rely heavily on computers for information, advice, and goods. With a computer science degree, you’ll be able to write and apply code, analyze computer systems, and develop websites. This is a great way to use both technical and creative skills to create something innovative.

Any degree or field that has to do with computers and technology is a safe bet for the near future. Our world is moving into a more technological age, and jumping on the digital wagon while things are moving fast is a smart decision.

4. Automotive Technology

Transportation is something that’s going to be around for the rest of the foreseeable future, which makes this a steady and reliable profession. Things are always changing in the automotive world as new features are being created and transportation is being individualized.

Automotive technology allows you to dive into how a car works, what it takes to make it run smoothly, and then figure out how to make it better. This is also a hard degree and profession, so far fewer people get this degree than say law, medical, or business degrees. Fewer people with a high demand for jobs means good money and plenty of work options.

This degree also allows you to explore different career options. You can be anything from a pit mechanic for NASCAR to an automotive designer—which both sound pretty awesome. You can also take this degree one step further and get your master’s in engineering, then you can create while making some serious cash.

5. Nutrition/Dietetics

In the past few years, people have become increasingly aware of what they eat and how food affects their bodies. Allergies like gluten and dairy intolerance were practically unheard of when our parents were growing up, which makes this an extremely new-age and innovative field.

This degree gives you the knowledge to advise people on what to eat, how much to eat, and what different foods do to your body. This is a great fit for someone who loves learning about the human body and helping people but doesn’t necessarily think medical school is right for them.

6. Biotechnology

Science is an interesting and fast-changing field. Millennials bring a go-getter attitude to this field that’s unmatched and desperately needed. We can offer a new perspective on old techniques, and one thing most millennials have in common is the love of learning from people before our time.

Being a biochemist, research scientist, or crime lab technician can give you a wide variety of things to explore. That being said, biotechnology is a tough degree to achieve and I wouldn’t consider declaring this your major unless you’re serious about studying and learning—so for those of us who are more creative and less technical, this is more than likely not the most practical choice.

7. Architecture

Millennials value development at work and love to see things not only be made more efficient but also better looking. Not to say that today’s buildings and homes looks better than Elizabethan castles (because they definitely don’t), but they’re definitely more simplistic. For those of you who have a knack for design and creation, architecture is a great match for you.

Architecture requires the vision to be able to see how a building you draw on paper will look in 3D, the creativity to design new layouts and structures that have never been done before, and the adaptability to change for the needs of the client or the laws of physics. With architecture, it’s all about figuring out how to draw outside the lines—which caters specifically to millennials because we hate being put in a box.

If you aren’t interested in the building aspect of design, you can always use your architecture degree to be an interior designer. It’s a great field for those with an eye for placement and color.

8. Foreign Language

We have the ability to communicate with others around the world now more than ever. We’ve grown up in a time of technological advancements—one namely being the cell phone. With all these opportunities to connect, there emerges a need for people who can communicate with someone who doesn’t speak their native language.

With a degree in any language, you automatically have a leg up on the competition in the workplace, especially Chinese (because of their growing markets and technology) and Spanish. Companies want to grow and diversify more than anything, which means they need people on their side who can make those connections in foreign countries.

With this degree you can become a translator for the government or a private company and travel the world negotiating business deals, communicating with vendors, selling products; basically the opportunities are endless. Another rewarding job you can get with this degree is being a foreign language teacher in another country—so you can go to Japan and teach English to the students over there because you can understand them in both languages.

9. International Business

Foreign languages and international business go hand in hand, so if you can, I recommend getting a degree in both. With an international business degree, you’ll be given the skills to negotiate and connect with businesses and people from other countries.

Along with learning business etiquette, you’ll also learn the customs of other countries so that you can conduct business without offending anyone. This will, in turn, make you an overall culturally diverse person—which will come in handy in everyday life. If you’re a millennial who’s itching for adventure and eager to learn about other countries, this degree is right for you.

10. Engineering

Engineering is a highly diverse and ever-changing field. No matter which branch you choose—computer, agricultural, mechanical, civil, or biomedical engineering—you’ll start off with a fairly large salary. Millennials are all about innovation and creation, which is exactly what engineers do.

Engineers focus on the logistics of efficiency in every part of life, which is a great profession to go into because we’re all used to fast-paced lives. With this degree, you also aren’t limited to just being an engineer; there are nearly endless possibilities for the skill sets that this major gives you.

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