A Guide to Picking a Degree for a Career That’s Going Places

I remember standing in the middle of my high school counselor’s office, a folded-up college brochure in my back pocket and that sinking realization setting in: I had no idea what I wanted to do. People kept throwing around questions like “What are you passionate about?” or “What’s your dream job?”—as if we were all just supposed to know.

Spoiler: most of us didn’t.

Choosing a college major or degree path is one of the earliest, weightiest decisions a person makes. It’s billed as the gateway to your “future”—but no one hands you a roadmap for how to decide. And for all the career quizzes and best-major lists out there, the truth is, most of them don’t really help you think strategically and authentically.

So, this guide? It's here to bridge that gap. We’re not just listing “the hottest degrees of the year.” We’re talking through how to choose a degree that aligns with you, makes financial sense, and leads to a career that’s actually going somewhere. One that has traction. Mobility. Flexibility.

Why Picking a Degree Is About More Than the Major

Most people approach choosing a degree the way they approach choosing an entree at a crowded restaurant: squinting at the menu, hoping whatever they pick won’t give them regret (or indigestion) later.

But degrees aren’t dishes—they’re platforms. They don’t just define what you’ll learn; they influence how you’ll think, where you’ll have access, and what doors might open.

This isn’t to add pressure. It’s to say: thinking bigger than “what job will this get me” is often the key to long-term career momentum. A degree should do at least two things:

1. Prepare you with valuable, flexible skills that can evolve over time
2. Plug you into an ecosystem—of professionals, industries, or institutions—that moves

Some majors do that naturally (hello, computer science). Others can do that, but need a strategy layered in. We’ll unpack what that looks like.

According to LinkedIn, 52% of workers with degrees end up in jobs that don’t directly relate to their major, but their degree still influences their earning potential and career trajectory.

So the question isn’t just “What degree should I pick?” It’s also: “What kind of career life do I want to build—and what will set me up for it?”

Start With What You Want Your Life to Look Like

Here’s something not enough people say: You don’t have to know your exact dream job in order to choose a good-fit degree. But it does help to have a sense of the life you’re trying to build.

Ask yourself questions like:

• Do I want to work independently or on a team?
• Do I see myself in a structured role or one with creative freedom?
• How important is location flexibility or remote work?
• Do I prefer solving problems, working with people, or building things?

Even a blurry vision is better than none. You’re not choosing the rest of your life. You’re just setting a foundation. And if the foundation is based on how you work best, not just what sounds “cool” or “safe,” you’ll be more motivated—and more likely to pivot successfully if you need to.

Smart Move: Focus on your workstyle before your job title. The degree that aligns with how you like to work will serve you better over time than one that just sounds impressive on paper.

Degrees That Age Well (And Why That Matters)

Let’s talk about durability. Not all degrees are built to last. Some open clear, direct paths to specific jobs—nursing, accounting, engineering. Others are broader, more interpretive—psychology, communications, liberal arts.

Neither is inherently better. But one key question can help clarify which category is right for you:

Do I want to be trained for a specific career, or do I want to develop skills that apply to multiple industries?

Here are a few degrees that tend to age well—meaning they offer both solid earning potential and room to evolve:

• Computer Science or Information Systems: Tech isn’t going anywhere. Even if you don’t code forever, this degree gives you language, logic, and access.
• Engineering: Not just mechanical or civil—consider biomedical, environmental, or systems engineering for interdisciplinary careers.
• Business Administration (with a practical concentration): Supply chain, finance, or analytics tracks can open doors across industries.
• Health Sciences: Public health, healthcare administration, and occupational therapy tracks are growing fast, especially with an aging population.
• Design or Human-Computer Interaction (HCI): If you lean creative and tech-savvy, these degrees straddle UX, product, and branding roles.

That said, don’t sleep on liberal arts—if you have a strategy. A degree in English, History, or Philosophy can be a powerhouse for law, public policy, or content strategy—if paired with internships or certifications.

The Money Question: ROI Matters (But Not in the Way You Think)

We’ve all seen those headlines: “The 10 Highest Paying Majors” or “Avoid These Degrees at All Costs.” But let’s back up.

Yes, you should absolutely consider the cost-to-value ratio of your degree. But value doesn’t mean chasing the highest possible salary. It means choosing a degree that leads to enough financial upside to fund the life you want, without burying you in debt.

Here’s what to look at when weighing ROI:

• Median earnings in your field 5–10 years post-grad
• Employment rate within six months of graduation
• Student debt typical for your program or school
• Licensure or certification costs after graduation

Sites like the College Scorecard or the Bureau of Labor Statistics can give you data that goes beyond brochure promises.

Smart Move: Run a “career breakeven analysis”—compare what your starting salary might be to your total projected debt. If it takes more than 10 years to pay off with average earnings, that degree needs a rethink or a strategic workaround.

Pairing Your Degree With Real-World Fuel

The degree is just part one. Part two is how you activate it.

Internships, research projects, campus jobs, networking with professors—these are the things that turn a degree into a launchpad. You’d be surprised how often employers hire based on experience + degree, not just the diploma alone.

Here’s where people get stuck: they assume they need to wait until junior or senior year to start building experience. Don’t wait. You can start in year one, even with small gigs:

• Volunteer on a project with a student group
• Shadow someone in a role that interests you
• Freelance, tutor, or assist with research for a professor

These experiences don’t just build your resume—they give you data points about what kinds of work energize you.

Smart Move: Don’t treat your degree like a standalone product. Think of it as a platform you’re building in tandem with skills, experiences, and connections.

When You’re Torn Between Two Paths

Not everyone falls cleanly into one category. Maybe you love psychology and computer science. Or biology and design. Or you’re stuck between business and journalism.

When you’re feeling split, don’t default to one over the other. Instead, look for intersections. Many universities now offer hybrid degrees or dual-track programs that let you combine fields.

Examples:

• Data Journalism
• Health Informatics
• Computational Linguistics
• Business + Environmental Studies (hello, ESG careers)

You can also “hack” your way into a cross-disciplinary career by majoring in one area and supplementing with:

• A targeted minor
• A bootcamp or short-course certification
• Independent portfolio projects
• Strategic internships in your second area of interest

The key is to find the overlap that aligns with what the market values and what you enjoy doing.

For the Late-Deciders and Career Changers

Maybe you're reading this a few years out of high school. Maybe you’ve already started a degree and it doesn’t feel right. Maybe you’re working a job that pays the bills but drains your energy.

If you’re thinking about going back to school (or changing your major), here are a few grounded questions to ask:

• Do I need a full degree to make this change, or would a certification suffice?
• What’s the minimum level of education required in the field I’m targeting?
• Is this field growing or shrinking over the next 10 years?
• Can I test this interest before fully committing?

You don’t have to start from zero. In fact, career changers often bring life experience, maturity, and professional soft skills that new grads don’t have.

Choose Like a Builder

Choosing a degree can feel like signing your name in permanent ink. But here’s what’s more true: it’s more like building the first layer of a foundation.

You’ll pivot. You’ll grow. The job market will shift. What matters most is choosing a degree that gives you options—not a narrow corridor.

So pick a path that feels like a strong starting place. Layer in experience. Follow what energizes you. Pay attention to what’s changing in the world of work. And remember—this isn’t about choosing “perfect.” It’s about choosing possible.

You don’t need to know exactly where you’ll end up. But you do need a direction—and the willingness to walk it with curiosity, confidence, and a plan that’s built to adapt.

That’s how you pick a degree that goes places. Because it starts by meeting you exactly where you are—and giving you the tools to move forward, smarter.