text: economics or engineering? i'm starting my freshman year in the fall. which would be better, considering job market, pay, competitiveness, and prestige and any other factors? i'm planning on following through with a masters degree in whichever major that i end up choosing. if you're going on with a masters afterwards anyway, then i'd say the engineering will serve you better at the undergrad level, regardless of which direction you choose.  i'm just finishing my ph.d. in economics.  when i was applying to grad schools, i was shocked to learn that the econ grad programs actually give preference to undergrads with engineering or math majors over economics majors.  the reason for that is because grad programs in economics today are heavily math-intensive, and they have observed that engineering and math undergrads tend to do better in the econ programs.  so, regardless of what you decide to do later, the engineering major will be better for you.  if you want to keep all your options open, do an econ minor along with it.  that way, you've got another 3 1/2 years to decide which route you want to take.    good luck!