Startups are known for being fast-paced, innovative, and flexible. They often attract ambitious individuals who want to make an impact, take risks, and help build something from the ground up. If you’re considering working in a startup, choosing the right college major becomes a strategic decision. Should you pursue a technical major, like computer science or engineering, that equips you with in-demand hard skills? Or would a liberal arts major, like communication, psychology, or design, give you the creative and human-focused edge that startups also need?
This article explores the key differences between technical and liberal arts majors—and how each can prepare you for a rewarding career in the startup world.
Understanding Startup Culture
Before comparing majors, it’s important to understand the nature of startups:
- Fast-paced and constantly evolving
- Flat hierarchies and cross-functional collaboration
- Limited resources but high levels of innovation
- Emphasis on problem-solving, adaptability, and initiative
Startups often require team members who can wear multiple hats, learn quickly, and contribute beyond their job title. This means that both technical knowledge and soft skills are essential.
What Is a Technical Major?
Technical majors include disciplines like:
- Computer Science
- Information Systems
- Data Science
- Software Engineering
- Electrical or Mechanical Engineering
These fields emphasize problem-solving, coding, systems thinking, math, and scientific analysis.
Pros of Technical Majors for Startups:
- High Demand: Startups often need developers, product engineers, and data analysts.
- Immediate Value: You can build software, manage systems, or develop technical solutions from day one.
- Better Starting Salaries: Many startups offer competitive pay for technical roles, even at early stages.
- Scalability: Technical skills are useful across many industries and are foundational in scaling startup products.
Potential Limitations:
- Specialization: Some tech majors focus narrowly on systems or theory.
- Soft Skill Gap: Communication, leadership, or customer understanding may need more development.
- Less Flexibility: Technical roles can become siloed if not combined with broader business exposure.
What Is a Liberal Arts Major?
Liberal arts fields include:
- Psychology
- Communication
- Design
- Sociology
- English
- International Relations
These programs focus on human behavior, creativity, ethics, language, and social systems.
Pros of Liberal Arts Majors for Startups:
- Versatility: Liberal arts students often have strong communication, adaptability, and critical thinking skills.
- People Skills: Understanding users, customers, and team dynamics is key to product-market fit and leadership.
- Creativity: Startups need branding, storytelling, design, and innovation—areas where liberal arts majors shine.
- Cross-Functional Readiness: These graduates are often great generalists, perfect for startups that need flexible team players.
Potential Limitations:
- Technical Skill Gap: You might need to self-learn tools or platforms to stay competitive.
- Lower Starting Salaries: Liberal arts roles in startups (e.g., marketing, content, HR) often pay less than technical ones.
- Perceived Practicality: You’ll need to clearly demonstrate how your skills translate to startup needs.
Startup Roles by Major Type
| Department | Ideal for Technical Majors | Ideal for Liberal Arts Majors |
|---|---|---|
| Product Development | Software Engineer, Data Scientist | UX Designer, Product Researcher |
| Marketing | Data Analyst, Marketing Tech | Content Creator, Brand Strategist |
| Operations | Systems Engineer, Data Ops | Operations Manager, People Ops |
| Customer Success | Tools Developer | Customer Experience, Account Manager |
| Leadership/Strategy | CTO, Product Manager | CEO, Growth Lead, Culture Manager |
Hybrid Skills: The Startup Superpower
The most successful startup professionals often combine skills from both areas. For example:
- A psychology major who learns UX design and user testing tools
- An engineer who takes business or communication electives and learns to pitch ideas
- A designer who studies basic HTML/CSS and understands product development cycles
- A communications major who learns to analyze data for content performance
In fact, many startups prize team members who understand technology but can also empathize with customers, write clearly, and work cross-functionally.
Building Your Own Startup: Which Background Helps More?
If your dream is to start your own company one day, both technical and liberal arts backgrounds can be advantageous—but in different ways:
- Technical founders can build MVPs (Minimum Viable Products) themselves, which reduces startup costs and speeds up iteration.
- Liberal arts founders often bring vision, storytelling, and emotional intelligence, which are crucial for branding, hiring, and investor communication.
Many of the world’s top founders have come from both sides of the academic spectrum:
- Mark Zuckerberg (Facebook): Computer Science
- Brian Chesky (Airbnb): Industrial Design
- Stewart Butterfield (Slack): Philosophy
This proves that success in startups isn’t about choosing one “right” major—but about cultivating a mindset of curiosity, resilience, and continuous learning.
Recommendations Based on Career Goals
Choose a Technical Major if:
- You want to build software, products, or tech systems.
- You enjoy coding, data, and structured problem-solving.
- You want to increase your chances of landing a technical co-founder or product role.
Choose a Liberal Arts Major if:
- You love storytelling, design, behavior, or communication.
- You’re interested in marketing, user research, or leadership roles.
- You’re open to self-teaching technical tools on the side.
Consider Minors or Side Learning to Bridge the Gap:
- A liberal arts major can take online courses in tech (e.g., Python, web design).
- A technical major can join public speaking, writing, or entrepreneurship clubs.
- Everyone should build a portfolio or work on projects that show real-world impact.
Conclusion: You Don’t Have to Choose Between Creativity and Code
When it comes to startups, both technical and liberal arts majors are needed to build something great. The real secret? It’s not just about what you study—it’s about how you apply it. The best startup teams have diversity in thought, skill sets, and perspectives.
Whether you come from a liberal arts background or a technical one, the most important startup traits are:
- Initiative
- Curiosity
- Problem-solving
- Adaptability
- A willingness to learn and collaborate
So choose a major that matches your strengths and passions—but stay open, keep learning, and be ready to create something new.