Some of the world’s most successful entrepreneurs don’t have formal post-secondary educational credentials. They dropped out of college, or never bothered to attend in the first place, and they did just fine.

Don’t bet on having the same luck. These days, a two- or four-year college degree is more important than ever, even for students reasonably sure they’ll pursue a career in entrepreneurship once they’ve graduated and gotten their “real world” feet under them.

With this in mind, let’s take a look at the best degree programs for budding entrepreneurs, and why you should consider each in turn.

Interior Design

Interior design is among the most entrepreneurial of the creative professions, and it’s only growing more so. Look for a flexible interior design program from a digital arts school like the Centre for Arts and Technology, and consider working as an interior design freelancer or associate before striking out on your own.

Network Security

Entrepreneurs who understand the cybersecurity and compliance have immense advantages over less digitally literate peers. If you have a knack for the coding environment or a drive to solve the world’s toughest security problems, consider getting a network security degree or certificate that puts you head and shoulders above the competition.

Web Development

For those not passionate about digital security per se, there’s always web development. Again, business owners who feel comfortable in a coding environment are far more likely to thrive in an increasingly digital economy than those who don’t bother to learn.

Economics

This is a classic “pre-entrepreneurship” degree. Consider specializing in an area of economics that’s relevant to the type of business you’d like to found, or the geography in which you’d like to play. If your aim is to launch a clean energy startup in, say, South America, you’ll want to understand the market forces at work down there.

Business Administration

This is another classic degree for entrepreneurs. Sure, it’s common, but there’s a reason for that: it’s absolutely crucial to have a firm grasp on the fundamentals before getting in too deep.

Law (Legal Studies)

Law is a vast area of study. Like economics, it’s best to specialize in an area of the law that’s relevant to your future business endeavors, such as consumer products law or intellectual property law. Don’t shy away from going to law school, if you think it’ll give you a leg up.

Psychology

You can probably think of dozens of reasons to major in psychology. Is an advantage over your business competitors one of them? Psychology majors understand what makes consumers tick better than others, and that could be all the difference you need to make a go of it in a competitive industry.

Everyone Starts Somewhere

All entrepreneurs start somewhere – whether they’re aiming to launch the next billion-dollar “unicorn” or a sustainable sole proprietorship that affords a comfortable living.

As you choose your degree, you’d do well to remember that you don’t have to do it all at once. From time to time, you’re going to experience setbacks, no matter how careful you are. There’s an argument to be made for choosing the degree program that speaks to your wants and interests, irrespective of its potential to boost your future entrepreneurial career.

The choice is yours. How will you make it?