This was particularly true during the pre-crash years when Econ was the _default_ college major because finance was so much more lucrative than other disciplines.
Frankly, now CS is the _default_ college major in at least the elite sort of places with an abundance of smart students with a lack of direction. A career as in software (whether it be as a SWE or PM) is on a per hour basis now so much more lucrative than most other disciplines.
I'm a Princeton alum. The largest Freshman declared major is CS [1]. That's from a Dean's mouth. I was absolutely shocked since we are one of the most prominent WS feeder schools.
[1] presumably some will switch majors but piling into a lucrative major as a freshman is a strong signal of how students perceive the industries.
Frankly, now CS is the _default_ college major in at least the elite sort of places with an abundance of smart students with a lack of direction. A career as in software (whether it be as a SWE or PM) is on a per hour basis now so much more lucrative than most other disciplines.