by our College Data Analytics TeamThe field of Engineering will allow you to explore the science behind the amazing gadgets that we use in everyday life. Engineers build bridges, program robots, create waste treatment plans, design alarm clocks, and work with basically anything that moves mechanically. This major will involve advanced classes in math and science, teaching you principles that will allow you to build and operate machines, structures and systems. Not only should you like math and science, but you should also love building and creating things. You have power to improve the world by making new advancements.
There are many majors in this field; General Engineering allows students to master general engineering principles that can be applied in a multitude of fields. Another popular major is Aerospace & Aeronautical Engineering, where students learn the science of flight and spacecraft. In Civil Engineering students learn how to build large and important buildings and structures like roadways and tunnels, while Computer Engineering majors learn to create computer programs and chips. Mechanical Engineering is another popular major where students learn to build and operate mechanical systems and manufacturing equipment.
These are just a few of the most well-known areas, but there are many majors to explore in this field.
In 2020-2021, engineering was the 7th most popular major nationwide with 198,468 degrees awarded. This represents a 1.0% reduction in engineering degrees awarded over the prior year's total of 200,458.
Our 2023 Best Engineering Schools ranking analyzes 355 of these schools to determine the best overall colleges for engineering students. Explore this or one of our many other custom engineering rankings further below.
There are numerous majors and concentrations in the engineering field allowing for students with many different interests. However, there are certain skills that all students entering this field should have. Engineering programs will involve classes in advanced math and science, including physics and calculus. Be prepared to memorize formulas in order to apply and use them in practical situations.
This major requires a lot of dedication and long hours of study. Dedicated students are rewarded for their persistence with many "aha!" moments. You should be dedicated to the field and not get discouraged easily.
Engineers love to learn through hands-on projects. You will constantly be asked to push boundaries in order to understand and create things in your particular interest area. Many times you will be doing this with a team, so you should be good at working with people. Communication skills are essential to all types of engineers. You need to be able to explain your ideas, but also keep other viewpoints in mind.
Many colleges will require an internship or a co-op job. This will help guide you in a specific direction while allowing firsthand experience in your field. Experience will help make you stand out in order to obtain a job.
New students will need to have completed high school or a GED program and each school will have their own minimum GPA and SAT/ACT test requirements. In addition to these basic engineering program qualifications, to serve in some engineering careers, special certification may be required outside of your degree.
Engineering degree levels vary. You can spend many years getting as high as a in engineering to something that takes less time like a . How long it takes to complete some common engineering degree levels is shown below.
| Degree | Credit Requirements | Typical Program Length |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 60-70 credits | 2 years |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 120 credits | 4 years |
| Master’s Degree | 50-70 credits | 1-3 years |
| Doctorate | Program required coursework including thesis or dissertation | At least 4 years |
A bachelor's degree is the most common level of education achieved by those in careers related to engineering, with approximately 56.8% of workers getting one. People currently working in careers related to engineering tend obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 58.4% |
| Master’s Degree | 16.0% |
| Doctoral Degree | 5.5% |
| Associate’s Degree (or other 2-year degree) | 5.2% |
| Post-Baccalaureate Certificate | 3.7% |
Most workers in engineering have at least a bachelor's degree. View the chart below to get an idea of what degree level most of those in engineering careers have.
This of course varies depending on which engineering career you choose.
This major is vast and there are a lot of different positions available to you depending on your field. You could decide to work specifically with certain materials, such as plastics or metal, or you could work with natural elements as in Forestry Engineering or Ocean Engineering.
By the end of your first year you should decide what interests you most and then specialize in that specific area. Most job fields have plenty of openings, with certain niche areas offering more advancement than others. Work experience will set you apart when applying for a competitive position.
Want a job when you graduate with your engineering degree? Engineering careers are expected to grow 13.6% between 2016 and 2026.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to engineering.
| Occupation Name | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Software Applications Developers | 1,086,600 | 30.7% |
| Systems Software Developers | 472,100 | 11.1% |
| Civil Engineers | 335,700 | 10.6% |
| Mechanical Engineers | 314,100 | 8.8% |
| Industrial Engineers | 283,000 | 9.7% |
Recently graduated engineering students earned an average of $68,646 in 2019-2020. Earnings can range from as low as $22,483 to as high as $160,692. As you might expect, salaries for engineering graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.
Salaries for engineering graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top highest paying careers engineering grads often go into.
| Occupation Name | Median Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Petroleum Engineers | $156,370 |
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | $148,970 |
| Natural Sciences Managers | $139,680 |
| Physicists | $125,280 |
| Computer Hardware Engineers | $117,840 |
With over 8,516 different engineering degree programs to choose from, finding the best fit for you can be a challenge. Fortunately you have come to the right place. We have analyzed all of these schools to come up with hundreds of unbiased engineering school rankings to help you with this.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Mechanical Engineering | 46,178 |
| Electrical Engineering | 28,844 |
| Civil Engineering | 21,388 |
| Computer Engineering | 17,987 |
| Chemical Engineering | 12,917 |
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Computer & Information Sciences | 254,454 |
| Biological & Biomedical Sciences | 177,778 |
| Engineering Technologies | 85,188 |
| Mathematics & Statistics | 52,396 |
| Physical Sciences | 50,306 |
Image Credit: By Petty Officer 3rd Class Declan Barnes under License More about our data sources and methodologies.
