Best Colleges and Universities for Engineering Degrees Published: Nov 6, 2021 Nov 27, 2023
The best engineering degree programs are those with rich histories of influence, proven through the work produced by the program’s faculty and alumni. Beyond demonstrating scholarly impact in the field, the best engineering degree programs maximize your opportunities to interact with outstanding engineering faculty.
In This Article: The Best Colleges and Universities for Engineering Degrees The Best Engineering Schools in Your State What can I do with an engineering major? Is engineering a good major? What courses will I take as an engineering major? What jobs can I do with an engineering major? Is a research university right for me? Is a liberal arts college right for me? Is an online college right for me? Career Outlook for Students with Engineering Degree Learn More About Engineering Ask A Question Table of Contents In This Article: The Best Colleges and Universities for Engineering Degrees The Best Engineering Schools in Your State What can I do with an engineering major? Is engineering a good major? What courses will I take as an engineering major? What jobs can I do with an engineering major? Is a research university right for me? Is a liberal arts college right for me? Is an online college right for me? Career Outlook for Students with Engineering Degree Learn More About Engineering Ask A Question A bachelor’s degree in engineering is an excellent starting point for a career in architecture, aerospace design, network administration, and a host of other rapidly innovating fields. As an engineering major, you’ll study foundational STEM topics like physics and calculus alongside your area of concentration. You can choose from an extremely wide range of applications, from civil engineering and systems engineering to software engineering and environmental engineering. The best schools for engineering are those which are regionally accredited, which offer a full array of engineering concentrations, and which give you the chance to work with the best and most influential professors and classmates.
Degree popularity: Engineering bachelor’s degrees are the 12th most popular undergraduate degrees across all student demographics, ranking much higher for men – 5th. It’s most popular among white and Asian Americans and Pacific Islander men, for whom it ranks 5th and 9th respectively, according to the number of degree earners reported by the National Center for Educational Statistics
Featured Programs Frequently Asked Questions About Engineering Bachelor’s Degrees What can I do with an engineering major? Earning a bachelor’s degree in engineering can open numerous professional doors. You could design navigational systems for commercial airliners, design the public transportation system for a major city, or oversee safety for a local electrical power station. As an engineering major, you’ll get to choose an area to apply your skills. Whether you plan to design engines, produce software innovations, develop self-driving cars, or help design the office building of the future, a degree in engineering is an important first step. The best schools for engineering will put you in a position to become an innovator and a leader in this exciting field.
Today, top influencers in engineering are breaking new ground in areas such as gene editing , artificial intelligence , global risk consulting , and much more.
Back to Top Is engineering a good major? Engineering is a popular major because it can provide a pathway into countless fields and career opportunities. If you’re looking for a well-paying and secure job, an engineering degree is a great place to start. According to the BLS, the engineering sector is expected to add roughly 74,800 new jobs by 2029 . Much of this growth is concentrated in areas of innovation such as infrastructure rebuilding, renewable energy, robotics, and more. Majoring in engineering could qualify you to work in one of these rapidly advancing industries.
Back to Top What courses will I take as an engineering major? Once you’ve declared your major in engineering, you will likely be required to complete a set of core courses in a number of STEM-related subject areas. While your concentration will give you a chance to choose from a wide range of highly-specialized engineering electives, there are a number of common courses that most engineering majors will be required to take, including:
Engineering Principles Mathematical Operations Linear circuits Surveying Principles Calculus Physics Differential Equations Industrial Systems Mechanics, Electricity, and Magnetism
Back to Top What jobs can I do with an engineering major? Earning a degree in engineering can qualify you for a number of well-paying jobs. Engineering skills are highly valued in the labor market. In fact, a high percentage of CEO’s from Fortune 500 companies hold an engineering degree. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2019, the median annual wage for architecture and engineering occupations was $81,440. This compares very favorably to the median annual wage for all occupations of $39,810. The following are among the most popular jobs for Engineering majors:
Back to Top Frequently Asked Questions About Research Universities, Liberal Arts Colleges, Online Colleges In pursuing a bachelor’s degree, you will need to choose between three kinds of schools: research universities, liberal arts colleges, and online colleges.
Is a research university right for me? Research universities
Do you prefer a larger university setting , such as largest public university in your state? Research universities are typically big, offering degrees in many different disciplines. Is a big high-powered research environment the thing for you. If not, you should think about a liberal arts college. In deciding on an undergraduate institution, ask yourself what sort of environment will best help you to be happy and excel.
Consider whether you are self motivated enough to be a face in the crowd for some classes and largely unknown on campus at a large university. Of course you can find clubs and friends at a large university, but often liberal arts colleges have a more personal quality to them. If you want the community feel, a research university may not fit you well.Are you interested in STEM fields? Research universities have that name for a reason – real research is happening there. This can create an exciting atmosphere for students interested in STEM. Attending a research university can give you a better chance of getting into better programs for graduate degrees, although a lot of that depends on your performance. Back to Top Learn more about research universities by reading about the best research universities in the US .
Is a liberal arts college right for me? Often referred to as “teaching colleges” liberal arts colleges
Do you want your professors to know you? Liberal arts colleges strive to cultivate campus cultures that encourage tight bonds between professors and students. Professors at these schools will typically conduct original research. Yet the best of these schools offer their faculty reduced teaching loads so that they can both be productive researchers and still have plenty of time for students (both in and outside the classroom).Do you want to feel like you know everybody? One of the most enticing features of a liberal arts college is that in very little time, you can feel like you know who’s who, which can create strong friendships, but also more pleasurable walks across campus. While your sports teams may never be on ESPN, it’s more likely that you’ll know the athletes as your peers. Beyond student and faculty relationships, it’s not unusual for the school president and other administrators to learn who you are. When faced with problems with your student account or the need to switch classes, this can be comforting during a stressful moment. Back to Top Learn more about liberal arts colleges by reading about the best liberal arts colleges in the US .
Is an online college right for me? Online colleges
Are you a self-driven student? Perhaps the hardest aspect of obtaining an online degree is whether you will be disciplined enough to manage your time and course demands. Many online students report that online college made them more disciplined in all areas of their lives, but the flexible, self-paced learning that makes online colleges attractive can often be the same qualities that make it difficult. If you tend to be a procrastinator, you need to be honest with yourself. You can change your habits and propensities, or you can throw money down the drain.Do you need the flexibility of an online degree program? Most online students study online because of time demands balancing work and life, or becuase the online colleges afford them the chance to attend a better school without moving. If you are serious about earning your degree for career advancement, online colleges make it possible. The most flexible options among online degrees are those that are aynchronous, meaning you don’t have scheduled times to meet with your class online. However, many students seek synchronous online degree programs so that they have some structure – set meeting times, scheduled exams, etc.The good news is that attending an online college doesn’t mean you will miss out on getting to know your professors and classmates . In fact, many online students who have experienced both online and on-campus courses report having easier access to their professors. Since most communication with your professor is expected to be in text – via email or your class learning management system – it makes asking your questions easier. The same students also report that they got to better know the thoughts of their classmates. While in-person course conversations can be dominated by a few extroverts, online courses that require online discussions make it so that you see all of your classmates’ thoughts and questions. If you’re interested in an online bachelor’s degree, check out what the best online colleges offer , or search our online degrees for the exact program that interests you . In either case, you will find well respected colleges and universities that offer online degrees.
Back to Top The Best Colleges and Universities for Engineering Degrees University of Arizona Stony Brook University Florida International University Old Dominion University University of North Carolina at Charlotte Go to The Best Engineering Online Colleges
Career Outlook for Students with Engineering Degree Go to Degree Finder tool Engineering –Select a similar degree– Applied Engineering. Architectural and Building Sciences/Technology. Combat Systems Engineering. Construction Engineering. Electromechanical Engineering. Electromechanical/Electromechanical Engineering Technology/Technician. Engineering Acoustics. Engineering Chemistry. Engineering Design. Engineering Physics/Applied Physics. Engineering Science. Engineering Technologies/Technicians, General. Engineering, General. Engineering, Other. Engineering-Related Fields, Other. Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering. Forest Engineering. Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering. Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering. Ocean Engineering. Pre-Engineering. Radar Communications and Systems Technology. Semiconductor Manufacturing Technology/Technician. Degree Level: Bachelor's Location: The U.S. (Private Schools) Avg. Starting Salary*: $64,296 Avg. Salary after 4 Years*: $79,623 * denotes ‘annually’ Career Salaries Career Job Growth Avg. Salary Architectural and Engineering Managers 2.30% $140,969 Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary 13.10% $98,308 Engineers, All Other No data $91,309
Average Career Salaries Bottom 10% Median Top 10% $67,401 $111,441 $159,153
Promising Job Markets State Cost of Living Avg. Salary #2 Alabama 13% higher than average $127,330 #3 South Dakota 7% higher than average $134,120 #4 New Mexico 7% higher than average $134,285 #5 Delaware 2% higher than average $138,127 #6 Virginia 5% higher than average $126,258 #7 Texas 10% higher than average $117,408 #8 Mississippi 18% higher than average $106,885 #9 Georgia 13% higher than average $111,943 #10 Illinois 7% higher than average $118,600 #11 Michigan 15% higher than average $108,305 #12 Idaho 7% higher than average $116,848 #13 North Carolina 11% higher than average $111,777 #14 Ohio 14% higher than average $107,400 #15 Minnesota 4% higher than average $115,255 #16 Arizona 5% higher than average $114,370 #17 Missouri 16% higher than average $100,390 #18 Colorado 3% higher than average $123,098 #19 Louisiana 9% higher than average $107,050 #20 West Virginia 11% higher than average $103,893 #21 Pennsylvania 5% higher than average $111,175 #22 Washington 7% higher than average $122,280 #23 Florida 6% higher than average $107,205 #24 Tennessee 14% higher than average $96,635 #25 New York 5% higher than average $117,155 #26 Arkansas 16% higher than average $94,053 #27 Oklahoma 13% higher than average $96,725 #28 South Carolina 8% higher than average $101,118 #29 New Jersey 13% higher than average $124,343 #30 Wyoming 2% higher than average $106,643 #31 Maryland 18% higher than average $127,763 #32 Indiana 11% higher than average $95,553 #33 Rhode Island 20% higher than average $127,438 #34 Iowa 9% higher than average $96,523 #35 North Dakota average $106,355 #36 Alaska 23% higher than average $129,843 #37 Utah 4% higher than average $100,225 #38 California 26% higher than average $130,760 #39 Massachusetts 24% higher than average $128,018 #40 Kansas 9% higher than average $93,518 #41 Kentucky 14% higher than average $87,640 #42 Wisconsin 7% higher than average $95,165 #43 Oregon 11% higher than average $112,925 #44 Nebraska 6% higher than average $95,498 #45 Montana 3% higher than average $98,270 #46 New Hampshire 13% higher than average $111,628 #47 Vermont 13% higher than average $108,233 #48 Maine 9% higher than average $102,978 #49 District of Columbia 49% higher than average $138,233 #50 Nevada 5% higher than average $96,765 #51 Connecticut 18% higher than average $108,788 #52 Hawaii 40% higher than average $114,580
Show More States Top Industries Industry Avg. Salary Coal Mining $207,450 Electronics and Appliance Stores $206,380 Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities $167,790 Securities, Commodity Contracts, and Other Financial Investments and Related Activities $166,610 Other Information Services $164,060 Cable and Other Subscription Programming $162,150 Construction of Buildings $161,780 Educational Support Services $154,350 Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations $154,137 Sugar and Confectionery Product Manufacturing $151,870
Show More Industries The Best Engineering Schools in Your State Back to Top Learn More About Engineering If you want to know more about engineering, then check out our related content:
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