Best Colleges and Universities for Engineering Degrees

Badge for BEST FOR ENGINEERING COLLEGES & UNIVERSITIES

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.

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

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Frequently Asked Questions About Engineering Bachelor’s Degrees

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.

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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.

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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

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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:

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The Best Colleges and Universities for Engineering Degrees

Best Engineering Major Research Universities

  1. MIT – Massachusetts Institute of Technology
  2. Stanford University
  3. Harvard University
  4. University of California, Berkeley
  5. Columbia University

Go to The Best Engineering Research Universities

Best Engineering Major Liberal Arts Colleges

  1. United States Naval Academy
  2. United States Military Academy
  3. Cooper Union
  4. Harvey Mudd College
  5. United States Air Force Academy

Go to The Best Engineering Liberal Arts Colleges

Best Computer Engineering Major Online Colleges

  1. University of Arizona
  2. Stony Brook University
  3. Florida International University
  4. Old Dominion University
  5. 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

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

CareerJob GrowthAvg. Salary
Architectural and Engineering Managers4.07%$142,020
Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary9.23%$100,317
Engineers, All Other3.35%$94,619

Average Career Salaries

Bottom 10%MedianTop 10%
$70,500$114,308$169,476

Promising Job Markets

StateCost of LivingAvg. Salary
#2 Delaware2% higher than average$164,800
#3 New Mexico7% higher than average$135,198
#4 Alabama13% higher than average$125,048
#5 Virginia5% higher than average$131,000
#6 Texas10% higher than average$121,850

Top Industries

IndustryAvg. Salary
Architectural and Engineering Managers$142,020
Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary$100,317
Engineers, All Other$94,619

The Best Engineering Schools in Your State

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