Why We Love It
-
$97,340Potential Avg. Salary*
-
Growing DemandJob Outlook
* Salary & growth data is based on the recent Bureau of Labor and Statistics data published at https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes172071.htm for 17-2071 Electrical engineers 11/2021. Based on national data, not school-specific information. Conditions in your area may vary.
If you spent your childhood disassembling your toys and electronics and putting them back together, you may want to consider a career in engineering. Engineers are responsible for innovation across many different industries.
They develop new products and technologies for agriculture, healthcare, aviation, and construction, and more. The starting point for this career is a bachelor of science in engineering.
What is a Degree in Engineering?
Engineers develop, prototype, innovate, and improve the technical and mechanical components we use in our everyday lives—as well as those that are changing the world.
In a bachelor of science in the engineering program, you’ll learn how engineers work, develop the skills needed to succeed in this highly technical field and earn the credentials needed to become licensed in the field. Students often build experience not only in mathematics and science, but also in design, teamwork, and problem-solving, since engineering projects usually require collaboration across disciplines and the ability to turn technical ideas into practical solutions. Students who are talented mathematicians, computer programmers, and scientists often excel in this program and career.
While general engineering programs are available, more often students need to select a specific area of focus. The area of focus will guide both your education and career. That choice can shape the kinds of labs, software, and design projects students complete, helping them prepare for industries such as manufacturing, energy, healthcare, transportation, and electronics.
Some of the more common engineering options include electrical engineering, biomedical engineering, mechanical engineering, computer engineering, and industrial engineering. Students select the focus area they’re interested in, earn their degrees, get licensed, and move on to enjoy innovative careers as engineers and technicians. ABET accredits engineering programs, but it does not license individual engineers; in the United States, the FE exam is commonly the first step toward professional engineer licensure for graduates of ABET-accredited programs.
Recommended Schools
What Courses Would I Take For a Major in Engineering?
- Calculus of Vector-Valued Functions
- Science of Materials
- Control Theory
- Discrete and Probabilistic Systems
- Thermodynamics
- Linear and Digital Circuits
- Digital Electronics
- Chemical Engineering
What Jobs Can You Get with a Degree in Engineering?
Engineers are expected to be in high demand in the coming decade to support business growth, technical innovation, streamlines processes, and more effective healthcare treatment. Current federal data supports that outlook: architecture and engineering occupations are projected to have about 186,500 openings each year on average from 2024 to 2034, and the median annual wage for the group was $97,310 in May 2024.
As electrical technology components have become less expensive to produce, consumer costs have declined, increasing demand for new products with more features. This has led to the need for a greater number of engineers to design more impressive gadgets, machinery, technology, and electronics. For example, employment of electrical and electronics engineers is projected to grow 7% from 2024 to 2034, with about 17,500 openings each year on average; median annual wages in May 2024 were $111,910 for electrical engineers and $127,590 for electronics engineers, except computer.
How Long does it take?
A bachelors in Engineering will have a typical length of 4 years in a full time schedule. That said, there are many ways to speed up the timeframe by either taking more units via online coursework, community college, or taking free classes at OnlineDegree.com that could transfer to universities in the US.
Recommended Schools
Best Jobs for Engineering Degrees
Engineering program graduates typically find work as engineers in their field of concentration.
Computer engineering students move on to develop faster, smaller, and more functional computers and components; mechanical engineering students move on to build new machines that can be used for faster or more precise manufacturing; and electrical engineering graduates build the components that many other engineers use to build and innovate.
How to save time and money
Our mission is to help you to avoid paying full price for college. We want your Engineering degree to be affordable and accessible. Here’s how you could save:
Create Your Free SmartPlan
There are many ways to make college affordable and accessible.
That’s why we created a helpful tool called SmartPlan.
It’s free, and helps you find potential ways to save and tons of information about each school you’re considering
Think of it as your “college blueprint”, to help you instantly craft a path to your degree:
- Which Colleges Match Your Needs
- Ways You Could Save Time & Money
- Free Courses You Could Take for Credit
- Valuable Data and Insights on Each College
- Detailed Steps You Should Take!
See what’s possible for you and generate a free plan within just a few minutes
Create My SmartPlanLook for a Combined Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree Program
If you think you might one day want to work in senior-level engineering positions, you may want to consider enrolling in a program that award both a bachelor’s and master’s degree.
A combined program leads to the same education credentials, but it only requires five years of study instead of the traditional six. This will shave a year of time off of your education, and it will save you thousands of dollars in tuition costs.
You Might also be Interested in
Many visitors who look for a degree in Engineering are also interested in the following degrees.
