by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 204 U.S. colleges awarded 8,761 degrees and certificates in Engineering-Related Fields. Master’s degrees are the most popular award, at 78% of graduates. College Factual ranks 135 schools in its 2027 Best Engineering-Related Fields Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $86,644 one year after completing, rising to $108,922 after four years.
Most people are familiar with some of the main engineering majors including civil, architecture, computer, and mechanical engineering. However, if you don't feel like you'd fit nicely into one of these areas, you may consider going to school for a more specific engineering-related field. A number of opportunities exist outside of the traditional engineering field - this can include positions in engineering and industrial management, engineering design and packaging science.
Each of these areas of study typically requires a base degree in an engineering major or business administration. Engineering and industrial management deals with the management and optimization of an engineering or industrial company. These managers look for ways to streamline operations and make the business more efficient.
Engineering design deals with creating designs that solve a particular world problem. These engineers are typically involved with other teams of engineers who help design and construct tests and prototypes to verify whether the solution solves the issue they are tasked with.
Ever wonder who invents some of the crazy packaging you see when buying expensive tech products? Packaging engineers typically go into this specialized program bringing along experience and education from other engineering or design backgrounds. Packaging engineers help design packaging for anything from food to tech or industrial products. They look at how to safely ship products while utilizing new construction methods.
A degree in Engineering-Related Fields covers Engineering-Related Fields.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Across the country, engineering-related fields is a widely-pursued major, with 8,761 degrees awarded annually. 204 colleges award engineering-related fields degrees, an average of 43 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 461.
By level, the 8,761 awards include 30 associate degrees, 1,746 bachelor’s degrees, 6,855 master’s degrees and 130 doctorates.
Women earned 32% of engineering-related fields degrees and certificates in the latest year (2,787 of 8,761). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (2,845) and Hispanic or Latino (622), and international students earned 3,846.
College Factual ranks 135 schools in its 2027 Best Engineering-Related Fields Schools ranking, including 39 for bachelor’s degrees, 113 for master’s degrees and 3 for doctorates. It also ranks engineering-related fields schools within 28 states. In all, 204 colleges offer engineering-related fields programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Engineering-Related Fields Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common engineering-related fields credential is the master’s degree: 6,855 of the 8,761 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to engineering-related fields call most for Reading Comprehension, Critical Thinking and Active Listening, and for knowledge of Engineering and Technology, English Language and Mathematics, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Written Comprehension, Oral Expression and Oral Comprehension.
Each engineering-related field will have different sets of required skills, but most will require a base bachelor's degree in a related engineering field. For example, if you want to get your MBA in engineering management, you may be required to have a bachelor's degree in one of the main engineering fields like civil, computer or mechanical engineering.
Engineers need to be detail oriented and observant. Since these fields are very technical, a strong background and interest in mathematics and the physical sciences are necessary.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long an engineering-related fields degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 30 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 1,746 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 6,855 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 130 |
Bachelor’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to engineering-related fields, at 35.8%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 35.8% |
| Doctoral degree | 16.5% |
| Master’s degree | 11.3% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 7.6% |
| Some college courses | 6.5% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 5.6% |
| Post-doctoral training | 4.6% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 4.5% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 3.7% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 2.5% |
| First professional degree | 0.9% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 0.6% |
Source: O*NET Online.
30 occupations are related to Engineering-Related Fields, with an average median salary of $101,502; the strongest outlook belongs to Solar Energy Systems Engineers, at 14.5% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Lecturer, Instructor, Associate Professor and Adjunct Instructor.
The occupation related to engineering-related fields with the most projected jobs is Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary, at 1,297,204.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,297,204 | -2.0% |
| Postsecondary Teachers, All Other | 964,215 | -0.1% |
| Geothermal Production Managers | 503,620 | 1.9% |
| Biomass Power Plant Managers | 450,707 | 4.2% |
| Biofuels/Biodiesel Technology and Product Development Managers | 440,884 | 8.0% |
| Human Factors Engineers and Ergonomists | 395,031 | 12.1% |
| Commercial and Industrial Designers | 387,029 | 12.4% |
| Security Managers | 360,967 | 0.6% |
Engineering-Related Fields graduates earn a median $86,644 one year after completing their program, $108,922 after four years and $104,461 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $86,644 |
| 4 years | $108,922 |
| 5 years | $104,461 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to engineering-related fields is Biofuels Production Managers, with a median salary of $164,096.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Biofuels Production Managers | $164,096 |
| Geothermal Production Managers | $160,381 |
| Facilities Managers | $157,669 |
| Biomass Power Plant Managers | $146,025 |
| Engineers, All Other | $136,628 |
| Human Factors Engineers and Ergonomists | $128,495 |
| Industrial Production Managers | $126,666 |
| Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other | $121,642 |
Engineering-Related Fields includes 4 concentrations that together award 8,761 degrees a year; by graduates, the largest are Engineering/Industrial Management (7,921), Packaging Science (377) and Engineering Design (253). It has 18 similar majors in the Engineering Technologies field, which together award 90,286 degrees a year; the largest are Electromechanical Technologies/Technicians (13,228), Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians (12,892) and Environmental Control Technologies/Technicians (12,771). Browse all Engineering Technologies majors or the full list of college majors.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Engineering/Industrial Management | 7,921 |
| Packaging Science | 377 |
| Engineering Design | 253 |
| Engineering-Related Fields, Other | 210 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
