by our College Data Analytics TeamMost 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.
Engineering-Related Fields was the 112th most popular major in the 2020-2021 school year. Colleges in the United States reported awarding 6,736 degrees in this year alone. This represents a 6.2% increase in engineering-related fields degrees awarded over the prior year's total of 6,319.
Our 2023 Best Engineering-Related Fields Schools ranking analyzes 85 of these schools to determine the best overall colleges for engineering-related fields students. Explore this or one of our many other custom engineering-related fields rankings further below.
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.
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. Once you obtain your degree, additional engineering-related fields certifications required to pursue a career in this field.
Engineering-Related Fields degree levels vary. You can get anything from a in engineering-related fields to the highest engineering-related fields degree, a . Engineering-Related Fields programs can take anywhere between one to four or more years for a full-time student to complete.
| 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-related fields, with approximately 40.3% of workers getting one. Find out other typical degree levels for engineering-related fields workers below.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 42.3% |
| Associate’s Degree (or other 2-year degree) | 13.0% |
| Some College Courses | 12.7% |
| Master’s Degree | 8.9% |
| High School Diploma | 7.1% |
59.9% of engineering-related fields workers have at least a bachelor's. View the chart below to get an idea of what degree level most of those in engineering-related fields careers have.
This of course varies depending on which engineering-related fields career you choose.
Want a job when you graduate with your engineering-related fields degree? Engineering-Related Fields careers are expected to grow 6.5% between 2016 and 2026.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to engineering-related fields.
| Occupation Name | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Industrial Engineers | 283,000 | 9.7% |
| Professors | 258,700 | 9.4% |
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | 190,000 | 5.5% |
| Industrial Production Managers | 169,700 | -0.5% |
| Engineers | 141,000 | 6.4% |
Recently graduated engineering-related fields students earned an average of $77,404 in 2019-2020. Earnings can range from as low as $28,236 to as high as $135,821. As you might expect, salaries for engineering-related fields graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.
Salaries for engineering-related fields graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top highest paying careers engineering-related fields grads often go into.
| Occupation Name | Median Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | $148,970 |
| Engineering Professors | $113,680 |
| Industrial Production Managers | $113,370 |
| Engineers | $99,410 |
| Industrial Engineers | $91,630 |
With over 338 different engineering-related fields 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-related fields school rankings to help you with this.
Learn about other programs related to Engineering-Related Fields that might interest you.
Engineering-Related Fields is one of 18 different types of Engineering Technologies programs to choose from.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Industrial & Management Engineering | 6,063 |
| Packaging Science | 420 |
| Other Engineering-Related Fields | 138 |
| Engineering Design | 115 |
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Industrial Production Technology | 11,906 |
| Electromechanical Engineering Technology | 10,593 |
| Drafting & Design Engineering Technology | 8,964 |
| Environmental Control Technology | 8,690 |
| Electronics Engineering Technology | 8,592 |
