by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 436 U.S. colleges awarded 10,652 degrees and certificates in General Engineering. Master’s degrees are the most popular award, at 39% of graduates. College Factual ranks 215 schools in its 2027 Best General Engineering Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $79,134 one year after completing, rising to $94,387 after four years.
Studying General Engineering explores Engineering, General. A Program That Generally Prepares Individuals To Apply Mathematical And Scientific Principles To Solve A Wide Variety Of Practical Problems In Industry, Social Organization, Public Works, And Commerce. Includes Instruction In Undifferentiated And Individualized Programs In Engineering.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
In the U.S., general engineering is a widely-pursued major, with 10,652 degrees awarded annually. 436 colleges award general engineering degrees, an average of 24 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 460.
By level, the 10,652 awards include 187 certificates, 2,768 associate degrees, 3,123 bachelor’s degrees, 4,113 master’s degrees and 461 doctorates.
Women earned 26% of general engineering degrees and certificates in the latest year (2,740 of 10,652). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (4,285) and Hispanic or Latino (1,262), and international students earned 3,142.
College Factual ranks 215 schools in its 2027 Best General Engineering Schools ranking, including 80 for associate degrees, 73 for bachelor’s degrees, 51 for master’s degrees and 18 for doctorates. It also ranks general engineering schools within 35 states. In all, 436 colleges offer general engineering programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value General Engineering Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common general engineering credential is the master’s degree: 4,113 of the 10,652 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to general engineering call most for Reading Comprehension, Critical Thinking and Speaking, and for knowledge of Engineering and Technology, Mathematics and Design, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Written Comprehension, Oral Expression and Oral Comprehension.
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How long a general engineering degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 187 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 2,768 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 3,123 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 4,113 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 461 |
Doctoral degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to general engineering, at 30.7%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 30.7% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 29.6% |
| Master’s degree | 11.8% |
| Post-doctoral training | 8.0% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 7.5% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 3.4% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 2.8% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 2.1% |
| Some college courses | 1.6% |
| First professional degree | 1.5% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 0.7% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 0.3% |
Source: O*NET Online.
12 occupations are related to General Engineering, with an average median salary of $92,493; the strongest outlook belongs to Solar Energy Systems Engineers, at 14.5% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Electronics Teacher, Metallurgy Teacher, Architectural Engineering Teacher and Civil Engineering Professor.
The occupation related to general engineering 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% |
| Biofuels/Biodiesel Technology and Product Development Managers | 440,884 | 8.0% |
| Nanosystems Engineers | 358,781 | -2.9% |
| Wind Energy Engineers | 353,305 | 12.7% |
| Engineers, All Other | 292,948 | -4.3% |
| Solar Energy Systems Engineers | 266,797 | 14.5% |
| Energy Engineers, Except Wind and Solar | 227,778 | 6.7% |
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | 207,139 | 9.0% |
General Engineering graduates earn a median $79,134 one year after completing their program, $94,387 after four years and $91,819 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $79,134 |
| 4 years | $94,387 |
| 5 years | $91,819 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to general engineering is Engineers, All Other, with a median salary of $136,628.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Engineers, All Other | $136,628 |
| Solar Energy Systems Engineers | $116,775 |
| Mechatronics Engineers | $115,569 |
| Microsystems Engineers | $104,558 |
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | $101,277 |
| Wind Energy Engineers | $98,460 |
| Biofuels/Biodiesel Technology and Product Development Managers | $89,263 |
| Photonics Engineers | $84,667 |
General Engineering has 2 similar majors in the Engineering field, which together award 4,137 degrees a year; the largest are Pre-Engineering (3,489) and Applied Engineering (648). Browse all Engineering majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Pre-Engineering | 3,489 |
| Applied Engineering | 648 |
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