by our College Data Analytics TeamIn 2020-2021, general engineering was the 96th most popular major nationwide with 9,018 degrees awarded. This represents a 4.4% reduction in engineering degrees awarded over the prior year's total of 9,411.
Our 2023 Best General Engineering Schools ranking analyzes 152 of these schools to determine the best overall colleges for general engineering students. Explore this or one of our many other custom engineering rankings further below.
A major in engineering prepares you for careers in which understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents is crucial. Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems and giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times are all required skills for careers related to this major.
A high school diploma or equivalent is typically required for most engineering degree programs and many students will need a minimum GPA and SAT/ACT score depending on the school. Once you obtain your degree, additional engineering certifications required to pursue a career in this field.
There are various different levels of engineering degrees. General Engineering programs offered by schools range from a to a , which is the highest engineering degree you can get. The type of engineering degree you choose will determine how long it takes to get your diploma.
| 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, with approximately 36.0% of workers getting one. Find out other typical degree levels for engineering workers below.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 43.9% |
| Master’s Degree | 21.6% |
| Doctoral Degree | 13.0% |
| Post-Baccalaureate Certificate | 8.7% |
| Post-Doctoral Training | 3.5% |
About 51.0% of workers in careers related to engineering obtain at least master's degrees. The chart below shows what degree level those who work in general engineering have obtained.
This of course varies depending on which engineering career you choose.
Want a job when you graduate with your engineering degree? General Engineering careers are expected to grow 7.1% between 2016 and 2026.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to general engineering.
| Occupation Name | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | 190,000 | 5.5% |
| Engineers | 141,000 | 6.4% |
| Engineering Professors | 54,600 | 14.7% |
As you might expect, salaries for engineering graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.
Salaries for general engineering graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top highest paying careers engineering grads often go into.
| Occupation Name | Median Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | $148,970 |
| Engineering Professors | $113,680 |
| Engineers | $99,410 |
With over 661 different engineering 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 school rankings to help you with this.
General Engineering is one of 2 different types of General Engineering programs to choose from.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Pre-Engineering | 2,437 |
| Applied Engineering | 341 |
