by our College Data Analytics TeamSurveying Engineering graduates know everything about the world - well the surface of it that is! Surveying Engineers map areas, measure property lines, and record survey results in all types of landscapes to ensure buildings are constructed on the proper plot, travel distances are accurate, and land deeds are up to date.
In order to become a survey engineer, students take classes in satellite imaging, geographic information systems, geography, site planning, astronomy, and various forms of measurement. These skills will teach students everything they need to know about surveying and open up job possibilities in a variety of industries.
In 2020-2021, surveying engineering was the 351st most popular major nationwide with 73 degrees awarded. This is a difference of 4 over the prior year, a growth of 5.5%.
Our 2023 Best Surveying Engineering Schools ranking analyzes 6 of these schools to determine the best overall colleges for surveying engineering students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of surveying engineering programs later in this article.
Surveying Engineering professionals work to determine boundary lines, measure travel distances, and create maps. Attention to detail is extremely important in taking accurate measurements. Professionals must also have strong interpersonal and communication skills so they can exchange information between customers, builders, and government authorities. Time management and leadership skills will allow professionals to lead teams and finish multiple projects at once.
Surveying engineers work full time, but don't always work typical hours. They often work longer hours during the summer when daylight hours are longer. Professionals also split their time between surveying in the field and laying out information and data in the office.
Although they are not mandatory, internships and summer jobs provide students with excellent experience within this field.
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. In addition to these basic surveying engineering program qualifications, to serve in some surveying engineering careers, special certification may be required outside of your degree.
There are many different surveying engineering degree levels. You can get anything from a in surveying engineering to the highest surveying engineering degree, a . How long it takes to complete some common surveying engineering degree levels is shown below.
| 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 surveying engineering, with approximately 39.3% of workers getting one. People currently working in careers related to surveying engineering tend obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 47.2% |
| Master’s Degree | 20.8% |
| Doctoral Degree | 17.3% |
| Post-Baccalaureate Certificate | 4.8% |
| Post-Doctoral Training | 3.3% |
Most workers in surveying engineering have at least a master's degree. See the chart below for the most common degree level workers in surveying engineering have received.
This of course varies depending on which surveying engineering career you choose.
Surveying Engineering graduates work at a variety locations. They can be found in urban planning companies, architecture firms, land development firms, government agencies, and construction companies. Any industry that requires the measurement of land plots, boundary lines, or areas of the earth's surface will be looking to employ graduates.
Want a job when you graduate with your surveying engineering degree? Surveying 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 surveying 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% |
Recently graduated surveying engineering students earned an average of $54,841 in 2019-2020. Earnings can range from as low as $52,230 to as high as $60,062. As you might expect, salaries for surveying engineering graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.
Salaries for surveying engineering graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top highest paying careers surveying 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 29 different surveying 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 surveying engineering school rankings to help you with this.
Surveying Engineering is one of 40 different types of Engineering programs to choose from.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Mechanical Engineering | 46,178 |
| Electrical Engineering | 28,844 |
| Civil Engineering | 21,388 |
| Computer Engineering | 17,987 |
| Chemical Engineering | 12,917 |
Image Credit: By Aavaaz home builder under License More about our data sources and methodologies.
