by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 1,190 U.S. colleges awarded 203,035 degrees and certificates in Engineering. Bachelor’s degrees are the most popular award, at 60% of graduates. College Factual ranks 724 schools in its 2027 Best Engineering Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $75,864 one year after completing, rising to $98,733 after four years.
The field of Engineering will allow you to explore the science behind the amazing gadgets that we use in everyday life. Engineers build bridges, program robots, create waste treatment plans, design alarm clocks, and work with basically anything that moves mechanically. This major will involve advanced classes in math and science, teaching you principles that will allow you to build and operate machines, structures and systems. Not only should you like math and science, but you should also love building and creating things. You have power to improve the world by making new advancements.
There are many majors in this field; General Engineering allows students to master general engineering principles that can be applied in a multitude of fields. Another popular major is Aerospace & Aeronautical Engineering, where students learn the science of flight and spacecraft. In Civil Engineering students learn how to build large and important buildings and structures like roadways and tunnels, while Computer Engineering majors learn to create computer programs and chips. Mechanical Engineering is another popular major where students learn to build and operate mechanical systems and manufacturing equipment.
These are just a few of the most well-known areas, but there are many majors to explore in this field.
A major in Engineering covers Engineering. Instructional Programs That Prepare Individuals To Apply Mathematical And Scientific Principles To The Solution Of Practical Problems.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Across the country, engineering is a popular field of study, with 203,035 degrees awarded annually. 1,190 colleges award engineering degrees, an average of 171 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 4,912.
By level, the 203,035 awards include 1,139 certificates, 7,331 associate degrees, 121,029 bachelor’s degrees, 60,776 master’s degrees and 12,185 doctorates.
Women earned 27% of engineering degrees and certificates in the latest year (54,233 of 203,035). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (89,148) and Hispanic or Latino (25,445), and international students earned 43,772.
College Factual ranks 724 schools in its 2027 Best Engineering Schools ranking, including 204 for associate degrees, 493 for bachelor’s degrees, 279 for master’s degrees and 134 for doctorates. It also ranks engineering schools within 52 states. In all, 1,190 colleges offer engineering programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Engineering Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common engineering credential is the bachelor’s degree: 121,029 of the 203,035 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to engineering call most for Reading Comprehension, Speaking and Critical Thinking, and for knowledge of Engineering and Technology, Mathematics and Design, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Written Comprehension and Oral Comprehension.
There are numerous majors and concentrations in the engineering field allowing for students with many different interests. However, there are certain skills that all students entering this field should have. Engineering programs will involve classes in advanced math and science, including physics and calculus. Be prepared to memorize formulas in order to apply and use them in practical situations.
This major requires a lot of dedication and long hours of study. Dedicated students are rewarded for their persistence with many "aha!" moments. You should be dedicated to the field and not get discouraged easily.
Engineers love to learn through hands-on projects. You will constantly be asked to push boundaries in order to understand and create things in your particular interest area. Many times you will be doing this with a team, so you should be good at working with people. Communication skills are essential to all types of engineers. You need to be able to explain your ideas, but also keep other viewpoints in mind.
Many colleges will require an internship or a co-op job. This will help guide you in a specific direction while allowing firsthand experience in your field. Experience will help make you stand out in order to obtain a job.
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How long an engineering degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 1,139 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 7,331 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 121,029 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 60,776 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 12,185 |
Bachelor’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to engineering, at 31.0%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 31.0% |
| Doctoral degree | 29.5% |
| Master’s degree | 12.0% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 8.2% |
| Post-doctoral training | 8.2% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 2.7% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 2.6% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 2.0% |
| Some college courses | 1.4% |
| First professional degree | 1.3% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 0.8% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 0.2% |
Source: O*NET Online.
30 occupations are related to Engineering, with an average median salary of $100,709; the strongest outlook belongs to Solar Energy Systems Engineers, at 14.5% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Professor, Adjunct Instructor, University Faculty Member and Instructor.
This major is vast and there are a lot of different positions available to you depending on your field. You could decide to work specifically with certain materials, such as plastics or metal, or you could work with natural elements as in Forestry Engineering or Ocean Engineering.
By the end of your first year you should decide what interests you most and then specialize in that specific area. Most job fields have plenty of openings, with certain niche areas offering more advancement than others. Work experience will set you apart when applying for a competitive position.
The occupation related to 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% |
| Clinical Research Coordinators | 542,888 | 10.4% |
| Biofuels/Biodiesel Technology and Product Development Managers | 440,884 | 8.0% |
| Petroleum Engineers | 432,291 | 13.1% |
| Computer Hardware Engineers | 412,134 | 11.3% |
| Human Factors Engineers and Ergonomists | 395,031 | 12.1% |
| Transportation Engineers | 392,941 | 1.1% |
| Water/Wastewater Engineers | 383,114 | 5.6% |
Engineering graduates earn a median $75,864 one year after completing their program, $98,733 after four years and $97,874 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $75,864 |
| 4 years | $98,733 |
| 5 years | $97,874 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to engineering is Database Architects, with a median salary of $148,480.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Database Architects | $148,480 |
| Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers | $138,303 |
| Petroleum Engineers | $137,336 |
| Engineers, All Other | $136,628 |
| Chemical Engineers | $130,903 |
| Human Factors Engineers and Ergonomists | $128,495 |
| Electrical Engineers | $127,814 |
| Fire-Prevention and Protection Engineers | $122,967 |
Engineering includes 41 concentrations that together award 203,035 degrees a year; by graduates, the largest are Mechanical Engineering (43,874), Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering (27,513) and Computer Engineering (21,335). Browse the full list of college majors.
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