by our College Data Analytics TeamIn 2020-2021, structural engineering was the 673rd most popular major nationwide with 332 degrees awarded. This 5 less than the prior year, a decrease of 1.5%.
Our 2023 Best Structural Engineering Schools ranking analyzes 10 of these schools to determine the best overall colleges for structural engineering students. Explore this or one of our many other custom structural engineering rankings further below.
When studying Structural Engineering, you’ll learn that understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents will help you be successful in a wide range of jobs. Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems and talking to others to convey information effectively are all required skills for careers related to this major.
A high school diploma or equivalent is typically required for most structural engineering degree programs and many students will need a minimum GPA and SAT/ACT score depending on the school. Specific structural engineering careers may require a certain level of degree attainment or additional certifications beyond that.
There are various different levels of structural engineering degrees. You can get anything from a in structural engineering to the highest structural engineering degree, a . Depending on the structural engineering degree you choose, obtaining your diploma can take anwhere from 1 to 4+ years.
| 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 structural engineering, with approximately 48.1% of workers getting one. Find out other typical degree levels for structural engineering workers below.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 52.6% |
| Master’s Degree | 21.6% |
| Doctoral Degree | 10.1% |
| Post-Baccalaureate Certificate | 6.8% |
| Post-Master’s Certificate | 3.7% |
99.6% of structural engineering workers have at least a bachelor's. See the chart below for the most common degree level workers in structural engineering have received.
The education level required is different depending on the structural engineering career you are seeking.
Want a job when you graduate with your structural engineering degree? Structural Engineering careers are expected to grow 9.2% between 2016 and 2026.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to structural engineering.
| Occupation Name | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Civil Engineers | 335,700 | 10.6% |
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | 190,000 | 5.5% |
| Engineering Professors | 54,600 | 14.7% |
As you might expect, salaries for structural engineering graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.
Salaries for structural engineering graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top highest paying careers structural engineering grads often go into.
| Occupation Name | Median Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | $148,970 |
| Engineering Professors | $113,680 |
| Civil Engineers | $93,720 |
With over 35 different structural 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 structural engineering school rankings to help you with this.
Structural Engineering is one of 5 different types of Civil Engineering programs to choose from.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| General Civil Engineering | 20,711 |
| Trasportation Engineering | 131 |
| Civil Engineering | 131 |
| Water Resources Engineering | 71 |
| Geoenvironmental Engineering | 12 |
Image Credit: By Master Sgt. Roger Parsons under License More about our data sources and methodologies.
