Best institutions to study Engineering
Compare 662 U.S. colleges offering Engineering by graduate earnings, cost, and outcomes. Federal data across 47 states.
Engineering programs report a median of $68,331 one year after graduation (College Scorecard, 2024), and map to CIP 14.01 and the Engineers, All Other occupation (BLS SOC).
About Engineering programs
The Engineering program, formally known as Engineering, General, encompasses a broad range of disciplines that apply scientific theories and mathematical methods to develop technological solutions. This program is ideal for students interested in designing, creating, and analyzing systems that meet various technical and practical requirements. Students will explore various branches of engineering, including biomedical, chemical, civil, electrical, materials, and mechanical engineering. This program is designed for aspiring engineers who seek to balance technical requirements with considerations of safety, regulations, and cost. With a focus on both theoretical and practical applications, students will be well-prepared for the challenges of the engineering profession in today's technology-driven world.
In the Engineering program, students will gain core knowledge in scientific principles and mathematical methods. Coursework typically includes subjects related to various engineering disciplines, equipping students with the skills necessary to tackle complex engineering problems and develop innovative solutions.
Top 48 institutions, ranked by graduate earnings
Earnings = median 1 year after graduation (College Scorecard, predominant credential).
| # | Institution | Grad earnings (1 yr) | Completions | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Franklin W Olin College of Engineering Needham, MA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $109,455 | 37 | 96% | $18,499 | $14,512 |
| 2 | Harvey Mudd College Claremont, CA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $92,491 | 66 | 92% | $22,858 | $22,240 |
| 3 | Brown University Providence, RI Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $86,416 | 106 | 96% | $14,644 | $14,500 |
| 4 | University of California - Davis Davis, CA Public · Bachelor's degree | $82,956 | 2 | 86% | — | $15,000 |
| 5 | Wentworth Institute of Technology Boston, MA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $78,211 | 8 | 68% | $32,713 | $27,000 |
| 6 | Lafayette College Easton, PA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $76,507 | 9 | 88% | $20,396 | — |
| 7 | McNeese State University Lake Charles, LA Public · Bachelor's degree | $75,566 | 30 | 47% | — | $27,249 |
| 8 | Michigan State University East Lansing, MI Public · Bachelor's degree | $75,058 | 83 | 81% | — | $22,500 |
| 9 | Arizona State University Campus Immersion Tempe, AZ Public · Bachelor's degree | $74,328 | 180 | 68% | — | $26,113 |
| 10 | University of Maryland Eastern Shore Princess Anne, MD Public · Bachelor's degree | $73,839 | 10 | 35% | — | $18,166 |
| 11 | Texas Christian University Fort Worth, TX Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $73,774 | 42 | 86% | $25,823 | $22,944 |
| 12 | University of North Carolina Asheville Asheville, NC Public · Bachelor's degree | $73,410 | 19 | 54% | — | $31,000 |
| 13 | Elizabethtown College Elizabethtown, PA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $73,003 | 39 | 76% | $22,907 | $27,000 |
| 14 | University of Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh Campus Pittsburgh, PA Public · Certificate degree | $72,825 | 17 | 85% | — | $19,500 |
| 15 | Mercer University Macon, GA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $72,403 | 108 | 70% | $22,641 | $26,000 |
| 16 | Seattle Pacific University Seattle, WA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $71,770 | 1 | 62% | $24,653 | $27,000 |
| 17 | North Carolina State University at Raleigh Raleigh, NC Public · Bachelor's degree | $71,769 | 41 | 85% | — | $30,518 |
| 18 | James Madison University Harrisonburg, VA Public · Bachelor's degree | $71,176 | 78 | 80% | — | $25,000 |
| 19 | University of Missouri - Columbia Columbia, MO Public · Bachelor's degree | $70,366 | 4 | 75% | — | $23,250 |
| 20 | Calvin University Grand Rapids, MI Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $68,852 | 77 | 74% | $22,391 | $23,000 |
| 21 | Tidewater Community College Norfolk, VA Public · Associate degree | $68,555 | 64 | 32% | — | $12,250 |
| 22 | University of Northwestern - St Paul Saint Paul, MN Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $68,516 | 14 | 68% | $23,114 | — |
| 23 | Pennsylvania State University - Main Campus University Park, PA Public · Bachelor's degree | $68,331 | 10 | 86% | — | $27,000 |
| 24 | Pennsylvania State University - World Campus University Park, PA Public · Bachelor's degree | $68,331 | 1 | 34% | — | $27,000 |
| 25 | Minnesota State University - Mankato Mankato, MN Public · Bachelor's degree | $68,044 | 41 | 54% | — | $27,627 |
| 26 | Hope College Holland, MI Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $67,410 | 50 | 80% | $21,746 | $27,000 |
| 27 | Oral Roberts University Tulsa, OK Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $66,805 | 30 | 57% | $23,543 | $26,917 |
| 28 | Olivet Nazarene University Bourbonnais, IL Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $66,394 | 32 | 61% | $20,903 | $27,000 |
| 29 | Western Illinois University Macomb, IL Public · Bachelor's degree | $66,112 | 1 | 45% | — | — |
| 30 | East Carolina University Greenville, NC Public · Bachelor's degree | $65,758 | 75 | 63% | — | $26,978 |
| 31 | Messiah University Mechanicsburg, PA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $64,871 | 3 | 75% | $25,675 | $25,798 |
| 32 | Saint Vincent College Latrobe, PA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $64,499 | 3 | 69% | $21,124 | $27,000 |
| 33 | Loyola University Maryland Baltimore, MD Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $64,116 | 26 | 79% | $26,585 | $27,000 |
| 34 | University of Mary Hardin - Baylor Belton, TX Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $63,830 | 11 | 49% | $27,869 | — |
| 35 | The University of Tennessee - Martin Martin, TN Public · Bachelor's degree | $63,746 | 15 | 53% | — | $29,750 |
| 36 | Frostburg State University Frostburg, MD Public · Bachelor's degree | $62,968 | 13 | 50% | — | $23,750 |
| 37 | Geneva College Beaver Falls, PA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $62,486 | 28 | 61% | $19,540 | $27,000 |
| 38 | Western Carolina University Cullowhee, NC Public · Bachelor's degree | $62,244 | 35 | 60% | — | $25,550 |
| 39 | Robert Morris University Moon Township, PA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $61,163 | 37 | 66% | $24,175 | $26,000 |
| 40 | Marshall University Huntington, WV Public · Bachelor's degree | $60,254 | 7 | 51% | — | $27,000 |
| 41 | Stony Brook University Stony Brook, NY Public · Bachelor's degree | $55,437 | 22 | 76% | — | $20,000 |
| 42 | University of Hartford West Hartford, CT Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $55,076 | 12 | 54% | $28,311 | $27,000 |
| 43 | Fort Lewis College Durango, CO Public · Bachelor's degree | $50,985 | 16 | 36% | — | $28,450 |
| 44 | College of Staten Island CUNY Staten Island, NY Public · Bachelor's degree | $48,898 | 43 | 34% | — | — |
| 45 | Austin Community College District Austin, TX Public · Associate degree | $43,183 | 64 | 20% | — | $15,375 |
| 46 | CUNY Borough of Manhattan Community College New York, NY Public · Associate degree | $30,518 | 43 | 25% | — | — |
| 47 | UCNJ Union College of Union County, New Jersey Cranford, NJ Public · Associate degree | $27,813 | 58 | 35% | — | $8,508 |
| 48 | Northern Virginia Community College Annandale, VA Public · Associate degree | $16,790 | 223 | 33% | — | $9,500 |
Offered across 47 states
The same program, compared state by state. Pick a state for in-state earnings and institutions.
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 17-2199, Engineers, All Other, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Engineering program can expect a positive job outlook, with an annual growth rate of about 2.1% and approximately 9,300 annual job openings. The median wage for engineering professionals is $117,750, and a typical educational requirement for entry into the field is a Bachelor's degree.
Top-paying metros
Related careers
CIP-to-SOC crosswalk for Engineering
The SOC occupations NCES officially maps to CIP 14.01.
Under the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk, CIP 14.01 (Engineering, General) maps to 3 Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) occupations, the jobs the U.S. Department of Labor links to this field of study.
| SOC code | Occupation |
|---|---|
| 11-9041 | Architectural and Engineering Managers |
| 17-2199 | Engineers, All Otherprimary |
| 25-1032 | Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary |
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 Crosswalk.
Concentrations within Engineering
Specializations under this field (NCES CIP 2020).
- Engineering, GeneralCIP 14.0101
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
- Pre-EngineeringCIP 14.0102
A program that prepares individuals for admission or transfer to a baccalaureate-level program in any of the fields of engineering.
- Applied EngineeringCIP 14.0103
A program that generally prepares individuals to apply mathematical and scientific principles inherent to engineering to the management and design of systems, execution of new product designs, improve
Common questions
What specializations are available in the Engineering program?+
The Engineering program offers specializations such as Engineering, General, Pre-Engineering, and Applied Engineering.
What is the typical education required for a career in engineering?+
A Bachelor's degree is typically required for most engineering positions.
What is the job outlook for engineering graduates?+
The job outlook for engineering graduates is about as fast as average, with a growth rate of 2.1%.
What is the median wage for engineering professionals?+
The median wage for engineering professionals is $117,750.
How much do Engineering graduates earn?+
Engineering graduates report median earnings of $68,331 one year after graduation, per College Scorecard (2024); the Engineers, All Other occupation pays about $125,330 on average nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025).
What is the CIP code for Engineering?+
Engineering maps to CIP 14.01 in the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP), the U.S. Department of Education taxonomy used for College Scorecard Field of Study earnings and IPEDS completions.
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
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