Best institutions to study Engineering Design
An instructional program that prepares individuals to apply mathematical and scientific principles to engineering problems involving marrying or coordinating multiple dissimilar systems to carry out single functions or achieve common purposes, organizing system components for maximum flexibility and utility, planning engineering projects involving multiple tasks and design solutions, planning design testing and evaluation procedures, resolving specification and requirement conflicts, and choosing among competing theoretical solutions.
10 U.S. institutions graduated 253 Engineering Design students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 15.1502, a specialization of Engineering-Related Fields (CIP 15.15), and leads most directly to the Engineers, All Other occupation (BLS SOC 17-2199).
About Engineering Design programs
An instructional program that prepares individuals to apply mathematical and scientific principles to engineering problems involving marrying or coordinating multiple dissimilar systems to carry out single functions or achieve common purposes, organizing system components for maximum flexibility and utility, planning engineering projects involving multiple tasks and design solutions, planning design testing and evaluation procedures, resolving specification and requirement conflicts, and choosing among competing theoretical solutions. Note: this program was re-instated after being deleted from CIP 2000; previously, it was coded as 14.2901.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Engineering Design program, part of the Engineering-Related Fields, prepares individuals to tackle engineering challenges by applying mathematical and scientific principles. Students learn to coordinate diverse systems to achieve common goals, ensuring maximum flexibility and utility in engineering projects. This program is ideal for those interested in pursuing a career in engineering design and related technologies.
In this program, students gain essential skills in planning engineering projects, resolving conflicts in specifications, and evaluating design solutions. Coursework emphasizes the integration of various systems and the application of theoretical solutions to practical problems.
Credentials awarded
What Engineering Design graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Master's degree150 graduates / yr · 7 institutions59%
- Postbaccalaureate certificate99 graduates / yr · 4 institutions39%
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year3 graduates / yr · 1 institution1.2%
- Doctor's degree - research/scholarship1 graduates / yr · 1 institution0.4%
Graduates over time
Engineering Design completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2013 | 39 |
| 2014 | 46 |
| 2015 | 56 |
| 2016 | 38 |
| 2017 | 55 |
| 2018 | 85 |
| 2019 | 87 |
| 2020 | 90 |
| 2021 | 115 |
| 2022 | 120 |
| 2023 | 165 |
| 2024 | 267 |
| 2025 | 253 |
Top 10 institutions for Engineering Design, ranked by graduates
Graduates (IPEDS completions), 2024–25. Award levels show which credentials each institution confers in this specialization.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Field earnings* (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Carnegie Mellon University Pittsburgh, PAPrivate not-for-profitPost-degree cert.Master's | 148 | 94% | $23,803 | — |
| 2 | University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, PAPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sPost-degree cert. | 41 | 97% | $22,055 | — |
| 3 | Harvard University Cambridge, MAPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 26 | 98% | $15,013 | — |
| 4 | Arizona State University Campus Immersion Tempe, AZPublicMaster's | 10 | 68% | — | $76,149 |
| 5 | Saint Cloud State University Saint Cloud, MNPublicMaster's | 9 | 40% | — | — |
| 6 | Duke University Durham, NCPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 8 | 97% | $16,260 | — |
| 7 | Florida Institute of Technology Melbourne, FLPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sDoctoral | 5 | 64% | $33,585 | — |
| 8 | Pennsylvania State University - Main Campus University Park, PAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 3 | 86% | — | — |
| 9 | Northwestern University Evanston, ILPrivate not-for-profitPost-degree cert. | 2 | 95% | $14,799 | — |
| 10 | University of Wisconsin - Platteville Platteville, WIPublicPost-degree cert. | 1 | 56% | — | — |
* Median earnings 1 year after graduation for the broader Engineering-Related Fields field (CIP 15.15) at these institutions; College Scorecard does not publish earnings at the 6-digit level.
Offered in 8 states
Where Engineering Design graduates come from. Each state links to all Engineering-Related Fields programs offered there.
| State | Institutions | Graduates / yr | Top institution by graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania | 3 | 192 | Carnegie Mellon University148 / yr |
| Massachusetts | 1 | 26 | Harvard University26 / yr |
| Arizona | 1 | 10 | Arizona State University Campus Immersion10 / yr |
| Minnesota | 1 | 9 | Saint Cloud State University9 / yr |
| North Carolina | 1 | 8 | Duke University8 / yr |
| Florida | 1 | 5 | Florida Institute of Technology5 / yr |
| Illinois | 1 | 2 | Northwestern University2 / yr |
| Wisconsin | 1 | 1 | University of Wisconsin - Platteville1 / yr |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 17-2199, Engineers, All Other, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Engineering Design program can pursue careers as Engineers, Architectural and Engineering Managers, or Engineering Teachers at the postsecondary level. With an annual growth rate of 2.1% and approximately 9,300 job openings each year, the median wage for these roles is $117,750, typically requiring a Bachelor's degree.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 15.1502
The occupations the NCES crosswalk maps this 6-digit code to, with BLS pay and 10-year outlook.
| Occupation | US median pay | Growth | Openings / yr | Typical entry education |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Engineers, All Otherprimary SOC 17-2199 | $122,930 | +2.1% About as fast as average | ~9,300 | Bachelor's degree |
Architectural and Engineering Managers SOC 11-9041 | $171,270 | +3.8% About as fast as average | ~14,500 | Bachelor's degree |
Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary SOC 25-1032 | $109,270 | +8.1% Much faster than average | ~4,100 | Doctoral or professional degree |
Related careers
Other Engineering-Related Fields specializations
The 3 other 6-digit CIP codes under Engineering-Related Fields (CIP 15.15).
Common questions
What degrees can I earn in this program?+
You can earn a Master's degree, Postbaccalaureate certificate, or an Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year.
How many colleges offer this program in the U.S.?+
There are 10 colleges offering the Engineering Design program in the U.S.
What is the job outlook for graduates?+
The job outlook is about as fast as average, with an annual growth rate of 2.1%.
What is the typical education required for careers in this field?+
Most careers in this field typically require a Bachelor's degree.
What is the CIP code for Engineering Design?+
Engineering Design is CIP 15.1502 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Engineering-Related Fields (CIP 15.15). NCES defines it as: An instructional program that prepares individuals to apply mathematical and scientific principles to engineering problems involving marrying or coordinating multiple dissimilar systems to carry out single functions or achieve common purposes, organizing system components for maximum flexibility and utility, planning engineering projects involving multiple tasks and design solutions, planning design testing and evaluation procedures, resolving specification and requirement conflicts, and choosing among competing theoretical solutions. Note: this program was re-instated after being deleted from CIP 2000; previously, it was coded as 14.2901.
How many institutions offer Engineering Design programs?+
10 U.S. institutions reported Engineering Design graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 8 states, awarding 253 credentials in the year. That is 2.9% of all Engineering-Related Fields graduates.
How much do Engineering Design graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Engineers, All Other occupation, which Engineering Design most directly leads to, pays a median of $122,930 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader Engineering-Related Fields field report median earnings of $76,149 one year after graduation (College Scorecard).
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.
Program definitions are from the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020). Skills, knowledge, abilities, work activities, tools, and job zones are from the O*NET database by the U.S. Department of Labor, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
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