Best institutions to study Applied Engineering
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, improvement of manufacturing processes, and the management and direction of the physical or technical functions of an organization.
19 U.S. institutions graduated 646 Applied Engineering students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 14.0103, a specialization of Engineering (CIP 14.01), and leads most directly to the Engineers, All Other occupation (BLS SOC 17-2199).
About Applied Engineering programs
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, improvement of manufacturing processes, and the management and direction of the physical or technical functions of an organization. Includes instruction in basic engineering principles, project management, industrial processes, production and operations management, systems integration and control, quality control, and statistics.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Applied Engineering program prepares students to effectively apply mathematical and scientific principles in various engineering contexts. This program is ideal for individuals interested in managing and designing systems, executing new product designs, and improving manufacturing processes within technical organizations. With a focus on practical applications, it equips graduates with the skills needed to thrive in diverse engineering roles.
Students in the Applied Engineering program will gain knowledge in basic engineering principles, project management, industrial processes, and quality control. Coursework often includes topics related to systems integration, production and operations management, and statistics, providing a comprehensive foundation for engineering practice.
Credentials awarded
What Applied Engineering graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Master's degree291 graduates / yr · 7 institutions45%
- Bachelor's degree221 graduates / yr · 9 institutions34%
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year59 graduates / yr · 2 institutions9.1%
- Postbaccalaureate certificate25 graduates / yr · 2 institutions3.9%
- Associate's degree22 graduates / yr · 1 institution3.4%
- Award of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years20 graduates / yr · 1 institution3.1%
- Doctor's degree - research/scholarship8 graduates / yr · 1 institution1.2%
Graduates over time
Applied Engineering completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 284 |
| 2021 | 341 |
| 2022 | 492 |
| 2023 | 507 |
| 2024 | 545 |
| 2025 | 646 |
CIP 14.0103 was introduced in CIP 2020, so the series starts when institutions began reporting under the new code.
Top 19 institutions for Applied Engineering, 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 | University of Colorado Boulder Boulder, COPublicMaster's | 171 | 74% | — | — |
| 2 | Savannah College of Art and Design Savannah, GAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sMaster's | 104 | 69% | $44,902 | — |
| 3 | Ohio University - Main Campus Athens, OHPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearBachelor's | 82 | 65% | — | — |
| 4 | Embry - Riddle Aeronautical University - Worldwide Daytona Beach, FLPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 70 | 21% | $21,266 | — |
| 5 | Millersville University of Pennsylvania Millersville, PAPublicBachelor'sAssociate's | 54 | 58% | — | — |
| 6 | Daytona State College Daytona Beach, FLPublicBachelor's | 35 | 43% | — | — |
| 7 | Massachusetts Maritime Academy Buzzards Bay, MAPublicBachelor's | 30 | 74% | — | — |
| 8 | Michigan Technological University Houghton, MIPublicPost-degree cert. | 22 | 68% | — | — |
| 9 | Meridian Technology Center Stillwater, OKPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 20 | 48% | — | — |
| 10 | Henry Ford College Dearborn, MIPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 16 | 17% | — | — |
| 11 | Wichita State University Wichita, KSPublicBachelor's | 12 | 51% | — | — |
| 12 | University of Massachusetts - Dartmouth North Dartmouth, MAPublicDoctoralMaster's | 9 | 52% | — | — |
| 13 | Georgia Southern University Statesboro, GAPublicMaster's | 5 | 55% | — | — |
| 14 | Indiana Wesleyan University - Marion Marion, INPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 5 | 67% | $21,351 | — |
| 15 | University of St Thomas Saint Paul, MNPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 4 | 76% | $28,888 | — |
| 16 | Lawrence Technological University Southfield, MIPrivate not-for-profitPost-degree cert. | 3 | 61% | $32,679 | — |
| 17 | University of California - Davis Davis, CAPublicBachelor's | 2 | 86% | — | $82,956 |
| 18 | California State Polytechnic University - Humboldt Arcata, CAPublicMaster's | 1 | 49% | — | — |
| 19 | Lenoir - Rhyne University Hickory, NCPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 1 | 48% | $23,920 | — |
* Median earnings 1 year after graduation for the broader Engineering field (CIP 14.01) at these institutions; College Scorecard does not publish earnings at the 6-digit level.
Offered in 13 states
Where Applied Engineering graduates come from. Each state links to all Engineering programs offered there.
| State | Institutions | Graduates / yr | Top institution by graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado | 1 | 171 | University of Colorado Boulder171 / yr |
| Georgia | 2 | 109 | Savannah College of Art and Design104 / yr |
| Florida | 2 | 105 | Embry - Riddle Aeronautical University - Worldwide70 / yr |
| Ohio | 1 | 82 | Ohio University - Main Campus82 / yr |
| Pennsylvania | 1 | 54 | Millersville University of Pennsylvania54 / yr |
| Michigan | 3 | 41 | Michigan Technological University22 / yr |
| Massachusetts | 2 | 39 | Massachusetts Maritime Academy30 / yr |
| Oklahoma | 1 | 20 | Meridian Technology Center20 / yr |
| Kansas | 1 | 12 | Wichita State University12 / yr |
| Indiana | 1 | 5 | Indiana Wesleyan University - Marion5 / yr |
| Minnesota | 1 | 4 | University of St Thomas4 / yr |
| California | 2 | 3 | University of California - Davis2 / yr |
| North Carolina | 1 | 1 | Lenoir - Rhyne University1 / yr |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 17-2199, Engineers, All Other, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Applied Engineering program can pursue careers as engineers in various fields, with a median wage of $117,750. The job outlook for this profession is about as fast as average, with an expected growth rate of 2.1% and approximately 9,300 annual openings. A typical educational requirement for these positions is a Bachelor's degree.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 14.0103
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 |
Related careers
Other Engineering specializations
The 2 other 6-digit CIP codes under Engineering (CIP 14.01).
Common questions
What degrees can I earn in Applied Engineering?+
You can earn a Bachelor's degree, Master's degree, a postbaccalaureate certificate, or an award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year.
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop skills in project management, quality control, and systems integration, among other engineering principles.
What is the job outlook for graduates?+
The job outlook is about as fast as average, with an expected growth rate of 2.1% and around 9,300 annual openings.
What is the typical salary for an engineer in this field?+
The median wage for engineers in this field is $117,750.
What is the CIP code for Applied Engineering?+
Applied Engineering is CIP 14.0103 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Engineering (CIP 14.01). NCES defines it as: 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, improvement of manufacturing processes, and the management and direction of the physical or technical functions of an organization. Includes instruction in basic engineering principles, project management, industrial processes, production and operations management, systems integration and control, quality control, and statistics.
How many institutions offer Applied Engineering programs?+
19 U.S. institutions reported Applied Engineering graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 13 states, awarding 646 credentials in the year. That is 4.4% of all Engineering graduates.
How much do Applied Engineering graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Engineers, All Other occupation, which Applied Engineering most directly leads to, pays a median of $122,930 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader Engineering field report median earnings of $82,956 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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