Best institutions to study Engineering Acoustics
A program that focuses on the application of acoustics and signals processing to undersea and antisubmarine warfare.
2 U.S. institutions graduated 6 Engineering Acoustics students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 29.0303, a specialization of Military Applied Sciences (CIP 29.03), and leads most directly to the Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other occupation (BLS SOC 17-3029).
About Engineering Acoustics programs
A program that focuses on the application of acoustics and signals processing to undersea and antisubmarine warfare. Includes instruction in acoustics; electrical engineering; the generation, propagation and reception of underwater sound waves; military applications of underwater sound; and acoustic signal processing.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Engineering Acoustics program, part of the Military Applied Sciences field, focuses on the application of acoustics and signal processing in military contexts, particularly undersea and antisubmarine warfare. This specialized program is designed for individuals interested in leveraging sound technology for defense applications, making it ideal for those pursuing careers in military technologies.
Students in this program will gain knowledge in acoustics, electrical engineering, and the generation, propagation, and reception of underwater sound waves. Coursework includes military applications of underwater sound and acoustic signal processing, equipping graduates with essential skills for their future careers.
Credentials awarded
What Engineering Acoustics graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Postbaccalaureate certificate4 graduates / yr · 1 institution67%
- Master's degree1 graduates / yr · 1 institution17%
- Doctor's degree - research/scholarship1 graduates / yr · 1 institution17%
Graduates over time
Engineering Acoustics completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 8 |
| 2013 | 9 |
| 2014 | 3 |
| 2015 | 27 |
| 2016 | 10 |
| 2017 | 15 |
| 2018 | 6 |
| 2019 | 9 |
| 2020 | 20 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2022 | 14 |
| 2023 | 11 |
| 2024 | 17 |
| 2025 | 6 |
Top 2 institutions for Engineering Acoustics, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Catholic University of America Washington, DCPrivate not-for-profitPost-degree cert. | 4 | 79% | $27,724 |
| 2 | Naval Postgraduate School Monterey, CAPublicMaster'sDoctoral | 2 | — | — |
Offered in 2 states
Where Engineering Acoustics graduates come from. Each state links to all Military Applied Sciences programs offered there.
| State | Institutions | Graduates / yr | Top institution by graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | 1 | 4 | The Catholic University of America4 / yr |
| California | 1 | 2 | Naval Postgraduate School2 / yr |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 17-3029, Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Engineering Acoustics program can pursue careers as Engineering Technologists and Technicians, with an annual job outlook showing little to no change at a growth rate of 1.5%. The median wage for this occupation is $77,390, and typical education required is an Associate's degree.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 29.0303
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Otherprimary SOC 17-3029 | $78,350 | +1.5% Little or no change | ~5,700 | Associate's degree |
Related careers
Other Military Applied Sciences specializations
The 7 other 6-digit CIP codes under Military Applied Sciences (CIP 29.03).
- Space Systems OperationsCIP 29.0305partial data192 graduates / yr6 institutions
- Military Applied SciencesCIP 29.0399partial data96 graduates / yr5 institutions
- Undersea WarfareCIP 29.0307limited data32 graduates / yr1 institutions
- Combat Systems EngineeringCIP 29.0301limited data19 graduates / yr1 institutions
- Operational OceanographyCIP 29.0306limited data6 graduates / yr1 institutions
Show 2 more CIP codes with no U.S. programs reported+
- Directed Energy Systems29.0302
- Low-Observables and Stealth Technology29.0304
No institution reported completions for these codes in the latest IPEDS year, so they have no page.
Common questions
What degrees are offered in this program?+
The program offers a Postbaccalaureate certificate, a Master's degree, and a Doctor's degree in research/scholarship.
How many colleges offer this program in the U.S.?+
There are 2 colleges offering the Engineering Acoustics program in the U.S.
What is the average number of graduates per year?+
The program has approximately 6 graduates per year.
What is the job outlook for graduates?+
The job outlook shows little or no change, with an estimated 5,700 annual openings.
What is the CIP code for Engineering Acoustics?+
Engineering Acoustics is CIP 29.0303 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Military Applied Sciences (CIP 29.03). NCES defines it as: A program that focuses on the application of acoustics and signals processing to undersea and antisubmarine warfare. Includes instruction in acoustics; electrical engineering; the generation, propagation and reception of underwater sound waves; military applications of underwater sound; and acoustic signal processing.
How many institutions offer Engineering Acoustics programs?+
2 U.S. institutions reported Engineering Acoustics graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 2 states, awarding 6 credentials in the year. That is 1.7% of all Military Applied Sciences graduates.
How much do Engineering Acoustics graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other occupation, which Engineering Acoustics most directly leads to, pays a median of $78,350 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025).
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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