---

Engineering

Instructional programs that prepare individuals to apply mathematical and scientific principles to the solution of practical problems.

Types of Degrees Engineering Majors Are Earning

Students pursuing Engineering may pursue degrees at several award levels.

Award Level	Graduates
Certificate	1,123
Associate’s Degree	6,440
Bachelor’s Degree	118,394
Master’s Degree	59,439
Doctor’s Degree	11,767

What Engineering Majors Need to Know

Programs in Engineering build a specific mix of knowledge, skills, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in occupations that Engineering graduates commonly enter.

Knowledge Areas

Coursework in Engineering emphasizes the following knowledge areas:

• Engineering and Technology — Importance 4.6 / 5; level 5.9 / 7.
• Mathematics — Importance 4.2 / 5; level 5.4 / 7.
• Design — Importance 4.1 / 5; level 4.9 / 7.
• English Language — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 4.6 / 7.
• Computers and Electronics — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 5.1 / 7.

^{Importance is rated 1–5; level is 1–7. Source: ONET Online — weighted across related occupations.*}

Skills

The skill set developed in a Engineering program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:

• Reading Comprehension — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 4.6 / 7.
• Speaking — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 4.3 / 7.
• Critical Thinking — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 4.2 / 7.
• Active Listening — Importance 3.8 / 5; level 4.0 / 7.
• Writing — Importance 3.8 / 5; level 4.3 / 7.

Abilities

Innate abilities most relevant to Engineering careers — again drawn from O*NET surveys of related occupations:

• Oral Expression — Importance 4.1 / 5; level 4.9 / 7.
• Written Comprehension — Importance 4.1 / 5; level 4.8 / 7.
• Oral Comprehension — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 4.8 / 7.
• Deductive Reasoning — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 4.4 / 7.
• Inductive Reasoning — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 4.2 / 7.

Common Job Activities

Day-to-day, Engineering graduates report doing:

Activity	Frequency / Importance
Making Decisions and Solving Problems	4.4 / 7
Working with Computers	4.3 / 7
Analyzing Data or Information	4.3 / 7
Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge	4.3 / 7
Getting Information	4.3 / 7
Processing Information	4.2 / 7
Thinking Creatively	4.2 / 7
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates	4.1 / 7
Training and Teaching Others	3.9 / 7
Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work	3.9 / 7

Technology Skills Used on the Job

Most frequently-cited tools used by Engineering professionals:

Tool / Software	Category	In-Demand
Microsoft Excel	Spreadsheet software	✓
Microsoft Office software	Office suite software	✓
Microsoft PowerPoint	Presentation software	✓
Microsoft Word	Word processing software	✓
Microsoft Project	Project management software	—
Python	Object or component oriented development software	✓
Oracle Java	Object or component oriented development software	✓
Autodesk AutoCAD	Computer aided design CAD software	✓
Web browser software	Internet browser software	—
Microsoft Outlook	Electronic mail software	✓
The MathWorks MATLAB	Analytical or scientific software	✓
Dassault Systemes SolidWorks	Computer aided design CAD software	✓

^{Source: ONET Online technology skills, weighted across related occupations.*}

Sample Job Titles

Real job postings for Engineering graduates include:

• Instructor
• Adjunct Professor
• Professor
• Adjunct Instructor
• Associate Professor
• College Professor
• Assistant Professor
• Lecturer
• College Faculty Member
• University Faculty Member
• Highway Engineering Teacher
• Applied Mechanics Teacher
• Environmental Engineering Professor
• Heat Engineering Teacher
• Motion and Time Study Teacher

Education Typically Required

Across the occupations open to Engineering graduates, the typical level of education actually held by current workers is distributed as:

Education Level	Share of Workers
Bachelor’s degree	31.0%
Doctoral degree	29.5%
Master’s degree	12.0%
Post-master’s certificate	8.2%
Post-doctoral training	8.2%
Associate’s degree (or other 2-year)	2.7%
Post-baccalaureate certificate	2.6%
Postsecondary certificate	2.0%
Some college courses	1.4%
First professional degree	1.3%
High school diploma or equivalent	0.8%
Less than a high school diploma	0.2%

^{Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*}

Who Is Earning a Degree in Engineering?

Gender Distribution

This field skews predominantly male, with men earning 73.7% of Engineering degrees.

Gender	Graduates	Share
Women	51,900	26.3%
Men	145,715	73.7%

Racial-Ethnic Diversity

At the national level, the racial-ethnic distribution of Engineering graduates is as follows:

Race / Ethnicity	Graduates	Share
White	88,283	44.7%
Asian	21,854	11.1%
Hispanic or Latino	23,939	12.1%
Black or African American	7,528	3.8%
American Indian / Alaska Native	387	0.2%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander	162	0.1%
Two or More Races	7,064	3.6%
Race Unknown	4,706	2.4%
International Students	43,692	22.1%

^{See minority definition below.}

How Much Do Engineering Graduates Earn?

Federal data tracks median earnings of Engineering graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Wages typically rise steadily as graduates gain experience and move into mid-career roles.

Years Out	Median Earnings
1 year	$75,905
4 years	$86,943
5 years	$98,290

By year 5 out, median earnings rise to $98,290 — roughly 29% above the 1-year mark.

^{Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.}

Online Engineering Programs

Distance learning is reported by IPEDS for Engineering. The table below shows how many graduates earned at least some of their coursework online (Distance-Ed Available) versus completing the entire program online (Distance-Ed Only).

Award Level	Distance-Ed Available	Distance-Ed Only
Associate’s	26	33
Bachelor’s	39	89
Master’s	268	329
Doctoral (Research)	33	62

^{Distance-Ed Only = degrees completed entirely online; Distance-Ed Available = degrees including at least some online coursework. Source: IPEDS Completions by Distance Education status.}

Is a Degree in Engineering Worth It?

On the earnings side, the federal earnings tracker, Engineering graduates earn a median of $86,943 four years after completion — roughly 129% above the national median for workers with only a high school diploma (~$38,000).

^{ROI estimate compares the program’s 4-yr median earnings against the 2023 BLS CPS median earnings for high-school-only workers. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard + BLS Current Population Survey.}

References

The racial-ethnic minorities count is calculated by taking the total number of students and subtracting white students and international students. This number is then divided by the total number of students to obtain the racial-ethnic minorities percentage.

• College Factual
• National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)
• O*NET Online
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
• U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard

More about our data sources and methodologies.