Engineering

About Engineering

Wondering whether Engineering is worth studying? What matters is what graduates actually earn, where they end up working, and which colleges produce the most of them. Most graduates end up in this field, so it is worth knowing what a Physicist earns and how the role is projected to grow.

Build physical systems and solve complex technical problems, civil, mechanical, electrical, and aerospace engineering are the most common specializations. Four years after finishing the degree, graduates in this field earn a national median of $86,517, per College Scorecard. You can study it at 1,297 colleges and universities across the country, so location is rarely the limiting factor. About 198,720 students complete a degree in this area every year.

Median Earnings · 1yr

$72,052

Median Earnings · 4yr

$86,517

Colleges Offering

1,297

Graduates / Year

198,720

Specializations

41

Avg Net Price / yr

$18,834

Is an Engineering Degree Right for You?

Is the Investment Worth It?

Strong ROI. At median 4-year earnings of $86,517 against an estimated $75,336 four-year net cost, most graduates break even against baseline wages in under two years.

How Much Do Engineering Majors Earn?

Pay for Engineering graduates climbs fast in the first few years out. The median start is $72,052 one year after graduation, rising to $86,517 by year four, so the early salary is not the ceiling. Source: College Scorecard, across all 1,297 US institutions offering programs in this field.

What Can You Do With an Engineering Degree?

Career Paths for Engineering Graduates

Studying Engineering does not lock you into one job title. It opens 8 occupations tracked by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, from entry-level roles to senior ones, and Physicist pays the most among them at a median $172,250 a year. Each row below adds national wages, employment levels, and the 10-year growth outlook so you can weigh the rest.

Another common path leads to what an Architectural & Engineering Manager typically earns and how the field is trending.

Engineering Specializations

Which specialization you pick inside Engineering matters more than usual here. Engineering breaks into 38 specializations, and four-year earnings swing from $71,680 to $122,531 depending on which one you choose. Each row below links to a full program profile, sorted highest-paying first. Source: College Scorecard.

The highest-paying specialization is the cost and outcomes for an Operations Research program, which is worth a closer look before settling on the broader field.

Best Colleges for Engineering

These are the 20 colleges that graduate the most students in Engineering, ranked by how many completed the degree in the most recent reporting year, not by selectivity or prestige. Acceptance rate, net price, earnings, and graduation rate for each one come from College Scorecard and IPEDS.

By that measure, the list starts with the cost and admissions data for Purdue University-Main Campus.

Ranked by number of Engineering graduates per IPEDS completion data. Acceptance rate, net price, earnings, and graduation rate from College Scorecard. Read our methodology →

How Engineering Compares to Similar Majors

Plan Your Path

Decide with data, not guesswork. These tools turn the numbers on this page into a personal plan. Estimate the real cost of an Engineering degree, compare colleges side-by-side, weigh the long-term payoff, and find programs that match your profile.

Engineering Degree: Pros & Cons

On the numbers that matter most financially, Engineering beats most other majors: earnings are strong and the career field is growing. The 4 strengths and 1 trade-offs below are pulled from College Scorecard, BLS, and IPEDS data, not editorial scoring.

Engineering Degree: Frequently Asked Questions