### SUMMARY

 Going to school for Engineering is a valuable choice and ordinarily a needed first step for undergrads hoping to pursue a career as a mechanical engineer, an electrical engineer, or a manufacturing systems engineer. In fact, engineering is an extremely popular degree choice, coming in at the 3rd most popular area of study. Last academic year, there were 128,724 engineering diplomas received. In-state tuition for engineering at private universities is, on average, 3.9 times more expensive than their public counterparts.

 There are 674 institutions which offer engineering. This number of colleges is on par with other majors offered in the United States. If you're looking to immerse yourself with other engineering undergrads, look at institutions in California which have more students admitted to engineering than any other state. More generally, the best region to study engineering is in the Southeast region with [Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus](/colleges/georgia-institute-of-technology-main-campus), [North Carolina State University at Raleigh](/colleges/north-carolina-state-university-at-raleigh), and [Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University](/colleges/virginia-polytechnic-institute-and-state-university) best representing the region. Interestingly, our pick of the best conference to major in engineering is the Big Ten Conference with [University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign](/colleges/university-of-illinois-at-urbana-champaign), [Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus](/colleges/pennsylvania-state-university-main-campus), and [Purdue University-Main Campus](/colleges/purdue-university-main-campus) representing the conference. From our extensive list on the [best colleges](/rankings/best-colleges), our selection for the best university for engineering is [Massachusetts Institute of Technology](/colleges/massachusetts-institute-of-technology).

 The 'best' school might not actually be the best school for you. There can be tons of facets to consider when selecting ​university. External stuff such as campus amenities, transportation services, and food could definitely change your inclinations of which school to attend. Here at authority.org, we weighed the pros and cons for you. If, for example, you want to know which engineering university is home to the top campus, the winner is [Northeastern University](/colleges/northeastern-university). If, for example, you are very interested in which college is home to the top campus, we have an entire list [dedicated to that](/rankings/best-college-campuses). We have carefully pored through government databases, student reviews, professor reviews, and more so we can compare all U.S. majors in an unbiased and informative way. Here you can find our comprehensive list for the schools with the [best student life](/rankings/best-student-life)&nbspand our selection for the university with the best student life for engineering is [Cornell University](/colleges/cornell-university). Are you curious why? Keep scrolling to learn more about our top recommendations. Many of our decisions might shock you.

 If cost is a primary deciding factor in your decisions, you might be cautious about [Columbia University in the City of New York](/colleges/columbia-university-in-the-city-of-new-york). [Columbia University in the City of New York](/colleges/columbia-university-in-the-city-of-new-york)&nbspis our most expensive college for engineering, at least regarding out of state attendance. That being said, we have a page for the [most expensive](/rankings/most-expensive-colleges)&nbspschools that could put the price tag at [Columbia University in the City of New York](/colleges/columbia-university-in-the-city-of-new-york)&nbspinto perspective. For more context, you may care to know that engineering is the 54th most expensive program in America, with an average bill of $48,000. On a broader scale, the most expensive state for engineering in the country is Massachusetts with tuition and fees at the primary three institutions of $54,720 at Boston University, totalling $53,940 at Smith College, and tuition and fees amounting to $53,940 at Tufts University. To zoom out even further, the most costly region of the country for engineering is the New England region which is best demonstrated with [Trinity College](/colleges/trinity-college) with a cost of $56,380, [Tufts University](/colleges/tufts-university) with a cost of $57,324, and [Brown University](/colleges/brown-university) with a cost of $57,112.

 Our cheapest region for engineering is the Rocky Mountains region which is represented by [Colorado Technical University-Colorado Springs](/colleges/colorado-technical-university-colorado-springs) with a cost of $11,896, [Brigham Young University-Idaho](/colleges/brigham-young-university-idaho) with a cost of $4,208, and [Brigham Young University-Provo](/colleges/brigham-young-university-provo) with a cost of $5,790. In better news, the most affordable college for engineering is [University of Florida](/colleges/university-of-florida). Authority.org's comprehensive list of the most affordable colleges can be found [here](/rankings/most-affordable-colleges).

 In-state students can anticipate paying about $10,400 for a degree in engineering. The cost grows substantially to an average of $24,200 for an out-of-state public-school student. As such, you might be interested in our pick for the school with the best value for engineering: [Massachusetts Institute of Technology](/colleges/massachusetts-institute-of-technology). Here you can find our comprehensive list about the universities we see as being the [best value](/rankings/best-value-colleges)&nbspoverall. With that said, this idea is predicated on being an out-of-state student. The value proposition changes when it comes to in-state tuition, but as we do not know what state(s) you might qualify for in-state tuition, we are approaching this discussion through out-of-state tuition costs.

 Earnings for engineering majors range widely, but within two-years of graduation graduates will typically earn around $72,100. There can be a lot of variation in pay; highest paid earners can bring in up to $108,400. Even straight out of university, the lowest earning opportunities within the engineering field make $48,900, which could be worse. The top earning grads for engineering have come from [Massachusetts Institute of Technology](/colleges/massachusetts-institute-of-technology)&nbspand if you are looking for colleges with all of the [highest earning graduates](/rankings/highest-earning-graduates), Authority has that too.

 The all-around diversity of engineering ranks pretty high, ranking within the 81st percentile of all majors. The college with the most composite diversity for engineering is [Massachusetts Institute of Technology](/colleges/massachusetts-institute-of-technology)&nbspand here you can find our general list of the colleges with the [most diversity](/rankings/most-diverse-colleges). The overall financial diversity of the Engineering major is only within the 24th percentile of all majors. Racial diversity is greater than financial diversity, ranking in the 82nd percentile. White students make up the largest share at 46% of those studying engineering. Additionally, 74% of students pursuing an engineering degree are men.

 The median rating for engineering's professors is 3.8 stars, a ranking that is 5% lower than the median for all majors; which is a subpar ranking. If you want to find the most popular engineering professor in the nation, take a look at Adam Reed from [University of Nevada-Reno](/colleges/university-of-nevada-reno). It might surprise you, but the highest rated professors of engineering from student rankings come from [New Jersey Institute of Technology](/colleges/new-jersey-institute-of-technology). If we incorporate data beyond simply rankings it becomes clear that the university with comprehensively the best instructors for engineering is [Massachusetts Institute of Technology](/colleges/massachusetts-institute-of-technology). You can find an explanation of our evolving ranking methodology of the [best overall professors here](/rankings/best-professors), as well as many of the top examples of professors in the U.S.

 Finally, the most difficult school to get into for engineering is [Stanford University](/colleges/stanford-university). While we do not necessarily see the value in it, we have a general page for the [hardest colleges to get into](/rankings/hardest-colleges-to-get-into). That being said, here at Authority we do hope you understand that approaching the education process from context primarily built on superlatives might create problems. We at Authority hope you read our other pages on different topics and read a couple of our background pages on essential details to think about as your school search continues.



 ### POPULARITY

 Engineering is the 3rd most popular degree in America, with 128,724 students receiving their bachelors degree last year. It just beat out #4 [Biological and Biomedical Sciences](/rankings/best-colleges-for-biological-and-biomedical-sciences), and narrowly lost to #2 [Business Administration and Management](/rankings/best-colleges-for-business-administration-and-management).

 The degree is offered at a total of 674 colleges across the nation, and is the 28th most widely offered degree. Given that engineering is offered at 65% of the Top 100 [Best Colleges](/rankings/best-colleges) in America, you can be sure this is a critical degree and the skillsets acquired are likely to last for a long time.

 It is also worth noting that 70% of colleges offering engineering are public making it a quite accessible field.

 The southeast produces the most engineering graduates, largely led by [Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus](/colleges/georgia-institute-of-technology-main-campus), while it’s the Big Ten Conference that leads conference totals. As far as states, California ranks highest, with particular help from [California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo](/colleges/california-polytechnic-state-university-san-luis-obispo) and [University of California-Berkeley](/colleges/university-of-california-berkeley).

 All that being said, no individual school produces more engineering graduates than [Arizona Western College](/colleges/arizona-western-college), which graduated 2194 students last year alone. Although size is critical, another important factor to consider is the program’s density (the percent of all students that study engineering). More students studied engineering as a percentage of total students at [Franklin W Olin College of Engineering](/colleges/franklin-w-olin-college-of-engineering) than any other college.



 ### COST

 Engineering is the 54th most expensive degree in the US, with a median cost of $48,030 for the top 50 programs (just ahead of #55, [Public Policy Analysis](rankings/best-colleges-for-public-policy-analysis), with a median cost of $47,794).

 New England has the most expensive schools with top 50 engineering programs predominantly led by [Trinity College](/colleges/trinity-college) with an annual cost of $56,380. The most expensive state for engineering is Massachusetts led by [Boston University](/colleges/boston-university) and [Smith College](/colleges/smith-college).

 Public schools with good programs typically charge 74.4% less than private schools for in-state students. When looking at out-of-state tuition however, the median top 50 Public school charges 40.17% less than your average private school. So make sure to look into public shools in your state as soon as possible.

 The most pricey option in the top 25 is [Columbia University in the City of New York](/colleges/columbia-university-in-the-city-of-new-york), which is the 3rd most expensive college in the US. The most affordable option in the top 100 is [United States Merchant Marine Academy](/colleges/united-states-merchant-marine-academy). It costs just $0 per year, but it is its engineering program is ranked #58. If you’re looking for a higher ranked, but still affordable college, [University of Florida](/colleges/university-of-florida)  is probably a good fit for you, ranked #23 with an in-state cost of just $4,477. Another more affordable pick would be #17, [Missouri University of Science and Technology](/colleges/missouri-university-of-science-and-technology) in Phelps County, MO with a cost of $8,512 for in-state students and $26,060 for out-of-state students.



### SALARY

 Going to college is an important investment for most students. It's critical to ensure you justify your cash outlay. With that in mind, we hope the following career and earnings facts help you in deciding your focus at college.

 The average Engineering major earns a starting salary of $68,526 per year, which is the 22nd highest of any focus. After some experience in their careers, they for the most part earn anywhere between $48,921 and $108,386, but average near $72,147. To put it in context, that is 87% over the nation wide average.

 The most popular job for an Engineering graduate is Engineer, which for the most part earn close to $59,000; next are Senior Software Engineer and Senior Engineer, which by and large earn near $82,000 and $75,000 respectively.

 New England has the highest grossing Engineering graduates. WA has the most well paid Engineering graduates of any state. The best paid conference for Engineering graduates is North Atlantic Conference.



### PROFESSORS

 Fast Facts for Engineering: Median Professor Rating: 3.8 / 5, which is below average.

 Instructors always have an astronomical impact your college experience, regardless of your major. A thought-provoking professor may provide inspiration and set you up for future success. On the other hand, a bad experience with a professor can drive unwelcome anxiety or even worse... flunk you!

 Professors of Engineering have a median student rating of 3.8 out of 5, putting them in the bottom 20% in America based on student approval. For context a 3.8 rating is 5% less than the national median professor rating for all subjects. Engineering professors just surpassed those from ["Accounting"](/rankings/best-colleges-for-accounting), whereas ["Computer and Information Sciences "](/rankings/best-colleges-for-computer-and-information-sciences)&nbspprofessors ranked one slot above Engineering.

 Now for some statistics about Engineering professors. Colleges located in fringe rural areas tend to have the best Engineering professors. The California Pacific Conference has the highest rated Engineering professors. The Southwest region has the highest rated Engineering professors. Public colleges tend to have higher rated Engineering professors than private institutions. Finally, Hawaii has the highest rated Engineering professors in the US.

 Adam Reed, professor at [University of Nevada-Reno](/colleges/university-of-nevada-reno)&nbspin Reno, NV is the most popular Engineering professor in America. Gilbert Lucchelli, instructor at [San Antonio College](/colleges/san-antonio-college)&nbspin San Antonio, TX is the highest rated Engineering professor in America, with a rating of 5 / 5.

 Find out which colleges have the [Best Professors](/rankings/best-professors)!



### STUDENTS

 College often is an immensely momentous period of one's life; it's an opportunity for personal growth and evolution. Undergraduates attempt to find out what they can become and forge many of the required skills to be a halcyon member of society. But growth also happens outside the classroom - the late nights discussing Descarte with a schoolmate, the personal lesson received from an old professor, the exposure to a different background. Therefore, finding a diverse college vastly enriches what you gain from your time at university.

 Engineering is a more popular major among students of color than white students. 46% of the United States' Engineering majors are white students, followed by students of other races\*\*(32%), asian students (13%), and latino students (7%). The most racially diverse college\* in the top 100 is [Swarthmore College](/colleges/swarthmore-college) located in Swarthmore, PA.

 Furthermore, Engineering significatly skews male, with 74% of students majoring in Engineering identifying as men. The most gender balanced school in the top 100 is [Franklin W Olin College of Engineering](/colleges/franklin-w-olin-college-of-engineering) in Needham, MA.

 Another significant type of diversity is economic diversity. Unfortunately, Engineering ranks in the bottom 25% of subjects economic diversity. 33% of its majors come from homes that make more than $110,000 a year, 15% are from homes that make between $48,000 and $75,000 a year, and 23% grew up in low income homes. [United States Merchant Marine Academy](/colleges/united-states-merchant-marine-academy) has the most economically diverse student body in the top 100.

 Considering each type of diversity, overall CA is the most diverse state for Engineering. The Far West is the most diverse region, and the Centennial Conference is the most diverse conference.

   \* diversity calculations and comparisons are based on [Simpson's Diversity Index](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diversity_index)   
  \*\* other races is used to refer to non asian, black, latino, or white

  #### Diversity Statistics

  ##### Racial Diversity

 * Asian: 13%
* Black: 2%
* Latino: 7%
* White: 46%
* Other: 32%
  ##### Gender Diversity

 * Male: 74%
* Female: 26%
  ##### Socioeconomic Diversity (By Household Income)

 * Under 30k: 23%
* 30k - 48k: 14%
* 48k - 75k: 15%
* 75k - 110k: 15%
* Over 110k: 33%
  ##### Geographic Diversity

 * In State: 62%
* Out of State: 29%
* International: 9%


2023 Engineering Salary

There are about 438,412 students enrolled in Engineering in the USA.

SALARY