by our College Data Analytics TeamDoes math and science come easily to you? Do you love figuring out the science behind cars, robots, airplanes, and bridges? Engineering is not just about being good at math, rather it appeals to the person who loves to understand the process of how things work, how structures are built, and the math that it takes to design new buildings, products and systems. This major allows you to learn how things actually run and work. It teaches you to create and build things that we need. This includes items such as bridges, but also can get as technical as robots that are small enough to fit into the human body.
Courses will vary depending on the institution you attend, but some of the basics include: chemistry, engineering, economics and ethics for engineers, engineering law, geology, geophysics, and introductions to computer programming, numerical methods, physics, and some business courses.
You may also choose to major in pre-engineering which prepares you to transfer into a four year program in any of the numerous fields in engineering.
A major in General Engineering covers Engineering, General. Continue reading for the essential details every general engineering student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering general engineering programs.
Across the country, general engineering is a popular field of study, with 13,411 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best General Engineering Schools ranking analyzes these 641 schools to determine the best overall colleges for general engineering students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of general engineering programs later in this article.
Coursework for General Engineering develop a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations general engineering graduates commonly enter.
Engineers use math and science concepts to analyze and solve practical problems. These problems will be as vast as oil-drilling techniques, to MP3 players and everything in-between. This means you should have some natural ability in both math and science. Algorithms will become part of your life. You should be willing to work hard to figure out complex problems. Students will need to be dedicated and determined, and learn to relish the joy of discovering something new or making a breakthrough on a problem.
Most engineers work in teams to complete projects. You will find it necessary to acquire good communication and collaborative skills. Successful Students will listen to recommendations from classmates and teachers, while pulling their own weight in completing group-work. For many upper level classes you will get to pick your teams to design and build your project. It is important to pick classmates who you can work well with in order to accomplish the task at hand. Strong speaking skills will come in handy when giving presentations on your findings.
As a general engineer major, you will learn how to gather and interpret data. Challenging math and science courses will be present in every semester of college. Many colleges require a certain grade point average in order to stay in the program. This is a major for people who are innovative, creative, flexible, and focused.
Many schools will require you to obtain some sort of internship in engineering either over the summer or during the semester.
Skills developed in a general engineering program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
According to O*NET, a general engineering major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several general engineering degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 438 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 4,909 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 2,959 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 4,683 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 422 |
People currently working in careers related to general engineering tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 34.7% |
| Doctoral degree | 26.6% |
| Master’s degree | 11.6% |
| Post-doctoral training | 6.4% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 5.2% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 4.4% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 3.4% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 2.5% |
| Some college courses | 2.3% |
| First professional degree | 1.6% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 0.8% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 0.4% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in general engineering careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
As a general engineer, you will study many different fields of engineering briefly. Some choose to get a master's degree in a more specialized field. However, you may get a job working with other engineers on a team to create a product or even to help market that particular product. You are also well prepared to work in a non-engineering field like law.
Rate of pay and growth in the career field vary greatly depending on what field of Engineering you choose to specialize in.
Majoring in general engineering opens doors to a variety of career paths. Below are some of the most common occupations related to general engineering.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to general engineering.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,297,204 | -2.0% |
| Biofuels/Biodiesel Technology and Product Development Managers | 440,884 | 8.0% |
| Nanosystems Engineers | 358,781 | -2.9% |
| Wind Energy Engineers | 353,305 | 12.7% |
| Engineers, All Other | 292,948 | -4.3% |
| Solar Energy Systems Engineers | 266,797 | 14.5% |
| Energy Engineers, Except Wind and Solar | 227,778 | 6.7% |
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | 207,139 | 9.0% |
The U.S. Department of Education tracks median earnings of general engineering graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Wages typically rise as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $79,788 |
| 4 years | $83,175 |
| 5 years | $92,105 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for general engineering graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers general engineering grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Engineers, All Other | $136,628 |
| Solar Energy Systems Engineers | $116,775 |
| Mechatronics Engineers | $115,569 |
| Microsystems Engineers | $104,558 |
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | $101,277 |
| Wind Energy Engineers | $98,460 |
| Biofuels/Biodiesel Technology and Product Development Managers | $89,263 |
| Photonics Engineers | $84,667 |
With 641 different general engineering programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased general engineering school rankings to help you.
If you are interested in general engineering, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Engineering, General | 10,144 |
| Pre-Engineering | 2,722 |
| Applied Engineering | 545 |
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Mechanical Engineering | 42,939 |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | 26,760 |
| Civil Engineering | 20,005 |
| Computer Engineering | 19,986 |
| Biomedical/Medical Engineering | 13,914 |
| Chemical Engineering | 10,939 |
| Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering | 9,596 |
| Industrial Engineering | 8,533 |
| Systems Engineering | 3,956 |
| Engineering, Other | 3,529 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
