by our College Data Analytics TeamA degree in Applied Engineering covers A Program That Generally Prepares Individuals To Apply Mathematical And Scientific Principles Inherent To Engineering To The Management And Design Of Systems, Execution Of New Product Designs, Improvement Of Manufacturing Processes, And The Management And Direction Of The Physical Or Technical Functions Of An Organization. Includes Instruction In Basic Engineering Principles, Project Management, Industrial Processes, Production And Operations Management, Systems Integration And Control, Quality Control, And Statistics. Continue reading for the essential details every applied engineering student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering applied engineering programs.
Nationwide, applied engineering is a popular field of study, with 545 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Applied Engineering Schools ranking analyzes these 13 schools to determine the best overall colleges for applied engineering students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of applied engineering programs later in this article.
Studies in Applied Engineering emphasize a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations applied engineering graduates commonly enter.
The skill set built by a applied engineering program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
According to O*NET, a applied engineering major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several applied 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 6 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 217 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 309 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 13 |
People currently working in careers related to applied engineering tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 46.6% |
| Doctoral degree | 17.2% |
| Master’s degree | 11.2% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 6.7% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 4.8% |
| Some college courses | 3.8% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 3.6% |
| Post-doctoral training | 2.4% |
| First professional degree | 1.9% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 1.2% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 0.6% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in applied engineering careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Majoring in applied engineering opens doors to numerous career paths. Below are some of the most common occupations related to applied engineering.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to applied engineering.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| 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% |
| Robotics Engineers | 141,385 | 8.6% |
| Mechatronics Engineers | 101,153 | 3.6% |
| Photonics Engineers | 46,226 | 13.0% |
The U.S. Department of Education tracks median earnings of applied engineering graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. These numbers tend to grow 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 applied engineering graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers applied 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 |
| Wind Energy Engineers | $98,460 |
| Photonics Engineers | $84,667 |
| Robotics Engineers | $72,925 |
| Energy Engineers, Except Wind and Solar | $59,756 |
With 13 different applied engineering programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased applied engineering school rankings to help you.
Those considering applied engineering, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Engineering, General | 10,144 |
| Pre-Engineering | 2,722 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
