by our College Data Analytics TeamStudying General Engineering explores Engineering, General. A Program That Generally Prepares Individuals To Apply Mathematical And Scientific Principles To Solve A Wide Variety Of Practical Problems In Industry, Social Organization, Public Works, And Commerce. Includes Instruction In Undifferentiated And Individualized Programs In Engineering. Continue reading for the key facts every general engineering major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering general engineering programs.
In the U.S., general engineering is a widely-pursued major, with 10,144 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best General Engineering Schools ranking analyzes these 441 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.
Programs in 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.
Skills emphasized by 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 | 150 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 2,745 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 2,719 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 4,121 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 409 |
People currently working in careers related to general engineering tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 30.7% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 29.6% |
| Master’s degree | 11.8% |
| Post-doctoral training | 8.0% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 7.5% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 3.4% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 2.8% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 2.1% |
| Some college courses | 1.6% |
| First professional degree | 1.5% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 0.7% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 0.3% |
View 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.*
Studying general engineering can lead to many career paths. Here 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% |
College Scorecard reports 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 441 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.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Pre-Engineering | 2,722 |
| Applied Engineering | 545 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
