2022 General Mechanical Engineering Degree Guide
General Mechanical Engineering Degrees Popular in the U.S.
General Mechanical Engineering was the 12th most popular major in the 2019-2020 school year. Colleges in the United States reported awarding 47,427 degrees in this year alone. This represents small change only 0.4% from the prior year's total of 47,222 general mechanical engineering degrees awarded.
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The United States has 416 different schools where you can get a degree in general mechanical engineering. Our 2022 Best General Mechanical Engineering Schools ranking analyzes 326 of these schools to determine the best overall colleges for general mechanical engineering students. Explore this or one of our many other custom general mechanical engineering rankings further below.
Requirements for Getting a Degree in General Mechanical Engineering
General Mechanical Engineering majors are found most commonly in careers in which understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents is important. Required skills include using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems and giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Getting Accepted Into a General Mechanical Engineering Program
A high school diploma or equivalent is typically required for most general mechanical engineering degree programs and many students will need a minimum GPA and SAT/ACT score depending on the school. Specific general mechanical engineering careers may require a certain level of degree attainment or additional certifications beyond that.
Types of General Mechanical Engineering Degrees
General Mechanical Engineering degree levels vary. You can spend many years getting as high as a in general mechanical engineering to something that takes less time like a . The time it takes to complete a general mechanical engineering degree varies depending on the program.
| Degree | Credit Requirements | Typical Program Length |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 60-70 credits | 2 years |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 120 credits | 4 years |
| Master’s Degree | 50-70 credits | 1-3 years |
| Doctorate | Program required coursework including thesis or dissertation | At least 4 years |
A bachelor's degree is the most common level of education achieved by those in careers related to general mechanical engineering, with approximately 56.7% of workers getting one. See the the most common levels of education for general mechanical engineering workers below.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 61.0% |
| Master’s Degree | 18.8% |
| Doctoral Degree | 8.2% |
| Associate’s Degree (or other 2-year degree) | 3.3% |
| Post-Baccalaureate Certificate | 3.1% |
About 94.4% of workers in careers related to general mechanical engineering obtain at least bachelor's degrees. The chart below shows what degree level those who work in general mechanical engineering have obtained.
This of course varies depending on which general mechanical engineering career you choose.
General Mechanical Engineering Careers
Solid Growth Projected for General Mechanical Engineering Careers
Want a job when you graduate with your general mechanical engineering degree? General Mechanical Engineering careers are expected to grow 8.6% between 2016 and 2026.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to general mechanical engineering.
| Occupation Name | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Mechanical Engineers | 314,100 | 8.8% |
| Cost Estimators | 240,800 | 10.5% |
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | 190,000 | 5.5% |
| Aerospace Engineers | 73,800 | 6.0% |
| Engineering Professors | 54,600 | 14.7% |
General Mechanical Engineering Degree Salary Potential
As you might expect, salaries for general mechanical engineering graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.
Highest Paid General Mechanical Engineering Careers
Salaries for general mechanical engineering graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top highest paying careers general mechanical engineering grads often go into.
| Occupation Name | Median Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | $148,970 |
| Aerospace Engineers | $117,100 |
| Engineering Professors | $113,680 |
| Mechanical Engineers | $92,800 |
| Cost Estimators | $69,710 |
Getting Your General Mechanical Engineering Degree
With over 852 different general mechanical engineering degree programs to choose from, finding the best fit for you can be a challenge. Fortunately you have come to the right place. We have analyzed all of these schools to come up with hundreds of unbiased general mechanical engineering school rankings to help you with this.
Top Ranking Lists for General Mechanical Engineering
Majors Related to General Mechanical Engineering
One of 0 majors within the Mechanical Engineering area of study, General Mechanical Engineering has other similar majors worth exploring.
References
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Image Credit: By Michel Villeneuve under License More about our data sources and methodologies.
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