Question 1

Why are engineering programs available at so few colleges compared to other STEM fields?

Accepted Answer

Engineering programs require ABET accreditation to be recognized by most employers and professional licensing boards, and maintaining that accreditation demands specialized laboratory facilities, licensed faculty, and continuous curriculum review that most institutions cannot fund. The result is that only 448 colleges offer CIP 14 programs — significantly fewer than the 1,024 colleges offering computer science programs or the 2,076 offering health professions programs. That constraint has a practical implication for students: your geographic options are narrower, transfer articulation agreements are less common, and community college engineering programs are more likely to be pre-engineering pathways than fully accredited degree completions.

Question 2

What is the difference between Computer Engineering and Computer Science?

Accepted Answer

Computer Engineering (CIP 14.0901, 319 colleges, 9,312 completions) sits in the engineering family and emphasizes hardware-software integration: chip design, embedded systems, firmware, and the physical computing infrastructure that software eventually runs on. Computer Science lives in the computing family (CIP 11) and focuses on algorithms, programming languages, and software systems at a more abstract level. Both paths can lead to software developer roles — median wage $133,080 — but Computer Engineering graduates are more competitive for hardware, embedded, and firmware positions, while Computer Science graduates have a wider range of software development options. Critically, only Computer Engineering programs are eligible for ABET engineering accreditation, which matters if you plan to eventually pursue a Professional Engineer license.

Question 3

What do graduates from this concentration typically earn?

Accepted Answer

The median across the entire Engineering family sits at roughly $52,892, but that figure obscures large variation by specialty. Civil engineers — the top career for Civil Engineering, General graduates — earn a median $99,590. Industrial engineers, the primary destination for Industrial Engineering graduates (4,841 completions at 139 colleges), earn a median $101,140. The Computer Engineering track reaches $133,080 for software developers. Even Mechanical Engineering, the family's highest-volume major at 33,431 completions, leads to mechanical engineer roles with strong wages. The family median is pulled down by pre-engineering enrollments and broader engineering science programs where graduates enter a wider mix of industries.

Question 4

Which four majors dominate engineering completions, and what does that mean for applicants?

Accepted Answer

Mechanical Engineering (33,431 completions), Electrical and Electronics Engineering (14,891), Civil Engineering, General (13,488), and Computer Engineering, General (9,312) account for roughly 71,122 of the family's 123,806 total completions — about 57 percent of all engineering degrees. These four majors are available at the most colleges (319 to 448 each), have the deepest employer familiarity, and carry the most transfer pathway infrastructure at schools that offer pre-engineering articulation. Choosing outside these four is not wrong, but students pursuing Aerospace Engineering (77 colleges), Industrial Engineering (139 colleges), or Chemical Engineering (206 colleges) will find a narrower institutional footprint and should confirm their target school's program is ABET-accredited before applying.

Question 5

What is a pre-engineering program and how does it work as a transfer pathway?

Accepted Answer

Pre-Engineering (CIP 14.0102) is a two-year curriculum offered at 228 colleges — mostly community colleges — designed to satisfy the freshman and sophomore coursework that four-year engineering programs require before students specialize. It recorded 2,176 completions, meaning most students transfer before completing the pre-engineering credential itself. The practical value is cost: completing calculus, physics, chemistry, and introductory engineering courses at a community college tuition rate before transferring to an ABET-accredited four-year program can cut total degree cost significantly. The key risk is articulation — not all credits transfer cleanly to all engineering programs, and some schools require students to re-complete laboratory courses. Confirming a formal articulation agreement between your community college and your target four-year program before enrolling is essential.

Question 6

How should I evaluate whether a specific engineering program is worth attending?

Accepted Answer

ABET accreditation is the baseline filter: engineering programs without it are not recognized for professional licensure in most states, and some employers will not hire from non-accredited programs. Beyond accreditation, placement rate into engineering roles and median starting salary are the most actionable outcome metrics. The Engineering family's 448 colleges span a wide range of selectivity and outcomes; not all accredited programs place graduates equally. Co-op and internship infrastructure matters disproportionately in engineering because hands-on industry experience is often the deciding factor in first-job offers. If a program lacks co-op partnerships or has a weak alumni network in your target industry, the credential alone may not be enough.

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Mechanical Engineering

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Bioengineering and Biomedical Engineering

Chemical Engineering

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Engineering, General

Industrial Engineering

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Pre-Engineering

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Chemical Engineering, Other

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