Question 1

What is the real difference between an Engineering Technology degree (CIP 15) and an Engineering degree (CIP 14)?

Accepted Answer

The distinction matters more than most students realize before they enroll. Engineering (CIP 14) is a theory-first discipline: you study thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, and differential equations before touching applied problems, and the degree is designed to produce engineers who can design novel systems from first principles. Engineering Technology (CIP 15) is application-first: coursework emphasizes how to configure, troubleshoot, test, and improve systems that engineers have already designed. The degrees also differ in credential name — CIP 14 graduates typically hold a B.S.E. (Bachelor of Science in Engineering), while CIP 15 graduates hold a B.S.E.T. (Bachelor of Science in Engineering Technology). Both are four-year degrees when completed at the bachelor's level, but they sit under different ABET accreditation standards: Engineering programs are reviewed under ABET's Engineering Accreditation Commission (EAC), while Engineering Technology programs fall under the Technology Accreditation Commission (TAC). That split has downstream consequences for Professional Engineer licensure, which most states currently require to go through EAC-accredited programs. For students whose goal is a PE license, CIP 14 is the conventional path. For students whose goal is to work in manufacturing, construction, quality control, or field operations immediately after graduation, CIP 15 programs are purpose-built for exactly that outcome.

Question 2

Which Engineering Technology specialty offers the highest earning potential?

Accepted Answer

Among the top careers mapped to this family, the data shows wide variation. The headline figure is $133,080 for software developers — the top career listed for Computer Software Technology/Technician (CIP 15.1204, 17 colleges, 178 completions) and Computer Engineering Technology (CIP 15.1201, 113 colleges, 892 completions). But it is critical to understand that this figure represents the wage for experienced software developers broadly, not necessarily what graduates of an Engineering Technology program earn on day one. Within the more mainstream technology specialties, the data shows a more grounded picture: automotive service technicians and mechanics earn $49,670, and inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers earn $47,460. Occupational Safety and Health Technology (53 colleges, 2,106 completions) leads to occupational health and safety specialist roles, which are among the more stable destinations in the family. Industrial Technology and Manufacturing Engineering Technology together represent over 3,600 completions leading primarily to industrial engineering technologist and technician roles. Construction Engineering Technology (142 colleges, 3,657 completions) maps to construction manager careers, which have strong demand across the country. The highest realistic earning path for most CIP 15 graduates is the industrial engineering technologist track, followed by occupational safety and health, followed by construction management.

Question 3

Is the $133,080 software developer wage realistic for graduates of a Computer Engineering Technology program?

Accepted Answer

It is technically plausible but not the expected outcome for most graduates. The $133,080 median wage for software developers (SOC 15-1252) is the bureau-level figure for the occupation as a whole, including workers with years of experience, graduate degrees, and roles at high-paying employers. Computer Engineering Technology (CIP 15.1201) has 113 colleges and 892 annual completions; Computer Software Technology (CIP 15.1204) has only 17 colleges and 178 completions. These programs train students to support software systems, test software, assist in quality assurance, and work in technical environments — roles that overlap with software development but are not identical to the software developer role at a major technology employer. A graduate entering a software quality assurance analyst or tester position — the top career listed for Computer Engineering Technology — would likely start well below the software developer median. Students attracted to this family primarily for the $133,080 figure should consider whether a CIP 11 Computer Science program would be a stronger preparation for that specific outcome, since software developer roles generally expect CS-depth coursework in algorithms, data structures, and software engineering theory that Engineering Technology programs do not emphasize.

Question 4

Can Engineering Technology graduates sit for the Professional Engineer (PE) exam?

Accepted Answer

This is one of the most consequential questions in the CIP 15 decision, and the answer is nuanced. Historically, most states required candidates to hold a degree from an ABET Engineering Accreditation Commission (EAC) program — which is CIP 14 Engineering, not CIP 15 Engineering Technology. ABET's Technology Accreditation Commission (TAC) accredits Engineering Technology programs separately. However, NCEES (the organization that administers the PE exam) updated its model rules in 2019 to allow licensure pathways for engineering technology graduates, and some states have moved to adopt those updated rules, but adoption varies significantly by state. A student enrolled in a CIP 15 program who intends to eventually pursue PE licensure should verify the current rules in their target state — and ideally in every state where they might practice — before assuming they have a clear PE pathway. For roles that do not require PE licensure, such as most manufacturing, industrial, and construction technologist positions, the distinction between EAC and TAC accreditation is generally not a barrier.

Question 5

How strong are the community college transfer pathways into Engineering Technology programs?

Accepted Answer

The community college presence in CIP 15 is substantial and more hospitable to transfer students than CIP 14 Engineering programs. The largest major by college count — Electrical, Electronic, and Communications Engineering Technology — is offered at all 399 colleges in the data, many of which are community colleges offering associate degree programs that articulate into bachelor's completion programs at four-year institutions. Manufacturing Engineering Technology is offered at 263 colleges, making it another widely available entry point. Mechanical Engineering Technology is at 227 colleges, and Engineering Technologies/Technicians General covers 222 colleges. The associate degree in engineering technology (A.A.S. or A.S.) is a legitimate credential that some employers in manufacturing, utilities, and construction hire directly, which means a two-year completion is not always just a stepping stone — it can be a terminal degree for certain roles. Students who want to transfer from a community college into a four-year Engineering Technology program should confirm that the receiving institution offers a 2+2 articulation track, since not all four-year programs accept associate-level coursework at face value. Programs with established articulation agreements are specifically designed to accept community college coursework and allow students to complete a bachelor's in two additional years.

Sorted by popularity

Electrical, Electronic, and Communications Engineering Technology/Technician

Construction Engineering Technology/Technician

Mechanical/Mechanical Engineering Technology/Technician

Engineering Technologies/Technicians, General

Occupational Safety and Health Technology/Technician

Industrial Technology/Technician

Manufacturing Engineering Technology/Technician

Engineering/Industrial Management

Drafting and Design Technology/Technician, General

Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians, Other

Electromechanical/Electromechanical Engineering Technology/Technician

Architectural Engineering Technologies/Technicians

Instrumentation Technology/Technician

Computer Engineering Technology/Technician

Civil Engineering Technologies/Technicians

Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians, Other

Architectural Drafting and Architectural CAD/CADD

CAD/CADD Drafting and/or Design Technology/Technician

Automation Engineer Technology/Technician

Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Engineering Technology/Technician

Biomedical Technology/Technician

Automotive Engineering Technology/Technician

Electromechanical Technologies/Technicians, Other

Surveying Technology/Surveying

Aeronautical/Aerospace Engineering Technology/Technician

Computer/Computer Systems Technology/Technician

Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians, Other

Computer Engineering Technologies/Technicians, Other

Energy Systems Technology/Technician

Mechanical Drafting and Mechanical Drafting CAD/CADD

Packaging Science

Mechatronics, Robotics, and Automation Engineering Technology/Technician

Nuclear Engineering Technology/Technician

Water Quality and Wastewater Treatment Management and Recycling Technology/Technician

Robotics Technology/Technician

Computer Software Technology/Technician

Environmental/Environmental Engineering Technology/Technician

Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians, Other

Industrial Safety Technology/Technician

Welding Engineering Technology/Technician

Engineering-Related Fields, Other

Petroleum Technology/Technician

Plastics and Polymer Engineering Technology/Technician

Laser and Optical Technology/Technician

Quality Control Technology/Technician

Power Plant Technology/Technician

Environmental Control Technologies/Technicians, Other

Applied Engineering Technologies/Technicians

Telecommunications Technology/Technician

Marine Engineering Technology/Technician

Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians, Other

Civil Drafting and Civil Engineering CAD/CADD

Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians, Other

Audio Engineering Technology/Technician

Hazardous Materials Management and Waste Technology/Technician

Electrical/Electronics Drafting and Electrical/Electronics CAD/CADD

Solar Energy Technology/Technician

Metallurgical Technology/Technician

Quality Control and Safety Technologies/Technicians, Other

Chemical Engineering Technology/Technician

Hydraulics and Fluid Power Technology/Technician

Motorsports Engineering Technology/Technician

3-D Modeling and Design Technology/Technician

Semiconductor Manufacturing Technology/Technician

Nanotechnology

Integrated Circuit Design Technology/Technician

Mining and Petroleum Technologies/Technicians, Other

Wind Energy Technology/Technician

Composite Materials Technology/Technician

Computer Hardware Technology/Technician

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