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Earn A Large Salary With An Engineering Degree!

September 1st, 2010

Students who major in engineering are among the highest paid graduates. Four of the five most highly paid majors for the class of 2010 were engineering degrees, according to a National Association of Colleges and Employers 2010 Salary Survey. Engineering majors also have a wide variety of specialties from which to choose. Be sure to search the internet and learn about online master.

There are chemical, electrical, petroleum and computer engineers, for instance. Where chemical engineers work with chemical products and more from raw materials, computer engineers create computer hardware and software, in some instances for video games, the Michigan State University web site notes. Electrical engineers, on the other hand, design, develop and test electrical equipment related to aircraft motors and the like, according to the Michigan institution. Petroleum, according to the University of Texas at Austin, produce oil, gas and other resources from the earth.

These types of engineers in 2010 were offered starting salaries of between $49,381 and $74,799 that were among the four highest, the Salary Survey Shows. At least one representative of the National Association of Colleges and Employers in a news release attributed these high salaries to the fact that the supply of engineers isn’t meeting the demand. Only 5.4 percent of the 1.5 million-plus degrees awarded in 2008 were engineering degrees, the association reported. If this interests you, then you should read more about distance learning college degree.

Students have many other engineering majors from which to choose, and some of these fields are expected to experience labor market growth. Civil engineers who, according to the Michigan State University web site, plan, design and assist in operating water resources, urban development and transportation and environmental systems, in 2008 held the most engineering jobs, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. These engineers should see the largest employment increases into 2010-11, the agency notes. Biomedical engineers, according to North Carolina State University, solve problems related to medical care and work for hospitals, pharmaceutical companies, medical schools and more, and should see the quickest employment growth into the next decade, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The solid investment an engineering degree provides isn’t new. In 2007, author and MSN Money columnist Liz Pullman Weston used U.S. Census information to come up with rough income increase estimates and compared these estimates with the cost of a college, university or technical school education. She too cited engineering degrees as giving graduates the biggest payoff. Students can expect to pay varying tuition and fees depending upon whether they choose two- or four-year institutions and whether colleges, universities and technical schools are private or public, the College Board notes. Financial aid also plays a role, according to the College Board. Students who plan to enter engineering fields might plan at least to obtain a bachelor’s degree, the Bureau of Labor Statistics notes. Make sure you learn more about university degrees.

Students who receive scholarships, fellowships and grants for college might, after this assistance is taken into account, expect to pay $7,020 for in-state and $11,528 for out-of-state annual tuition and fees at public four-year colleges, according to the College Board. Annual tuition and fees at private institutions, is at about $26,274 after financial assistance is considered, the College Board notes. Students might consider online college, university and technical school engineering programs as a means of saving on additional costs, such as room and board and commuting.

US News & World Report is known for its annual “America’s Best Colleges” edition. Rankings are based on input from administrators and senior faculty members who are familiar with different programs. The 2010 “Best Colleges” edition lists engineering programs by area of specialty and the degree levels to which institutions extend. Colleges, universities and technical schools with programs into the doctoral level tend to offer the widest array of offerings, US News & World Report notes.

The Engineering Service Center provides a list of engineering scholarship opportunities on its web site. Women and minorities particularly might find tuition assistance available, as they have generally been considered underrepresented in the field, according to Oregon State University, which works to encourage these demographic groups to enroll in engineering degree programs. Scholarships, fellowships and grants for college often are awarded in instances where campus and online colleges, universities and technical schools are accredited by a nationally recognized agency listed on the US Department of Education web site.