Bright outlook
Management
Architectural and Engineering Managers
- Median pay
- $171,270
- Outlook
- Faster than average
Bachelor's degree
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Complex Problem Solving
Engineering, General
CIP14.01
452 colleges offer Engineering, General. See what it covers, which degree levels are available and what graduates earn and borrow.
Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Colleges offering it
- 452
- at its most common level
- Bachelor's earnings
- $87,517
- median, 4 years after
- Bachelor's debt
- $23,687
- median federal loans
Colleges offering it, by degree level
- Certificate
- 74
- Associate's
- 452
- Bachelor's
- 254
- Master's
- 130
- Post-baccalaureate certificate
- 3
- Doctoral
- 57
- First professional
- 3
- Graduate/professional certificate
- 35
What it covers
About 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.
Definition: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs 2020, code 14.01.
Programs in this field
Colleges report these specific programs under CIP 14.01.
- Engineering, General
- Pre-Engineering
- Applied Engineering
By degree level
Earnings and debt by degree level
Medians across colleges of each college's own program median. Earnings are for graduates who received federal aid and were working.
| Degree level | Colleges | Median earnings | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Certificate | 74 | $85,1444 yrs after · 3 colleges | Not reported |
| Associate's | 452 | $75,2464 yrs after · 53 colleges | $8,9284 colleges |
| Bachelor's | 254 | $87,5174 yrs after · 49 colleges | $23,68748 colleges |
| Master's | 130 | $122,8204 yrs after · 23 colleges | $31,09814 colleges |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 3 | Not reported | Not reported |
| Doctoral | 57 | $138,0384 yrs after · 2 colleges | Not reported |
| First professional | 3 | Not reported | Not reported |
| Graduate/professional certificate | 35 | Not reported | Not reported |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard field-of-study data, 2025. Colleges with too few graduates have their earnings and debt suppressed, so the number of colleges reporting is smaller than the number offering the program.
Bachelor's programs
Where Engineering, General graduates earn the most
Median earnings four years after finishing, among programs with at least 10 graduates in the latest year. Earnings are one measure; cost and graduation rate matter too.
- 1
Franklin W Olin College of Engineering
Needham, MA · Private nonprofit · 52 graduates
$135,136
debt $13,771
- 2
Claremont, CA · Private nonprofit · 62 graduates
$122,845
debt $26,000
- 3
Pittsburgh, PA · Private nonprofit · 15 graduates
$110,208
debt not reported
- 4
Providence, RI · Private nonprofit · 80 graduates
$108,550
debt $19,000
- 5
Lake Charles, LA · Public · 27 graduates
$107,319
debt $19,899
- 6
Easton, PA · Private nonprofit · 10 graduates
$104,222
debt not reported
- 7
East Lansing, MI · Public · 88 graduates
$102,301
debt $21,500
- 8
North Carolina State University at Raleigh
Raleigh, NC · Public · 35 graduates
$99,838
debt not reported
- 9
Frostburg, MD · Public · 11 graduates
$99,671
debt not reported
- 10
Wentworth Institute of Technology
Boston, MA · Private nonprofit · 15 graduates
$96,695
debt not reported
Careers
Careers this program leads to
Occupations linked to Engineering, General by the NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk, highest national median pay first. Pay and outlook are BLS figures for each occupation.
- Bright outlook
Management
Biofuels/Biodiesel Technology and Product Development Managers
- Median pay
- $171,270
- Outlook
- Faster than average
Bachelor's degree
- Complex Problem Solving
- Critical Thinking
- Judgment and Decision Making
Architecture and engineering
Energy Engineers, Except Wind and Solar
- Median pay
- $122,930
- Outlook
- As fast as average
Bachelor's degree
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Learning
- Active Listening
Architecture and engineering
Engineers, All Other
- Median pay
- $122,930
- Outlook
- As fast as average
Bachelor's degree
Architecture and engineering
Mechatronics Engineers
- Median pay
- $122,930
- Outlook
- As fast as average
Bachelor's degree
- Complex Problem Solving
- Judgment and Decision Making
- Critical Thinking
Architecture and engineering
Microsystems Engineers
- Median pay
- $122,930
- Outlook
- As fast as average
Bachelor's degree
- Active Listening
- Critical Thinking
- Reading Comprehension
Architecture and engineering
Nanosystems Engineers
- Median pay
- $122,930
- Outlook
- As fast as average
Bachelor's degree
- Critical Thinking
- Reading Comprehension
- Science
Architecture and engineering
Photonics Engineers
- Median pay
- $122,930
- Outlook
- As fast as average
Bachelor's degree
- Critical Thinking
- Reading Comprehension
- Writing
More in Engineering
Other programs in the same area of study, by how many colleges offer them.
Every program in this area- Mechanical Engineering395 colleges
- Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering387 colleges
- Computer Engineering367 colleges
- Civil Engineering300 colleges
- Biomedical/Medical Engineering200 colleges
- Chemical Engineering182 colleges
- Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering130 colleges
- Industrial Engineering128 colleges
Questions about Engineering, General
How many colleges offer Engineering, General?
Published colleges on CollegesRef report Engineering, General at these degree levels: certificate (74 colleges), associate's (452 colleges), bachelor's (254 colleges), master's (130 colleges), post-baccalaureate certificate (3 colleges), doctoral (57 colleges), first professional (3 colleges), graduate/professional certificate (35 colleges). Counts are from College Scorecard field-of-study data (2025).
What do Engineering, General graduates earn?
At the median college, bachelor's graduates in Engineering, General earn $87,517 a year four years after finishing, across 49 colleges that report earnings. Figures cover graduates who received federal aid.
Where do Engineering, General graduates earn the most?
Franklin W Olin College of Engineering reports the highest median earnings for bachelor's graduates in Engineering, General: $135,136 four years after finishing, among programs with at least 10 graduates.