Masters Degree Online Programs

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 distance learning program.

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.

Petroleum, chemical, computer and electrical engineering majors, depending upon area of specialty, in 2010 were offered starting salaries of between $49,381 and $74,799 that were among the four highest, the 2010 Salary Survey Shows. These offers were high, because the supply of engineers might not be meeting the demand, a news release quote from a National Association of Colleges and Employers representative suggests. Of more than 1.5 million degrees awarded in 2008, only 5.4 percent of them were engineering degrees, according to the association. Chemical engineer starting salaries in 2010 were 1.1 percent higher than those for July 2009, the rest were lower, with petroleum engineers seeing the largest decline, at 10 percent. If this interests you, then you should read more about distance learning college degree.

Still other engineering fields are expected to see employment increases into the next decade, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports. Civil engineers in 2008 held the most engineering jobs and should see the largest employment increases into 2020-21, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Biomedical engineers are expected to experience the fastest employment growth into 2020-21, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Civil engineers plan, design and assist in operating urban development, water resources and transportation and environmental systems, according to Michigan State. Biomedical engineers, as North Carolina State University tells it, solve problems related to medical care and work for pharmaceutical companies, medical schools, hospitals and other facilities.

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 distance learning programs.

A College Board report citing numbers from “Trends in College Pricing 2009” and “Trends in Student Aid 2009” noted that, with grants and financial aid, public four-year colleges on average charge $7,020 per year in tuition and fees for students who reside within the states where the schools are located. The average annual out-of-state cost at public colleges is $11,528, the College Board report notes. Annual tuition and fees at private four-year institutions, on the other hand, is $26,274, much lower than the published rates and often offset by a good amount financial assistance, according to the College Board. Students who want to save on costs associated with room and board might consider online college, university and technical school programs.

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.

Students interested in scholarships, fellowships and grants for college, university and technical school programs in engineering might look toward the Engineering Service Center web site. Because of a shortage of women and minorities in the field, representatives of these demographic groups might find tuition assistance tailored especially to them. Oregon State University works to encourage women and minorities to participate in its engineering degree programs, according to its web site. To receive financial assistance outside of colleges, universities and technical schools, students often must enroll in institutions that are accredited by a nationally recognized agency. The US Department of Education maintains a list of nationally recognized accredited institutions on its web site.