Is an Engineering Degree Worth It? (In-Depth Guide)
Engineering degrees promise stable careers with high salaries. However, the reality doesn’t always live up to expectations.
Sky-high tuition, stressful coursework, student debt, and a difficult job market can make an engineering education seem not worth the investment.
This article analyzes the pros and cons of getting an engineering degree in-depth.
You’ll learn insider tips to maximize your career success and avoid common pitfalls.
Weigh the evidence to decide if pursuing an engineering degree is the right choice for you.
High Tuition & Expenses
Engineering programs are expensive, with tuition averaging $32,000 at public schools and $52,000 at private universities per year.
Textbooks, lab equipment, software, housing, and other expenses can add tens of thousands more.
Most students take 5-6 years to graduate in engineering, rather than the standard 4.
Extra schooling racks up additional tuition fees and debt.
Upon graduation, the average engineering student has over $75,000 in student loans to repay.
This financial burden influences career decisions and adds stress.
Some graduates feel forced to take the first engineering job offered rather than hold out for a preferred field or company.
Intense Pressure & Workload
Warning: Engineering school is notoriously grueling.
Programs cram complex physics, calculus, programming, and engineering concepts into fast-paced courses.
Students face heavy course loads with 30+ hours per week of classes and homework.
Pulling frequent all-nighters to pass rigorous exams is common.
This intense workload taxes students’ mental health.
Feelings of constant stress, imposter syndrome, loneliness, and burnout are widespread.
Nearly 40% of engineering students report depression, anxiety, or suicidal thoughts related to academic pressures.
Counseling services are often understaffed to provide adequate support.
Tough Job Market With High Competition
The engineering field is infamously competitive, especially for new graduates.
Every year, engineering schools churn out extremely qualified candidates striving to enter the workforce.
However, the number of graduates far exceeds available entry-level jobs.
Major engineering employers like GE and Boeing have been downsizing for years.
Outsourcing engineering tasks to lower-cost contractors abroad is rampant. Age discrimination affects older engineers seeking jobs too.
With such fierce competition, finding engineering work right out of college can be extremely difficult.
Only 60% of new engineering grads land full-time engineering roles.
The rest are unemployed or stuck in unrelated survival jobs.
Low Starting Salaries
The promise of an eventual six-figure engineering salary does little to comfort struggling new graduates.
Most discover that high pay does not come quickly.
Entry-level engineering salaries range from $60,000 to $70,000 on average.
After factoring in taxes, 401k contributions, insurance premiums and student loan payments, little income remains for expenses.
Especially in high cost-of-living cities where most engineering jobs exist.
Without financial support from family, some graduates need second jobs waiting tables or driving Uber to get by.
It can take 10-15 years of experience before engineers make over $100,000 annually.
Better Alternative Career Options
Smart students having second thoughts about engineering degrees will be happy to know promising alternatives exist:
Skilled trades like electricians, plumbers, and contractors make median incomes of $50,000 – $80,000 with no college needed.
Apprentices learn while earning money rather than racking up academic debt.
Software developers have similar earnings potential to engineers without difficult advanced math requirements.
Coding bootcamp certificates can launch lucrative tech careers in just 3-6 months.
Business careers have abundant openings plus much faster advancement and higher compensation than engineering on average.
Sales engineers leverage technical know-how while avoiding engineering’s downsides.
Tips To Succeed As An Engineering Student
If you pursue an engineering degree, utilize these tips to graduate swiftly while preserving mental well-being:
Take Light Course Loads
Don’t overload on difficult technical classes every semester.
Mix in general education electives for lighter terms, and don’t feel rushed to graduate “on time”.
Your mental health is worth extending academics an extra year.
Make Time For Socializing & Self-Care
Don’t become a reclusive library mole. Maintain hobbies, exercise routines, social events, and adequate sleep. Time recharging is time well spent. Join study groups to avoid isolation while learning collaboratively.
Seek Campus Mental Health Services
Don’t dismiss depression or burnout as normal. Utilize counseling and disability resources available. Simply talking helps process feelings and regain motivation.
Effective therapies and accommodations can get you back on track.
Intern From Early On
Don’t wait until senior year to begin internships and making professional connections.
Those who intern early have a huge advantage getting hired upon graduation.
The best jobs go to those with 2-3 past internships.
Develop Practical Skills
Go beyond textbook learning.
Join hands-on engineering clubs, enter design competitions, take certification courses in software tools like AutoCAD.
These resume boosters demonstrate useful abilities beyond rote academics.
Create Job Search Materials Before Graduating
Prepare your resume, LinkedIn profile, and online portfolio 1-2 semesters prior to graduating.
Have customized cover letters ready to apply for jobs. Line up recommendation letters from professors. Taking these steps early can help land interviews quicker.
Making The Most Of An Engineering Career
If you pursue engineering and discover low pay or poor working conditions, don’t despair.
You can take back control of your career. Follow these expert tips:
Negotiate Salaries Assertively
Research typical pay at your experience level and demand fair market-rate compensation.
Consider changing jobs instead of accepting token annual raises to boost income substantially.
Upgrade Your Skills Independently
Don’t rely on employers for training and career development. Identify in-demand engineering certifications & software abilities.
Use online courses to self-teach pragmatic skills not taught in college.
Explore Alternate Engineering Paths
Pigeon-holing yourself is unnecessary.
Apply engineering analytical skills across sectors like aerospace, renewable energy, medical devices, and more.
Attend industry conferences and identify rising subfields.
Consider Entrepreneurship
Tired of bureaucratic companies devaluing your skills?
Engineering aptitudes translate well into independent consulting and technical startups.
Offer firms niche technical services difficult to offshore to India.
FAQ
Here are answers to frequent questions about maximizing engineering degrees:
Should I choose engineering for job stability?
Job security shouldn’t be assumed. Extensive layoffs and foreign outsourcing affect many engineers. Recessions disproportionately downsize engineering departments’ headcounts. Adaptability is key.
What engineering major is best?
Software and computer engineering grads enjoy the hottest job prospects currently.
More traditional majors like civil and petroleum engineering suffer declining US job markets.
Avoid overly specialized niches.
Will an engineering master’s degree help my career?
Not necessarily.
Better to gain 2 years full-time experience versus more academics.
Exceptions exist for prestigious named degrees like a Stanford MS.
An MBA or specialized Master’s tend to help more.
What soft skills help engineers succeed?
Excellent communication abilities, emotional intelligence, collaboration skills, and business acumen separate the most successful engineers.
These carry greater import as you advance to leadership roles.
Should I expect engineering to define my identity?
No.
Avoid pigeon-holing your interests or self-worth into any single career.
Maintain a multidimensional life with diverse pursuits.
Don’t become an engineer who can’t hold conversations about anything else.
Conclusion
As analyzed above, engineering degrees have major tradeoffs and risks obscured from view.
However, armed with insider tips, realistic expectations, and a strategic mindset, both students and career engineers can thrive.
Remember money and job titles alone don’t dictate your success.
Protect mental health, cultivate diverse skills, and stay adaptable.
What questions remain about picking or enhancing an engineering education path? I welcome further discussion below.
