6 graduate engineering schools in the U.S. with clear career pathways

24 Nov 2016

“Leonardo Da Vinci combined art and science and aesthetics and engineering, that kind of unity is needed once again.” – Ben Shneiderman

If there’s one thing we know for sure, it’s that the world’s demand for engineering graduates is inexhaustible. As with all co-operative pairings, as interconnected as they are inherently interdependent – with profit there comes loss, with trial there comes error, and with cause there comes effect; in order for demand to be fulfilled it must be met with sufficient supply.

With the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics previously reporting an approximate 1.6 million engineering jobs that pay an average rate of US$42 per hour, it’s safe to say that demand certainly isn’t slowing in the world’s most popular study abroad destination.

“There is no doubt that to advance our economy and our society we need to create the next great technology innovations, not just consume them,” Rodney C. Adkins, former Vice President of IBM’s Systems & Technology Group, writes for the Forbes Leadership Forum. “That’s why there is such urgency for the U.S. to develop a stronger workforce of experts in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM). After all, according to the U.S. Department of Labor, only 5% of U.S. workers are employed in fields related to science and engineering, yet they are responsible for more than 50% of our sustained economic expansion.”

Image courtesy of the University of Louisville

And it’s not just in the U.S. that engineering graduates are in increasingly high demand; it is, after all, a global industry, making qualified graduates sought-after on a global scale. We have now reached a point so advanced that we are in constant interaction with our surrounding environment – whether it’s through harvesting and extracting the resources we need to sustain human life, or developing new and exciting innovations. Inevitably, this constant interaction has its downfalls, and it becomes the role of the engineer to minimize the damage we cause; to design safe, secure and sustainable infrastructure so we continue to grow and develop.

The crux of the matter is that the engineer is crucial to our increasingly global society, and it’s no wonder that students around the world are so keen to pursue a world-class engineering education. But in a sea of ambitious potentials, how do you stand out?

Pursue your education overseas at a prestigious U.S. institution – in the country that’s arguably home to the world’s premier academic system, with qualifications that are recognized on all four corners of the globe.
Upon completion of your Bachelor program, apply for your Master’s degree – because employers simply can’t resist the well-rounded postgraduate student…

According to a chart titled Earnings and Unemployment Rates by Educational Attainment, 2015 from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median rate of unemployment for Master’s graduates in the U.S. stands at 2.4 percent, compared to 2.8 percent for those in possession of a Bachelor’s degree, and a massive 3.8 percent for those in possession of an Associate qualification. On top of this, Master’s graduates can expect to earn at least US$300 a week more than their Bachelor-level counterparts.

Ultimately, it really is true that a Master’s in Engineering can greatly enhance your future employment prospects, so if you want to launch your successful career on the best possible footing, here are 6 graduate engineering schools in the U.S. with clear career pathways…

J.B. SPEED SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING, UNIVERSITY OF LOUISVILLE – KENTUCKY

Image courtesy of the University of Louisville

Set at the heart of Kentucky’s largest metropolitan area, the University of Louisville encompasses 12 world-class colleges and schools. With three leading-edge campuses, including the 287-acre Belknap Campus, Louisville is a dynamic and inspiring space where students start to forge their long and successful careers.

The J.B Speed School of Engineering, named after James Breckenridge Speed – an industrial pioneer of the City of Louisville – has trained approximately 10,000 of America’s most innovative engineers. Its outstanding programs – like the five-year, integrated Master of Engineering and its distinguished Master of Science degrees – seek to provide real-world, relevant and up-to-date training to produce sought-after, work-ready graduates, making it one of the top choices in the country for advanced technical education.

The School also provides PhD options in six respected disciplines: Chemical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Computer Science and Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering. Click here to apply.

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING, TEMPLE UNIVERSITY – PHILADELPHIA

Temple University is a nurturing learning environment and a hotbed of impactful research, harboring 17 exceptional schools and colleges across nine cutting-edge campuses.

Temple’s College of Engineering is an affordable and rewarding experience that provides more than a firm foundation in the art and science of engineering. With Master of Science programs that include Bioengineering, Civil Engineering, Electrical Engineering and beyond, Temple will help you expand your leadership skills and the technical knowledge you’ll to further your graduate career. Through its talented, research-active faculty, students are engaged in advanced and rewarding coursework and forward-thinking interdisciplinary research.

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING, UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA (UA)

Established in 1885, the University of Arizona is known for producing graduates who are real-world ready through its 100% Engagement Initiative. Improving lives in the state of Arizona and beyond through meaningful teaching, research, service, and innovation, UA has earned a reputation for being a place that has no limits.

UA’s College of Engineering is a diverse and supportive academic environment set on a stunning, student-centered campus. Its graduate programs, ranked in the top 50 nationwide, with five programs placing in the top 25 percent, are known for being among the best in the U.S. With an entrepreneurial spirit and a sharp focus on employability, UA College of Engineering has been enhancing prospects for students around the world.

Image via Shutterstock

WALTER SCOTT, JR. COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING, COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY

Through its eight comprehensive colleges, Colorado State University offers a lifetime of learning and exploration, not only helping students to choose their passion, but also sharing it with them.

Colorado’s College of Engineering uses its first-class classrooms and laboratories to educate the next generation of engineering professionals. Its unique graduate programs perfectly combines class-based learning with practical experience, instilling students with real-world practice long before they graduate. Its fundamental aim is to develop competent graduates with the skills needed to obtain leadership positions in advanced technology fields.

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING, UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS AMHERST (UMASSAMHERST)

Nestled in the quaint college town of Amherst, UMassAmherst, consistently ranked among the top public research institutions in the U.S., provides a rich cultural and academic environment that consistently produces the leaders tomorrow.

The College of Engineering is recognized as the best public engineering school in New England. Its seven Master of Science degrees are student-centered and career-focused, nurturing independent, forward-thinking, and globally employable graduates. Through its experienced and respected professors, hands-on experiential learning opportunities and support with career planning, UMass will help turn your career aspirations into a tangible reality.

FRANCIS COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING, UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS LOWELL (UMASSLOWELL)

UMassLowell is a national research university dedicated to preparing students for success in the real working world. Located on a high-energy, creative campus in a dynamic, global community, UMassLowell provides more than 17,000 students with an elite education via six comprehensive college portfolios.

The Francis College of Engineering boasts an esteemed reputation for hands-on learning and cutting-edge research, UMassLowell ensures every graduate leaves confident and work-ready. With a firm network of companies and government agencies offering opportunities and support, students are connected to a wide range of invaluable co-op and internship options that will benefit any future career.

*Some of the institutions featured in this article are commercial partners of Study International