How Much Does Graduate School Cost for Engineering?

Students will find a varied price range in graduate engineering school costs - depending on their university location, university ranking, financial aid eligibility, and additional personal expenses. Most programs also offer a wide selection of specialized fields at different degree levels, allowing aspiring engineers to pursue their specific area of passion the engineering industry.

What Are My Graduate Options for Engineering?

Most schools offer a wide range of graduate options for students who wish to pursue a career in engineering. Such programs are commonly available as master's degrees (either as a Master of Engineering or a Master of Science in an engineering field) or as a doctoral degree.

A variety of engineering specializations is also typically available for both degree levels. These include biomedical engineering, chemical engineering, electrical and computer engineering, civil engineering, and plenty of others. Most programs are interdisciplinary in nature, allowing students to transfer their knowledge and skills across different engineering fields.

What Is the Price Range for These Graduate Programs?

Applicants to a graduate engineering program can expect prices from around $19,000 upwards to a cost of over $100,000 - tuition, supplies, housing, and miscellaneous fees included. Of course, these are dependent on factors such as university ranking, on or off-campus living, and whether the applicant is a resident of the university's state.

Additional student fees may vary as well; some universities provide applications with additional expense options such as health plans, computer purchases, and use of recreational facilities.

What Are My Financial Aid Options?

Fortunately, a number of financial aid options are common among engineering graduate schools. Such options include tuition scholarships, loans, tuition reduction benefits, and even tuition exemptions.

Applicants for these financial aid options must pass the individual eligibility requirements. To be considered for such assistance, students commonly file a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FASFA) online, using their institution's school code.

What Are the Admission Requirements for These Programs?

General admission requirements for a graduate program in engineering include a completed bachelor's degree in science, engineering, chemistry, or other field related to their graduate engineering department. Applicants will typically need a minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.

Other requirements can include letters of recommendation, a written statement of purpose, and Graduate Record Examination (GRE) test scores.

What Schools Offer These Graduate Programs in Engineering?

The schools below offer a variety of PhD and master's degree programs in engineering fields like biomedical engineering, civil engineering, aerospace engineering, electrical engineering, and computer engineering. Those wishing to pursue graduate study in engineering can find their ideal degree at:

• Duke University
• Brown University
• University at Buffalo
• Cornell University
• The University of Texas at Austin

What Is the Job Outlook for Engineers?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment for those in the architecture and engineering field is projected to increase by 3 percent from 2019 to 2029 - on par with the national average. Fortunately, most of these added jobs lie in the engineering field, due to high demand for their skills in rebuilding infrastructure, robotics, and the oil and gas industry.

Common career options in engineering include aerospace engineering, civil engineering, biomedical engineering, chemical engineering, computer engineering, industrial engineering, and many others.

The median annual wage for architects and engineers was $83,160, as reported in May 2020. This is quite a bit higher than the median wage for all occupations in the nation's economy, which was $41,950.