Why Study Engineering - The Top Reasons

Engineering is one of the most popular and potentially profitable college majors. Engineers are involved in all facets of technology, including electronics, medicine, transportation, energy, new materials — anything you can imagine. If youre looking for reasons to study it, here you go! 1. Engineering Is One of the Top Paid Professions Starting salaries for engineers are among the highest for any college degree. A typical starting salary for a chemical engineer fresh out of school with a bachelors degree was $57,000 as of 2015, according to Forbes. An engineer can double his or her salary with experience and additional training. Engineers make, on average, 65% more than scientists. 2. Engineers Are Employable Engineers are in high demand in every country around the world. Basically, this means you have an excellent chance of getting a job in engineering right out of school. In fact, engineers enjoy one of the lowest unemployment rates of any profession. 3. Engineering Is a Stepping Stone Toward Becoming a CEO Engineering is the most common undergrad degree among Fortune 500 CEOs, with 20% claiming an engineering degree. In case you are wondering, the second most common degree was business administration (15%) and the third was economics (11%). Engineers work with others and often lead projects and teams. Engineers study economics and business, so they are a natural fit when it comes time to take the reins or start a new company. 4. Engineering Opens Doors for Professional Advancement Many of the skills that engineers hone and use open doors to professional advancement, personal growth, and other opportunities. Engineers learn how to analyze and solve problems, work in a team, communicate with others, meet deadlines and manage others. Engineering usually involves ongoing education and often offers opportunities to travel. 5. Its a Good Major If You Dont Know What You Want to Do If you are good at science and math  but arent sure what you want to do with your life, engineering is a safe starting major. Its easier to switch from a rigorous college major to an easier one, plus many of the courses required for engineering are transferable to other disciplines. Engineers dont just study science and math. They learn about economics, business, ethics, and communication. Many of the skills that engineers master naturally prepare them for other types of business. 6. Engineers Are Happy Engineers report a high degree of job satisfaction. This likely is due to a combination of factors, such as flexible schedules, good benefits, high salaries, good job security and working as part of a team. 7. Engineers Make a Difference Engineers address real-world problems. They fix things that are broken, improve those that work and come up with new inventions. Engineers help move the world toward a brighter future by solving problems with pollution, finding ways to harness new energy sources, producing new medicines, and building new structures. Engineers apply principles of ethics to try to find the best answer to a question. Engineers help people. 8. Engineering Has a Long and Glorious History Engineering in the modern sense traces its name back to the Roman era. Engineer is based on the Latin word for ingenuity. Roman engineers built aqueducts and designed heated floors, among their numerous accomplishments. However, engineers built significant structures long before this. For example, engineers designed and built the Aztec and Egyptian pyramids, the Great Wall of China and the Hanging Gardens of Babylon.