Best Engineering Schools in the USA
In general going to college for a degree in engineering can provide students with a platform to develop engineering habits that they will use all through their careers, such as analytical thinking, problem-solving skills, and an understanding of the design process. There are 30 different types of engineering degrees available, such as Civil, Aerospace, Industrial, Mechanical, Computer, Electrical, Robotics, Construction, and Biomedical to name a few.
Petroleum engineers are those who choose to work in the petroleum industry, which is concerned with activities that create hydrocarbons of either natural gas or crude oil. Petroleum engineers work to develop and design methods of extracting oil and gas from below the Earth’s surface.
Two of the top schools for obtaining a degree in Engineering are the University of California, Berkley and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge. The Princeton review cited the University of California, Berkley the ‘Best Value Public College’, and the engineering school is home to the Kresge Engineering Library which holds thousands of industry journals and engineering documents. A student can earn some valuable skills by participating in a cooperative engineering program, which earns academic credit for real life job experience.
The job outlook for petroleum engineers looks very good; according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics job growth is expected at 26 percent, much higher than other industries. The median pay in 2012 was approximately $130,000 annually.
Another type of engineering degree is a Biomedical Engineer. Biomedical engineering uses the principals of engineering to solve problems of a medical nature such as developing artificial limbs. They also help hospitals with medical diagnostic equipment such as imaging machines. In fact, the medical equipment and supply manufacturers employ those with biomedical degrees more than other companies do, such as those for research and development. With humans living longer lives the field of biomedical engineering is expected to grow exponentially, much faster than other industries.
The median pay for a biomedical engineer in 2012 was approximately $87,000 annually. Because of the fact that along with living a longer life, the public is becoming more aware of biomedical advances the industry is expected to grow by 27 percent in the next few years. Hip replacements, knee operations, and other artificial parts is becoming more mainstream than ever before; because of the large and active elderly population biomedical engineers will be in high demand.
Other than medical equipment suppliers and manufacturers, a biomedical engineer could also work in the scientific research and development field, and in pharmaceutical and medicine manufacturing. They may also be employed by colleges, universities, and in general medical and surgical hospitals. A biomedical engineer usually works as a team with other professionals and when developing a new device may work directly with the patient to address their specific need, and also with the manufacturer to make precise adjustments to the new device.
Finding the right school for you is a matter of research; there are many websites available which can show a student how to obtain financial aid and other incentives to get you back to school.