Different Types of Engineering Majors, Explained

February 21, 2025

Many STEM-focused students who enjoy problem-solving, have excellent attention to detail, and possess a perpetual curiosity know that they want to become engineers. However, they are often confused by just how many different engineering majors are available (not to mention the countless engineering sub-disciplines and interdisciplinary engineering concentrations). In today’s blog, we’re breaking down the five core branches of engineering and the best colleges for future engineers.

How many types of engineering majors are there?

Broadly speaking, there are five main types of engineering majors: civil engineering, electrical engineering, chemical engineering, mechanical engineering, and industrial engineering. That said, each of those five main sectors has numerous subspecialties. In total, there are about 50+ distinct engineering degrees available at American colleges. However, the selection will vary from college to college, with polytechnic institutes and large colleges with dedicated engineering departments typically providing the greatest degree of choice.

Interested in becoming an engineer but not sure what type of engineering you’d like to pursue? You might consider looking for a school that offers a general engineering major. These programs develop fundamental engineering skills like design, problem-solving, communication, and teamwork while exposing students to a wide range of engineering disciplines. Schools that offer general engineering majors or first-year programs include highly regarded institutions like New Jersey Institute of Technology, Northeastern University, Virginia Tech, and North Carolina State University.

Five Types of Engineering Majors

Below, we cover each type of engineering, offer salary information and employment outlook (sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics), and provide a list of popular subspecialties.

Civil Engineering

Median Income (2023): $95,890
Projected Growth, 2023-2033: 6%

Modern society rests on the foundation of the work of civil engineers. In fact, this profession is essentially responsible for the world’s entire infrastructure. The roads, highways, and bridges we drive cars on are the work of civil engineers. There is little in the realm of transportation that is not. Airports, sea ports, train systems, and subways all fall into this category as well.

In college, to become a civil engineer, you will likely take courses such as:

Civil Engineering Materials
Numerical Methods in Civil Engineering
Strength of Materials
Fluid mechanics
Engineering Probability and Statistics
Design Problems
Water Resources Engineering
Structural Analysis
Environment Risk Assessment

Specialty Civil Engineering Majors: Environmental Engineering, Construction Engineering, Geological Engineering, Mining Engineering

Electrical Engineering

Median Income (2023): $109,010
Projected Growth, 2023-2033: 9%

Surprisingly one of the broadest engineering degrees, electrical engineering covers the science behind the electronics, technology, and computer systems that power the world. This includes everything from the communications systems that connect the globe, to power generation systems, to motors, to navigation systems.

You’ll likely take courses along the lines of:

Electricity & Magnetism
Electronic Circuit Design
Electromagnetics
Power Systems
Electricity Economics
Wireless Circuits
Digital Control
Neural Engineering
Mixed Signal Circuits
Semiconductor Devices
Microprocessor Systems and Interfacing
Electronic Measurement Techniques

Specialty Electrical Engineering Majors: Computer Engineering, Software Engineering, Network Engineering

Chemical Engineering

Median Income (2023): $112,100
Projected Growth, 2023-2033: 10%

Look around the room you are in right now and you’ll see the results of chemical engineering all around you. The clothes you wear, the food you eat, the medications you take—it’s hard to find a product that chemical engineers did not play a role in creating.

In college, future chemical engineers may encounter coursework such as:

Chemical Process Design
Product Design
Thermodynamics & Kinetics
Heat and Mass Transfer
Analytical Chemistry
Separation Processes
Numerical Methods in Chemical Engineering
Computer-Aided Chemical Process Design

Specialty Chemical Engineering Majors: Material Science and Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Nuclear Engineering, Petroleum Engineering

Mechanical Engineering

Median Income (2023): $99,510
Projected Growth, 2023-2033: 11%

Known for its versatility and multifaceted nature, mechanical engineering is in essence, according to Columbia University, “the study of objects and systems in motion.” Mechanical engineers work to solve material-based problems. They make advancements in everything from medical devices to car engines to sports equipment. The career possibilities with a mechanical engineering degree are truly endless.

In pursuing a bachelor’s in Mechanical Engineering, you’ll encounter courses such as:

Mechanical Systems Design
Product Realization
Mechanics of Materials
Fluids Engineering
Heat Transfer
Mechanical Elements
Manufacturing
Graphics for engineering

Specialty Mechanical Engineering Majors: Aerospace Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Robotics

Industrial Engineering

Median Income (2023): $99,380
Projected Growth, 2023-2033: 12%

This is a frequently misunderstood branch of engineering. Perhaps the word “industrial” sounds limiting in scope as though you’ll be wearing a hard hat to work every day. For simplicity, we like the definition from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Industrial engineers “devise efficient systems that integrate workers, machines, materials, information, and energy to make a product or provide a service.” Engineers in this branch apply the principles of engineering to real-world problems. For example, they may devise systems to streamline a company’s delivery systems, increase the safety of a theme park, or help hospitals more efficiently serve their patients.

In studying to be an Industrial Engineer, you are likely to complete the following courses:

Supply Chain Analysis
Simulation Modeling
Human Factors Engineering
Design of Experiments & Quality Assurance
Manufacturing Processes
Data Analytics
Productivity Analysis
Engineering Economic Analysis

Specialty Industrial Engineering Majors: Product Engineering, Fire Protection Engineering, Management Engineering, Operations Research and Engineering

What are the acceptance rates for engineering majors?

It depends. In general, gaining acceptance into an engineering program is almost always more difficult than being admitted into a university’s college of arts & sciences. While most schools do not release discipline-specific admissions data, some do. Here’s what we know:

School	Overall Acceptance Rate	Engineering Acceptance Rate
UIUC (Grainger)	42%	24%
Purdue University	50%	37%
University of Washington	50% (resident); 40% (non-resident)	49% (resident); 42% (non-resident)
UC Berkeley	11%	7%

Moreover, since the popularity of computer science programs has skyrocketed in recent years, they may have even more competitive acceptance rates. For example, the University of Washington’s acceptance rate for its computer engineering program is 25% for residents and a paltry 2% for nonresidents. At UCLA’s Sameuli College of Engineering, computer science majors were accepted at a 3% rate while civil engineering and electrical engineering had 8% and 9% acceptance rates, respectively.

Best Colleges for Engineering Majors

Most students know that schools like MIT, Caltech, Stanford, and Carnegie Mellon have world-famous engineering programs. While those may be the most prominent names, there are numerous schools that accept large percentages of those who apply and still produce excellent graduate outcomes. To aid in your search, check out the following lists:

Types of Engineering Majors – Final Thoughts

Engineering is a perfect field of study for a student with the right attributes, qualifications, and passions. Although the admissions landscape is challenging at elite institutions, there are plenty of excellent schools with less stringent admissions standards that still provide a stellar engineering education.

Students interested in studying engineering may also find these pages helpful:

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College Success

Dave Bergman

Dave has over a decade of professional experience that includes work as a teacher, high school administrator, college professor, and independent educational consultant. He is a co-author of the books The Enlightened College Applicant (Rowman & Littlefield, 2016) and Colleges Worth Your Money (Rowman & Littlefield, 2020).