Degrees like mechanical engineering

Applying to College
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I am in the process of applying to college to be a mechanical engineer, but, I’m worried that i may not do well in some of the Mechanical engineering courses. i am wondering what other degrees there are that are similar to mechanical engineering and have a solid rate of employment and pay. I do like designing and creating things and have taken a vo-tech program in a machine shop and enjoyed that.

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Look at mechanical engineering technology.

There’s 100+ accredited in the US.

There are also adjacent majors like packaging, etc but check out the curriculums at some of the schools on this list. See if they fit.

blob:https://amspub.abet.org/9da0baea-a39f-471b-84fb-23b350c9cd03

I see the link (on my phone) doesn’t work) - if not, they’re all here. Sorry for the length but so you have it should it be a fit curriculum wise:

School Name City State
Grand Canyon University Phoenix Arizona
University of Arkansas at Little Rock Little Rock Arkansas
Metropolitan State University of Denver Denver Colorado
Colorado Mesa University Grand Junction Colorado
Central Connecticut State University New Britain Connecticut
Kennesaw State University Kennesaw Georgia
Purdue University Fort Wayne Fort Wayne Indiana
Purdue University Northwest Hammond Indiana
Indiana University - Purdue University Indianapolis Indianapolis Indiana
Indiana State University Terre Haute Indiana
Purdue University at West Lafayette West Lafayette Indiana
Purdue University at West Lafayette West Lafayette Indiana
Pittsburg State University Pittsburg Kansas
Kansas State University – Salina Salina Kansas
Northern Kentucky University Highland Heights Kentucky
University of Maine Orono Maine
University of Massachusetts Lowell Lowell Massachusetts
Ferris State University Big Rapids Michigan
Wayne State University Detroit Michigan
Michigan Technological University Houghton Michigan
Northern Michigan University Marquette Michigan
Central Michigan University Mount Pleasant Michigan
Lawrence Technological University Southfield Michigan
Eastern Michigan University Ypsilanti Michigan
Missouri State University Springfield Missouri
Montana State University - Bozeman Bozeman Montana
University of New Hampshire Manchester New Hampshire
New Jersey Institute of Technology Newark New Jersey
Fairleigh Dickinson University (Metropolitan Campus) Teaneck New Jersey
New Mexico State University Las Cruces New Mexico
Alfred State College Alfred New York
New York City College of Technology Brooklyn New York
SUNY Buffalo State University Buffalo New York
State University of New York College of Technology at Canton Canton New York
Farmingdale State College Farmingdale New York
Vaughn College of Aeronautics and Technology Flushing New York
Rochester Institute of Technology Rochester New York
Rochester Institute of Technology Rochester New York
State University of New York, Polytechnic Institute Utica New York
University of North Carolina at Charlotte Charlotte North Carolina
The University of Akron - College of Applied Science and Technology Akron Ohio
The University of Akron Akron Ohio
Bowling Green State University Bowling Green Ohio
University of Cincinnati Cincinnati Ohio
Cleveland State University Cleveland Ohio
University of Dayton Dayton Ohio
Miami University Oxford Ohio
The University of Toledo Toledo Ohio
Youngstown State University Youngstown Ohio
Oklahoma State University Stillwater Oklahoma
Oregon Institute of Technology Klamath Falls Oregon
Pennsylvania State University, Behrend College Erie Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania State University, Harrisburg, The Capital College Middletown Pennsylvania
New England Institute of Technology East Greenwich Rhode Island
South Carolina State University Orangeburg South Carolina
Austin Peay State University Clarksville Tennessee
Middle Tennessee State University Murfreesboro Tennessee
Texas A&M University College Station Texas
Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi Corpus Christi Texas
University of North Texas Denton Texas
University of Houston Houston Texas
Weber State University Ogden Utah
Old Dominion University Norfolk Virginia
Virginia State University Petersburg Virginia
ECPI University Virginia Beach Virginia
Eastern Washington University Cheney Washington
Central Washington University Ellensburg Washington
Bluefield State University Bluefield West Virginia
Fairmont State University Fairmont West Virginia
University of Wisconsin - Green Bay Green Bay Wisconsin
University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh Oshkosh Wisconsin
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thanks. what about the job outlook for mechanical engineering technology, and what exactly do they do. I am under the belief that they are essentially machinists but with a degree, and machine shops are not that lucrative I think.

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I was also thinking about polytechnic degrees - take a look at Purdue Polytechnic’s list of majors: Find Your Major - Purdue Polytechnic Institute

You can also look at starting salaries: Purdue CCO
The data can be sorted by individual major. It says the starting salary last year for MET was $71K.

Here’s the link to MET program at Purdue which gives you some good insight on the major: Mechanical Engineering Technology Major | Purdue University. It includes the course of study, top employers, and has contact information on the bottom if you’d like more information about the program/major.

Purdue is very responsive to inquires! You could ask to talk to a current student in the program as well.

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Is the issue that you have good mechanical skills, but are not good at math? If that’s the case, perhaps a trade, instead? You can earn very good money in a trade that uses some of the same talents, such as electrician, HVAC, plumbing, home renovation/construction. Get the training, do a bit of work for someone else and get licensed, and open up your own business. There is tremendous demand in the trades, nowadays.

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This is anecdotal, but machinists in SE MI are making $100,000 - $130,000 / year before overtime. We know someone without a degree who owns a machine shop, and based on his lifestyle - homes, horses, boats, vacations - he is doing better financially than just about every college educated engineer we know. Of course, we don’t ask him about his income and don’t know his entire financial picture (inherited wealth, debt, living beyond means, etc.), but he seems to be doing very well.

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@parentologist, the issue is not that I am outright bad at math, it’s that I want a good back up degree that is similar to mech engineering, but possibly without the theory in case I don’t get the theory, or enjoy it.

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I second that. Of course, the skilled trades who do really well financially run their own business and don’t work for someone else.

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There are mech e programs that are more “hands on” than others. You may want to search those out. And some of those schools have the tech degrees to fall back on if mech e doesn’t work out for you. There was an old thread on CC that may be of interest: Looking for Hands-on Mechanical Engineering Program

My recommendation would be to apply for mech e since that’s the harder admit and then switch out if it’s not right for you.

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I am not sure what you mean by “theory”. Engineers will have to take a lot of math, basic science, and grind classes that are math heavy (my son is taking dynamics now and it is a beast). Programs vary greatly in how much hands on “engineering” work students do. Some schools assign projects where students apply their engineering knowledge and problem solving skills early in the curriculum. Some, not so much. We know an engineering hiring manager who won’t interview UofM students because the program is long on theory and short on hands-on engineering problem solving. Instead, she hires from Purdue, largely because the curriculum includes hands-on engineering.

In short, an engineering student cannot avoid difficult, math heavy classes, but some programs have more emphasis on practical engineering skills than others.

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Good advice. My son applied to MechE programs, even though he was also interested in BioChem and other sciences. Apply to the most competitive program in which you are interested. You can switch from MechE to tech degree to humanities, but a Econ major cannot switch to engineering.

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You did ask this and MET is that.

You can look at engineering physics. Or even something like supply chain / operations - typically in the b school but they like engineers. Supply chain has been a hot field for many many years. But it’s not necessarily matching your interests.

There are design programs too of varying levels of tech and creativity.

Some schools have combined business / engineering degrees but not necessarily engineering accredited. Purdue and Lehigh come to mind.

Engineering is hard with a 50% drop out rate. But if you can tackle math - start with confidence, not doubt. You’ll have a better chance.

Bet on you. You can pivot out later if needed.

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You can look at mechatronics engineering explained in the link below:
What is Mechatronics? | Michigan Technological University.

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Ok, I’ll ask some colleges. And see how their program is.

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I’ll throw out another possible career path to consider: get trained in a technical trade - machinist, mechtronics, etc. - work for a while in that field, then get educated in business, with an ultimate goal of starting your own company. You’ll make great money in the trade, see what opportunities are available, and avoid getting into debt for a degree you may not want or need.

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