Engineering is one of the most critical fields in the world.
Engineers play an instrumental role in society by devising new processes, items, and devices that improve life and improve existing ones.
These professionals apply the knowledge of science and maths to find solutions to challenges.
If you stay in Virginia, attending a top-rated engineering school will enable you to acquire seasoned knowledge of your chosen specialty, obtain valuable industry skills, and enjoy access to numerous professional connections.
Read on to learn about the best engineering schools in Virginia and why engineering is a good career path, the requirements for studying engineering in Virginia, and the time it takes to acquire an engineering degree.
Is Engineering A Good Career Path?
Engineering is one of the best career paths in the world for the following reasons:
1. A wide variety of specialties
Engineering is a field that has so many specialties.
No matter your interests and the foundational skills that you possess, there is a field that will align with them.
Some of the specialties in the engineering field are petroleum engineering, chemical engineering, civil engineering, food engineering, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, aeronautical engineering, and others.
2. Career choices
Each engineering specialty has several subspecialties.
For instance, civil engineering comprises subspecialties such as structural engineering, water engineering, and others.
The presence of sub-specialties under each engineering category reduces the competition in the field.
It enables you to advance your knowledge in a dedicated area instead of trying to know it all.
3. Job Outlook
According to details released by the US Bureau of Labour Statistics, it is understood that the number of jobs available for engineers will increase by 6% between now and 2030.
This implies that working as an engineer offers good job security.
4. Good income
Engineering is one field with several jobs that attract colossal income.
According to research, the average salary for an engineer is $67,000.
However, some engineering sub-fields, such as aeronautical, bioprocess, petroleum, and mechanical engineering, all offer jobs that pay huge salaries.
So, if you are looking to pursue a career that will enable you to develop valuable knowledge and, at the same time, make lots of money, engineering is an excellent choice for you.
5. Good work-home balance
Many companies that employ engineers offer them a flexible work schedule.
Besides the fact that you can get to work on a shift basis, you can work remotely on some days, which offers up enough time for you to do something else for yourself.
6. Opportunities to create an impact on the society
Becoming an engineer will empower you to make meaningful contributions to the community.
You can contribute to your community by inventing new techniques, products, and devices that make life easier and better.
7. Opportunity to travel around the world
Even though this might be the case in all engineering specialties, many engineering jobs involve traveling.
Certain engineering specialties involve taking regular trips to a distant locations for work.
Traveling from one place to another will enable you to learn to speak a new language and acquire knowledge of a culture you never knew about.
Moreover, you will get to build a solid international network.
8. Respect
Engineers are highly regarded all over the world.
People see them as professionals with a good knowledge of maths and science, and people trust them to solve societal challenges.
Requirements For Studying Engineering In Virginia
To study engineering in Virginia, you must possess the following requirements:
- A good high school GPA
- Excellent SAT/ACT scores (minimum score varies according to school)
- Completed application form
- Official high school transcripts
- Recommendation letters
- Personal statements
How Long Does It Take To Study Engineering In Virginia
Earning a bachelor’s degree in engineering usually takes four or five years of full-time study.
A bachelor’s degree in engineering typically takes four years in the United States but only three in many European countries.
4 Best Engineering Schools In Virginia
Several schools in Virginia offer engineering programs. After due consultations, here are the best engineering schools in Virginia:
1. Virginia Tech
Virginia Tech College of engineering is one of the best engineering schools in the US, not just in Virginia.
This school commits to finding solutions to the challenges in the world today through a practical approach.
Thanks to the excellent academic standards, Virginia Tech College of engineering is known worldwide for grooming future engineers passionate about impacting society.
The institution’s students are taken through a series of lectures and practical coursework that grooms them into problem solvers and those that can take up leadership roles in any professional setting they find themselves in.
Virginia Tech College of engineering remains one of the largest engineering schools in the United States.
The engineering research projects delivered by this school, such as those related to cybersecurity and water contamination, have changed the world completely.
The curriculum used in training engineering students at Virginia Tech is comprehensive and enables them to acquire in-depth practical skills and knowledge.
Currently, Virginia Tech provides 30 bachelor’s degrees, 19 master’s degrees, and 16 doctorates in engineering degree programs.
To gain admission into this school, an applicant must have a high school GPA of 4.0 and an SAT score as high as 1350.
2. University of Virginia
The University of Virginia is a first-class engineering school located in Virginia. This school aims to impact the globe, making it a better place for all to live.
It also seeks to achieve this by developing and distributing knowledge and training professionals that will lead projects geared towards finding solutions to world problems.
The University of Virginia is known for its research efforts and top-class educational standards.
Moreover, engineering students at the University of Virginia are empowered with technical and professional insight that will enable them to create a massive impact in their fields of practice.
Innovation, excellence, and collaboration are some of this institute’s values.
The University of Virginia’s faculty base comprises seasoned researchers who take students through valuable research experiences.
The university is committed to developing and applying scientific knowledge to improve the world.
Moreover, the University of Virginia has several research institutes and first-class facilities.
Some of them are the Center for Applied Biomechanics, the Center for Automata Processing, the Center for Advanced Biomanufacturing, the Nanoscale Materials Characterization facility, the Professional Flight Simulator, and many more.
3. George Mason University
George Mason University is another top-class engineering school featured on this list of the best engineering schools in Virginia.
This school is situated in the technological hub of the East Coast.
Studying engineering at George Mason University is an excellent choice for any student because its engineering programs are unique, the academic curriculum of each program focuses on top-level technology, and students of this school always get a job once they graduate.
The faculty members coordinating engineering programs in the tertiary institution are regarded as leaders in their respective fields of expertise.
Working closely with them will enable students to acquire valuable research abilities, knowledge, and skills needed for their career endeavors.
Moreover, George Mason University is the largest public research university in Virginia.
About $100 million are mobilized yearly toward the school’s research programs.
The school has many state-of-the-art facilities, and the faculty is dedicated to exploiting several areas of their fields through research.
Above all, the professional networking opportunities available to engineering students at George Mason University are endless.
Some of the cutting-edge facilities available within this school are the Center for Assurance Research and Engineering (CARE), the Center for Configuration Analytics and Automation (CCAA), the Center for Neural Informatics, Neural Structures, and Neural Plasticity (CN3), the Center for Resilient and Sustainable Communities, Rapid Prototyping Research Center, BioInspired Nanoarchitectures, Bioinspired Robotics and Intelligent Control Laboratory (BRIC Lab), Computational and Experimental Neuroplasticity Laboratory and Computational Neuroanatomy Group/Ascoli Lab.
4. Virginia Commonwealth University
Virginia Commonwealth University is one of the best engineering schools in Virginia.
Engineering students at this prestigious institution team up with a faculty that is made up of experienced teachers, scientists, and researchers, as well as their fellow students, to find solutions to some of the pressing needs in society.
Bachelor degree engineering students at Virginia Commonwealth University enjoy collaborating with master’s students and faculty on several advanced research projects.
The internship programs put together by the school enable students to acquire valuable field experience and, at the same time, make so much money.
Professionals who make up the faculty at every Virginia Commonwealth University engineering department are highly respected globally and passionate about personalized learning.
Virginia Commonwealth University is another excellent school for engineering education in Virginia.
Frequently Asked Questions On Best Engineering Schools Virginia
Yes, studying engineering in Virginia is a great idea. It is home to some of the best engineering schools in the US.
The highest-ranking engineering school in the US is the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
As an engineer in New Hampshire, you will make so much money in a year. The average salary of engineers in this state is about $100,000 annually.
Civil engineering, aerospace engineering, and industrial engineering are the US’s three most in-demand engineering jobs.
Conclusion
Pursuing a career in engineering is a great decision.
This article has done a great job discussing some of Virginia’s best schools where you can acquire an engineering degree.
However, ensure you earn an excellent high school GPA and a great SAT or ACT score to increase your chances of getting into any of them.
Above all, to stand a chance, submit a robust application early.
Awesome one; I hope this article answers your question.
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