This guide is about engineering programs in New York State. There are numerous options for pursuing a degree in engineering within the state.
New York has an extensive science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) offering, ranging from its numerous undergraduate and nationally recognized graduate programs.
New York is an excellent place to study engineering. Recognized worldwide for its massive metropolis, New York City, the state is one of the nation’s top three highest-paying states for STEM graduates.
As a global city, New York City has some of the world’s most extensive, heavily used transportation and infrastructure facilities. The importance of infrastructure, commerce, and innovation creates a significant requirement for STEM-qualified professionals.
New York has 472 colleges, universities, community colleges, and trade schools that offer STEM programs for students looking to further their education.
There are 110 colleges and universities within the greater New York City area, and most of these institutions offer engineering programs. With so many options, deciding which engineering program is right for you can be incredibly challenging.
This guide will detail some of the best programs in the state for traditional undergraduate and graduate programs and some of the best non-traditional engineering programs such as certifications, bootcamps, and trade schools.
Engineering Degree Programs in New York
Undergraduate programs are the very start of most engineers’ careers and the beginning of their introduction to the engineering world.
Undergraduate programs can either be a four-year bachelor’s degree or a two-year associate’s degree program. Engineering is a broad field, and there are many different areas of study that you can take. Below we will describe some of the most popular types of undergraduate engineering programs.
Civil Engineering
Civil engineering is a profession that deals with the built and physical environment. Civil engineers lead the design, construction, and maintenance of the things we depend on daily, like roads, bridges, canals, airports, buildings, and railways.
Starting a civil engineering program is excellent if you enjoy solving complex problems and aren’t discouraged by math and physics. Civil engineering is one of the oldest professions, as it has been an essential part of human society since the beginning of civilization.
There are many types of civil engineers, and nearly all have at least an undergraduate degree in civil engineering. Civil engineering programs study concepts in mathematics, physics, and general engineering to better understand and calculate the forces exerted on physical objects to design them to be safe for everyday people to use.
In New York, civil engineers built the famous skyscrapers that top the skyline of New York City and manage the roads and subway systems that transport the 8.38 million people who call New York City home. If you are interested in this field, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute’s bachelor of science program in civil and environmental engineering is a great program to explore.
Mechanical Engineering
Mechanical engineers design power-producing machines that harness the energy created through engines to move physical objects. Principally, mechanical engineers design, develop, build, and test the machines that power everything in the world around us.
After civil engineering, mechanical engineering is one of the oldest engineering professions. It has been around since humans created the very first version of machinery. Like civil engineering, most mechanical engineers have at least an undergraduate degree from an engineering program.
Mechanical engineering programs are best suited for people who enjoy complex challenges, can understand systems with multiple moving parts, and are strong in algebra and calculus. A good starting point for mechanical engineering in New York is New York University’s Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering.
Electrical Engineering Programs
Electrical engineering programs teach students to design, develop, test, and supervise the manufacture of electrical equipment, such as motors, radar and navigation systems, communications systems, and power generators.
The work that electrical engineers do can be seen anywhere that electricity is employed, like in buildings, on aircraft electrical systems, or in computers. Electrical engineers study complex topics like circuit design, electrical schematics, computer systems, and power generation. It is important for students who want to become electrical engineers to have critical and analytical thinking skills and to be strong in math and science.
To better understand what a typical electrical engineering program looks like in the State of New York, explore the online electrical engineering undergraduate program at Stony Brook University.
Software Engineering Programs
Software engineering programs teach the branch of computer science that deals with software application design, development, testing, and maintenance. Software applications are the instructions, data, and programs our computers use to operate and execute specific tasks. You will learn about various program languages, software design, information systems, and database architectures as a software engineer.
It’s essential for software engineers to have strong language skills and to understand logical concepts and arguments. Software engineering is a much newer field of study within engineering, as it has been around since the emergence of computer systems.
Over the past decade, the demand for software engineers has been on the rise, with employment demand expected to grow at a rate of 25 percent through 2032. This is faster than the average rate for all occupations in the United States.
For a broad and well-regarded software engineering program, visit Columbia University’s Computer Engineering undergraduate program, which teaches circuits, systems, and software fundamentals.
Hardware Engineering Programs
Hardware engineering is the act of designing, developing, testing, and producing physical computer systems. Hardware engineering is another relatively new engineering discipline that has evolved significantly in importance and demand with the continued digitization and emergence of computer systems in all aspects of business and life.
Hardware engineers design and build the physical systems that house computer data to execute software and store information. Hardware engineering is typically taught as a generalized computer engineering program at the undergraduate level.
Engineers can choose to further specialize in hardware engineering through advanced study and graduate programs. If you are interested in hardware engineering, check out Rochester Institute of Technology’s computer engineering technology degree program.
Before starting your career as an engineer, you need to find the right undergraduate program to learn the essential skills and techniques that entry-level engineers are expected to possess.
There are numerous categories for evaluating undergraduate schools, such as location, tuition, school size, and test scores. Understanding your preferences for these categories and utilizing them to evaluate prospective schools objectively is essential.
New York is home to hundreds of institutions that provide undergraduate programs in engineering. New York is also a unique state for higher learning because of its extensive network of City University of New York (CUNY) and State University of New York (SUNY) schools. The CUNY and SUNY systems have multiple local and regional universities that are well-regarded for their academic reputations.
There are 25 CUNY institutions of higher learning located within New York City’s five boroughs, and there are 64 SUNY institutions of higher education throughout the state. These schools provide a cost-effective and local-based option to New York residents, with in-state tuition significantly lower than out-of-state options.
According to US News, New York has 5 universities with engineering undergraduate programs that rank within the top 50 schools nationwide. The top ten undergraduate engineering programs in the state are at the following locations:
- Columbia University
- Cornell University – Ithaca, NY
- New York University
- Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
- University of Rochester
- Stony Brook University – SUNY
- University of Buffalo – SUNY
- Rochester Institute of Technology
- Syracuse University
- Binghamton University – SUNY
Engineering Masters Programs in New York
A master’s degree is a graduate-level degree earned through additional schooling after your undergraduate program. Engineers typically pursue master’s degrees to increase their knowledge of a specific engineering subject and to become more appealing to employers.
Engineering master’s degree programs go well beyond the introductory engineering courses covered in undergraduate programs. Engineers utilize master’s degrees for various reasons, like switching to a new career field of engineering, increasing their knowledge about their current career field, or pursuing future promotions and hiring opportunities in their careers.
There are numerous engineering master’s degree programs in New York. New York’s various large and small universities provide multiple opportunities to pursue degrees in traditional majors, like civil engineering, mechanical engineering, and electrical engineering. Numerous universities offer degrees in new and evolving engineering fields, such as software engineering, database engineering, and hardware engineering.
In New York, the top ten best schools to earn a master’s degree are essentially the same as the ten best schools to earn an undergraduate degree. These ten schools were listed above in the undergraduate engineering program section.
It is also essential to consider the specific programs at different engineering schools. Many schools offer advanced degrees in highly specialized and niche fields of study. These programs can only be found at the graduate level. Below are a few exciting programs the state of New York offers.
- Cornell University, Master’s Degree in Aerospace Engineering. This program emphasizes basic aerospace science to prepare students for understanding and working in the world of aeronautics.
- Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Master of Science in Transportation Engineering. This highly interdisciplinary program studies the use of novel methodologies, techniques, and tools appropriate to the evolving transportation environment.
- Touro College – Long Island Master of Science in Clinical Engineering and Biomedical Technology. Clinical engineering is the application of engineering and science to medical equipment and research. Clinical engineers work in hospitals and healthcare facilities.
New York Online Engineering Programs
New York has numerous online engineering programs that can provide students with a college education and experience through virtual classes and assignments. The degrees earned at these online schools are precisely the same as the traditional, in-person degrees.
Online programs traditionally cost less money and are less time-consuming than in-person degree programs. The time savings are realized through the convenience of being able to take courses on a computer at home versus having to travel onto campus to attend class.
Online degree programs do not require students to pay room and board, and they typically cost less than in-person equivalent programs. A downside to online programs is that students miss out on some elements of collaboration and focus that are much more present in traditional, in-person programs.
New York has numerous online engineering master’s degree programs. Each program below is held at a university with in-person learning opportunities.
- New York University Master of Science in Industrial Engineering Online. NYU allows students to pursue this master of science degree asynchronously. This enables students to complete the 30 total credit hours required at their own pace and time. Tuition is $1,646 per credit hour in this program.
- Stony Brook University Master of Science in Electrical Engineering Online. Stony Brook’s online electrical engineering program is ABET-accredited and has an asynchronous class schedule.
Engineering Bootcamps in New York
Bootcamps are becoming a new and accepted method for acquiring professional training that can jumpstart a career quickly and at a low cost.
Bootcamps provide students with specific, tactical skills designed to help them land a job quickly and be immediately effective in performing. Bootcamps are typically held for data science, computer engineering, computer coding, full-stack development, and software engineering programs.
The bootcamps will provide attendees with a specific skill set quickly. Below are a few engineering boot camps located in New York.
| Bootcamp Provider | Program | Time | Cost |
| App Academy | App Academy | 24 weeks | $20,000 |
| Columbia University | Coding Bootcamp | 24 weeks | $10,000 |
| Fullstack Academy | Flex Immersive Bootcamp | 28 Weeks | $13,980 |
| The Flatiron School | Coding Bootcamp | 15 Weeks | $15,000 |
| Thinkful | Coding Accelerator | 5-6 Months | $7,900 |
| Byte Academy | Python Bootcamp | 24 Weeks | $14,950 |
Between the mix of undergraduate and graduate degree options, online degree programs, and the newer and more intensive bootcamp programs, there are a lot of ways to prepare for an engineering career in New York.
Engineers in New York continue to be in demand. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 100,120 workers in the state are employed in engineering or architecture fields, and the average reported salary for this job category is $94,490.
Frequently Asked Questions
New York’s diverse economy supports a wide array of engineering jobs, with a strong presence in civil, electrical, software, and mechanical engineering. The city’s continuous development in technology, infrastructure, and finance sectors creates numerous opportunities for engineers.
Absolutely! New York offers various professional organizations and meetups for engineers, such as the New York State Society of Professional Engineers, IEEE New York, and tech-focused meetups. These platforms provide excellent opportunities for networking, career advancement, and staying updated with industry trends.
Emerging trends in New York’s engineering sector include sustainable and green engineering practices, advancements in AI and machine learning, and the integration of digital technology in traditional engineering fields. The city’s focus on innovation fosters a dynamic environment for engineers.
New York State offers various grants and programs to support STEM education, including initiatives in public schools and universities. The state also encourages innovation through tech incubators, startup accelerators, and research grants, making it a hub for engineering education and innovation.
Yes, international students are welcome to pursue engineering degrees in New York. The state’s universities offer diverse programs with global perspectives and provide support services for international students, including visa assistance and cultural integration programs.