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Most Engineers Say Earning a College Degree Is Worthwhile
By Catherine Groux
Posted February 20, 2012 10:15 AM
Most engineering students feel earning a college degree was worth the effort it took to earn it.Today, many individuals know that jobs are growing in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). According to a January survey by ASQ, most students in grades six through 12 believe that such fields offer the most job opportunities. However, about 67% said they are concerned that there would simply be too many obstacles - such as difficult classes and the cost of earning a degree - preventing them from successfully entering a STEM career.
A February ASQ survey of engineers found that these professionals do, in fact, face many challenges when it comes to getting started in the field. The survey shows that about 44% of engineers said the amount of time they spent studying when earning a bachelor's or master's degree was one of their primary obstacles. An additional 14% said maintaining high grades in subjects like math and science was their main challenge. Other engineers said they struggled with a lack of mentorship and finding the right degree program to enroll in.
However, while earning an engineering degree can be challenging, a majority of engineers are happy they persisted in their studies and landed a job in the field. The ASQ survey found that today, only 3% of engineers said they are dissatisfied with their career choice. Among that huge majority who are satisfied, almost 50% said they are motivated by the challenging and interesting nature of their jobs, while 35% said they appreciate the contributions they are able to make to various projects and products.
Another benefit of entering the engineering field is that it is currently growing, and data shows it will continue to do so for the foreseeable future. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, overall employment in engineering will increase by 11% through 2018. However, the number of jobs in specific sectors of the field will grow even further. For example, positions for biomedical engineers will grow by 72%, while the number of jobs for environmental engineers will rise by 31% in the next six years.
For this reason, Jim Rooney, ASQ chair and quality engineer with ABSG Consulting, said most engineers are glad they earned a bachelor's or master's degree in the subject.
quot;While pursuing an engineering degree has its challenges, it’s a worthwhile cause and one that can lead to a lifetime of satisfaction," Rooney said. "Students considering pursuing a degree in a STEM-related field should be passionate about it and be prepared to work hard to be successful."
