Are you ready to start an exciting new career as a mechanical engineer? It all starts with attending one of Idaho’s six mechanical engineering schools. There are five schools with Associate’s degree programs, four schools with Bachelor’s degree programs, three Master’s degree options, and three doctoral options.
Associate’s degrees and Bachelor’s degrees in mechanical engineering are both widely available in Idaho. If you want to earn an Associate’s degrees, you may complete about 60 credits over the course of two years. You take a variety of lower-level engineering courses for this degree. A Bachelor’s degree includes 120 credits, including lower-level and higher-level engineering courses. Some of the classes you may take include Manufactory Processes, Applies Mechanics, and Mechanics of Materials.
If you would rather teach or study mechanical engineering, you should complete a Master’s degree or PhD after earning your Bachelor’s degree. You may be able to complete a 30-credit Master’s degree program in two to three years. A PhD includes a thesis, so you may have to spend five to seven years in school. Required classes include Electromechanical Systems, Gas Dynamics, and Laser Processing.
Idaho tends to have very affordable tuition options. The average cost of tuition for residents students is $5200, and the average cost of tuition for non-resident students is about $8100. The actual amount you have to pay depends on which school you attend, the results of your FAFSA, and your academic merit.
There are many scholarships that you can apply for as an Idaho engineering student. If you are a female, consider applying for the Southwest Idaho Section of the Society of Women Engineers Scholarship. They award $2000 scholarships each year. Another option is the American Council of Engineering Companies of Idaho Scholarship. They award scholarships between $1000 and $5000 each year.
Before you can begin working as a mechanical engineer, you must earn your license from the Idaho Board of Licensure of Professional Engineers and Professional Land Surveyors.
After passing the Fundamentals of Engineering Exam, you can send your application into the board. If you join the Idaho Society of Professional Engineers, you can keep up on new licensure requirements and continuing education opportunities.