Earning a degree in computer engineering can be a great way to start a new career. There are 15 schools in Massachusetts that have this degree. Twelve of those schools offer Associate’s degrees and 11 schools have Bachelor’s degree programs. There are nine schools with Master’s-level coursework and seven schools with PhD programs.
If you decide to earn an Associate’s degree in computer engineering, you can plan on spending two years in school as a full-time student. You have to earn 60 credits. A Bachelor’s degree is the minimum degree required for licensure in Massachusetts. You must earn 120 credits to get your Bachelor’s degree, which should take between four and five years. Some of the courses you may complete at this level include Assembly Language, Algorithms, and Systems Programming.
A higher-level degree can help you start a career in teaching or research in computer engineering. To earn a Master’s degree, you need to complete 30 credits. As a full-time student, you may be able to do this within two years. Earning a PhD takes an average of seven years, as you must you must write and defend a thesis.
In Massachusetts, the average cost of tuition is $18,600. However, tuition costs differ significantly from school to school. By applying for scholarships and grants, you may be able to lower your cost of tuition. If you attend a public school or two-year school, your tuition costs may be lower.
There are multiple scholarships you can apply for in Massachusetts. The Association of Commercial & Institutional Builders Massachusetts Scholarship awards several thousands of dollars in scholarships to Massachusetts engineering students every year. Another option is the Massachusetts High Demand Scholarship, which gives students up to $3250 per semester.
In order to be able to use your engineering degree, you must get licensed by the Board of Registration of Professional Engineers and Professional Land Surveyors. This involves passing the Fundamentals of Engineering exam, which is administered by NCEES. After you pass the exam, you can fill out the required forms and send them in with a $150 check. You can then renew your license every year to keep it active.