Are you ready to start a new career in mechanical engineering? If so, the first step is earning your mechanical engineering degree from a Nebraska school. The University of Nebraska-Lincoln is the one school in the state that offers this program. It has Associate’s, Bachelor’s, Master’s, and PhD programs in mechanical engineering.
Your educational experience depends largely on which type of degree you decide to pursue. If you decide to complete an Associate’s degree, you can generally expect to spend about two years in school. In addition to lower-level engineering courses, you complete a variety of general education courses. If you decide to complete a Bachelor’s degree, you may spend about four years in school completing 120 credits. Some of the courses you may have to complete are Electrical Machine Design, Thermal Systems and Design, and Elements of Mechanical Engineering.
If you already have a Bachelor’s degree, you may be interested in earning a Master’s degree or PhD in mechanical engineering. A Master’s degree generally takes two years, while a PhD usually takes between five and seven years. Classes you may have to take at both levels include Kinematics and Dynamics of Machinery, Mechanical Engineering Analysis, and Elements of Machine Design.
Tuition at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln depends on whether you are a resident or non-resident. The tuition cost for residents is $4030 per semester. For non-residents, the cost is $10,650 per semester. Regardless of whether you are a resident or not, you may be able to lower your educational costs by applying for scholarships and grants.
The American Council of Engineering Companies Nebraska offers several scholarships to engineering students every year. The Nebraska Society of Professional Engineers also has scholarships for Nebraska engineering students.
Prior to beginning work as a mechanical engineer, you must earn your license from the State of Nebraska Board of Engineers and Architects. The first step is taking a Fundamentals of Engineering exam. The exam is free on your first try, but if you have to take it multiple times, you must pay $30 for each subsequent attempt. After you pass the exam, you can fill your license application and send it into the board with a $150 license fee. Licenses expire on December 31 every other year.