If you want to earn your mechanical engineering degree in Pennsylvania, there are many schools that you can choose to attend. Overall, there are 34 mechanical engineering schools in Pennsylvania.
Associate’s-level programs are available at 27 of these schools, and 28 schools have Bachelor’s degree programs. Master’s degree programs are available at 18 schools and PhD degrees are offered at 15 schools.
Earning an Associate’s degree in mechanical engineering requires the completion of 60 credits, which can usually be done in two years. A Bachelor’s degree includes 120 to 130 credits, which you may be able to complete in four years.
Some of the mechanical engineering courses you may have to take include Fluid Mechanics, Heat Transfer, Introduction to Materials Science, Magnetism and Fluids, and Component Design. Your curriculum should include a variety of classroom and lab courses.
If you already have a Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, you may want to earn a Master’s degree or PhD. Both of these degrees can help you prepare for a career in researching or teaching mechanical engineering. A Master’s degree, which encompasses 30 credits, can be completed in two years if you attend school full-time. A PhD includes a thesis, so the total amount of time you spend in school is usually between five and seven years.
The average cost of tuition in Pennsylvania is $17,400. However, two-year institutions and public colleges tend to have lower tuition costs. No matter which school you attend, you may be able to lower your overall cost by applying for grants and scholarships.
The Pittsburgh Foundation lists information on hundreds of scholarships, many of which are open to engineering majors.
Engineering scholarships are also awarded by the Pennsylvania Society of Professional Engineers on an annual basis. These scholarships are worth $1000 to $2000.
Before you can begin working as an engineer in Pennsylvania, you have to earn your license from the State Registration Board for Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors, and Geologists.
This process involves passing the required engineering exams, submitting a complete transcript and application to the board, and finally getting your license. Your license must be renewed by September 30 of every odd-numbered year.