Starting a computer engineering program in Vermont can be a great way to start a new career. There are three schools in the state with computer engineering programs. One school offers an Associate’s degree program, and all three schools have Bachelor’s degree programs. Two schools in the state have Master’s degree programs, and there are no Ph.D. programs in Vermont.
Deciding which degree is right for you involves deciding what your career goals are. An Associate’s degree only takes two years, and it can prepare you for Bachelor’s-level coursework. On average, you need four years to complete the 120 credits required for a Bachelor’s degree. Courses that you may have to take at this level include Network Analysis, Computer Organization, and Software Engineering.
If you already have a Bachelor’s degree in an engineering specialty, you may be interested in earning a post-graduate degree. A Master’s degree requires the completion of about 30 credits, which you may be able to complete in two years as a full-time student. Classes required for a Master’s degree include Parallel Computer Architecture and Digital Communication. If you plan on earning a Ph.D., you can start with a Master’s degree and then apply to an outside Ph.D. program.
In Vermont, the average cost of tuition is $19,000. This is in line with tuition costs in other New England states. Two-year colleges and public colleges tend to have lower tuition costs than private colleges.
Applying for scholarships can lower your educational costs. One option is the Vermont Space Grant Consortium. This grant is given to Vermont students studying in a scientific field, and multiple winners are selected each year. The Vermont Society of Engineers has a more narrow focus, as they only award scholarships to engineering students.
After you have graduated from your computer engineering program, there is one more step you have to complete before you can begin your career. You must get your engineering license from the Vermont Office of Professional Regulation. This involves passing a comprehensive engineering exam. Once you pass your exam, you can send your application and an $80 check to the board to get your license.