“Whether you're studying electrical engineering or poetry, college is not about maximizing income, it's about becoming a better and more informed observer of the universe. And for me, at least, that's what leads to a more fulfilling life.” - John Green
Something to keep in mind before looking at colleges is to make sure you choose the best fit for you personally. It does not matter what major you pick, but you should make sure it is a college that has the opportunities and program you want. Make sure you are comfortable at the college you choose.
At the end of the day, you want to make sure you like the class sizes, faculty, and could see yourself studying at that college, even if it does not end up being the best college for the major you choose. You are still able to get a quality education without needing to go to the best college for a specific major. This is because determining what makes one college the best to one person could be the thing that makes that school a bad option for someone else.
If you are looking to major in electrical engineering here are the top 10 best electrical engineering degrees:
- Stanford University
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- Harvard University
- Georgia University of Technology
- Cornell University
- California University of Technology
- Colorado School of Mines
- University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
- Duke University
- Columbia University
Keep in mind, you can still get a quality education even if you do not attend one of these 10 universities. Other colleges/universities will have quality electrical engineering programs even if they are not considered the best. Different people will classify different factors as making one program better than another.
Now let’s take a deeper dive into the top 3 best electrical engineering colleges to see what makes them each stand out. This will better help you understand what makes each one unique. However, we are only focusing on the undergraduate electrical engineering degrees.
Stanford University
At Stanford University, their Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering degree helps develop students’ skills of performing and designing experimental projects as well as communicating their findings to the scientific community. This program also prepares the students for careers in fields such as government agencies and the corporate sector, or for a future in graduate school or professional school.
The major of the Electrical Engineering Department at Stanford University is to augment the liberal education expected of all Stanford University undergraduates. This mission is to also impart a basic understanding of electrical engineering as well as help students develop skills in the design and building of systems that directly impact societal needs.
This program at Stanford University focuses on a balanced foundation in the physical sciences, mathematics, and computing. The core courses are in topics such as—electronics, information systems, and digital systems. The program also develops the specific skills students need in the analysis and design of systems.
You can check out more about the electrical engineering program at Stanford since there is a separate engineering department at Stanford. However, if you are more interested in another major, Stanford has a multitude of other options to choose from, so if you would like to learn about the other majors visit this site.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
At the Massachusetts Institute of Technology the electrical engineering major also includes a focus on the areas of overlap between electrical engineering and computer science. There is a separate school of engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
In this school of engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, there are multiple programs offered which include:
- Aeronautics and Astronautics
- Biological Engineering
- Chemical Engineering
- Civil and Environmental Engineering
- Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
- Institute for Medical Engineering and Science
If you would like to learn more about any of these programs offered under the school of engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, feel free to visit here.
We are going to focus on the electrical engineering and computer science program at MIT. Students in this program design, invent, or hack everyday digital devices, software, and systems. These students also transform robotics, cybersecurity, cloud-computing, wireless networks, bioscience, and nanotechnology based on clever coding, open access platforms, and new companies and products.
Under the electrical engineering and computer science program, students can participate in research under a variety of areas, including:
- Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning
- Biological and Medical Devices and Systems
- Communications Systems
- Computer Architecture
- Computational Fabrication and Manufacturing
- Educational Technology
- Electronic, Magnetic, Optical and Quantum Materials and Devices
- Energy
- Integrated Circuits and Systems
- Nanoscale Materials, Devices, and Systems
- Optics + Photonics
- Quantum Computing, Communication, and Sensing
- Robotics
- Signal Processing
- Systems and Networking
- Systems Theory, Control, and Autonomy
Harvard University
At Harvard University, they also have a separate distinguished school for engineering just like the other two universities. This one is called the John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences.
The curriculum at Harvard University for the electrical engineering program focuses on not only the depth within the sub-disciplines of electrical engineering but also the breadth of these sub-disciplines. All of the students in this program will specialize in electronic circuits and devices as well as being given the opportunity to explore:
- Signals and systems theory
- Control systems
- Robotics
- Optoelectronic devices
- Integrated circuits
- Energy systems
- Computer vision
- Electronic materials
- Computer software and hardware
- Mechanical, biological, and environmental systems
Based on this coursework students will be able to gain experience in the engineering design process as well as the engineering activity which requires creative synthesis and analysis.
Feel free to visit Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, if you are interested in learning more about the electrical engineering degree program or other engineering programs offered at Harvard University.
Possible Careers With An Electrical Engineering Degree
When deciding on a college major, it is always a good idea to do some research into what kinds of careers are possible with a degree in that field/industry. If you are an electrical engineering major, here are 9 types of electrical engineering careers:
- Controls Engineer
- Project Engineer
- Test Engineer
- Design Engineer
- Electrical Engineer
- Communications Engineer
- Systems Engineer
- Aeronautical Engineer
- Electronics Engineer
These are a few of the careers for someone who earns an electrical engineering degree. Now some of these careers may want someone with a masters/graduate degree, but once you have the undergraduate degree you should be able to find some work in these fields.
Some Tips for Starting A Career In Electrical Engineering
If you are interested in pursuing a career in electrical engineering these are a few tips to help you get started.
- Earn a degree
- Connect with professionals
- Complete an internship
- Take licensing exams
- Build your skill set
The Importance of Having A Degree and Finding a Job
Having a degree at all makes it easier for you to find a better full-time job to do for the rest of your life. The degree will give you a better chance of getting a job in a company at a faster pace than if you did not earn a degree. However, if you are working a job in the field that your degree is in and you do not enjoy it, you can always go back to school and earn another degree in something new.
You can go to graduate school or get a master’s degree in something totally different than your undergraduate degree.
Keep in mind, you are not stuck doing one job for the rest of your life, if you become unhappy or if your job is not treating you well you can look for a new job. However, it would be a good idea to at least stay in one position for a year or two before deciding to look for another position at a different company.
Conclusion
Remember, that you do not have to attend the best college for electrical engineering to get a quality education in this field. Different people will say one factor makes one school the best, while that same thing could be the deciding factor for someone else to not pick that school. You want to attend a college where you will be the most comfortable and you feel like you could connect with the professors and faculty. There are a lot of factors that go into choosing the best college for you.
Deciding to attend college in the first place is a big deal, and you can always transfer to another college if you find yourself not liking the one you originally picked.
Keep in mind, going to college is going to be expensive no matter what, but there are ways to help you pay for college, especially if you are someone whose parents are not helping you pay for college. You can apply for scholarships, grants, and work before and during college.
There are also quite a bit of career options out there if you get a degree in electrical engineering. Do some research to see which career path you may want to choose.
Getting a college degree at all, in any major will boost your chance of getting started in the career you want.
