Online Engineering Degree Programs in Oregon
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Host to a booming engineering industry, Oregon is a superb location to begin a new career in this field. In fact, aspiring engineers in the Beaver State may find a myriad job opportunities and competitive compensation offers, along with strong support from a number of engineering societies that operate across the state. Specifically, the following organizations advocate for engineering professionals in Oregon: the Professional Engineers of Oregon, the Structural Engineers Association of Oregon, the American Society of Civil Engineers – Oregon Section, and the Oregon Society for Healthcare Engineering.
These societies offer continuing education, networking opportunities, and additional benefits for the 40,820 engineers and architectural professionals who currently work statewide. Furthermore, the future looks bright for those looking to start a new career as an engineer in Oregon and elsewhere in the United States. By illustration, Projections Central predicted that a number of engineering subfields would grow rapidly across Oregon in the coming decade:
- Biomedical engineering – 27.8 percent growth in openings in Oregon, 2014-2024
- Industrial engineering – 20.7 percent
- Environmental engineering – 20.5 percent
- Civil engineering – 18.9 percent
- Aerospace engineering – 18 percent
- Mechanical engineering – 18 percent
To put this into perspective, additional data provided by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (October 2017) shows that all engineering and architectural professions will expand by only seven percent across the nation between 2016 and 2026, further underscoring Oregon as a prime location to work in this industry.
Of course, perhaps one of the most significant benefits associated with engineering occupations is the extremely competitive salary. In fact, the BLS (May 2016) found that, on average, engineers and architectural professionals in OR earned $86,810 per year. Professionals in some subfields could expect to earn much more; Oregon-based aerospace engineers, for example, brought home an average of $102,630 per year, and industrial engineers earned an average of $101,540. This is well above the annual average for all occupations in Oregon ($49,710).
How does a person become an engineering in Oregon? While a majority attend a university program on a traditional campus, a growing percentage is choosing to attend classes online. Currently, a swelling number of online programs exist that offer flexibility for students who do not live close to a school or who have other full-time responsibilities.
This guide details a variety of online engineering programs and professors in Oregon, including discussions of coursework, typical tuition costs, and admissions requirements.