While the difficulty of different courses and majors is subjective, most people regard engineering programs among the toughest college majors. These majors require a lot of technical knowledge, a robust foundation in mathematics and science, and an exceptional work ethic to take on the demanding curriculum.
However, not all engineering majors are equally difficult. Some are generally considered easier or harder, depending on your aptitude.
Can You Rank Engineering Majors?
One of the arguments for ranking engineering difficulties by discipline is based on the focus. For example, civil engineering is considered “easier” because it relates to buildings, bridges, and other infrastructure, which most people have been exposed to during their lives. The logic is that these students have the intuition and just need theoretical and practical skills.
Similarly, mechanical engineering is considered one of the easier engineering disciplines because of our exposure to cars and the intuition that comes with it. It’s also a visible, physical discipline, much like civil engineering. However, mechanical engineering can be complex because it deals with systems in motion.
On the opposite end of the spectrum, electrical and chemical engineering are often considered the hardest because students have to visualize chemical reactions or electrical activity. There’s no intuition that they can rely on, so they have to learn and master the concepts throughout their courses.
The Hardest Engineering Major Based on Student Research
A study conducted in 2022 evaluated the difficulty of different majors based on the responses from 2.8 million reviews of 150,000 professors from 200 universities.[1] Based on this data, the hardest engineering majors in the U.S. are:
1. Chemical Engineering
Chemical engineering can be challenging because it combines complex engineering fundamentals with chemistry concepts, which can be hard enough on their own. It’s a multidisciplinary major that bridges the gap between manufacturing and science to engineer raw materials into consumer products.
Students may find chemical engineering difficult because of its complexity, even in the lower-level courses, and the intersection of physics, mathematics, and chemistry. Typically, students in chemical engineering programs spend hours studying for each course.
2. Electrical Engineering
Electrical engineering focuses on the physics and mathematics of electricity and electronics to improve electrical hardware. Students may find electrical engineering difficult because it requires a lot of abstract thought, unlike visual disciplines like civil engineering, and they’re required to dive deep into theoretical application.
In addition, electrical engineering requires extensive use of abstract mathematical concepts like partial differential equations. Students with a strong understanding of discrete mathematics can excel in electrical engineering.
3. Aerospace Engineering
Aerospace engineering is similar to mechanical engineering in the concepts it covers, but there’s an emphasis on the science and technology of flight. Aerospace engineers usually go on to roles in national defense or the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), but they sometimes work in the private sector.
Like mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering has a heavy course load with a lot of mathematics classes and complex concepts. In addition, aerospace engineers have to learn fluid dynamics, a challenging science discipline that studies liquids and gases.
4. Mechanical Engineering
Mechanical engineering can be difficult because it requires a strong foundation in math and physics and the ability to apply theoretical knowledge to practical, real-world problems. Mechanical engineers often work as part of a team, so group projects are often used in courses to develop collaboration and communication skills.
In addition, mechanical engineering involves a lot of hands-on work in labs and workshops that can add to the time demands. There may be considerable overlap with other fields, such as electrical engineering, industrial engineering, and computer science.
5. Nuclear Engineering
Nuclear engineering is a broad discipline that deals with energy production, but there are other roles for nuclear engineers, like applying radiation technologies to disease treatment or space exploration. Nuclear engineering focuses on fission, fusion, radiation safety, and reactor design, which require intense physics and mathematics courses. Students have to understand both microscopic atomic processes and large-scale energy systems.
The programs in nuclear engineering tend to be rigorous because the careers have high stakes. For example, nuclear engineers may design reactors for submarines or space probes, regulate nuclear power, or develop technologies for power plants.
6. Materials Engineering
Materials engineering and materials science have rigorous programs. Students have to dive into the structure and properties of materials at the atomic level, requiring a deep knowledge of chemistry, solid-state physics, and thermodynamics.
In addition, materials engineering programs require a lot of lab time and complex lab analysis to learn practical skills for work in the field. Students in materials engineering must have a high attention to detail to be successful.
7. General Engineering
General engineering programs often have a broad foundation in several disciplines, which can make them challenging because of the diverse range of topics covered. Students have to adapt to various problem-solving methods across multiple branches of engineering to earn their degrees.
While there are opportunities in the field with an undergraduate degree in general engineering, these students often learn the broad foundation of engineering principles to prepare for advanced degrees in specialties like aerospace, civil, electrical, or nuclear engineering.
8. Biomedical Engineering
Biomedical engineering merges engineering concepts with medical and biological sciences, which are both challenging subjects. These students learn biomechanics, medical imaging, and device design in order to apply engineering rigor to life systems.
They also have to keep up with the rapidly evolving healthcare technology sector and learn about ethics and the ways various economic, social, global, and environmental factors can affect their work. Taking on interdisciplinary coursework can make biomedical engineering particularly challenging.
9. Computer Engineering
Blending electrical engineering with computer science, computer engineering involves hardware-software integration, embedded systems, and programming. Students have rigorous coursework to manage logic design, system architecture, and coding proficiency simultaneously, all while keeping up with fast tech cycles.
In addition to the mathematics and science courses that underpin all engineering disciplines, computer engineering requires a deep understanding of hardware and software. There’s a demanding workload involved for computer engineering courses.
10. Civil Engineering
As mentioned, civil engineering is often seen as a more “intuitive” engineering discipline. Just because it’s familiar and intuitive doesn’t make it easy, though. Civil engineering majors have to learn a lot of large-scale infrastructure planning, structural analysis, geotechnics, and environmental considerations, along with demanding mathematics and science courses.
The rigor of civil engineering programs is for good reason. Civil engineers go on to work on projects that are high-impact and require precision, often spanning years from concept to execution.
Other Factors That Add to the Challenge
Choosing an engineering major isn’t just about the subject itself, but the real-world demands that come with it. Some external factors can amplify the difficulty of engineering programs, especially in highly competitive academic environments.
- Rigorous accreditation standards: Most engineering programs are ABET-accredited, which means they meet rigorous criteria for quality and content. That’s a good thing when you graduate, but it can mean the programs are more demanding and packed with technical core courses and labs that put you under pressure.
- Intense time commitments: Engineering students often have packed schedules with lectures, group projects, and design labs that can add hours to their coursework. Students may also take on internships or research opportunities to prepare for their future careers, which further adds to the demanding schedule.
- Licensing and certification: Many disciplines require a Professional Engineer (PE) license, which is a credential that allows licensed engineers to offer engineering services to the public. The license requires students to meet the requirements, including a bachelor’s degree in engineering, passing scores on the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) and Principles and Practice of Engineering (PE) exams, and four years of experience under a licensed PE. PE licensing is usually required for civil, mechanical, electrical, and chemical engineering, as well as other disciplines.
- Rapidly evolving technology: Fields like computer, biomedical, and electrical engineering are moving quickly. Along with coursework, students have to keep up with new tools, languages, and methods as they emerge.
- Collaboration: Engineering doesn’t happen in a vacuum. Engineering students often work in teams to complete interdisciplinary projects. While this is beneficial, it can introduce challenges around communication, coordination, and managing group dynamics with tight deadlines.
Career Outlook for Engineers
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, engineering occupations are expected to grow faster than average for all occupations from 2023 to 2033. The median annual wage was $91,420 in May 2023, which was higher than the median annual wage for all occupations.[2]
However, the job outlook, required education, and median wage can vary for different engineering disciplines and other factors like employer, location, job experience, and more. For example, one of the highest median wages is aerospace engineering at $130,720 with a bachelor’s degree, while mechanical engineers earn a median wage of $99,510 with a bachelor’s degree.[3]
Is Engineering Right for You?
If you think you’re up to the challenge of an engineering program, you can have a lucrative and rewarding career. However, most engineering programs are extremely selective, even if the school has a higher acceptance rate overall. InGenius Prep can help you position yourself for success with a standout application that gets you noticed by admissions counselors. Contact us today for a free consultation!