Engineering schools in RI

Although Rhode Island is the smallest state in the USA, it is one of the best places for obtaining a quality engineering education. Along with the scope for earning a handsome salary, engineering schools in Rhode Island introduce to you real-world problem-solving, technology building, and working in a constantly evolving environment.

The state offers one of the highest mean annual wages in the country to its mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, and biomedical engineering graduates.

According to the latest BLS estimates, Electrical engineers earned an average salary of $110,060 per year, while mechanical engineering majors had mean annual wages of $99,350. Being a hub of healthcare industries, Rhode Island paid biomedical engineers average yearly salaries of $102,850.

We have compiled a list of top institutes that offer comprehensive engineering degrees with excellent prospects of a rewarding career. If you’re keen on pursuing any of the engineering disciplines, the following Rhode Island engineering schools may be of interest to you.

Engineering Education in Rhode Island

Before you pick a school, you must zero in on the field of engineering you wish to specialize in. For instance, if you’re interested in designing machines, you should obtain your degree in mechanical engineering.

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Those who like coding and creating software packages can opt for computer engineering. If building structures, housing complexes, dams, bridges, tunnels, etc., is what excites you, then civil engineering is what you should opt for.

If you love cars and practical-oriented learning, you must look for an automobile/automotive engineering degree program. Chemical engineering, on the other hand, can introduce you to synthesizing and manufacturing chemicals. An electrical engineering degree will help you design the infrastructure for supplying electricity in industrial, commercial, and residential settings.

There’s much more to these specializations as they have immense scope for research and development, new product designs, innovation, and entrepreneurship.

Once you are clear about your specialization, explore if the schools provide engineering programs in your desired field. The best engineering colleges in Rhode Island generally offer a degree in all the major engineering specializations.

Top 5 Rhode Island Engineering Schools

We’ve compiled a list of the best engineering colleges in Rhode Island in no particular order. Let’s look at each of these colleges and what programs they offer, in brief.

New England Institute of Technology

The comprehensive curriculum, robust infrastructure, and immersive learning experiences at the New England Institute of Technology make it one of the top schools in Rhode Island. They offer several undergraduate and graduate degree programs in civil, mechanical, electrical, electronics, information technology, and software engineering.

The New England Institute of Technology also offers two-year associate programs in engineering technology and professional building trades that are practical intensive and provide hands-on learning.

The bachelor degree programs deepen your skills and broaden your career prospects, whereas working professionals seeking career advancement in engineering and related design fields can take up the Master of Science in Engineering Management. Engineering students at the institute are also eligible for financial aid.

Engineering Technology Associate Degree

For a meaningful career in the engineering technology field, the New England Institute of Technology has several engineering technology associate degree programs that can get you started in the engineering field. With an engineering technology associate degree, graduates can choose from a range of exciting career options in architectural building, electrical technology, renewable energy, mechanical engineering technology, robotics and drones, and engineering technology.
All engineering technology associate degree graduates can continue their studies for just 18 more months to earn a bachelor’s degree in fields like civil engineering, electrical engineering, and mechanical engineering.

Engineering Technology Bachelor’s Degree

The New England Institute of Technology offers Bachelor’s Degree Programs for the next level in careers centered on civil, electrical, or mechanical engineering technology.
All engineering technology bachelor’s degree graduates can continue their studies for just 18 more months to earn a Master of Science degree in Engineering Management.

Engineering Management Master’s Degree

This highly distinct program trains and educates recent graduates and working professionals seeking career advancement in engineering and related design fields. Students can develop the required business, financial, process and production knowledge for a leadership role in the engineering management field through the New England Institute of Technology’s Master of Science in Engineering Management (MSEM) degree program.
The MSEM degree program is different from an MBA, providing a unique technical and managerial course integration. The curriculum is designed to bridge the gap between the multi-disciplinary fields of engineering and business management.

Distinct advantages of Engineering programs at the New England Institute of Technology:

Nationally recognized engineering technology programs.
Accelerated, flexible schedule and faculty who are industry leaders.
Real-world projects and hands-on education that gives you mastery of your engineering technology field.
Students will benefit from cross-disciplinary team projects and active case study analysis in a dynamic learning environment honed for more than 75 years.
The lowest tuition of any private college in Rhode Island.
The curriculum is directly tied to specific careers and regularly reviewed by industry experts.
Experienced admissions officers who are skilled in helping you navigate through program selection, financial aid processes and application specifics.

Brown University

Brown University is a private Ivy League research institution established in 1764. This engineering school offers 17 engineering degree programs in mechanical, electrical, and computer engineering and interdisciplinary areas such as biochemical, materials, and biomedical engineering.

The institute ranks consistently amongst the top colleges in the nation for its quality education. However, with an acceptance rate of only 8%, Brown University only admits students with a minimum SAT score of 1440 and an excellent academic track record.

University of Rhode Island

The University of Rhode Island is a public institution with a history dating back to 1892. The campus spans over a sprawling 1,245 acres and features many curricular and extracurricular activities for its students. In 2020, 14,073 students enrolled in the undergraduate programs at the university.

You can choose your major from one of the 39 engineering degree programs at the University.

In 2019, 626 students graduated with an engineering degree, with 474 students getting their bachelor’s degrees, 79 students their master’s degrees, and 16 students obtaining their doctorate.

Community College of Rhode Island

The Community College of Rhode Island is one of the most affordable engineering colleges in Rhode Island. There are several associate’s degree programs in civil engineering, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, ocean engineering, biomedical engineering, chemical engineering, and computer studies.

Students can study at their campuses in Warwick, Lincoln, Providence, Newport, and Westerly, depending upon the course availability.

Roger Williams University

Roger Williams University is a private, not-for-profit institution that offers 13 engineering programs. More than 185 engineering students graduated from the university in 2019, with 140 students earning their bachelor’s degree and 45 students passing with a master’s degree.

The university has an illustrious record of personalized attention to students. At 15:1, it has one of the lowest faculty-student ratios after Brown University and New England Institute of Technology.

What Should You Consider Before Choosing an Engineering School in Rhode Island?

Before you enroll in any Rhode Island engineering schools, you must consider the following factors to ensure that you’re getting the best out of your engineering degrees.

ABET- accreditation: The Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) sets minimum education standards for every engineering college. Enrolling in universities that have obtained their ABET accreditation generally ensures the school offers quality education and fulfills the criteria set by engineering professionals.
Curriculum: Engineering is an ever-evolving field. Engineering students must always opt for schools that incorporate the latest technological advancements in their curriculum and offer comprehensive lab work and hands-on training to ensure they are job-ready.
Internship and Job Opportunities: Always search for the institute’s reputation in the industry. Going to a prestigious university may not always necessarily guarantee employment.
Compare the prospective salaries and job opportunities with the ease of acceptance and tuition costs. Select a college if you’re sure that going to that particular college can give you the edge in your field.
Location: A student in the New England region may find it affordable and convenient to attend college in their nearby state. Moving to a large suburb or a metropolitan area may add to the cost of living but may present better growth opportunities.
Tuition Fee: The cost of tuition for Rhode Island engineering programs can vary significantly. Always search beforehand the prospects of financial aid and student loans if the cost of education is high. Weigh the prospective earnings after your degree with the tuition fee to decide whether it is worth investing in for your degree.

Admission Requirements for Engineering Programs

Engineering degrees can be an associate engineering program, a bachelor’s degree, or a master’s program in a specialized department.

While you can apply for associate’s and bachelor’s degrees after completing your high school diploma/GED, master’s programs require you to have a bachelor’s degree. Additionally, every college has its own set of admission requirements that you must fulfill.

Let’s look at a few standard guidelines for undergraduate and graduate admissions in Rhode Island’s best engineering colleges and universities.

Undergraduate Requirements

Every student who enrolls for an undergraduate engineering degree program must submit an official copy of all high school transcripts, including senior year courses and senior year grades. Some schools may require a certain minimum GPA to consider your application.
Applicants may have to submit 2-3 Letters of Recommendation from teachers, employers, coaches, mentors, etc., who can vouch for their academic abilities.
Many universities demand an open-topic essay from prospective students.
You may have to submit your SAT/ACT score depending upon the university’s requirements.

Graduate Requirements

Graduate applicants must possess the following documents before applying:

An undergraduate bachelor’s degree in the specified field from an accredited institution.
A minimum cumulative grade point average specified by the institute in an appropriate bachelor’s degree program.
A personal statement of purpose describing their personal history, goals, etc.
Optional: Graduate Record Examination scores (optional)

International Students Requirements

Along with the prescribed undergraduate and graduate requirements, international students must also submit the following documents during their application:

Translated College Transcripts in English
English Proficiency: TOEFL/IELTS exam
Immigration documents and visa applications
Proof of financial support (including travel to and from the U.S.) adequate to meet annual expenses

Outlook for Engineering Jobs in Rhode Island

After completing an accredited engineering program from a top university in Rhode Island, you can apply for jobs anywhere in the United States. We’ve compiled a list of some of the prominent engineering fields, average salaries, and future growth prospects in the table below:

Top Engineering Employers in Rhode Island

Let’s look at the top 5 firms in Rhode Island that offer prospective employment for engineering graduates.

Associates Gaskell: The firm hires electrical engineers for its power distribution and electrical systems business.
Waterman Engineering Company: Since 1894, Waterman Engineering has delivered professional services in civil engineering and land surveying to state, municipal, and private customers.
Bristol Harbor Group: With its emphasis on naval architecture, marine engineering, and marine surveying, it strives to become the leading marine company globally.
Wyatt Engineering: Wyatt Engineering employs mechanical engineers to design, manufacture, sell, and supports leading industrial control products and differential flow measurement devices.
DDL Omni Engineering: The company (acquired by American Systems) works in software development for enterprise architecture, information and data management, applications and mobile development, cloud computing, and cybersecurity.

Conclusion

Completing your engineering education from a reputed institution in Rhode Island can open up many rewarding career options. However, you must consider accreditation, curriculum, tuition fee, and employment opportunities before selecting an engineering school.

FAQs

Does Rhode Island Have Good Engineering Colleges?

Although Rhode Island is the smallest state in the USA, it is one of the best places for obtaining a quality engineering education. Several colleges and universities offer diverse engineering programs, such as the New England Institute of Technology, the University of Rhode Island, Brown University, Roger Williams University, and Selva Regina University.

Do Engineers Have Good Salaries in Rhode Island?

Rhode Island offers one of the highest mean annual wages in the country to its mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, and biomedical engineering graduates.

Is the New England Institute of Technology Good for Engineering?

The New England Institute of Technology, is one of the top schools in Rhode Island, offering a comprehensive curriculum, robust infrastructure, immersive learning experiences, and excellent job assistance facilities for engineering.

What Are the Prerequisites for a Graduate Degree in Engineering?