Austin Community College District (ACC) has been recognized as one of the Best Engineering Degree Programs by Intelligent.com, a higher education resource guide.
ACC, the only community college on the list, ranked number 24 in the list of the Top 50 Engineering Degree Programs with the distinction of Best Associate Degree.
The college ranked two places behind Texas A&M University - College Station (TAMU), a partner in ACC's Texas A&M-Chevron Engineering Academy. Through this program, students make measurable progress on their bachelor's degree while completing their associate degree. After one to two years, students transition to TAMU to complete their bachelor's degree. ACC's fall 2020 cohort made the college the largest academy in the state and applications are now being accepted for the fall 2021 cohort.
ACC Chancellor Dr. Richard Rhodes discussed the college's engineering program with Dr. David Fonken, ACC Science, Engineering & Math Dean; Shana Shaw, Engineering Professor and Texas A&M-Chevron Engineering Academy Leading Professor; and ACC Engineering student, Jud Joyner in the Engineering Brighter Futures podcast.
According to Intelligent.com, the average wage for an engineer in the United States is $111,636 and the field is expected to add 140,000 new jobs. Here in Texas, the Texas Workforce Commission projects 25 percent growth statewide in engineering jobs over the next 10 years.
"Individuals who graduate with a degree in engineering have extremely promising futures," states the guide. "The field is experiencing continuous growth and the starting salaries for those with an engineering degree is significantly higher than for those graduating with other types of degrees."
The ranking is based on an assessment of 2,277 accredited colleges and universities. Each program is evaluated based on curriculum quality, graduation rate, reputation, and post-graduate employment.
Rankings are calculated through a scoring system that includes student engagement, potential return on investment, and leading third-party evaluations. Intelligent.com analyzed 206 schools, on a scale of 0 to 100, with only 50 making it to the final list. The methodology also uses an algorithm that collects and analyzes multiple rankings into one score to easily compare each university. View the complete guide online.
For more information about ACC's Engineering program, visit austincc.edu/accengineering.
About Intelligent.com
Intelligent.com provides unbiased research to help students make informed decisions about higher education programs. The website offers curated guides that include the best degree programs as well as information about financial aid, internships, and even study strategies. With comprehensive, user-friendly guides and hundreds of program rankings, Intelligent.com is a trusted source among students and prospective students. To learn more, please visit https://www.intelligent.com/.