Civil Engineering vs Applied Engineering

The growing need for professionals who can solve real-world problems across infrastructure, manufacturing, automation, and energy is driving demand for engineering degrees. If you are considering an engineering degree, you may be wondering what career opportunities are available, how challenging the coursework will be, and whether the investment is worth it. That choice comes down to civil engineering vs. applied engineering, and the answer depends on your strengths, interests, and the type of work you want to do.

What You Should Know Before You Start

Do you need a degree to become a civil engineer?

Most entry-level civil engineering positions require a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering or a related field, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Aspiring engineers can also pursue a two-year Applied Engineering program, which is geared toward students who are more interested in hands-on technical, automation, and engineering support roles. That gives you another pathway into the engineering field without following the same route as a licensed civil engineer.

How much math does an engineering degree require?

Math is an important part of both engineering paths, but the level depends on the degree you choose. A civil engineering curriculum may include Calculus I and II, Differential Equations, Statistics, and calculus-based physics.

What is the difference between civil engineering and applied engineering?

The difference between applied and civil engineering is the type of work each path prepares you for. A civil engineering program focuses on infrastructure design and analysis, including the foundation that supports future professional advancement. An applied engineering program is geared toward hands-on technical work involving automation, troubleshooting, operations, and maintenance. Your choice should come down to whether you see yourself designing engineering infrastructure solutions or working directly with the systems and technology that keep industries running.

Is Engineering a Good Field to Enter?
Civil Engineering vs Applied Engineering: Which Path Fits You?
What Do High-Demand Engineering Jobs Pay?
Is an Engineering Degree Worth It? Choosing the Right Path
Why Keiser University
Frequently Asked Questions

Is Engineering a Good Field to Enter?

College instructor assisting engineering students

For many students, engineering can offer strong career opportunities across construction, manufacturing, energy, technology, and other industries that depend on technical problem-solving.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, architecture and engineering occupations are projected to grow faster than average from 2025 to 2035, with over 150,000 openings projected each year. For students considering an engineering degree, those projections point to continued opportunities across a broad range of engineering and technical careers.

Several factors are contributing to that demand:

Infrastructure projects continue to require skilled civil engineers and other technical professionals.
Manufacturing and automation are increasing the need for people who can work with complex systems and technology.
Retirements can create openings as experienced engineers leave the workforce.
According to the National Student Clearinghouse’s January 15, 2026 summary of its Final Fall Enrollment Trends report, mechanical, electrical, and civil engineering programs posted double-digit enrollment gains in fall 2025.^[9]
Employers continue to need graduates who can combine technical knowledge with practical problem-solving skills.

The American Society of Civil Engineers estimates a $3.7 trillion gap between the infrastructure investment the United States needs and what is currently planned. The Bureau of Labor Statistics also projects increased openings for civil engineers each year, with employment expected to grow 6% from 2025 to 2035.

At Keiser University, we prepare students with a strong technical foundation, practical experience, and the ability to adapt as engineering work continues to evolve.

Dr. Ali Zilouchian, University Department Chair of Applied Engineering, Keiser University

“AI will change the way engineering works, but it will not replace it. The human in the loop remains a critical part of that future, and it is the human who makes the final decisions.”

Dr. Ali Zilouchian, University Department Chair of Applied Engineering, Keiser University

Automation, robotics, and AI may change how engineers approach certain tasks, but technology does not remove the need for engineering knowledge, analysis, judgment, and problem-solving. At Keiser University, we focus on helping students build the skills needed to work with emerging technology rather than simply react to it.

Civil Engineering vs Applied Engineering: Which Path Fits You?

Civil engineering and applied engineering both prepare you to solve real-world technical problems, but they lead to different types of work.

Civil engineering is more design-focused and can support a path toward Professional Engineer licensure, while applied engineering focuses more heavily on applying technology, troubleshooting systems, and supporting operations.

Civil Engineering if You Want To:	Applied Engineering if You Want To:
Design roads, bridges, buildings, and infrastructure	Work hands-on with machines, robotics, and technical systems
Work with transportation, construction, or water systems	Troubleshoot manufacturing processes and automation
Explore structural, environmental, or infrastructure-related work	Combine electrical, mechanical, and systems concepts
Pursue Professional Engineer licensure	Spend more time learning through practical application

What You Can Expect From a Civil Engineering Career

Civil engineers meeting to analyze blueprints

Civil engineers help design, build, and maintain the infrastructure communities rely on every day. Depending on your interests, you could work in areas such as structural engineering, transportation, geotechnical engineering, water resources, construction, or environmental engineering.

The work itself can be varied. Civil engineers may spend part of their time analyzing designs and plans, then visit job sites, meet with contractors, review project requirements, or solve problems as construction progresses.

What You Can Expect From an Applied Engineering Career

applied engineer testing robotic system for automation project

Applied engineering may be a better fit if you are drawn to the practical side of engineering and want to understand how technical systems work, how they fail, and how to keep them operating effectively.

As Dr. Ali Zilouchian, University Department Chair of Applied Engineering at Keiser University, explains:

“The applied engineering curriculum at Keiser University doesn’t go as deep into theory as it would in an electrical or mechanical engineering program, but still covers it and shows students how to apply it from a practical, systems-level perspective. It’s an application-oriented program designed to prepare students directly for the job market.”

Applied engineering graduates may pursue technical roles in areas such as robotics, automation, manufacturing, production, quality control, testing, and systems support. According to ATMAE, applied engineering education places greater emphasis on process-focused and laboratory-based learning than traditional design-focused engineering programs.

At Keiser University, the program’s hands-on component includes laboratory facilities and projects designed to guide students from planning and design to practical implementation.

The biggest difference comes down to how you want to work: designing infrastructure and potentially pursuing licensure, or working directly with machines, automation, and manufacturing systems.

What Do High-Demand Engineering Jobs Pay?

Salary is not the only factor to consider when choosing an engineering degree, but it is an important part of understanding the potential return on your education.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Outlook Handbook from August 27, 2026, several engineering careers offer median annual wages above $100,000 and continued employment growth through 2035.^[1][2][3][4]

Engineering Field	Median Annual Wage (May 2025)	Projected Growth, 2025 to 2035
Civil engineers	$100,840	6%
Industrial engineers	$102,440	12%
Mechanical engineers	$104,110	11%
Electrical and electronics engineers	$125,040	8%

Engineering technician and technologist roles follow a different career path and are tracked separately by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. These positions typically have lower median wages than engineer-level roles, but they can offer opportunities to work directly with technical systems, equipment, testing, and operations.^[5][6][7][8]

Technician Field	Median Annual Wage (May 2025)
Electrical and electronic engineering technologists	$78,190
Electro-mechanical and mechatronics technologists	$73,900
Industrial engineering technologists	$66,120
Civil engineering technologists	$64,950

Aspiring engineers should look beyond salary alone. Consider the level of education required, whether licensure matters for your goals, and whether you would rather design systems or work hands-on.

Is an Engineering Degree Worth It? Choosing the Right Path

If you are asking whether an engineering degree is worth it, you are likely weighing cost, time, difficulty, and career opportunities after graduation. The employment projections and salary data above point to continued demand, but the value of your degree also depends on the experience and skills you build along the way.

At Keiser University, we encourage engineering students to gain practical experience through internships, strengthen their communication and project management skills, and consider early on whether professional licensure is part of their career plan.

“If an engineer can sit down with a manager or a CEO and convey the information in two or three minutes, that’s the skill I advise every student to build.”

Dr. Ali Zilouchian, University Department Chair of Applied Engineering, Keiser University

Keiser University also offers several engineering pathways based on different career goals:

Associate of Science in Applied Engineering: A two-year, hands-on degree focused on practical technical skills that may transfer toward a bachelor’s degree.
Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering: Designed for students interested in infrastructure, engineering design, and potential Professional Engineer licensure.
Bachelor of Science in Applied Engineering: Built for students who want to advance into higher-level technical, systems, project, or supervisory roles.

You can also explore our broader engineering programs or related options such as Software Engineering and Cloud Engineering.

The right engineering degree is the one that best matches the kind of work you want to do and the skills you want to build.

Why Keiser University

At Keiser University, we know choosing where to study engineering matters as much as choosing which path to study, so we pair small classes with faculty who bring real industry experience into the classroom

Our applied engineering department is chaired by Dr. Ali Zilouchian, who worked at Motorola in automation and process control and has led research funded by both Motorola and Florida Power & Light. Both companies sit on the industry advisory board Dr. Zilouchian works with to connect students with employers.

For 50 years, we have empowered students through career-focused education, building a legacy of academic excellence and student success while helping shape the future of higher education.

Since opening our doors in 1977, the university has remained committed to preparing graduates with the knowledge, skills, and hands-on experience needed to succeed in today’s workforce. Keiser University has grown into one of Florida’s largest private, not-for-profit universities, serving approximately 20,000 students and a network of more than 100,000 alumni.

As a Keiser University student, you’ll benefit from:

An institutionally SACSCOC-accredited university. SACSCOC accreditation confirms that Keiser University meets established standards for educational quality and institutional effectiveness, assuring students the university is committed to academic excellence.
Over 100 programs to choose from. Keiser’s degree programs align with today’s workforce and the real-world experience employers look for.
Flexible learning options, including on-campus, online, hybrid, and one-class-at-a-time formats.
Personalized academic and career support, with dedicated faculty and career services.
Financial aid, scholarships, and tuition guidance to help make education more accessible.
Proud member of the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU).
50 years of educational excellence with a proven focus on student success and outcomes.

Choosing an engineering career path is a big decision, and you do not need to have it fully mapped out before you start. Talk with a Keiser University admissions counselor about our Civil Engineering and Applied Engineering programs to find the path that fits your goals.

Request Information | Apply Now | Admissions Requirements

Frequently Asked Questions

Which engineering field should you choose?

Mechanical and electrical engineering are strong fields, but they serve different goals than civil or applied engineering. If your interest is roads, bridges, or water systems, civil engineering is the closer fit. If you want hands-on work with machines, robotics, or industrial systems without pursuing a licensed title, applied engineering is the better match.

How do engineering careers compare with data science and computer science?

Engineering, data science, and computer science increasingly overlap in automation, AI, robotics, and advanced manufacturing. Data science focuses more on information and algorithms, while engineering connects that work to physical products and infrastructure. If you are weighing civil or applied engineering against computer science, combining engineering knowledge with programming skills can open additional career opportunities.

How important is work experience when applying for engineering jobs?

Work experience matters because employers value candidates who can apply technical knowledge to real-world challenges. For entry-level roles, that doesn’t have to mean previous employment: internships, co-ops, academic projects, and lab work all show practical skill. Requirements vary by discipline, and some positions call for specific licenses or certifications.