As of 2010, Petroleum Engineering is the most lucrative Engineering degree in the United States. Petroleum engineering is concentrated on training students how to locate and manage fossil fuels all throughout the world. Most petroleum engineers travel to different parts of the world to look for fossil fuel or manage petroleum factories. Nowadays, petroleum engineers are also involved in innovative technologies that maximize the potential of fossil fuels, as well as finding and developing alternative sources of energy. One of the best schools that offer Petroleum Engineering in the U.S. is Stanford University.
Nuclear engineering is another lucrative engineering degree and it is also one of the more popular fields of study that advances today's technology. Nuclear engineers focus on nuclear energy and radiation. They find and develop tools, systems and instruments that help harness the power of nuclear energy for use in almost all types of industries we have today. They also manage and maintain nuclear facilities, ensuring safety and proper disposal of nuclear wastes. This degree leans heavily on physics and mathematical courses. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology is one of the best universities in the world that offers nuclear engineering.
Getting an aerospace engineering degree may not be as popular as the two previously mentioned degrees, but it can be one of the best engineering courses in terms of salary and its contribution to technological development. Aerospace engineering mainly focuses on studying and developing air and spacecrafts. They study and specialize in flight and orbital mechanics, aerodynamics and all the aspects involved in building an aircraft or spacecraft. Some of the best universities offering a degree in aerospace engineering include Stanford University, MIT and the California Institute of Technology.
Chemical engineering mainly deals with producing, managing and transforming materials and chemicals by creating processes, tools and systems. Even today, chemical engineers are in demand in all types of industries since they are responsible for creating and developing new types of chemicals to improve production and output, maintain safety and develop more environment friendly ways to produce materials and chemicals. The University of California in Berkeley is one of the best universities that offer a degree in chemical engineering.