In the U.S., engineering education is provided through successive educational programs at the baccalaureate, master and doctorate degree levels. As students earn a degree, they choose which level they will advance to based on the requirements for their role in the profession. Once a student has chosen to pursue a career in engineering, he or she faces the difficult task of choosing an engineering program at a particular institution. A decision about which program to choose can involve issues of educational quality, institutional size, program mission, faculty, placement services and educational costs. Students often need help in making important educational decisions.
Accreditation can help students choose an education that meets minimum standards for quality.
Accreditation, in the U.S., is a non-governmental process of peer review that educational institutions or programs voluntarily undertake. Institutional accreditation looks at the quality of the overall educational components of an institution. However, specialized accreditation evaluates only a single program at a particular level. This type of accreditation indicates that a program prepares students for entry into the profession. Engineering programs accredited by ABET prepare students for a profession in which a knowledge of mathematical and natural sciences gained by study and practice is applied to the materials and forces of nature to benefit mankind.