Best General Engineering Degree Programs in Tennessee in 2026
General engineering degrees in Tennessee include five concentrations at UT Martin, a joint public-university degree through Tennessee Tech and ETSU, and three Engineering B.S.E. options at Bryan College. All are complete bachelor’s awards with substantial technical requirements. Their degree plans differ in both specialization and how practical work is organized.
These rankings count the Tennessee Tech–ETSU joint degree once. Compare its shared teaching arrangement with UT Martin’s campus-based concentration model and Bryan’s Christian college curriculum, then check the admission gates, FE requirements and tuition terms that apply to your path.
How we ranked general engineering bachelor’s programs in Tennessee
The reviewed set includes current complete Engineering and General Engineering bachelor’s degrees. Named concentrations and options retain the parent Engineering award. Engineering technology degrees and preparatory transfer programs are outside this selection.
UT Martin leads for its combination of five concentrations, required supervised work and senior design, with clear progression rules. The TTU–ETSU joint degree follows for its balanced multi-discipline core and shared public-university teaching. Bryan offers a further choice through three technical options, an early design sequence and a Christian curriculum. The order reflects these structures and practical completion conditions.
$5,412 · Estimated in-state undergraduate tuition and mandatory fees per semester
Cost basis & conditions +
The current catalog lists this full-time campus estimate, including the maintenance, programs/services, technology, facility and media fees. Nonresidents add $4,533 per semester. Course/laboratory charges, housing and meals are additional; the catalog directs students to the bursar for revised rates.
UT Martin’s Engineering B.S.E. connects a common technical foundation with five named concentrations. Students choose civil, computer, electrical, manufacturing or mechatronics engineering, with the concentration recorded on the final transcript. The 128-credit structure includes engineering analysis and economy, a supervised internship or three co-op semesters, and a two-course senior design sequence. The degree also requires passing the Fundamentals of Engineering examination. Together, those requirements make the path unusually explicit about both academic progression and experience outside the classroom.
Where it stands out
Consider UT Martin if you want a broad Engineering award with a defined concentration and required professional work before graduation. The manufacturing and mechatronics choices are especially relevant to students interested in production systems or the connection between mechanical equipment, electronics and controls. Compare the upper-level plan for your chosen concentration.
What to weigh
The program has several completion gates: qualifying mathematics preparation, the eight-course admission core, a supervised work experience and a passing FE result. Its 128-credit total also depends on using specified courses to satisfy overlapping general education requirements. Meet an engineering adviser before transferring a general education block or assuming the remaining courses will fit two years.
The common requirements include calculus through multivariate calculus, university physics, chemistry, Engineering Methods, Engineering Analysis and Engineering Economy.
Students select civil, computer, electrical, manufacturing or mechatronics engineering; upper-division study provides concentration-specific depth.
The 128-credit plan assumes specified mathematics, science and economics courses satisfy both general education and engineering requirements. Other choices can increase the total.
Areas of focus
Civil Engineering
Computer Engineering
Electrical Engineering
Manufacturing Engineering
Mechatronics Engineering
Admission & progression
Provisional engineering admission requires an ACT mathematics subscore of at least 25 or at least one semester of college trigonometry with a C or better.
Full concentration admission requires C grades or better in the eight specified core courses. The concentration catalog also requires a minimum 2.0 GPA across all attempts in that core.
Most upper-division engineering courses require full admission; prerequisite and degree rules require C grades in the designated technical subjects.
Design & practical experience
A required internship lasts at least ten consecutive weeks under supervision of a degree-holding engineer. Completing three co-op semesters substitutes for the internship.
Senior Design I and II provide the required capstone project, with adviser and department approval for entry.
The degree requires passing the NCEES Fundamentals of Engineering examination.
This ETSU estimate applies to students enrolled through ETSU, at 15 credits each fall and spring; qualifying border counties receive the same rate. The published annual estimate is $12,428 for the five-state local region and $15,818 for other domestic nonresidents. Course fees, housing and meals are additional. Students enrolled through Tennessee Tech must use that institution’s applicable charges.
The joint Tennessee Tech–ETSU Engineering B.S.E. shares a general engineering curriculum between two public universities. Students remain enrolled at one institution while completing at least 32 credits taught by each. The Fall 2026 degree map combines mechanics, thermodynamics and fluid mechanics with circuits, digital systems, solid modeling and numerical methods. Twelve technical-elective credits provide additional direction. Experimental methods, a mechanical engineering laboratory and Senior Design I and II add practical work. The program is one jointly delivered 128-credit degree, rather than two separate awards.
Where it stands out
This program suits students who want a broad technical foundation through a public university and are comfortable coordinating a course plan across two institutions. The shared mechanical, electrical and civil subjects can appeal to students whose intended work involves several engineering functions rather than one narrowly defined specialty.
What to weigh
Home-institution admission and aid do not eliminate the shared teaching requirement. Verify where and how each course is delivered before planning work or travel around the hybrid format. Transfer mathematics, science and major courses need C grades or better, and the FE examination is required. The displayed tuition estimate is specifically for students enrolled through ETSU.
Attendance:Students enroll and apply for financial aid at one institution throughout the program, while completing coursework taught by both universities. Confirm the delivery and location of each required course with the program adviser.
The Fall 2026 degree map includes statics, dynamics, circuits and electronics, solid modeling, mechanics of materials, thermodynamics, digital systems, fluid mechanics and numerical methods.
Twelve technical-elective credits allow further study from the joint program’s approved course lists.
The joint degree requires at least 32 semester credits taught by each institution; the complete degree map totals 128 credits.
Areas of focus
Approved technical electives across engineering disciplines
Admission & progression
Students apply for admission and financial aid through either Tennessee Tech or ETSU and remain enrolled at that home institution.
The program publishes separate freshman GPA/test pathways and transfer-entry requirements in addition to university admission.
Transfer entry requires a 2.0 cumulative college GPA excluding remedial/developmental work; transferred mathematics, science and major courses require C grades or better.
Design & practical experience
The required Fall 2026 plan includes Experimental Methods I and Mechanical Engineering Lab.
Senior Design I and II are paired with Engineering Design, Professionalism and Ethics.
Students must take the Fundamentals of Engineering examination for graduation; the program provides preparation support.
Tuition is $10,850 per semester for 12–17 credits, with an additional $625 for each credit above 17. The annual Enhanced Student Experience Fee is $1,500 for full-time students. Applicable engineering courses add $60 per credit; laboratory fees, housing and meals are separate.
Bryan’s Engineering B.S.E. uses mechanical, civil and chemistry options within a broad engineering award. Each published option plan specifies at least 131 credits and retains shared study of mechanics, circuits, thermodynamics and fluids. The first year includes design and computer-aided design, while the senior year combines Design of Experiments with a two-course capstone. Option-specific work then changes the direction: mechanical students study robotics and machine design, civil students examine structures and infrastructure, and chemistry students add organic and advanced chemistry. Biblical studies and engineering-focused service courses are part of the curriculum.
Where it stands out
Consider Bryan if you want a Christian college in Dayton with a named technical option inside a general Engineering B.S.E. The common engineering core can be useful if you want to retain several technical perspectives while developing depth in mechanical systems, civil infrastructure or chemistry-related work.
What to weigh
These are options within an Engineering degree, so use the exact award name when comparing them with standalone specialty degrees. The published plans also depend on mathematics and writing placement, and some courses do not run every semester or year. The base tuition excludes the student experience fee and applicable engineering course charges, which add a per-credit cost.
The published mechanical, civil and chemistry option plans each specify at least 131 credits. Shared subjects include statics, dynamics, circuits and instrumentation, mechanics of materials, thermodynamics and fluid mechanics.
The mechanical option adds machine design, vibrations, robotics and heat transfer; civil adds structures, transportation, geotechnical engineering and hydrology.
The chemistry option adds organic chemistry and advanced chemistry electives. All three plans include biblical studies, engineering ethics and engineering economics.
Areas of focus
Mechanical option
Civil option
Chemistry option
Admission & progression
Residential clear admission requires high school graduation and either a 2.8 high school GPA or a qualifying ACT, SAT or CLT score.
The published high school preparation includes four English credits and three each in science, mathematics and social studies/humanities.
The degree plans use mathematics and writing placement to determine the starting sequence; students beginning with precalculus need additional calculus preparation.
Design & practical experience
Introduction to Design and Introduction to Computer Aided Design appear in the first-year option plans.
Design of Experiments precedes the two-course Capstone Senior Design sequence.
The plans include Engineering Professional Development and engineering-focused Christian formation/service courses.
What matters in general engineering bachelor’s programs in Tennessee
A complete award with technical depth
We verify the actual bachelor’s degree and examine how its concentrations or electives develop beyond the common foundation.
Required practical experience
Internships, co-op terms, laboratories and capstone courses are evaluated according to the program’s actual requirements.
A workable completion plan
Major-entry gates, transfer conditions, shared teaching and examination requirements affect how students complete the degree.
How general engineering degrees in Tennessee develop a specialty
UT Martin’s current B.S.E. offers civil, computer, electrical, manufacturing and mechatronics concentrations. Its Mechanical Engineering B.S.M.E. is a separate award. Bryan’s B.S.E. instead has mechanical, civil and chemistry options, each retaining the broad Engineering degree title. Those naming differences matter when comparing curricula or explaining your education to an employer.
The joint Tennessee Tech–ETSU degree keeps a shared core across mechanics, circuits, digital systems, thermodynamics and fluids, then adds 12 approved technical-elective credits. If your interests connect controls with physical machines, compare the relevant electives with mechatronics degree programs, including UT Martin’s named concentration.
Read the work-experience and FE requirements carefully
UT Martin requires a supervised internship of at least ten consecutive weeks or three co-op semesters. It also requires passing the Fundamentals of Engineering examination. Those conditions belong in the graduation plan alongside Senior Design I and II and the concentration’s technical courses.
The joint TTU–ETSU program requires taking the FE examination and includes experimental methods, a mechanical engineering laboratory and two senior design courses. Bryan’s published plans require Design of Experiments and a two-course senior capstone. Taking an exam, passing it and obtaining a professional license are different steps; use the engineering accreditation guide to understand the distinction.
Match admission and tuition to your actual enrollment route
UT Martin has provisional mathematics requirements and an eight-course core before full concentration admission. Its 128-credit plan also assumes certain courses meet both general education and engineering requirements. An engineering adviser should review a proposed transfer schedule before you complete all general education courses separately.
TTU–ETSU students apply and receive aid through one home institution while taking coursework taught by both. The tuition shown here uses ETSU’s published estimate and does not apply to students enrolled through Tennessee Tech. Bryan’s semester tuition has a 12–17-credit band, plus an annual student fee and per-credit charges for applicable engineering courses. Compare these structures with the required calendar and your financial aid offer.
Questions, answered
What else should you know?
Does UT Martin still offer a broad Engineering bachelor’s degree?+
Yes. Its 2026–27 catalog lists a B.S.E. with civil, computer, electrical, manufacturing and mechatronics concentrations. Mechanical Engineering now appears separately as a B.S.M.E.
Do Tennessee Tech and ETSU award two engineering degrees through the joint program?+
No. This is one joint Engineering B.S.E. Students enroll at one institution and complete at least 32 credits taught by each university within the shared program.
Which reviewed program requires passing the FE exam?+
UT Martin explicitly requires a passing result. The joint TTU–ETSU program requires students to take the exam. These program requirements should not be confused with completing every requirement for professional licensure.
Is Bryan’s mechanical option a standalone Mechanical Engineering degree?+
The reviewed award is a Bachelor of Science in Engineering with a mechanical option. Bryan also publishes civil and chemistry options within that Engineering B.S.E.
Keep researching
Choosing a general engineering degree
Learn what a general engineering degree covers, how concentrations build technical depth and how broad bachelor's programs compare with specialized majors.
