Is abet accreditation important?

I’m looking at a few schools to transfer to and one that interest me is Benedict college. I was doing some research online about the school and come to find out I haven’t seen anything about the engineering programs being abet accredited. Is this a red flag? In want to know before even applying to this school

It depends on the sub-field of engineering, but it can be relevant, particularly at lesser known colleges. Employers that may not be familiar with the college can trust that the student has studied various specific and relevant courses, with abet accreditation. Some well known colleges have been dropping abet accreditation for increased flexibility and instead believing employers will trust the student has studied relevant material based on the college’s reputation. For example, both Caltech and Stanford have withdrawn from various abet accreditations in recent years.

Its in electrical engineering and from my understand does a degree in electrical engineering have to be abet accredited?

My DH is an electrical engineer…and the answer to your question is…it depends.

His company only hires electrical engineers who are on track to get the PE. That is FAR easier from an ABET accredited college than not. This is because they do state, local and federal government work, and these designs often require a PE stamp.

He suggests you look for ABET EE programs.

Stanford and Caltech don’t need ABET accreditation to sell their brand. For colleges that are less well known, and I’ve never heard of Benedict, ABET conveys to employers the program at least meets some minimum standards.

Yes, you should look for an ABET accredited program (according to my spouse who is a PhD, PE, SE).

Here’s a link to find accredited programs http://main.abet.org/aps/Accreditedprogramsearch.aspx

Here’s a link about becoming a licensed Professional Engineer (PE) https://www.nspe.org/resources/licensure/what-pe

As a PE, I would insist that my kid go to an ABET-accredited program, whether or not he/she intended to become a registered engineer.

@roethlisburger last time I checked Cal Tech and Stanford are still accredited by ABET.

Caltech and Stanford may have some ABET accredited engineering majors, but may not have ABET accreditation for some others. For example, Stanford has civil and mechanical with ABET accreditation, but has electrical or industrial/management without (formerly with).

As an EECS I would say unless your going to work in infrastructure, power plants, distribution etc. then ABET isn’t important for EE. However I know nothing of Benedicts program/reputation so either they don’t care about ABET or they don’t want to go through the effort to get it. You really need to look into there program further including who hires form their university.

@CU123 as a college student…how would this aspiring EE know for sure that his career isn’t going to take him into one of these areas at some point?

My husband hires EEs. He says…he won’t hire someone without experience that doesn’t come from an ABET accredited school. Of course, YMMV with other companies.

ETA…my husband’s company also pays more to folks who hold a PE. In addition, if someone is hired and is pursuing the PE, they get an immediate raise when they get their PE. I believe you can get a PE without attending an accredited program, but it takes a bunch of years of experience.

Obviously, an employer that prefers PEs will prefer those with ABET accredited degrees.

Looks like the safest path is to major in mechanical engineering, but you could switch to civil or chemical if those depts become accredited in 2018.

Sorry, the wrong school came up when I googled ^^ and I didn’t notice until the edit time had expired. Sorry.

I did think you were asking about Benedictine, the Catholic school, not Benedict, the HBCU school. It does not look like Benedict has ABET programs.

@thumper1 if you are going the EE computer route vs the EE power distribution route then you don’t need ABET or a FE or a PE. If fact I don’t know anyone on the computer design that would waste there time getting a PE (really what is the point), in college you tend to go one way or the other. Also getting a PE is not impossible coming from a non ABET program. Having said that coming from an not well known program, the OP might want to look into it further.

I have a feeling your husband works in infrastructure.

I am not an engineer, but if I considered a school that was not ABET accredited I’d do research and find out why the program does not have accreditation – is it that the program is too new? does it not offer all of the classes required of an accredited program? etc. In addition, I would spend time learning about the employment history/options of recent graduates.

@CU123

Yes, you can get a PE NOT coming from an ABET accredited program. But it’s easier if you DO come from one.

My point was…a college engineering student can’t predict the future…and future jobs MIGHT require a PE.

My S19 is a hopeful civil engineering major and our filter for schools is that the must be ABET accredited with no exception. It feel like a must to me for many of the traditional engineering disciplines. I have a degree in computer science from eons ago and most degrees beginning with computer were not accredited back then. There are more now, but I’m not certain it’s as much a must as engineering. For instance, Carnegie Mellon is discussed here as having an amazing CS program, yet it is not ABET accredited.

Check with your state’s rules on registration as a PE. Make sure there is a pathway other than attending an ABET accredited university. If you intend to get a PE, it may mean that you will take much longer to get it after graduation which could mean you might have to pass up promotions that require a PE.

At some point…if you don’t have a PE, you might actually be passed over for a job you really want.

You can’t predict the future…and it’s impossible to know the path your career will take.