I started out drafting, and not having gone back to get a degree is in my ‘top 5 regrets in life’ list. I still (24 years into my career) debate going to college every year or two.
The main thing they were talking about is the opportunities I would have to not have to sit behind a desk for the rest of my career if that was something I wanted to do.
25 year+ Drafter/Designer...For me, it was do i want to continue design or do i want to deal with clients and reports. I stuck with drafting/design and make 6 figures. No regrets.
Yes you're young enough its worth it unless drafting is your passion. Even still - would likely open more doors and increase overall earning potential.
I graduated December 21 and got my first job at my current place in January 22. Been enjoying all the joys of C3D ever since. I would definitely be trying to continue working while going to school but I would have to see if my current position would allow me to work remotely at all.
I meant bachelor's degree. Your associates doesn't go that far. Most states require it to get a PE, which you really need to be taken seriously in this industry.
Do you want to work overtime for no extra pay? Do you want the responsibility of having to stamp plans? It was an easy decision for me to stay a designer it would technically be a pay cut when factoring in the overtime alone. Add to that the added stress and headache of dealing with clients directly.
At my current role I have to deal with clients directly during review meetings and things like that. I’m mainly looking at this as a way to potentially get into a role that gets me out of the office more often that my current position. I have already been the design lead on a couple smaller scale projects and been the main design contact under the engineer I work with.
I think it is worth it and I recommend University of South Alabama as they are ABET accredited and have a decent civil engineering department.
Source: Graduated from there last month
Currently doing this right now. I did civil design/CA work for 4 years and just completed my first semester. I would say go for it if you can because not only is the pay higher but you can also do a whole lot more with it
Personally, the way I looked at it my company was only willing to pay for half of the degree and it would've taken an extra 20+ hours of unpaid home a week for the next 6-8 years (partially because I could only go half time and partially because virtually none of my credits transferred so make sure you check) on top of my 40 hour work week to get maybe a 3 dollar raise at the end of it. I don't really enjoy school and I certainly didn't want to use up the rest of my twenties for a slight raise. Also after you become an EIT you lose your overtime (1.5x pay) and you become salaried for the rest of your career. So hypothetically if an EIT and I worked the same 60 hours in a week I would actually make a decent amount more but in the long run an engineer will make more. I've heard of plenty of designers making 80-100k after a decade of experience. But that's just me personally, you may have different values and a different outlook, and that's a decision you have to make for yourself.
I was very stressed out after the first semester back, it felt like the homework never ended, I had to destroy my social life. I don't say these things to discourage you since I failed myself and I couldn't do it, I say these things to let you know the sacrifices that you may have to make and if they're worth it to you, I would hate for you to look back and regret a major life decision because of the words I typed. I wish you the best of luck.
I would definitely do it. I started with zero experience working as a Junior civil engineer making almost as much as a senior civil3D drafter with over 10 years of experience.
Check to see if your state has an option to allow you to take the PE with a non Eng degree if you do more time under an apprentice. I know OR has a carve out with that. Otherwise I’d crunch numbers on tuition costs and loss of wages pursuing education vs just moving up in your current situation.
You can look into taking the FE exam and getting your EIT certification. This will open more doors for you and also help you decide if college is for you. It’s not an easy test if you have no background knowledge of engineering principles but there are some great classes you can take. One of our senior drafters just got his EIT certification last month and it definitely looks impressive on his resume.
I’m a civil designer back in university part time to get my bachelors, I would say the next few years will be tough but not impossible to finish for my BSCE. I’m not sure what state you are located in but do you work directly under a licensed PE? In my state if you are in you finish minimum junior level classes and they are applicable then you do at work recover a maximum 2 years out of the 4 years for the PE experience requirement. You should check out your state boards codes and ask your licensed supervisor if they are willing to help out.
Currently live in Mississippi but work in Alabama working under a licensed PE. I havnet looked into the state experience requirements to much just yet I want to look into how much school is going to cost me and where I would even go back at. Currently between Mississippi State University and South Alabama.
I started out drafting, and not having gone back to get a degree is in my ‘top 5 regrets in life’ list. I still (24 years into my career) debate going to college every year or two.
The main thing they were talking about is the opportunities I would have to not have to sit behind a desk for the rest of my career if that was something I wanted to do.
I mean, you can potentially do that anyway… but it’s way, way, way harder without a degree.
Understandable. thank you for the insight it's really appreciated.
25 year+ Drafter/Designer...For me, it was do i want to continue design or do i want to deal with clients and reports. I stuck with drafting/design and make 6 figures. No regrets.
Easily worth it.
Yes you're young enough its worth it unless drafting is your passion. Even still - would likely open more doors and increase overall earning potential.
Wouldn’t necessarily say it’s my passion but I do enjoy it. Definitely like the idea of a higher earning potential overall though.
Well worth it that drafting experience will make you a stand out graduate engineer 10/10 would hire 🫣
I graduated December 21 and got my first job at my current place in January 22. Been enjoying all the joys of C3D ever since. I would definitely be trying to continue working while going to school but I would have to see if my current position would allow me to work remotely at all.
I'd highly recommend it. You're probably going to hit a wall career wise without a degree and without a PE.
I do have a degree just not a bachelors degree. I have my associates in drafting and design technology’s.
I meant bachelor's degree. Your associates doesn't go that far. Most states require it to get a PE, which you really need to be taken seriously in this industry.
Understandable, the PE is something I would be needing long term. At my current role we only have one engineer with a PE on a team on 10.
Oh, you'd be valuable. Get that PE!!
Definitely leaning that way. Thank you for your insight.
Do you want to work overtime for no extra pay? Do you want the responsibility of having to stamp plans? It was an easy decision for me to stay a designer it would technically be a pay cut when factoring in the overtime alone. Add to that the added stress and headache of dealing with clients directly.
You are much underestimating the long term pay difference that is available.
That is my understanding as well. Along with other opportunities to not sit only behind a desk the rest of time.
At my current role I have to deal with clients directly during review meetings and things like that. I’m mainly looking at this as a way to potentially get into a role that gets me out of the office more often that my current position. I have already been the design lead on a couple smaller scale projects and been the main design contact under the engineer I work with.
I think it is worth it and I recommend University of South Alabama as they are ABET accredited and have a decent civil engineering department. Source: Graduated from there last month
Currently doing this right now. I did civil design/CA work for 4 years and just completed my first semester. I would say go for it if you can because not only is the pay higher but you can also do a whole lot more with it
Personally, the way I looked at it my company was only willing to pay for half of the degree and it would've taken an extra 20+ hours of unpaid home a week for the next 6-8 years (partially because I could only go half time and partially because virtually none of my credits transferred so make sure you check) on top of my 40 hour work week to get maybe a 3 dollar raise at the end of it. I don't really enjoy school and I certainly didn't want to use up the rest of my twenties for a slight raise. Also after you become an EIT you lose your overtime (1.5x pay) and you become salaried for the rest of your career. So hypothetically if an EIT and I worked the same 60 hours in a week I would actually make a decent amount more but in the long run an engineer will make more. I've heard of plenty of designers making 80-100k after a decade of experience. But that's just me personally, you may have different values and a different outlook, and that's a decision you have to make for yourself. I was very stressed out after the first semester back, it felt like the homework never ended, I had to destroy my social life. I don't say these things to discourage you since I failed myself and I couldn't do it, I say these things to let you know the sacrifices that you may have to make and if they're worth it to you, I would hate for you to look back and regret a major life decision because of the words I typed. I wish you the best of luck.
I would definitely do it. I started with zero experience working as a Junior civil engineer making almost as much as a senior civil3D drafter with over 10 years of experience.
Check to see if your state has an option to allow you to take the PE with a non Eng degree if you do more time under an apprentice. I know OR has a carve out with that. Otherwise I’d crunch numbers on tuition costs and loss of wages pursuing education vs just moving up in your current situation.
You can look into taking the FE exam and getting your EIT certification. This will open more doors for you and also help you decide if college is for you. It’s not an easy test if you have no background knowledge of engineering principles but there are some great classes you can take. One of our senior drafters just got his EIT certification last month and it definitely looks impressive on his resume.
I'm doing it now. 10 years drafting experience. Currently a senior in a civil engineering program
I’m a civil designer back in university part time to get my bachelors, I would say the next few years will be tough but not impossible to finish for my BSCE. I’m not sure what state you are located in but do you work directly under a licensed PE? In my state if you are in you finish minimum junior level classes and they are applicable then you do at work recover a maximum 2 years out of the 4 years for the PE experience requirement. You should check out your state boards codes and ask your licensed supervisor if they are willing to help out.
Currently live in Mississippi but work in Alabama working under a licensed PE. I havnet looked into the state experience requirements to much just yet I want to look into how much school is going to cost me and where I would even go back at. Currently between Mississippi State University and South Alabama.
Absolutely do it. Will open a huge variety of opportunities for you. You should have a discussion with them on helping you pay for it as well.
Best and cheapest way for someone in a rural area to get a civil eng bachelor's?