What a General Engineer Does
General engineers identify technical problems, trace root causes and weigh solutions against feasibility, cost, efficiency and safety. They plan and schedule projects, coordinate tasks, allocate resources and work across teams of specialist engineers, technicians and project managers, on work that ranges from structures to medical devices to manufacturing processes.
Engineering Salary and Job Outlook
U.S. News & World Report ranks High Point University #1 among Regional Universities in the South for Earnings by Major in Best Colleges 2027, a factor that measures what graduates earn four years after leaving campus.
Across all majors, 99% of High Point University’s Class of 2025 was employed or continuing their education within 180 days of graduation, 13 points above the national average, measured by National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) standards. The Princeton Review ranks HPU #14 for Best Career Services in its 2027 guide.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported a $104,110 median annual wage for mechanical engineers and $125,040 for electrical and electronics engineers in May 2025. Webb School computer and electrical engineering graduates have a 100% pass rate on the Fundamentals of Engineering exam.
Roles General Engineering Graduates Can Pursue
A General Engineering degree can prepare students for roles such as:
- Design engineer
- Project engineer
- Systems engineer
- Manufacturing and process engineer
- Test and diagnostic engineer
- Controls engineer
- Engineering project manager
- Technical sales engineer
Webb School Engineering Outcomes
Jenny Aguirre, an electrical engineering graduate, joined Volvo Truck Group as a diagnostic engineer and test developer. Emily Lattanzio continued to graduate study in engineering at Clemson University, and Ashley Phelps interned as a controls engineer at Burns & McDonnell.
General Engineering Student Organizations
- Robotics Club
- Computer Science Society
- Society of Physics Students, the student chapter of the American Institute of Physics
Graduate Study
The degree prepares students for graduate study in specialized engineering fields. Students who sample several disciplines through their electives can choose a graduate specialty with experience in each.
Internships Across the Webb School
Engineering students across the Webb School share a makerspace, design labs and faculty mentors with General Engineering majors. Jenny Aguirre, an electrical engineering graduate, turned an internship into a role at Volvo Trucks. Ashley Phelps interned in controls engineering with Burns & McDonnell, and Vladimir Lagutin, a computer engineering student, researched nanowires with an atomic force microscope.
“HPU helped me get to where I am now through the excellent guidance of my professors and their great insight into the engineering industry.”
Phelps, electrical engineering major
General Engineering course requirements are listed in the HPU undergraduate bulletin. The Office of Career and Professional Development helps engineering students find internships, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics describes the work of mechanical engineers. Explore all programs in the Webb School of Engineering.
Webb School Engineering Students in Competition and Research
The HPU Robotics Club placed second in the student hardware competition at the 2024 IEEE SoutheastCon in Atlanta, the club’s first trophy. The team included computer engineering major Morgan Abrams and Jordan Destafino, a neuroscience and electrical engineering major.
Paul Cusumano, a senior electrical engineering major, spent summer 2026 researching next-generation particle detectors with Dr. Adam Anthony, assistant professor of physics. After graduating, Cusumano plans to earn a commission as a U.S. Navy Surface Warfare Officer.
“With all the work that went into this, it was wonderful to see and participate in claiming the HPU Robotics Club’s first trophy.”
Abrams, computer engineering major
Explore General Engineering at High Point University
See the courses behind these careers and how general engineering at HPU is accredited.
Accreditation & Awards Curriculum & Research
Questions about the program? Email Dr. Brian Bernard at [email protected].