THE BEST COLLEGES FOR STEM DEGREES

Innovation leads to new products and processes that sustain an economy. This innovation and science literacy depends on a solid knowledge base in the STEM areas.

Are you interested in pursuing a stem degree in any of the best colleges? Here is a list of THE BEST COLLEGES FOR STEM DEGREES. These colleges for STEM Degrees offer the best and high standardized programs in STEM courses.

Among a growing need for professionals trained in advanced fields like cybersecurity and technology, experts agree that STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) education is necessary — not only as a cornerstone of national security but also to sustain the country’s economy.

In fact, President Trump recently signed two bills to promote and recruit more women into the STEM fields, while back in 2012, President Obama made increasing the number of college graduates in STEM fields by one million in one decade a Cross-Agency Priority (CAP) goal.

Obama chartered the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) to help meet this goal.

The idea behind this lofty goal put forth by the former President was that it would increase job opportunities for young Americans in fields that were and are increasingly crucial to strengthening the national economy.

At its inception, this ambitious goal was intended to produce qualified professionals for STEM jobs, which were growing 1.7 million times faster than non-STEM occupations between 2008 and 2022.

What Is A STEM Major?

The acronym STEM signifies science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. This implies that majors in this category are classified as STEM degrees.

The available options are vast and must include most of the degrees in science and engineering, as well as degrees like; Animal Science and Nutrition, Agronomy and Crop Science, Environmental Studies, Urban Forestry, Mining Technology, Strategic Intelligence, Undersea Warfare, Nutrition Sciences, Archeology, and Veterinary Anatomy.

In 2012, the former president of America, Obama, increased the number of college graduates in STEM fields by one million in one decade, a Cross-Agency Priority goal and chartered the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology to help meet this goal. President Trump signed two bills to promote and recruit more women into STEM fields. Aspiring students will find that the benefits of entering a STEM program often exceed those of other programs. 

According to study.com, STEM education integrates concepts usually taught as separate subjects in different classes and emphasizes applying knowledge to real-life situations. 

Why Should I Pursue A STEM Degree?

The Age of Information, the Digital Age, and the New Media Age are products of the science of technology. And this age is now. With the accommodation of an information economy to the existing industrial economy, the world of technology is exploding. The bright future is bright for students who are keen on a STEM major.

STEM education helps to link the ethnic and gender gaps sometimes found in math and science fields. Initiatives have been set to increase the roles of women and minorities in STEM-related fields.

Additionally, STEM education is critical to help the United States remain a world leader. Without STEM education, the United States will continue to fall in the world ranking with math and science scores. It will not be able to maintain its global position: not only that, there will be a huge deterioration in science and technology innovations.

Therefore, mentors and parents should encourage their children to pursue STEM activities and increase awareness and interest at home and in extracurricular activities of the merits of STEM education.

In order to compete in a global economy, STEM education, and careers must be a national priority. Every decision made uses an aspect of STEM to understand the implications.

BEST COLLEGES FOR STEM DEGREES

#1 Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)

This private university was ranked No. 1 by U.S. News & World Report for Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs, though the school also offers doctorates in the field. In addition, MIT’s faculty boasts several Fulbright Scholars and Nobel Prize winners.

MIT offers a year-round academic program through the MIT Office of Engineering Outreach Programs for middle school students who are enthusiastic about math and science and want to advance in these areas.

Through the STEM Summer Institute, middle school students are engaged for five weeks of lectures, projects, and experiments taught by MIT undergraduates.

Seventh- through 12th-graders may join MIT’s newest free STEM initiative, Saturday Engineering Enrichment and Discovery (SEED) Academy. Participants in all programs learn college-level material.

#2 Tuskegee University

Tuskegee University is a historically black institution of higher education located in Alabama that enrolls more than 3,100 students. It is a noted school for minorities who plan to pursue an education in a STEM field. It makes our list of best colleges for STEM degrees.

The university is a top producer of the nation’s black veterinarians, with Tuskegee alumni making up 75% of all black veterinarians in the U.S.

The school also produces black aerospace science engineers nationwide and is the largest producer of black graduates with bachelor’s degrees in math, science, and engineering in Alabama.

Tuskegee is also a part of the Math and Science Partnership with several other universities, community colleges, school districts, and STEM centers. This partnership helps Alabama’s middle school students achieve success in science.

See also: Mastercard Foundation Scholarships Scheme for International Students

#3 Harvey Mudd College

This small, private, liberal arts institution in Claremont, California, is well known for engineering, science, and mathematicsU.S. News & World Report ranks Harvey Mudd College No. 2 for the Best Undergraduate Engineering Program.

Mudd takes a liberal arts approach to STEM by including a standard core curriculum that provides a solid foundation in math and science.

Students don’t need to select a major until the end of their sophomore year, and the school offers a choice of nine STEM-based majors.

Though the school enrolls just around 800 students, Mudd has made significant efforts to attract women into STEM fields to increase diversity.

These efforts were spearheaded by the school’s president Maria Klawe, who saw a distinct need for more women in computer science.

#4 Texas A&M University

Texas A&M University in College Station is one of the best colleges for STEM. It enrolls over 50,000 students and ranks first in the state for student retention and graduation rates, both overall and for minorities.

The university is also a leader in STEM education, setting a strategic goal in 2010 to increase graduation rates among STEM students.

The 25 by 25 initiative aims to increase access for qualified students to pursue engineering education.

A&M will enroll 25,000 engineering students by 2025 across its College Station, Galveston, Qatar, and McAllen campuses.

#5 University of Connecticut

UConn is Connecticut’s flagship public university and enrolls more than 30,000 students. Several of the school’s engineering programs are top-ranked by U.S. News and World Report, including UConn’s graduate programs in materials science and engineering, recently ranked among the top 25 in the nation.

In 2013, it was announced that the university would receive a $1.5 billion investment to support campus expansion and generate jobs. The proposal, Next Generation Connecticut, aims to expand educational opportunities, research, and innovation in STEM disciplines at UConn for the next 10 years.

Goals of the ten-year plan include hiring 200 new STEM faculty; building STEM facilities to house materials for science, physics, biology, engineering, cognitive science, genomics, and related disciplines; constructing new STEM teaching laboratories; and creating a premier STEM honors program.

Additionally, the proposal aims to expand the School of Engineering by increasing enrollment by 70% overall and growing the total number of STEM graduates by 47%.

#6 Kapiolani Community College

The STEM Program at Kapiolani Community College (KCC) aims to improve the quality of education in STEM fields through various outreach programs, including the Summer Bridge Program.

The program brings together high school students, college students, and college faculty to help students prepare for STEM college. Program participants engage daily in a math prep class, and an hour is allotted for collaborative study. Participants may be eligible for a STEM research internship or peer mentorship upon program completion.

KCC, which enrolls more than 7,100 students each year in its for-credit programs and about 25,000 students in its not-for-credit programs, is a recipient of the National Science Foundation’s S-STEM grant, which funds scholarships to select students pursuing STEM careers. KCC’s STEM Program offers several student scholarships, as well.

Last words

“In the 21st century, scientific and technological innovations have become increasingly important as we face the benefits and challenges of both globalization and a knowledge-based economy.

To succeed in this new information-based and highly technological society, students need to develop their capabilities in STEM to levels much beyond what was considered acceptable in the past.” (National Science Foundation)

FAQs On Best Colleges For STEM Degrees

What does STEM stand for?

The acronym STEM signifies science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. This implies that majors in this category are classified as STEM degrees.
Scientific and technological innovations have become increasingly important as we face the benefits and challenges of globalization and a knowledge-based economy. To succeed in this new information-based and highly technological society, students need to develop their capabilities in STEM to levels much beyond what was considered acceptable in the past.

Disciplines in STEM

STEM is a curriculum that focuses on educating students in four specific disciplines — science, technology, engineering, and mathematics — in an interdisciplinary and applied approach.

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