Best schools for mechanical engineering?

[Wheatmaster]

I'm interested in HVAC engineering and wondered what were some good schools to learn this.
Also what is the general term for learning this?

 

[TallBill]

UofI is a great school for it. Since you live in state, it would be cheap too.

 

[SludgeFactory]

ASHRAE is the professional organization for HVAC. Look around there for student information.

If you're talking about undergrad programs, I don't know that a major in HVAC exists. The problem is that it's so specialized. You have to get fairly deep into a mechanical engineering curriculum before you have the background needed to take HVAC coursework. You need do be done with thermo, fluids, heat transfer -- by then you're in your senior year and only have time to squeeze in HVAC as an elective. I think that at most universities, they only offer one senior level HVAC class.

OK, I checked out U of Illinois' website, they have an Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Center, so I think TallBill's advice is very good. There will be a lot of research opportunities there, and probably more courses available than at the typical university. I'm guessing you'd be able to get exposed to HVAC earlier in your education than at many other schools. (The entire ME domain seems down for me right now, can't find too much info at the moment.) Get in contact with them, research centers love to hear from prospective students.

I would think that if you pursue a mechanical engineering degree, focus on thermodynamics and fluids, take whatever HVAC/advanced thermo electives you're interested in, get involved in undergraduate research opportunities, and join the student chapter of ASHRAE at the school to network with practicing engineers, you will have the inside track to do whatever you want in the HVAC field.

 

[habib89]

i know that at SJSU, there's only like.. 1 HVAC class that is available for ME majors.. and that's one of the electives that you can take in your senior year after thermo, fluids, and heat transfer are taken (as stated before) so.. i knwo, at least at sjsu, hvac isn't a huge thing..

 

[AthlonXP]

why do you want to become an engineer in fixing vacume cleaners?

 

[Indolent]

Milwaukee School of Engineering isn't so far from you either. They have a great Mechanical Engineering program.

 

[Evadman]

just remember, freon gets added to the low side

 

[spidey07]

Originally posted by: AthlonXP
why do you want to become an engineer in fixing vacume cleaners?

My guess would be because it pays very well and is challenging. That and HVAC has nothing to do with vacuum cleaners.

 

[MikeyIs4Dcats]

The Architectural Engineering program at Kansas State is very good. Excellent professors and great curriculum.

Link

 

[Aceshigh]

HVAC specialists can make some really big money.

 

[Pepsi90919]

Originally posted by: AthlonXP
why do you want to become an engineer in fixing vacume cleaners?

"vacume" ?

 

[Wheatmaster]

thanks for all the replys guys. I'm living in a north suburb of chicago, so university of illinois-champaign looks good. I also heard from a family friend that milwaukee school of engineering is worth the 30 grand each year because he claims that you can make like $30-$40 per hour right when you come out of school! Anyone a graduate here? is this true?

 

[Indolent]

Not a graduate (just finished freshman year) but, the average starting salary for Mechanical Engineering majors last year was somewhere around $50k/year, whatever that equates to per hour. And, yes, the $30k is worth it, especially if you have a decent ACT score and GPA, they throw in nice scholarships and grants.

 

[NorthRiver]

A friend of mine is a HVAC specialist. He got an apprenticeship in the union. He is making large money!!

 

[geckojohn]

I work at an HVAC engineering company in San Jose. PM or email me if you need any help.

 

[ryzmah]

My brother does HVAC - his degree was in Mechanical Engineering. University of Illinois-Champaign has an excellent engineering school.

 

[Wheatmaster]

Just to give you guys an update:
I went to see MSOE yesterday. It's very small on the outside, but when you look at the machines they use inside for mechanical engineering...you will get your mind blown! The best thing i like about MSOE is that undergrads get to use all the machines for labs, unlike most public universities that let only graduate students use them. MSOE so far is my top choice for mechanical engineering. UIL-Champiagn is second. Any other recommendations?

 

[Hector13]

Originally posted by: Mak0602
Just to give you guys an update:
I went to see MSOE yesterday. It's very small on the outside, but when you look at the machines they use inside for mechanical engineering...you will get your mind blown! The best thing i like about MSOE is that undergrads get to use all the machines for labs, unlike most public universities that let only graduate students use them. MSOE so far is my top choice for mechanical engineering. UIL-Champiagn is second. Any other recommendations?

having graduated from berkeley as an engineer I would have to recommend... berkeley. Being a state school, it should cost you less than $30k a year. You can also look at the rankings at us news. For mechanical engineering, they have:

1. Massachusetts Inst. of Technology
2. University of California?Berkeley *
3. Stanford University (CA)
4. Georgia Institute of Technology *
5. University of Michigan?Ann Arbor *

 

[CanOWorms]

I would recommend a school that has a good reputation. You aren't going to be an encyclopedia of engineering knowledge when you graduate from college. You'll know some basics and intermediate knowledge, but an engineering degree is more of a license to learn