Motorsports Engineering

About the motorsports engineering major

IUPUI is the first university in the United States to offer a bachelor's degree in motorsports engineering, which is designed to prepare you for careers in the motorsports industry as well as automotive-related companies. The focus is on teaching fundamentals of engineering and includes hands-on projects that involve designing, analyzing, and building of actual systems.

Skills and abilities this major develops: engineering design, project management, complex problem solving, mechanical skills, creativity, listening skills, performance testing, teamwork, and technical writing

Engaged learning experiences

Regardless of your major or future career, engaged learning is vital to your present and future. It makes you more marketable for jobs and professional schools upon graduation, it enables you to build deeper connections with faculty and staff in your field of study, and it makes your learning personal by connecting your interests and values with the curriculum from your classes. Check out the three ideas below for places to get started, or learn more at IUPUI’s Institute for Engaged Learning website.

Student organizations

ET has many student organizations, which are a great way to build your skills, network, and grow as a professional.

Professional work experience

Grow your skills through internships, co-op, or part-time jobs.

Study abroad

ET has many program-specific study abroad opportunities—a great way to gain cultural competency and grow your skills.

Opportunities after graduation

Employment of mechanical engineers is projected to grow 2% from 2021 to 2031, slower than the average for all occupations. Despite limited employment growth, about 17,900 openings for mechanical engineers are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as retirement (Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2022).

According to the IUPUI First Destination Survey in 2021, the average starting salary reported for School of Engineering and Technology graduates was $58,879, and the median salary was $60,000.

The median salary for mechanical engineers was $95,300 in 2021 (Occupational Outlook Handbook).

(This section is intended for informational purposes, not prediction of actual salary.)

Motorsports engineering graduates often pursue additional training in one of the following areas:

Automotive engineering
Business management and administration
Law
Mechanical engineering

Quick facts

Sample coursework

Business of motorsports
Calculus 1, 2, and 3
Computer modeling for motorsports
Data acquisition in motorsports
Motorsports aerodynamics
Statistics and dynamics

Possible careers

Automotive engineer
Engine development
Lab technician
Product developer
Safety equipment designer
Validation engineer

Where could I work?

Andretti Autosport
Bryan Herta Racing
Cummins
Ford Motor Company
Honda Performance Development
IMSA
Millennium Space Systems
Roush Fenway

Complementing interests

RRealistic

IInvestigative

CConventional

Get your interest code

Where to get more information

Purdue School of Engineering and Technology

Society of Automotive Engineers

Motorsports Industry Association

Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Cluster

This major belongs to the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) cluster. The STEM cluster is the academic home of University College students pursuing majors in the sciences, technology, engineering, informatics, and computing. The STEM cluster partners with students on their academic advising and career plans to guide them into their degree-granting schools.

Learn about the STEM cluster

Learn about other clusters

Meet with an advisor or career consultant

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