u/StackzoverStatz

I'm looking for some advice from working engineers, engineering technologists, hiring managers, or anyone who has taken an unconventional path into engineering. I'm 25 and originally attended a small college in Kansas for engineering while competing in college track. My situation is strange because I have 149 earned hours / 167 attempted hours, but never actually received the BS in Engineering I was pursuing.

What I've actually taken

Math/science: Calculus I, II and III; Linear Algebra; Differential Equations; Discrete Math; Probability; Inferential Statistics; Physics I & II with labs; Chemistry.

Mechanical/general engineering: Statics, Dynamics, Thermodynamics, Fluid Mechanics, Engineering Economics/related coursework, engineering labs, project methods and CAD.

Electrical/computer: Circuits, Electronics, Signals & Systems and Digital Signal Processing, plus exposure to programming and microprocessors.

I also completed my Engineering Capstone Project with an A.

For some context on the transcript, I earned an A in Thermodynamics, A in Statics, eventually an A in DSP, B in Fluid Mechanics and A in capstone My GPA ended around 2.7, with a mix of strong grades in core engineering courses and some retakes. I went through a period where I fell into depression and let my priorities get out of order. I was putting athletics and my relationship ahead of school and stopped giving my education the attention it required. My priorities are very different now.

What I've been doing outside school

I’ve kept working on engineering and technical projects independently. My portfolio includes 2D/3D CAD work, assemblies, system layouts, mechanical/electrical/HVAC drawings, diagrams, and documentation. I’ve also been teaching myself industrial automation—PLC basics, ladder logic, I/O, sensors, interlocks—and focusing on how CAD and controls fit together when designing systems.

On the software side, I’ve built a strong foundation in Python, MATLAB, C/C++, Git, and data automation. Most of my programming experience comes from self‑directed projects: building data pipelines, working with APIs and databases, doing statistical analysis, predictive modeling, and automating real‑world workflows. These projects required designing, debugging, and improving full working systems on my own.

One example is D.A.S. (Documentation Automation System)—a local-first contractor documentation tool I’m building in Python. It takes field notes, extracts structured info, stores jobs in SQLite, and generates organized PDF reports. I’ve been developing it with Jupyter and local AI models instead of relying on cloud APIs.

Overall, I’m interested in roles that blend engineering, software, automation, controls, and systems rather than sticking strictly to one traditional discipline.

I've also experimented with data/predictive-modeling projects using APIs, automated data collection, data pipelines and analysis. So, my interests have gradually moved toward the intersection of electrical systems + controls/automation + programming + hands-on engineering.

My degree problem is my previous college evaluated me for their BS Electrical Engineering at the Surprise, Arizona campus.

With everything I've already completed, the advisor estimated that I'd still need roughly 18 additional courses / four semesters because it's specifically an electrical/electronic curriculum.

That means relocating from Texas to Arizona and spending roughly another two years finishing the BSEE. (which id hope it could be 100% online)

The other route I'm seriously considering is an Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technology BSET, particularly a program that will accept substantially more of my existing credits.

I'm especially interested in controls/automation, PLCs, manufacturing, testing, electronics, semiconductor equipment and similar work, so I'm wondering whether a BSET actually fits my intended career better than I'm giving it credit for.

I'm also considering a third possibility: sending my transcript to several other BSEE/engineering programs and seeing whether someone evaluates my existing engineering credits more favorably.

My Question then becomes.

If you were looking at this background from an engineering/hiring perspective and the economy of course, I'd really appreciate opinions on a few things:

1. Would you spend another four semesters getting the BSEE, or would a good BSET be a reasonable choice given the coursework I already have?
2. How limiting is a BSET in the real world?
3. Are there engineering careers I'm overlooking that fit this mix of coursework especially well? I have a weird combination of mechanical fundamentals, electrical/electronics, math, CAD and programming, and I'd rather build around that than throw it away.
4. What certifications would actually add value to this background? I've been looking at PLC/controls training, Allen-Bradley/Rockwell, Siemens, SolidWorks/AutoCAD, Six Sigma, IPC electronics certifications, etc., but I don't want to collect random certificates just to put logos on a resume.
5. What positions would you apply for right now while finishing the degree?
6. And finally, would you shop this transcript around to other engineering schools before committing to either the four-semester BSEE or BSET?

I'm not expecting the 149 credits to magically equal a degree, and I know my GPA makes transferring more complicated. I'm mainly trying to avoid making another expensive decision without understanding what gives me the best long-term return.

I'm willing to put another couple years into this if that's genuinely the best move. I just don't want to spend two more years repeating material or chasing a particular degree title if there's a better way to use the engineering education and skills I've already built.