Hello! As a student, you’re constantly swimming in a sea of problems that require decisions. Some are personal, some are academic, and soon, some will be professional engineering challenges. Engineering economic analysis is a powerful toolkit designed to help you make better decisions, whether you’re managing your own finances or a multi-million dollar project.

In fact, you already use its core principles to solve simple problems every day. You’re practicing economic analysis when you ask:

• Should I pay cash or use my credit card?
• Do I buy a semester parking pass or use the parking meters?

This guide will introduce you to the fundamental mindset and tools engineers use to make smart financial choices—the kind of choices that lead to successful projects and sound personal decisions. These everyday problems are just the beginning; engineers apply a more structured process to tackle much more complex challenges.