Post job

3d technologist education requirements

Updated January 8, 2025
3 min read

There are several educational requirements to become a 3d technologist. 3d technologists usually study drafting and design, nuclear and industrial radiologic technologies, or computer science. 42% of 3d technologists hold a bachelor's degree, and 39% hold an associate degree. We analyzed 54 real 3d technologist resumes to see exactly what 3d technologist education sections show.

The most common colleges for 3d technologists are the Ferris State University and the Ferris State University.

There are also many online 3d technologist courses to help get the education required to be a 3d technologist.

What education do you need to become a 3d technologist?

What degree do you need to be a 3d technologist?

The most common degree for 3d technologists is bachelor's degree, with 42% of 3d technologists earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are associate degree degree at 39% and associate degree degree at 10%.
  • Bachelor's, 42%
  • Associate, 39%
  • High School Diploma, 10%
  • Master's, 6%
  • Other Degrees, 3%

What should I major in to become a 3d technologist?

You should major in drafting and design to become a 3d technologist. 14% of 3d technologists major in drafting and design. Other common majors for a 3d technologist include nuclear and industrial radiologic technologies and computer science.

Most common colleges for 3d technologists

3d technologists often get their degrees at Ferris State University, DeVry University, and Old Dominion University. Here are the most common colleges for 3d technologists in the US based on their resumes.
3d technologist common collegePercentages
Ferris State University6.67%
DeVry University6.67%
Old Dominion University6.67%
University of Phoenix6.67%
Hamilton Technical College6.67%

Best majors for 3d technologists

Best colleges for 3d technologists

The best colleges for 3d technologists are Northwestern University, Carnegie Mellon University, and Cornell University.

A 3d technologist with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for 3d technologists. We based this list on several metrics: admissions rate, retention rate, mean earnings of graduates, the ratio of working vs. non-working students ten years after admission, the average cost of attendance, and median debt for graduates who become 3d technologists.

1. Cornell University

Ithaca, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$55,188

Enrollment

15,105

2. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

In-state tuition

$54,568

Enrollment

8,451

3. Carnegie Mellon University

Pittsburgh, PA • Private

In-state tuition

$55,465

Enrollment

6,483

4. University of Texas at Austin

Austin, TX • Private

In-state tuition

$10,610

Enrollment

40,329

5. Boston University

Boston, MA • Private

In-state tuition

$53,948

Enrollment

17,238

6. Duke University

Durham, NC • Private

In-state tuition

$55,695

Enrollment

6,596

7. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Champaign, IL • Private

In-state tuition

$15,094

Enrollment

32,974

8. Georgia Institute of Technology

Atlanta, GA • Private

In-state tuition

$12,424

Enrollment

15,201

9. Pennsylvania State University

University Park, PA • Private

In-state tuition

$18,454

Enrollment

40,108

10. Inter American University of Puerto Rico San German

San German, PR • Private

In-state tuition

$5,940

Enrollment

3,747

20 best online courses for 3d technologists

Advertising disclosure

1. AutoCAD Civil 3D Training: The Ultimate Course

udemy
4.4
(905)

Get the Auto CAD Civil 3D Premium Course and Free download Pdf Book (reference training manual)...

2. AutoCAD Civil 3D 2020 Training

udemy
4.4
(279)

Learn Auto CAD Civil 3D With Practical Approach...

3. Learning AutoCAD Civil 3D 2016

udemy
4.5
(387)

A Practical Course That Teaches How To Get The Most From Auto CAD Civil 3D...

4. Road design With AutoCAD Civil 3D + Open Chanel Design

udemy
4.5
(250)

Complete Roads and highways Design + Open Channel + Roundabout Design with bonus course videos with autocad & Civil 3...

5. Construction Cost Estimating and Management

udemy
4.6
(642)

Learn the tools used by construction management professionals to ensure their projects finish under budget...

6. The complete course of AutoCAD 3D

udemy
4.6
(958)

3D modeling, Surfacing, Rendering and a lot more in a single course...

7. 3ds Max Complete Overview: Learn 3d Graphics Fast and Easy

udemy
4.5
(1,897)

Use 3ds Max to create 3d projects from beginning to advanced, and to gain a solid foundation in 3d graphics quickly...

8. 72 AutoCAD 2D & 3D Drawings and Practical Projects

udemy
4.6
(1,122)

Get hands on experience with a collection of 2D and 3D drawings from different engineering disciplines...

9. 3D Modeling Piped Systems in AutoCAD

udemy
4.2
(967)

From absolute ZERO all the way to creating sophisticated, 3D models and professional drawing packages in Auto CAD...

10. TWINMOTION Real-time 3d architecture visualization.

udemy
4.4
(321)

Create 3d images,videos.panoramas ,and VR for your projects fast and easy *updated with new features*...

11. IT & Technical Support Guide to Helpdesk, Desktop & Servers

udemy
4.2
(1,138)

Learn how the different levels of IT technical support work, from service desk to infrastructure and server support...

12. 3ds Max + V-Ray: 3ds Max PRO in 6 hrs

udemy
4.4
(4,345)

3ds Max intro course: 3Ds Max and V-Ray for creating 3D architectural imagery, from beginner to advanced...

13. Quantity Surveying Building Estimation BBS with Excel & CAD

udemy
4.4
(1,052)

Quantity Surveying, Construction Estimation ,Quantity survey ,Cost Estimation ,Civil engineering, Building Estimation...

14. Ultimate 3ds Max + V-Ray Photorealistic 3D Rendering Course

udemy
4.4
(1,364)

Become a 3D Rendering Pro: The Complete 3ds Max and V-Ray Course for Interior Designers, Architects, and 3d Artists...

15. IT Support Technical Skills Helpdesk

udemy
4.7
(1,561)

Hands-on Technical skills for IT Support Learners...

16. Architectural Exterior Rendering Masterclass 3ds Max + V-Ray

udemy
4.2
(325)

FULL COURSE TAUGHT BY AN OFFICIAL V-RAY MENTOR. Create Photorealistic 3D Renderings with 3ds Max + V-Ray from scratch...

17. V-Ray 5 + 3ds Max: Master 3D Rendering with Vray & 3ds Max

udemy
4.5
(710)

3ds Max & V-Ray: Create Beautiful Photorealistic 3D Renderings with V-Ray in 3ds Max Taught by Award-Winning Architect...

18. AutoCAD Civil 3D - MEGA course for Civil Works

udemy
4.4
(327)

Autodesk Civil3D - All the land works design, from zero to expert...

19. Blender 3.x Complete Architectural Design & Animation Course

udemy
4.5
(963)

Learn Blender Animation, 3D Modelling, 3D lighting: Full 3D House Construction Animation Project in Blender 3x...

20. 3d Rigging in 3ds Max - The Ultimate Guide for Everyone

udemy
4.5
(252)

3D Rigging: Build the Skills Needed to Start Rigging you Own 3D Characters TODAY...

Top 10 most affordable universities for 3d technologists

The most affordable schools for 3d technologists are California State University - Long Beach, brigham young university, and california state university - fullerton.

If the best universities for 3d technologists are out of your price range, check out these affordable schools. After factoring in in-state tuition and fees, the average cost of attendance, admissions rate, average net price, and mean earnings after six years, we found that these are the most affordable schools for 3d technologists.

1. California State University - Long Beach

Long Beach, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,798

Cost of attendance

18,306

2. Brigham Young University

Provo, UT • Private

In-state tuition

$5,620

Cost of attendance

18,136

3. California State University - Fullerton

Fullerton, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,886

Cost of attendance

17,645

4. University of Puerto Rico - Mayaguez

Mayaguez, PR • Private

In-state tuition

$4,094

Cost of attendance

14,302

5. City College of New York of the City University of New York, The

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,140

Cost of attendance

14,430

6. University of Florida

Gainesville, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,381

Cost of attendance

21,034

7. University of South Florida

Tampa, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,410

Cost of attendance

20,456

8. California State University - Fresno

Fresno, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,587

Cost of attendance

16,915

9. California State University - Northridge

Northridge, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,893

Cost of attendance

18,870

10. California State University - Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,749

Cost of attendance

14,823

Top 10 hardest universities to get into for 3d technologists

The hardest universities for 3d technologists to get into are Northwestern University, Carnegie Mellon University, and Cornell University.

Some great schools for 3d technologists are hard to get into, but they also set your career up for greater success. The list below shows the most challenging universities to get into for 3d technologists based on an institution's admissions rates, average SAT scores accepted, median ACT scores accepted, and mean earnings of students six years after admission.

1. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

Admissions rate

8%

SAT average

1,508

2. Carnegie Mellon University

Pittsburgh, PA • Private

Admissions rate

17%

SAT average

1,507

3. Cornell University

Ithaca, NY • Private

Admissions rate

11%

SAT average

1,471

4. Duke University

Durham, NC • Private

Admissions rate

9%

SAT average

1,516

5. Vanderbilt University

Nashville, TN • Private

Admissions rate

10%

SAT average

1,514

6. California Institute of Technology

Pasadena, CA • Private

Admissions rate

7%

SAT average

1,566

7. Columbia University in the City of New York

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

6%

SAT average

1,512

8. Tufts University

Medford, MA • Private

Admissions rate

15%

SAT average

1,461

9. Stanford University

Stanford, CA • Private

Admissions rate

4%

SAT average

1,497

10. Boston University

Boston, MA • Private

Admissions rate

22%

SAT average

1,420

Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for 3d technologists

The easiest schools for 3d technologists to get into are Barry University, adventhealth university, and la roche college.

Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a 3d technologist without much hassle, check out the list of schools where you will be accepted in no time. We compiled admissions rates, average SAT scores, average ACT scores, and average salary of students six years after graduation to uncover which were the easiest schools to get into for 3d technologists.

1. Barry University

Miami, FL • Private

Admissions rate

91%

SAT average

1,006

2. AdventHealth University

Orlando, FL • Private

Admissions rate

87%

SAT average

1,016

3. La Roche College

Pittsburgh, PA • Private

Admissions rate

99%

SAT average

1,008

4. Saint Martin's University

Lacey, WA • Private

Admissions rate

96%

SAT average

1,111

5. Cardinal Stritch University

Milwaukee, WI • Private

Admissions rate

71%

SAT average

1,035

6. The University of Texas Permian Basin

Odessa, TX • Private

Admissions rate

91%

SAT average

1,046

7. Oregon Institute of Technology

Klamath Falls, OR • Private

Admissions rate

96%

SAT average

1,139

8. Saint Cloud State University

Saint Cloud, MN • Private

Admissions rate

86%

SAT average

1,086

9. Linfield College

McMinnville, OR • Private

Admissions rate

81%

SAT average

1,117

10. D'Youville College

Buffalo, NY • Private

Admissions rate

100%

SAT average

1,072

Average 3d technologist salary by education level

According to our data, 3d technologists with a Master's degree earn the highest average salary, at $76,337 annually. 3d technologists with a Bachelor's degree earn an average annual salary of $70,829.
3d technologist education level3d technologist salary
Master's Degree$76,337
Bachelor's Degree$70,829
Some College/ Associate Degree$63,227

3d technologist education FAQs

Search for 3d technologist jobs

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

Browse healthcare practitioner and technical jobs