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Circuit designer education requirements
Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
There are several educational requirements to become a circuit designer. Circuit designers usually study electrical engineering, business, or computer engineering. 63% of circuit designers hold a bachelor's degree, and 16% hold an associate degree. We analyzed 662 real circuit designer resumes to see exactly what circuit designer education sections show.
The most common colleges for circuit designers are the Arizona State University and the Arizona State University.
There are also many online circuit designer courses to help get the education required to be a circuit designer.
What education do you need to become a circuit designer?
What degree do you need to be a circuit designer?
- Bachelor's, 63%
- Associate, 16%
- Master's, 11%
- High School Diploma, 3%
- Other Degrees, 7%
What should I major in to become a circuit designer?
- Business, 15%
- Other Majors, 36%
Most common colleges for circuit designers
| Circuit designer common college | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Arizona State University | 7.89% |
| University of Phoenix | 7.89% |
| University of Illinois at Chicago | 6.58% |
| Pennsylvania State University | 6.58% |
| Rochester Institute of Technology | 6.58% |
Best majors for circuit designers
| Rank | Major | Percentages |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Electrical Engineering | 37.3% |
| 2 | Business | 15.3% |
| 3 | Computer Engineering | 7.6% |
| 4 | Electrical Engineering Technology | 4.1% |
| 5 | Computer Science | 3.8% |
Best colleges for circuit designers
The best colleges for circuit designers are Stanford University, Northwestern University, and University of Pennsylvania.
A circuit designer with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for circuit designers. 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 circuit designers.
1. Stanford University
Stanford, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$51,354
Enrollment
7,083
2. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
In-state tuition
$55,584
Enrollment
10,764
3. Western Carolina University
Cullowhee, NC • Private
In-state tuition
$3,926
Enrollment
9,835
4. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
In-state tuition
$54,568
Enrollment
8,451
5. SUNY Polytechnic Institute
Utica, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$8,238
Enrollment
2,120
6. Pennsylvania State University
University Park, PA • Private
In-state tuition
$18,454
Enrollment
40,108
7. University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$56,225
Enrollment
19,548
8. University of Nebraska - Lincoln
Lincoln, NE • Private
In-state tuition
$9,242
Enrollment
20,592
9. California State University - Bakersfield
Bakersfield, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$7,309
Enrollment
9,142
10. California State University - Long Beach
Long Beach, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,798
Enrollment
31,503
20 best online courses for circuit designers
Advertising disclosure
1. RF and millimeter-Wave Circuit Design
This unique Master-level course offered by the Center for Wireless Technology Eindhoven (CWT/e) of the Eindhoven University of Technology, The Netherlands, provides students with in-depth knowledge and hands-on experience on RF and mmWave circuit design. The course covers the topics on how to derive the RF wireless systems specifications, and how to design the main building blocks of a transceiver, i.e., low noise amplifier, power amplifier, RF mixers, oscillators, and PLL frequency...
2. Linear Circuits 2: AC Analysis
This course explains how to analyze circuits that have alternating current (AC) voltage or current sources. Circuits with resistors, capacitors, and inductors are covered, both analytically and experimentally. Some practical applications in sensors are demonstrated...
3. CMOS Analog Circuit Design
By Prof. Phillip E Allen...
4. Arduino: Electronics circuit, PCB Design & IOT Programming
Industrial Datalogger, Electronics circuit design, Embedded System, Eagle PCB Design, Arduino Programming and IOT system...
5. Physics 102 - AC Circuits and Maxwell's Equations
This fourth course serves as an introduction to the physics of electricity and magnetism. Upon completion, learners will understand how mathematical laws and conservation principles describe fields and how these fields are related to electrical circuits. Learners will gain experience in solving physics problems with tools such as graphical analysis, algebra, vector analysis, and calculus. This fourth course covers AC circuits, Impedance, and Magnetism. Each of the two modules contains reading...
6. Motor Starter Circuits (Motor Control)
Motor starter schematics or wiring drawings. Learn to design power & control circuits for motor starters...
7. ESD - An Analog Design Viewpoint
How to apply ESD protection to analog/mixed signal ICs...
8. Basics of Electric Circuits
Series and Parallel combination of Resistors, Voltage and Current Divider, Wye Delta Conversion, Balanced Bridge Circuit...
9. Electric Circuits for Electrical Engineering and Electronics
Start your career in electrical & electronics engineering by learning everything about electric circuits and electronics...
10. Ultimate Electric Circuits Masterclass for Beginners
Learn electric circuits from scratch without any previous knowledge with dozens of examples in electrical engineering...
11. The Complete Electric Circuits Course
Learn the fundamentals of electrical and electronic engineering and then practice 100s of electric circuit problems...
12. PCB Design using OrCAD/Allegro from Basics to Expert level
Learn Or CAD/Allegro PCB Design: Schematic (Or CAD Capture), Footprint's (Package Editor) & Board Design(PCB Editor)...
13. Complete Eagle CAD PCB Design: Theory and Practical approach
Complete PCB Design Course for Freshers & Professionals...
14. Single and 3-Phase electrical circuit basics A to Z
AC / DC Explained, Single / Three-Phase motor circuits, Test Equipment, House Wiring, Ohm's law and fault finding...
15. Cadence OrCAD v17.4 for Beginners & Students - NOT Pro EEs!
Learn how to use Or CAD at the basic level. Enroll in another course if you need something advanced...
16. Crash Course Electronics and PCB Design
Learn Electronics and PCB Design from the Ground up with Altium Circuit Maker and Labcenter Proteus...
17. PCB Design a Tiny Arduino In Altium CircuitMaker
Learn Printed Circuit Board (PCB) design by creating your own Tiny Arduino Nanite in Altium Circuit Maker...
18. The Complete Electronics Course 2022: Analog Hardware Design
Over 30.000+ enrolled! Learn Electronics from Zero To An Advanced Understanding of How Circuits Work !...
19. PCB Designing (with 3D Model) in Orcad [2022]
Schematic in Or CAD Capture CIS, Printed Circuit Board, BOM,Footprints, 3D Model,Routing and Gerber files for Arduino UNO...
20. VSD - Custom Layout
VLSI - This is where design meets fabrication...
Top 10 most affordable universities for circuit designers
The most affordable schools for circuit designers are SUNY Farmingdale, california state university - bakersfield, and california state university - long beach.
If the best universities for circuit designers 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 circuit designers.
1. SUNY Farmingdale
Farmingdale, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$8,306
Cost of attendance
16,091
2. California State University - Bakersfield
Bakersfield, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$7,309
Cost of attendance
16,714
3. California State University - Long Beach
Long Beach, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,798
Cost of attendance
18,306
4. University of Florida
Gainesville, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,381
Cost of attendance
21,034
5. Brigham Young University
Provo, UT • Private
In-state tuition
$5,620
Cost of attendance
18,136
6. California State University - Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,749
Cost of attendance
14,823
7. University of Puerto Rico - Mayaguez
Mayaguez, PR • Private
In-state tuition
$4,094
Cost of attendance
14,302
8. Florida International University
Miami, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,556
Cost of attendance
19,434
9. Baruch College of the City University of New York
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,262
Cost of attendance
14,046
10. Florida State University
Tallahassee, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$5,656
Cost of attendance
21,623
Top 10 hardest universities to get into for circuit designers
The hardest universities for circuit designers to get into are Stanford University, Northwestern University, and University of Pennsylvania.
Some great schools for circuit designers 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 circuit designers 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. Stanford University
Stanford, CA • Private
Admissions rate
4%
SAT average
1,497
2. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
Admissions rate
8%
SAT average
1,508
3. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
Admissions rate
8%
SAT average
1,492
4. Northeastern University
Boston, MA • Private
Admissions rate
19%
SAT average
1,466
5. Boston University
Boston, MA • Private
Admissions rate
22%
SAT average
1,420
6. University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA • Private
Admissions rate
13%
SAT average
1,445
7. New York University
New York, NY • Private
Admissions rate
20%
SAT average
1,419
8. Vanderbilt University
Nashville, TN • Private
Admissions rate
10%
SAT average
1,514
9. Villanova University
Villanova, PA • Private
Admissions rate
29%
SAT average
1,407
10. Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, MD • Private
Admissions rate
11%
SAT average
1,513
Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for circuit designers
The easiest schools for circuit designers to get into are Oklahoma Wesleyan University, capitol technology university, and oregon institute of technology.
Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a circuit designer 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 circuit designers.
1. Oklahoma Wesleyan University
Bartlesville, OK • Private
Admissions rate
68%
SAT average
964
2. Capitol Technology University
Laurel, MD • Private
Admissions rate
69%
SAT average
1,070
3. Oregon Institute of Technology
Klamath Falls, OR • Private
Admissions rate
96%
SAT average
1,139
4. Notre Dame College
Cleveland, OH • Private
Admissions rate
90%
SAT average
994
5. Kean University
Union, NJ • Private
Admissions rate
86%
SAT average
991
6. LIM College
New York, NY • Private
Admissions rate
83%
SAT average
1,061
7. Notre Dame de Namur University
Belmont, CA • Private
Admissions rate
82%
SAT average
983
8. Holy Names University
Oakland, CA • Private
Admissions rate
70%
SAT average
849
9. Pennsylvania State University - Fayette (The Eberly Campus)
Lemont Furnace, PA • Private
Admissions rate
80%
SAT average
1,067
10. Pennsylvania State University - DuBois
DuBois, PA • Private
Admissions rate
85%
SAT average
1,079
Average circuit designer salary by education level
| Circuit designer education level | Circuit designer salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $115,448 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $103,172 |
| Doctorate Degree | $127,129 |
Circuit designer education FAQs
Have more questions? See all answers to common architecture and engineering questions.
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Updated January 8, 2025
Updated January 8, 2025