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Contractor, manufacturing engineer education requirements

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read

There are several educational requirements to become a contractor, manufacturing engineer. Contractor, manufacturing engineers usually study mechanical engineering, business, or industrial technology. 71% of contractor, manufacturing engineers hold a bachelor's degree, and 14% hold an associate degree. We analyzed 797 real contractor, manufacturing engineer resumes to see exactly what contractor, manufacturing engineer education sections show.

The most common colleges for contractor, manufacturing engineers are the Purdue University and the Purdue University.

There are also many online contractor, manufacturing engineer courses to help get the education required to be a contractor, manufacturing engineer.

What education do you need to become a contractor, manufacturing engineer?

What degree do you need to be a contractor, manufacturing engineer?

The most common degree for contractor, manufacturing engineers is bachelor's degree, with 71% of contractor, manufacturing engineers earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are associate degree degree at 14% and associate degree degree at 10%.
  • Bachelor's, 71%
  • Associate, 14%
  • Master's, 10%
  • High School Diploma, 3%
  • Other Degrees, 2%

What should I major in to become a contractor, manufacturing engineer?

You should major in mechanical engineering to become a contractor, manufacturing engineer. 21% of contractor, manufacturing engineers major in mechanical engineering. Other common majors for a contractor, manufacturing engineer include business and industrial technology.

Most common colleges for contractor, manufacturing engineers

Contractor, manufacturing engineers often get their degrees at Purdue University, Rochester Institute of Technology, and University of Wisconsin Colleges. Here are the most common colleges for contractor, manufacturing engineers in the US based on their resumes.
Contractor, manufacturing engineer common collegePercentages
Purdue University11.70%
Rochester Institute of Technology8.51%
University of Wisconsin Colleges7.45%
Drexel University5.32%
Brigham Young University5.32%

Best majors for contractor, manufacturing engineers

Best colleges for contractor, manufacturing engineers

The best colleges for contractor, manufacturing engineers are Northwestern University, Johns Hopkins University, and Stanford University.

A contractor, manufacturing engineer with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for contractor, manufacturing engineers. 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 contractor, manufacturing engineers.

1. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

In-state tuition

$54,568

Enrollment

8,451

2. Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore, MD • Private

In-state tuition

$53,740

Enrollment

5,567

3. New York University

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$51,828

Enrollment

26,339

4. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Champaign, IL • Private

In-state tuition

$15,094

Enrollment

32,974

5. Georgia Institute of Technology

Atlanta, GA • Private

In-state tuition

$12,424

Enrollment

15,201

6. University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$56,225

Enrollment

19,548

7. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

In-state tuition

$55,584

Enrollment

10,764

8. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Ann Arbor, MI • Private

In-state tuition

$15,262

Enrollment

30,079

9. Cornell University

Ithaca, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$55,188

Enrollment

15,105

10. Stanford University

Stanford, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$51,354

Enrollment

7,083

20 best online courses for contractor, manufacturing engineers

Advertising disclosure

1. Introduction to Mechanical Engineering Design and Manufacturing with Fusion 360

coursera

Design for manufacturing is the process of designing parts, components, or products with the understanding surrounding design requirements for a specific manufacturing method. This course explores the design for manufacture workflow and shows how to validate models and create the G code, the programming language needed to instruct the CNC machine on how to move. We practice the basics of part and assembly design, and tools such as animation, rendering, and simulations using Autodesk Fusion 360...

2. Engineering and Product Design Processes

coursera

Welcome to “Engineering and Product Design Processes!” In this short course, you will learn how engineering design processes and product design processes are carried out. After the course, you will be familiar with the steps in both design processes. You will also be familiar with the main goal of each design process, as well as their similarities and differences...

3. Manufacturing Guide for Mechanical Product Development

udemy
4.9
(491)

Learn how everyday physical products are manufactured with no prior experience in engineering...

4. Manufacturing process selection and Design for manufacturing

udemy
4.5
(657)

Learn about the basics of selecting process for a mechanical design and the principles of design for Manufacturing...

5. Intro to Digital Manufacturing with Autodesk Fusion 360

coursera

The manufacturing industry is making a digital transformation, allowing companies to customize production through advances in machine learning, sustainable design, generative design, and collaboration, with integrated design and manufacturing processes. This course introduces innovations in CAD and digital manufacturing, speaking to the rapid changes taking place that are forever transforming the future of making. This course will also explore foundational concepts behind Autodesk® Fusion 360™...

6. Semiconductor Packaging Manufacturing

coursera

This course will provide information on the various stages of semiconductor package manufacturing, including sort, assembly, and final test. In addition, we will also describe how to select, build, and test the packages with the die and other components to ensure the quality of the package and total assembly performance. We will also discuss the role of Process Control Systems in semiconductor manufacturing as they relate to quality testing. Specifically, we will explore how Process Control...

7. Aerospace Engineering: Aircraft Fundamentals and Advanced

udemy
4.6
(2,504)

Aerospace and Aeronautical Engineering: Master the Mechanics of Airplanes - Aerodynamics, Flight Maneuvers, JET Engines...

8. Introduction to SOLIDWORKS

udemy
4.6
(1,147)

Learn the fundamentals of SOLIDWORKS engineering and design software including parts, drawings, and assemblies...

9. Autodesk CAD/CAM/CAE for Mechanical Engineering

coursera

The demand placed on today’s engineers goes above and beyond the job description. Products have become complex and engineers are more frequently asked to leave specialized roles and to take on a wide variety of tasks that are beyond their traditional responsibilities. These tasks are centered on form, fit, and function. Engineers need to factor in broader concerns such as cost, procurement, sustainability, manufacturability, and serviceability. Their role has moved away from an individual...

10. Autodesk CAD/CAM for Manufacturing

coursera

Manufacturers are under more pressure than ever to deliver better products faster, at lower cost, and with less waste.\n\nThe “throw-it-over-the-wall” approach to product development worked well enough in the past. But to compete in the future, you’ll need to connect and automate design and manufacturing processes.\n\nComputers can handle complex tasks that are time consuming or in some cases impossible for the human mind. This is the case when we use digital data to create complex tool motions...

11. Aerospace Engineering: Airplanes, Airlines and Airports

udemy
4.5
(780)

Understand how Airplanes generate Lift, how Airlines and Airports operate and what is Aerospace Engineering today...

12. Aerospace Engineering: Aircraft Systems and Avionics

udemy
4.6
(960)

Aerospace and Aeronautical Engineering: Master the Systems of Airplanes - Hydraulics, Avionics, Electric, Propulsion...

13. Understanding Engineering Drawings

udemy
4.2
(384)

How Technical Information is Conveyed from Engineers and Designers to Manufacturing and Supply Chain Professionals...

14. Automotive product design using CATIA V5

udemy
4.4
(624)

Automotive domain design using CATIA, interior and exterior trims on CATIA, Plastic product design in Automotive sector...

15. Fundamentals of Manufacturing for an ERP like SAP

udemy
4.5
(464)

Manufacturing Fundamentals...

16. Product Development & Systems Engineering

udemy
4.6
(3,086)

The complete Product Development & Systems Engineering course! Earn 25 contact hours AND prepare to take the INCOSE Exam...

17. Mechanical design and Product development process

udemy
4.2
(604)

Learn the basic ideas and concepts behind developing mechanical products related to mechanical engineering...

18. Learning SOLIDWORKS: For Students, Engineers, and Designers

udemy
4.4
(2,712)

For Basic and Intermediate Users...

19. The Production Part Approval Process (PPAP)

udemy
4.5
(1,218)

The 18-step process for ensuring new parts are consistently manufactured and meet their customers' quality expectations...

20. QuickBooks For Contractors

udemy
4.1
(277)

Everything That Any Type Of Contractor Would Need When Using Quick Books...

Top 10 most affordable universities for contractor, manufacturing engineers

The most affordable schools for contractor, manufacturing engineers are United States Merchant Marine Academy, university of florida, and california state university - long beach.

If the best universities for contractor, manufacturing engineers 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 contractor, manufacturing engineers.

1. United States Merchant Marine Academy

Kings Point, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$1,080

Cost of attendance

6,646

2. University of Florida

Gainesville, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,381

Cost of attendance

21,034

3. California State University - Long Beach

Long Beach, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,798

Cost of attendance

18,306

4. SUNY Farmingdale

Farmingdale, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$8,306

Cost of attendance

16,091

5. California State University - Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,749

Cost of attendance

14,823

6. University of Puerto Rico - Mayaguez

Mayaguez, PR • Private

In-state tuition

$4,094

Cost of attendance

14,302

7. Florida International University

Miami, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,556

Cost of attendance

19,434

8. California State University - Bakersfield

Bakersfield, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$7,309

Cost of attendance

16,714

9. New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology

Socorro, NM • Private

In-state tuition

$7,770

Cost of attendance

21,244

10. University of South Florida

Tampa, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,410

Cost of attendance

20,456

Top 10 hardest universities to get into for contractor, manufacturing engineers

The hardest universities for contractor, manufacturing engineers to get into are Northwestern University, Johns Hopkins University, and Stanford University.

Some great schools for contractor, manufacturing engineers 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 contractor, manufacturing engineers 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. Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore, MD • Private

Admissions rate

11%

SAT average

1,513

3. Stanford University

Stanford, CA • Private

Admissions rate

4%

SAT average

1,497

4. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

Admissions rate

8%

SAT average

1,492

5. Cornell University

Ithaca, NY • Private

Admissions rate

11%

SAT average

1,471

6. Carnegie Mellon University

Pittsburgh, PA • Private

Admissions rate

17%

SAT average

1,507

7. Columbia University in the City of New York

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

6%

SAT average

1,512

8. University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA • Private

Admissions rate

13%

SAT average

1,445

9. Georgia Institute of Technology

Atlanta, GA • Private

Admissions rate

22%

SAT average

1,465

10. Washington University in St Louis

Saint Louis, MO • Private

Admissions rate

15%

SAT average

1,506

Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for contractor, manufacturing engineers

The easiest schools for contractor, manufacturing engineers to get into are Oklahoma Wesleyan University, texas a&m; university - kingsville, and notre dame de namur university.

Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a contractor, manufacturing engineer 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 contractor, manufacturing engineers.

1. Oklahoma Wesleyan University

Bartlesville, OK • Private

Admissions rate

68%

SAT average

964

2. Texas A&M University - Kingsville

Kingsville, TX • Private

Admissions rate

89%

SAT average

1,035

3. Notre Dame de Namur University

Belmont, CA • Private

Admissions rate

82%

SAT average

983

4. The University of Texas Permian Basin

Odessa, TX • Private

Admissions rate

91%

SAT average

1,046

5. Saint Martin's University

Lacey, WA • Private

Admissions rate

96%

SAT average

1,111

6. University of the Incarnate Word

San Antonio, TX • Private

Admissions rate

88%

SAT average

1,044

7. The University of Texas at El Paso

El Paso, TX • Private

Admissions rate

100%

SAT average

1,035

8. Holy Names University

Oakland, CA • Private

Admissions rate

70%

SAT average

849

9. Notre Dame College

Cleveland, OH • Private

Admissions rate

90%

SAT average

994

10. Oregon Institute of Technology

Klamath Falls, OR • Private

Admissions rate

96%

SAT average

1,139

Average contractor, manufacturing engineer salary by education level

Contractor, manufacturing engineers with a Master's degree earn more than those without, at $98,997 annually. With a Bachelor's degree, contractor, manufacturing engineers earn a median annual income of $90,516 compared to $79,159 for contractor, manufacturing engineers with an Associate degree.
Contractor, manufacturing engineer education levelContractor, manufacturing engineer salary
Master's Degree$98,997
Bachelor's Degree$90,516
Some College/ Associate Degree$79,159

Contractor, manufacturing engineer education FAQs

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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.

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