Control board operator education requirements

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

There are several educational requirements to become a control board operator. Control board operators usually study communication, electrical engineering, or business. 43% of control board operators hold a bachelor's degree, and 24% hold an associate degree. We analyzed 377 real control board operator resumes to see exactly what control board operator education sections show.

The most common colleges for control board operators are the University of Phoenix and the University of Phoenix.

There are also many online control board operator courses to help get the education required to be a control board operator.

What education do you need to become a control board operator?

What degree do you need to be a control board operator?

The most common degree for control board operators is bachelor's degree, with 43% of control board operators earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are associate degree degree at 24% and associate degree degree at 14%.

Bachelor's, 43%

Associate, 24%

High School Diploma, 14%

Master's, 11%

Other Degrees, 8%

What should I major in to become a control board operator?

You should major in communication to become a control board operator. 18% of control board operators major in communication. Other common majors for a control board operator include electrical engineering and business.

Communication, 18%

Electrical Engineering, 14%

Business, 13%

Criminal Justice, 6%

Other Majors, 49%

Most common colleges for control board operators

Control board operators often get their degrees at University of Phoenix, Colorado Technical University, and Austin Peay State University. Here are the most common colleges for control board operators in the US based on their resumes.

Control board operator common college	Percentages
University of Phoenix	11.43%
Colorado Technical University	8.57%
Austin Peay State University	5.71%
Skagit Valley College	5.71%
American Samoa Community College	5.71%

Show more common control board operator colleges

Best majors for control board operators

Rank	Major	Percentages
1	Communication	17.5%
2	Electrical Engineering	14.0%
3	Business	13.2%
4	Criminal Justice	6.1%
5	Journalism	5.3%

Show more common control board operator majors

Best colleges for control board operators

The best colleges for control board operators are Stanford University, Northwestern University, and Vanderbilt University.

A control board operator with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for control board operators. 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 control board operators.

1. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Cambridge, MA • Private

In-state tuition

$51,832

Enrollment

4,550

2. Stanford University

Stanford, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$51,354

Enrollment

7,083

3. Harvard University

Cambridge, MA • Private

In-state tuition

$50,420

Enrollment

7,582

4. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

In-state tuition

$55,584

Enrollment

10,764

5. Cornell University

Ithaca, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$55,188

Enrollment

15,105

6. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Ann Arbor, MI • Private

In-state tuition

$15,262

Enrollment

30,079

7. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

In-state tuition

$54,568

Enrollment

8,451

8. Columbia University in the City of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$59,430

Enrollment

8,216

9. Brown University

Providence, RI • Private

In-state tuition

$55,466

Enrollment

6,752

10. University of California, Berkeley

Berkeley, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$14,184

Enrollment

30,845

20 best online courses for control board operators

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1. Internal Controls - Design, Implementation and Monitoring

4.4

(1,188)

Become a compliance specialist, maintain strong internal controls for SOX or FCPA, prepare for internal & external audit...

2. PID Controllers - Intro to Control Design

4.2

(338)

Learn to write your own control software while learning fundamental control theory...

3. Applied Control Systems 3: UAV drone (3D Dynamics & control)

4.6

(292)

Modeling + state space systems + Model Predictive Control + feedback control + Python simulation: UAV quadcopter drone...

4. Control Systems: From Mathematical Modelling to PID Control

4.2

(791)

Learn the mathematics that will allow you to model and control any engineering system. Make machines do what you want!...

5. Inventory Management: Safety Stock Calculation and Control

4.6

(434)

Optimize your Supply Chain Safety Stock. Simple to Advanced Methods. Reduce Costs and Risk in your Business Operations...

6. Electrical Control & Protection Systems

4.6

(1,763)

This course introduces electrical control & protection systems which are a critical part of any electrical substation...

7. Bank Reconciliations & Cash Internal Controls

4.5

(645)

Mastering Internal Controls and Cash Management: Safeguarding Business Assets and Ensuring Financial Accuracy...

8. Control Systems Made Simple Beginner's Guide

4.4

(798)

Learn fundamentals of Mechanical & electrical system modeling, simulation and control with this unique practical course!...

9. Electrical Control & Protection Systems part 2

4.7

(718)

This course introduces electrical control & protection systems which are a critical part of any electrical substation...

10. Applied Control Systems 1: autonomous cars: Math + PID + MPC

4.6

(1,142)

Modeling + state space systems + PID + Model Predictive Control + Python simulation: lateral control for autonomous cars...

11. SAP Controlling

4.4

(293)

SAP Controlling...

12. Model, Simulate and Control a Drone in MATLAB & SIMULINK

4.3

(603)

Simulate a DJI Mavic Pro in Matlab & SIMULINK and design your own PID controllers for altitude and attitude control...

13. Advanced Process Control & Safety Instrumented Systems SIS

4.5

(783)

Learn how the main process equipment such as chemical reactors , pumps , compressors & heat exchangers are controlled...

14. Fundamentals of Electrical Controls

4.5

(1,915)

Learn the parts and wiring techniques used in a motor control installation, become a Controls Electrician...

15. Operations Management A-Z: Business Processes and Systems

4.6

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Operations Management: Supply Chain & Business Processes in Industry for Manufacturing and Services Organizations...

16. Supply Chain: Inventory Control & Safety Stock Calculation

4.5

(3,199)

Reduce Operational Cost by Optimizing in Inventory Levels...

17. IT Audit Fundamentals Introduction to Controls

4.5

(3,021)

Learn foundational principles of IT audits and controls...

18. Introduction to PLC's [Programmable Logic Controllers]-07-21

(502)

This course is a great introduction to Programmable Logic Controllers Theory, Principles, and Programming Applications...

19. SAP Finance and Controlling

(638)

Master SAP Finance and Controlling...

20. Manufacturing Operations - Planning, Management and Control

4.6

(942)

Cutting-Edge Production Management Methods That Will Help You Outperform the Competition...

Top 10 most affordable universities for control board operators

The most affordable schools for control board operators are SUNY Farmingdale, baruch college of the city university of new york, and brooklyn college of the city university of new york.

If the best universities for control board operators 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 control board operators.

1. SUNY Farmingdale

Farmingdale, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$8,306

Cost of attendance

16,091

2. Baruch College of the City University of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,262

Cost of attendance

14,046

3. Brooklyn College of the City University of New York

Brooklyn, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,240

Cost of attendance

13,991

4. Brigham Young University

Provo, UT • Private

In-state tuition

$5,620

Cost of attendance

18,136

5. Hunter College of the City University of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,182

Cost of attendance

13,998

6. Purdue University

West Lafayette, IN • Private

In-state tuition

$9,992

Cost of attendance

22,430

7. Minot State University

Minot, ND • Private

In-state tuition

$7,064

Cost of attendance

15,576

8. Clayton State University

Morrow, GA • Private

In-state tuition

$5,419

Cost of attendance

17,697

9. Florida International University

Miami, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,556

Cost of attendance

19,434

10. Queens College of the City University of New York

Queens, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,338

Cost of attendance

14,281

Top 10 hardest universities to get into for control board operators

The hardest universities for control board operators to get into are Stanford University, Northwestern University, and Vanderbilt University.

Some great schools for control board operators 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 control board operators 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

SAT average

1,497

2. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

Admissions rate

SAT average

1,508

3. Vanderbilt University

Nashville, TN • Private

Admissions rate

10%

SAT average

1,514

4. University of Tulsa

Tulsa, OK • Private

Admissions rate

41%

SAT average

1,321

5. Hamilton College

Clinton, NY • Private

Admissions rate

21%

SAT average

1,446

6. Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore, MD • Private

Admissions rate

11%

SAT average

1,513

7. Loyola Marymount University

Los Angeles, CA • Private

Admissions rate

47%

SAT average

1,321

8. Southern Methodist University

Dallas, TX • Private

Admissions rate

51%

SAT average

1,395

9. Clemson University

Clemson, SC • Private

Admissions rate

47%

SAT average

1,337

10. Boston College

Chestnut Hill, MA • Private

Admissions rate

28%

SAT average

1,429

Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for control board operators

The easiest schools for control board operators to get into are Notre Dame de Namur University, nyack college, and gwynedd mercy university.

Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a control board operator 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 control board operators.

1. Notre Dame de Namur University

Belmont, CA • Private

Admissions rate

82%

SAT average

983

2. Nyack College

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

98%

SAT average

999

3. Gwynedd Mercy University

Gwynedd Valley, PA • Private

Admissions rate

92%

SAT average

1,031

4. Curry College

Milton, MA • Private

Admissions rate

93%

SAT average

1,026

5. Wayland Baptist University

Plainview, TX • Private

Admissions rate

98%

SAT average

1,003

6. Saint Joseph's College of Maine

Standish, ME • Private

Admissions rate

84%

SAT average

1,069

7. Oklahoma Wesleyan University

Bartlesville, OK • Private

Admissions rate

68%

SAT average

964

8. Felician University

Lodi, NJ • Private

Admissions rate

81%

SAT average

999

9. Barry University

Miami, FL • Private

Admissions rate

91%

SAT average

1,006

10. La Roche College

Pittsburgh, PA • Private

Admissions rate

99%

SAT average

1,008

Average control board operator salary by education level

According to our data, control board operators with a Associate degree earn the highest average salary, at $54,935 annually. Control board operators with a High School Diploma degree earn an average annual salary of $52,389.

Control board operator education level	Control board operator salary
High School Diploma or Less	$52,389
Some College/ Associate Degree	$54,935

Control board operator education FAQs

What is the best college for Control Board Operators?

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Updated January 8, 2025

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.

Updated January 8, 2025

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