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Cost estimator education requirements
Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
There are several educational requirements to become a cost estimator. Cost estimators usually study business, civil engineering, or accounting. 67% of cost estimators hold a bachelor's degree, and 17% hold an associate degree. We analyzed 2,493 real cost estimator resumes to see exactly what cost estimator education sections show.
The most common colleges for cost estimators are the Michigan State University and the Michigan State University.
There are also many online cost estimator courses to help get the education required to be a cost estimator.
There are certain cost estimator certifications that you should consider. These cost estimator certifications include Certified Construction Manager (CCM) and Engineer In Training Certification (EIT).
What education do you need to become a cost estimator?
What degree do you need to be a cost estimator?
- Bachelor's, 67%
- Associate, 17%
- Master's, 10%
- High School Diploma, 3%
- Other Degrees, 3%
What should I major in to become a cost estimator?
- Business, 26%
- Civil Engineering, 11%
- Accounting, 7%
- Other Majors, 50%
Most common colleges for cost estimators
| Cost estimator common college | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Michigan State University | 9.42% |
| University of Phoenix | 7.33% |
| Texas A&M University | 7.33% |
| University of Maryland - College Park | 6.28% |
| University of Houston | 6.28% |
Best majors for cost estimators
| Rank | Major | Percentages |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Business | 25.5% |
| 2 | Civil Engineering | 11.0% |
| 3 | Accounting | 7.4% |
| 4 | Mechanical Engineering | 6.3% |
| 5 | Finance | 6.2% |
Best colleges for cost estimators
The best colleges for cost estimators are Northwestern University, University of Pennsylvania, and Stanford University.
A cost estimator with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for cost estimators. 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 cost estimators.
1. California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo
San Luis Obispo, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$9,816
Enrollment
21,047
2. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
In-state tuition
$54,568
Enrollment
8,451
3. New York University
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$51,828
Enrollment
26,339
4. University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$56,225
Enrollment
19,548
5. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
In-state tuition
$55,584
Enrollment
10,764
6. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, MI • Private
In-state tuition
$15,262
Enrollment
30,079
7. Stanford University
Stanford, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$51,354
Enrollment
7,083
8. Pennsylvania State University
University Park, PA • Private
In-state tuition
$18,454
Enrollment
40,108
9. Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Worcester, MA • Private
In-state tuition
$50,530
Enrollment
4,571
10. Lehigh University
Bethlehem, PA • Private
In-state tuition
$52,930
Enrollment
5,030
20 best online courses for cost estimators
Advertising disclosure
1. Basics of Cost Accounting: Product Costing
The core of the first course is to learn how companies record total costs and calculate unit costs for their individual products or services. For example, how can a car manufacturer figure out the costs of an individual car series? During the first weeks, participants learn what costs are and how to distinguish them from expenses or cash flows. Participants will understand how companies record total costs and distinguish important cost types such as material costs, personnel costs, or...
2. Cost Accounting
View the Specialization trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XE5Rx91bdYw\n\nMany corporate decisions need cost accounting information. When you know the costs of your products, you will make better pricing decisions and you can better choose which products to offer. When you know the costs of your departments, you can better detect inefficiencies and you can better incentivize your employees.\n\nIn this Specialization, you will learn the fundamentals of cost accounting. Three courses cover...
3. Projects Cost Management, Estimating, Budgeting and Control.
Learn how to estimate costs for any project, how to determine budget and how to use Earned Value Management tools. 3 PDU...
4. Construction Cost Estimating and Management
Learn the tools used by construction management professionals to ensure their projects finish under budget...
5. Cost Accounting: Decision Making
In the third course, you will learn how to use information from cost accounting to improve managerial decision-making. We discuss business decisions and suggest how cost information can support them best. For example, how will costs change if managers adjust cost drivers? How many units do companies need to sell in order to avoid losses or to achieve a targeted profit? How can managers improve pricing or product programs with information from cost accounting?...
6. Cost Reduction: Cut Costs and Maximise Profits
Cost cutting & cost reduction for a profit focused business...
7. Learn Estimating & Cost Control
Develop a good practical understanding of best practice estimating and cost control on building & construction Projects...
8. Cost Accounting: Introduction to Management Accounting
Learn Cost Accounting for Management. Includes Process Costing, ABC Systems, Variance Analysis, Cash Budgets and more...
9. Project Management: Cost & Schedule Monitoring using EVM
Earned Value Management, Project Management, Cost Control & Monitor, Budget, Schedule & Cost Variance, Performance Index...
10. Quantity Surveying Building Estimation BBS with Excel & CAD
Quantity Surveying, Construction Estimation ,Quantity survey ,Cost Estimation ,Civil engineering, Building Estimation...
11. IT Project Budget & Cost Management
Project Management tips to manage a million dollar IT Project budget from start to finish...
12. Managerial (Cost) Accounting For Beginners
Management accounting for managers and students. Learn managerial and cost accounting. #1 accounting course online...
13. AWS Cost Management Tools (Cost Explorer) Crash Course
Learn everything about AWS Cost Explorer, Cloud Financial Management and Reserved Instance/Savings Plan...
14. Quantity Surveying Templates for Effective Cost Management
Quantity Surveying, Payment Application, Payment Tracker, Variation, Claim, Material Claim, Guarantees, Price Comparison...
15. Cost Accounting and Financial Management - A Complete Study
Learn theory and practical concepts in Cost Accounting and Financial Management with loads of video lectures...
16. Managerial and Cost Accounting: A Comprehensive Guide
Unlock Financial Insights, Make Informed Decisions: Optimize Business Performance, Maximize Profitability...
17. Cost Accounting - A Comprehensive Study for CA/CMA/CS /ACCA/
Learn basic to advanced concepts in Cost Accounting comprehensively...
18. Cost Reduction for Managers & Management Consultants
A practical guide on how to cut costs in business & private life. Learn how efficiently to conduct cost-cutting projects...
19. Cost of Quality Analysis and Reporting using Microsoft Excel
Expertly collect, analyze and present quality cost data (using Microsoft Excel) to help drive continual improvement...
20. Low Cost Business Models
How to create a no-frill low-cost business model and kill the competition...
Top 10 most affordable universities for cost estimators
The most affordable schools for cost estimators are University of Florida, suny farmingdale, and california state university - long beach.
If the best universities for cost estimators 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 cost estimators.
1. University of Florida
Gainesville, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,381
Cost of attendance
21,034
2. SUNY Farmingdale
Farmingdale, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$8,306
Cost of attendance
16,091
3. California State University - Long Beach
Long Beach, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,798
Cost of attendance
18,306
4. Florida International University
Miami, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,556
Cost of attendance
19,434
5. USF Sarasota-Manatee
Sarasota, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$5,587
Cost of attendance
13,043
6. Brigham Young University
Provo, UT • Private
In-state tuition
$5,620
Cost of attendance
18,136
7. University of South Florida
Tampa, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,410
Cost of attendance
20,456
8. University of Puerto Rico - Mayaguez
Mayaguez, PR • Private
In-state tuition
$4,094
Cost of attendance
14,302
9. New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology
Socorro, NM • Private
In-state tuition
$7,770
Cost of attendance
21,244
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 cost estimators
The hardest universities for cost estimators to get into are Northwestern University, University of Pennsylvania, and Stanford University.
Some great schools for cost estimators 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 cost estimators 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. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
Admissions rate
8%
SAT average
1,492
3. Stanford University
Stanford, CA • Private
Admissions rate
4%
SAT average
1,497
4. Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, MD • Private
Admissions rate
11%
SAT average
1,513
5. University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA • Private
Admissions rate
13%
SAT average
1,445
6. Washington University in St Louis
Saint Louis, MO • Private
Admissions rate
15%
SAT average
1,506
7. New York University
New York, NY • Private
Admissions rate
20%
SAT average
1,419
8. Lehigh University
Bethlehem, PA • Private
Admissions rate
22%
SAT average
1,380
9. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, MI • Private
Admissions rate
23%
SAT average
1,434
10. Boston University
Boston, MA • Private
Admissions rate
22%
SAT average
1,420
Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for cost estimators
The easiest schools for cost estimators to get into are Oklahoma Wesleyan University, pennsylvania state university - fayette (the eberly campus), and pennsylvania state university - worthington scranton.
Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a cost estimator 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 cost estimators.
1. Oklahoma Wesleyan University
Bartlesville, OK • Private
Admissions rate
68%
SAT average
964
2. Pennsylvania State University - Fayette (The Eberly Campus)
Lemont Furnace, PA • Private
Admissions rate
80%
SAT average
1,067
3. Pennsylvania State University - Worthington Scranton
Dunmore, PA • Private
Admissions rate
82%
SAT average
1,056
4. Holy Names University
Oakland, CA • Private
Admissions rate
70%
SAT average
849
5. Gwynedd Mercy University
Gwynedd Valley, PA • Private
Admissions rate
92%
SAT average
1,031
6. Mount Saint Mary's University
Los Angeles, CA • Private
Admissions rate
84%
SAT average
1,031
7. The University of Texas at El Paso
El Paso, TX • Private
Admissions rate
100%
SAT average
1,035
8. University of North Texas at Dallas
Dallas, TX • Private
Admissions rate
83%
SAT average
992
9. Life University
Marietta, GA • Private
Admissions rate
94%
SAT average
979
10. Oregon Institute of Technology
Klamath Falls, OR • Private
Admissions rate
96%
SAT average
1,139
Average cost estimator salary by education level
| Cost estimator education level | Cost estimator salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $81,313 |
| High School Diploma or Less | $68,205 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $75,253 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $70,266 |
Cost estimator education FAQs
Have more questions? See all answers to common business and financial questions.
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Updated January 8, 2025
Updated January 8, 2025