Embedded software developer education requirements

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

There are several educational requirements to become an embedded software developer. Embedded software developers usually study electrical engineering, computer science, or computer engineering. 66% of embedded software developers hold a bachelor's degree, and 29% hold an master's degree. We analyzed 396 real embedded software developer resumes to see exactly what embedded software developer education sections show.

The most common colleges for embedded software developers are the The University of Texas at Arlington and the The University of Texas at Arlington.

There are also many online embedded software developer courses to help get the education required to be an embedded software developer.

What education do you need to become an embedded software developer?

What degree do you need to be an embedded software developer?

The most common degree for embedded software developers is bachelor's degree, with 66% of embedded software developers earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are master's degree degree at 29% and master's degree degree at 2%.

Bachelor's, 66%

Master's, 29%

Diploma, 2%

Associate, 2%

Other Degrees, 1%

What should I major in to become an embedded software developer?

You should major in electrical engineering to become an embedded software developer. 46% of embedded software developers major in electrical engineering. Other common majors for an embedded software developer include computer science and computer engineering.

Electrical Engineering, 46%

Computer Science, 16%

Computer Engineering, 15%

Electrical Engineering Technology, 8%

Other Majors, 15%

Most common colleges for embedded software developers

Embedded software developers often get their degrees at The University of Texas at Arlington, Illinois Institute of Technology, and Bradley University. Here are the most common colleges for embedded software developers in the US based on their resumes.

Embedded software developer common college	Percentages
The University of Texas at Arlington	11.32%
Illinois Institute of Technology	7.55%
Bradley University	7.55%
University of California - Davis	5.66%
University of Washington	5.66%

Show more common embedded software developer colleges

Best majors for embedded software developers

Rank	Major	Percentages
1	Electrical Engineering	45.6%
2	Computer Science	16.1%
3	Computer Engineering	14.6%
4	Electrical Engineering Technology	7.7%
5	Engineering	3.3%

Show more common embedded software developer majors

Best colleges for embedded software developers

The best colleges for embedded software developers are Northwestern University, Vanderbilt University, and Harvard University.

An embedded software developer with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for embedded software developers. 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 embedded software developers.

1. Harvard University

Cambridge, MA • Private

In-state tuition

$50,420

Enrollment

7,582

2. Duke University

Durham, NC • Private

In-state tuition

$55,695

Enrollment

6,596

3. California State University - Long Beach

Long Beach, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,798

Enrollment

31,503

4. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

In-state tuition

$55,584

Enrollment

10,764

5. Georgia Institute of Technology

Atlanta, GA • Private

In-state tuition

$12,424

Enrollment

15,201

6. Purdue University

West Lafayette, IN • Private

In-state tuition

$9,992

Enrollment

33,495

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. California State Polytechnic University, Pomona

Pomona, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$7,353

Enrollment

24,841

10. University of California - Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$13,226

Enrollment

31,568

20 best online courses for embedded software developers

Advertising disclosure

1. Introduction to Embedded Systems Software and Development Environments

Welcome to the Introduction to Embedded Systems Software and Development Environments. This course is focused on giving you real world coding experience and hands on project work with ARM based Microcontrollers. You will learn how to implement software configuration management and develop embedded software applications. Course assignments include creating a build system using the GNU Toolchain GCC, using Git version control, and developing software in Linux on a Virtual Machine. The course...

2. Advanced Embedded Linux Development

This courses in this specialization can also be taken for academic credit as ECEA 5305 - 5307, part of CU Boulder’s Master of Science in Electrical Engineering.\n\nThis specialization provides students with the fundamentals of embedded operating systems including a working understanding of how to configure and deploy a Linux based Embedded System. Students will gain expertise in software tools and development methods which can be used to create applications and build custom Linux based Embedded...

3. Unit Testing & Other Embedded Software Catalysts

(545)

Dr. Surly's School for Mad Scientists: Introduction to Test Driven Development for Embedded & System Software in C...

4. Mastering STM32CubeMX 5 and CubeIDE - Embedded Systems

4.3

(293)

Code Drivers and Firmware : PWM, USB,TIMER, SPI, ADC, UART, DMA,Free RTOS,Embedded-C, Assembly etc...

5. Embedded Systems Object-Oriented Programming in C

4.3

(326)

End-to-End Firmware and Driver Development: UART,GPIO,TIMER, etc. From Datasheet to Embedded C and C++...

6. Introduction to Real-Time Operating System (RTOS)

(620)

Learn how to realize dynamic embedded software design using RTOS in an industrial/practical way...

7. Beginning Test Driven Development in C++

4.1

(1,025)

Learning the discipline of Test Driven Development (also known as TDD) Using the C++ Programming Language...

8. Embedded Systems with 8051 Micro Controller using Embedded C

4.3

(290)

Deep Dive into embedded systems with in-depth understanding of 8051 micro controller with embedded C programming...

9. Embedded Linux Step by Step Using Beaglebone Black

4.6

(2,901)

Learn ARM Linux systems, Embedded Linux building blocks ,Busybox, Beaglebone interfacing Projects and much more...

10. Qt 5 C++ GUI Development For Beginners: The Fundamentals

4.6

(1,898)

Build Cross Platform C++ GUI Applications with Qt, Run them on Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, i OS and Embedded Devices...

11. Basics of Embedded C Programming for Beginners

4.2

(347)

Learn basics of Embedded C programming...

12. 8051 Microcontroller - Embedded C and Assembly Language

4.1

(572)

Hands-on Approach 25+ code examples KEIL IDE Proteus Flash Magic 2 Projects Sensor and display interfacings...

13. Software Development From A to Z - Beginner's Complete Guide

4.6

(2,482)

Get Started with Software Development: Learn SDLC, OOP, UML, Agile, SCRUM, Programming Basics with Python, web dev, .....

14. Automated Software Testing with Python

4.5

(4,948)

Learn about automated software testing with Python, BDD, Selenium Web Driver, and Postman, focusing on web applications...

15. Qt 5 C++ GUI Development - Intermediate

4.4

(434)

Learn Intermediate Qt C++ GUI : Events, Painting, Model View Architecture, Graphics View Framework, Deployment and more...

16. BDD in C# - using Specflow (Cucumber) to develop a REST API and automate software testing

(522)

Learn how to develop software in Behaviour Driven Development (BDD) using Specflow - part of the Cucumber software family of tools for software testing automation...

17. Software Architecture: Meta and SOLID Principles in C#

4.2

(1,256)

Learn how to develop maintainable software systems applying Design Patterns based on Meta and SOLID Principles...

18. Improving software development productivity

4.3

(299)

Improving software development productivity. Practical techniques...

19. SDLC (2023) - Software Development Life Cycle SDLC

4.4

(2,875)

Learn Software development life cycle/ Process and methodologies of developing software's with real life project...

20. Software Development Lifecycle & Methodologies

4.7

(261)

Learn how software development works straight from the source: a CTO of a fast-growing startup...

Top 10 most affordable universities for embedded software developers

The most affordable schools for embedded software developers are California State University - Long Beach, california state university - bakersfield, and brigham young university.

If the best universities for embedded software developers 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 embedded software developers.

1. California State University - Long Beach

Long Beach, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,798

Cost of attendance

18,306

2. California State University - Bakersfield

Bakersfield, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$7,309

Cost of attendance

16,714

3. Brigham Young University

Provo, UT • Private

In-state tuition

$5,620

Cost of attendance

18,136

4. University of Puerto Rico - Mayaguez

Mayaguez, PR • Private

In-state tuition

$4,094

Cost of attendance

14,302

5. California State University - Fullerton

Fullerton, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,886

Cost of attendance

17,645

6. University of Florida

Gainesville, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,381

Cost of attendance

21,034

7. California State Polytechnic University, Pomona

Pomona, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$7,353

Cost of attendance

21,302

8. 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

9. University of South Florida

Tampa, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,410

Cost of attendance

20,456

10. California State University - Fresno

Fresno, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,587

Cost of attendance

16,915

Top 10 hardest universities to get into for embedded software developers

The hardest universities for embedded software developers to get into are Northwestern University, Vanderbilt University, and Harvard University.

Some great schools for embedded software developers 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 embedded software developers 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

SAT average

1,508

2. Vanderbilt University

Nashville, TN • Private

Admissions rate

10%

SAT average

1,514

3. Harvard University

Cambridge, MA • Private

Admissions rate

SAT average

1,520

4. Duke University

Durham, NC • Private

Admissions rate

SAT average

1,516

5. Carnegie Mellon University

Pittsburgh, PA • Private

Admissions rate

17%

SAT average

1,507

6. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

Admissions rate

SAT average

1,492

7. Washington University in St Louis

Saint Louis, MO • Private

Admissions rate

15%

SAT average

1,506

8. Columbia University in the City of New York

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

SAT average

1,512

9. Tufts University

Medford, MA • Private

Admissions rate

15%

SAT average

1,461

10. Northeastern University

Boston, MA • Private

Admissions rate

19%

SAT average

1,466

Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for embedded software developers

The easiest schools for embedded software developers to get into are Capitol Technology University, oregon institute of technology, and san francisco state university.

Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as an embedded software developer 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 embedded software developers.

1. Capitol Technology University

Laurel, MD • Private

Admissions rate

69%

SAT average

1,070

2. Oregon Institute of Technology

Klamath Falls, OR • Private

Admissions rate

96%

SAT average

1,139

3. San Francisco State University

San Francisco, CA • Private

Admissions rate

72%

SAT average

1,054

4. Saint Cloud State University

Saint Cloud, MN • Private

Admissions rate

86%

SAT average

1,086

5. Linfield College

McMinnville, OR • Private

Admissions rate

81%

SAT average

1,117

6. The University of Texas at El Paso

El Paso, TX • Private

Admissions rate

100%

SAT average

1,035

7. Portland State University

Portland, OR • Private

Admissions rate

90%

SAT average

1,111

8. Cleveland State University

Cleveland, OH • Private

Admissions rate

88%

SAT average

1,111

9. Suffolk University

Boston, MA • Private

Admissions rate

85%

SAT average

1,131

10. Purdue University Fort Wayne

Fort Wayne, IN • Private

Admissions rate

97%

SAT average

1,080

Average embedded software developer salary by education level

According to our data, embedded software developers with a Doctorate degree earn the highest average salary, at $101,492 annually. Embedded software developers with a Master's degree earn an average annual salary of $94,919.

Embedded software developer education level	Embedded software developer salary
Master's Degree	$94,919
Bachelor's Degree	$87,932
Doctorate Degree	$101,492

Embedded software developer education FAQs

What is the best college for Embedded Software Developers?

Have more questions? See all answers to common computer and mathematical questions.

Search for embedded software developer jobs

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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