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Engineering group leader education requirements

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read

There are several educational requirements to become an engineering group leader. Engineering group leaders usually study mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, or business. 69% of engineering group leaders hold a bachelor's degree, and 16% hold an master's degree. We analyzed 1,427 real engineering group leader resumes to see exactly what engineering group leader education sections show.

The most common colleges for engineering group leaders are the Purdue University and the Purdue University.

There are also many online engineering group leader courses to help get the education required to be an engineering group leader.

There are certain engineering group leader certifications that you should consider. These engineering group leader certifications include Six Sigma Green Belt and Project Management Professional (PMP).

What education do you need to become an engineering group leader?

What degree do you need to be an engineering group leader?

The most common degree for engineering group leaders is bachelor's degree, with 69% of engineering group leaders earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are master's degree degree at 16% and master's degree degree at 10%.
  • Bachelor's, 69%
  • Master's, 16%
  • Associate, 10%
  • Doctorate, 2%
  • Other Degrees, 3%

What should I major in to become an engineering group leader?

You should major in mechanical engineering to become an engineering group leader. 21% of engineering group leaders major in mechanical engineering. Other common majors for an engineering group leader include electrical engineering and business.

Most common colleges for engineering group leaders

Engineering group leaders often get their degrees at Purdue University, Pennsylvania State University, and Northeastern University. Here are the most common colleges for engineering group leaders in the US based on their resumes.
Engineering group leader common collegePercentages
Purdue University8.76%
Pennsylvania State University6.70%
Northeastern University6.19%
Ohio State University6.19%
University of Illinois at Chicago5.67%

Best majors for engineering group leaders

Best colleges for engineering group leaders

The best colleges for engineering group leaders are Columbia University in the City of New York, Carnegie Mellon University, and Northwestern University.

An engineering group leader with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for engineering group leaders. 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 engineering group leaders.

1. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Ann Arbor, MI • Private

In-state tuition

$15,262

Enrollment

30,079

2. Georgia Institute of Technology

Atlanta, GA • Private

In-state tuition

$12,424

Enrollment

15,201

3. University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$56,225

Enrollment

19,548

4. Cornell University

Ithaca, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$55,188

Enrollment

15,105

5. Pennsylvania State University

University Park, PA • Private

In-state tuition

$18,454

Enrollment

40,108

6. University of Washington

Seattle, WA • Private

In-state tuition

$11,207

Enrollment

30,905

7. Columbia University in the City of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$59,430

Enrollment

8,216

8. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

In-state tuition

$54,568

Enrollment

8,451

9. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

In-state tuition

$55,584

Enrollment

10,764

10. California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo

San Luis Obispo, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$9,816

Enrollment

21,047

20 best online courses for engineering group leaders

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1. 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...

2. Software Engineering

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Software development is not just about coding, it also involves the application of scientific knowledge and well-defined engineering techniques to produce maintainable, scalable, cost-effective and on-schedule software products. This specialization covers software engineering methodologies, techniques, and tools for planning, capturing requirements, designing, implementing, testing, and maintaining large-scale software systems. It combines scientific and technological knowledge with many...

3. Product Development & Systems Engineering

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4.6
(3,086)

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

4. Improving software development productivity

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4.3
(299)

Improving software development productivity. Practical techniques...

5. Machine Learning Engineering for Production (MLOps)

coursera

Understanding machine learning and deep learning concepts is essential, but if you’re looking to build an effective AI career, you need production engineering capabilities as well.\n\nEffectively deploying machine learning models requires competencies more commonly found in technical fields such as software engineering and DevOps. Machine learning engineering for production combines the foundational concepts of machine learning with the functional expertise of modern software development and...

6. Interpersonal Communication for Engineering Leaders

coursera

This course covers communication skills that engineering leaders use every day to motivate, inspire, and support the people in their organizations. Speaking and writing are basic leadership communication skills. (We covered these topics in the Specialization course 1 and 3.) However, leaders also need to be skillful interpersonal communicators. Modern business requires communication skills that are effective across cultures, generations, and genders. Communication is also a key skill in...

7. Mechanical design and Product development process

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4.2
(604)

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

8. Technical Product Management: learn on 4 real industry cases

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4.3
(930)

Boost your technicality (as a PM) or tech product skills (as an engineer) to grow in your current role...

9. Leadership Development for Engineers

coursera

Engineers wanting to advance their careers must be able to lead teams effectively.\n\nThis Specialization is designed for professional engineers who are interested in advancing into leadership and management roles. You’ll develop awareness of your own strengths and weaknesses as a leader, and you’ll learn to leverage your strengths and control for your weaknesses when you’re placed in charge of a team or project. You’ll also learn to manage relationships with your team members and colleagues...

10. Requirements Engineering: Software Engineering

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4.4
(754)

Everything you need to know about software requirements: elicitation, analysis, documentation, validation and management...

11. Complete Field Instrumentation Engineering Course

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4.3
(259)

Flow, Level, Temperature and Pressure Instrument - Selection, Sizing, Calculation and Detail Engineering...

12. Software Engineering 101: Plan and Execute Better Software.

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4.6
(9,607)

Software Engineering 101: Use Software Engineering to Plan and Build Amazing Software + Learn SCRUM Framework!...

13. PLC Programming - Training from Scratch on RSLogix500 & 5000

udemy
4.5
(2,418)

PLC programming from scratch training class by a controls engineer equipped with PLC systems - Allen Bradley RSLogix 500...

14. Control Systems: From Mathematical Modelling to PID Control

udemy
4.2
(791)

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

15. Statistical Process Control (SPC) Using Microsoft Excel

udemy
4.6
(1,425)

A Deep Dive into Analyzing your Process Data to Drive Quality Improvements within your Organization...

16. Software Architecture & System Design Practical Case Studies

udemy
4.7
(250)

Design Real-life Large Scale Systems, Practice Modern Software Architecture & Prepare for a System Design Interview...

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

udemy
4
(502)

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

18. PLC & AC Drive with Automatic & Manual Industrial Control

udemy
4.2
(501)

this course will take newbies to a higher level to deal with complex PLC projects, Motor Drives ( VFD ) & Manual Control...

19. Process/Chemical Engineering - BOOTCAMP 2021

udemy
4.2
(448)

The only course with over 10 hours practical knowledge about main process equipment Design, Control and Safety...

20. Software architecture

udemy
4
(331)

Architecture is an important engineering step in the design and creation of software...

Top 10 most affordable universities for engineering group leaders

The most affordable schools for engineering group leaders are United States Merchant Marine Academy, university of florida, and california state university - long beach.

If the best universities for engineering group leaders 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 engineering group leaders.

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. California State University - Bakersfield

Bakersfield, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$7,309

Cost of attendance

16,714

5. 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

6. Florida International University

Miami, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,556

Cost of attendance

19,434

7. New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology

Socorro, NM • Private

In-state tuition

$7,770

Cost of attendance

21,244

8. University of South Florida

Tampa, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,410

Cost of attendance

20,456

9. California State University - Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,749

Cost of attendance

14,823

10. SUNY Farmingdale

Farmingdale, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$8,306

Cost of attendance

16,091

Top 10 hardest universities to get into for engineering group leaders

The hardest universities for engineering group leaders to get into are Columbia University in the City of New York, Carnegie Mellon University, and Northwestern University.

Some great schools for engineering group leaders 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 engineering group leaders 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. Columbia University in the City of New York

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

6%

SAT average

1,512

2. Carnegie Mellon University

Pittsburgh, PA • Private

Admissions rate

17%

SAT average

1,507

3. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

Admissions rate

8%

SAT average

1,508

4. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

Admissions rate

8%

SAT average

1,492

5. Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore, MD • Private

Admissions rate

11%

SAT average

1,513

6. Cornell University

Ithaca, NY • Private

Admissions rate

11%

SAT average

1,471

7. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Cambridge, MA • Private

Admissions rate

7%

SAT average

1,545

8. Stanford University

Stanford, CA • Private

Admissions rate

4%

SAT average

1,497

9. Washington University in St Louis

Saint Louis, MO • Private

Admissions rate

15%

SAT average

1,506

10. Harvard University

Cambridge, MA • Private

Admissions rate

5%

SAT average

1,520

Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for engineering group leaders

The easiest schools for engineering group leaders to get into are Texas A&M; University - Kingsville, the university of texas permian basin, and the university of texas at el paso.

Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as an engineering group leader 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 engineering group leaders.

1. Texas A&M University - Kingsville

Kingsville, TX • Private

Admissions rate

89%

SAT average

1,035

2. The University of Texas Permian Basin

Odessa, TX • Private

Admissions rate

91%

SAT average

1,046

3. The University of Texas at El Paso

El Paso, TX • Private

Admissions rate

100%

SAT average

1,035

4. Pennsylvania State University - Fayette (The Eberly Campus)

Lemont Furnace, PA • Private

Admissions rate

80%

SAT average

1,067

5. Oregon Institute of Technology

Klamath Falls, OR • Private

Admissions rate

96%

SAT average

1,139

6. Pennsylvania State University - DuBois

DuBois, PA • Private

Admissions rate

85%

SAT average

1,079

7. University of the Incarnate Word

San Antonio, TX • Private

Admissions rate

88%

SAT average

1,044

8. Capitol Technology University

Laurel, MD • Private

Admissions rate

69%

SAT average

1,070

9. Oklahoma Wesleyan University

Bartlesville, OK • Private

Admissions rate

68%

SAT average

964

10. Saint Martin's University

Lacey, WA • Private

Admissions rate

96%

SAT average

1,111

Average engineering group leader salary by education level

Engineering group leaders with a Doctorate degree earn more than those without, at $120,906 annually. With a Master's degree, engineering group leaders earn a median annual income of $111,799 compared to $104,155 for engineering group leaders with an Bachelor's degree.
Engineering group leader education levelEngineering group leader salary
Master's Degree$111,799
Bachelor's Degree$104,155
Doctorate Degree$120,906

Engineering group leader 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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