Functional test engineer education requirements

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

There are several educational requirements to become a functional test engineer. Functional test engineers usually study electrical engineering, computer science, or mechanical engineering. 71% of functional test engineers hold a bachelor's degree, and 14% hold an master's degree. We analyzed 282 real functional test engineer resumes to see exactly what functional test engineer education sections show.

The most common colleges for functional test engineers are the University of Texas at Austin and the University of Texas at Austin.

There are also many online functional test engineer courses to help get the education required to be a functional test engineer.

What education do you need to become a functional test engineer?

What degree do you need to be a functional test engineer?

The most common degree for functional test engineers is bachelor's degree, with 71% of functional test engineers earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are master's degree degree at 14% and master's degree degree at 11%.

Bachelor's, 71%

Master's, 14%

Associate, 11%

Doctorate, 2%

Other Degrees, 2%

What should I major in to become a functional test engineer?

You should major in electrical engineering to become a functional test engineer. 35% of functional test engineers major in electrical engineering. Other common majors for a functional test engineer include computer science and mechanical engineering.

Electrical Engineering, 35%

Computer Science, 17%

Mechanical Engineering, 7%

Computer Engineering, 6%

Other Majors, 35%

Most common colleges for functional test engineers

Functional test engineers often get their degrees at University of Texas at Austin, Purdue University, and University of South Florida. Here are the most common colleges for functional test engineers in the US based on their resumes.

Functional test engineer common college	Percentages
University of Texas at Austin	13.79%
Purdue University	6.90%
University of South Florida	6.90%
Pennsylvania State University	6.90%
Texas A&M University	6.90%

Show more common functional test engineer colleges

Best majors for functional test engineers

Rank	Major	Percentages
1	Electrical Engineering	34.8%
2	Computer Science	16.6%
3	Mechanical Engineering	7.2%
4	Computer Engineering	5.5%
5	Business	5.0%

Show more common functional test engineer majors

Best colleges for functional test engineers

The best colleges for functional test engineers are Northwestern University, California Institute of Technology, and Columbia University in the City of New York.

A functional test 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 functional test 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 functional test engineers.

1. Georgia Institute of Technology

Atlanta, GA • Private

In-state tuition

$12,424

Enrollment

15,201

2. Cornell University

Ithaca, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$55,188

Enrollment

15,105

3. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Cambridge, MA • Private

In-state tuition

$51,832

Enrollment

4,550

4. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

In-state tuition

$54,568

Enrollment

8,451

5. Columbia University in the City of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$59,430

Enrollment

8,216

6. Stanford University

Stanford, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$51,354

Enrollment

7,083

7. Carnegie Mellon University

Pittsburgh, PA • Private

In-state tuition

$55,465

Enrollment

6,483

8. Harvard University

Cambridge, MA • Private

In-state tuition

$50,420

Enrollment

7,582

9. Duke University

Durham, NC • Private

In-state tuition

$55,695

Enrollment

6,596

10. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

In-state tuition

$55,584

Enrollment

10,764

20 best online courses for functional test engineers

Advertising disclosure

1. Software Engineering Immersive (Full-time)

Meet the global demand for technical problem-solvers by developing your coding skills to create full-stack web applications across multiple frameworks, incorporating functionality from third-party APIs, executing software engineering projects in an Agile development workflow, and more...

2. Intro to Coding

Discover if coding is a career fit for you In this free, two-hour livestream, explore the building blocks of the web — HTML and CSS — and learn how you can apply these programming languages to develop your own simple sites. All in real time, taught by an industry professional. Come learn the basics and gain the skills you need to write your first line of code!...

3. Full Stack Web Developer

Design and develop modern web applications.Students will also learn how to deploy a Flask-based web application to the cloud using Docker and Kubernetes...

4. Agile Software Development

Learn best practices for using the Agile methodology to build better products faster and more efficiently...

5. Advanced Automation Testing with Quick Test Pro (QTP) or UFT

4.8

(604)

Become an expert automation tester through this award winning HP Quick Test Professional (QTP)/ UFT course...

6. Software Testing,QA Testing, Manual Testing,SDLC,Test Plan

4.2

(1,574)

Become an expert QA Tester by mastering software testing, manual testing, SDLC, test plan and test case concepts....

7. Full Stack JavaScript Developer

Meet the growing demand for full stack developers and learn to build rich web experiences using a modern architecture and technology stack...

8. Cloud Developer using Microsoft Azure

The Developer for Microsoft Azure Nanodegree program teaches students how to deploy, build, migrate, and monitor applications on Azure, thereby preparing learners for success on Microsoft’s AZ-204 Azure Developer Associate Expert certification...

9. Software testing and Automation of APIs with UFT/QTP

4.3

(615)

Automated API Testing is quickly becoming more desired than GUI Automation. Learn the secrets from real QA Engineers...

10. Best Software QA Testing Training H2K Infosys Live Classes

4.3

(391)

QA Software Testing Training Course live classes only, Live Project, ALM, SQL, UNIX, Resume prep,Interview questions...

11. Intermediate Python

Gain practitioner-level skills with Python and learn the language powering transformation in Data Science, Machine Learning, and beyond...

12. Quality Assurance Mastery - Manual Software Testing

4.5

(1,322)

Become Quality Assurance Engineer as a Complete Beginner. QA Masterclass for Junior QA Engineers...

13. QA manual testing from the beginning

(299)

This course will give you the complete overview on QA manual testing...

14. Complete Manual Software Testing + Web Testing + App Testing

4.4

(330)

Learn Basic to Advance Software Testing and Become a Software Testing Pro...

15. Unit, integration and functional Testing in Golang (Go)

4.5

(474)

Everything you'll need to completely test your Go applications...

16. Introduction to QA Software Testing Professionalism

4.2

(1,196)

Learn QA SW Testing concept and decide if Quality Assurance Testing career is for you...

17. Practical - ISTQB - Test Automation Engineer Course 2023

4.1

(261)

Learn the concepts, methods and tools to pass the ISTQB - Advanced Level - Test Automation Engineer Certification Exam...

18. Software Testing:Effective Test Case Writing & Formatting

4.4

(609)

Must for all Manual Testers Standard Test Case Format Manual Testing Concepts Test Case Designing Techniques...

19. Job oriented - Practical Software QA Testing

4.3

(951)

Your foundation to work as QA in IT! High paying QA Tester jobs. Manual Software Testing. Best instructor in U.S...

20. Software Testing: Learn Manual/QA Testing + ISTQB CTFL Help

4.4

(858)

Software Testing Course for learning Test Fundamentals,QA Manual Testing, STLC, Automation Basics & ISTQB CTFL Help...

Top 10 most affordable universities for functional test engineers

The most affordable schools for functional test engineers are California State University - Long Beach, brigham young university, and california state university - los angeles.

If the best universities for functional test 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 functional test engineers.

1. California State University - Long Beach

Long Beach, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,798

Cost of attendance

18,306

2. Brigham Young University

Provo, UT • Private

In-state tuition

$5,620

Cost of attendance

18,136

3. California State University - Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,749

Cost of attendance

14,823

4. New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology

Socorro, NM • Private

In-state tuition

$7,770

Cost of attendance

21,244

5. University of Puerto Rico - Mayaguez

Mayaguez, PR • Private

In-state tuition

$4,094

Cost of attendance

14,302

6. University of Florida

Gainesville, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,381

Cost of attendance

21,034

7. California State University - Fullerton

Fullerton, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,886

Cost of attendance

17,645

8. California State University - Bakersfield

Bakersfield, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$7,309

Cost of attendance

16,714

9. California State Polytechnic University, Pomona

Pomona, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$7,353

Cost of attendance

21,302

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 functional test engineers

The hardest universities for functional test engineers to get into are Northwestern University, California Institute of Technology, and Columbia University in the City of New York.

Some great schools for functional test 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 functional test 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

SAT average

1,508

2. California Institute of Technology

Pasadena, CA • Private

Admissions rate

SAT average

1,566

3. Columbia University in the City of New York

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

SAT average

1,512

4. Carnegie Mellon University

Pittsburgh, PA • Private

Admissions rate

17%

SAT average

1,507

5. Stanford University

Stanford, CA • Private

Admissions rate

SAT average

1,497

6. Cornell University

Ithaca, NY • Private

Admissions rate

11%

SAT average

1,471

7. Vanderbilt University

Nashville, TN • Private

Admissions rate

10%

SAT average

1,514

8. Harvard University

Cambridge, MA • Private

Admissions rate

SAT average

1,520

9. Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore, MD • Private

Admissions rate

11%

SAT average

1,513

10. Duke University

Durham, NC • Private

Admissions rate

SAT average

1,516

Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for functional test engineers

The easiest schools for functional test engineers to get into are Oregon Institute of Technology, san francisco state university, and texas a&m; university - kingsville.

Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a functional test 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 functional test engineers.

1. Oregon Institute of Technology

Klamath Falls, OR • Private

Admissions rate

96%

SAT average

1,139

2. San Francisco State University

San Francisco, CA • Private

Admissions rate

72%

SAT average

1,054

3. Texas A&M University - Kingsville

Kingsville, TX • Private

Admissions rate

89%

SAT average

1,035

4. Saint Martin's University

Lacey, WA • Private

Admissions rate

96%

SAT average

1,111

5. Saint Cloud State University

Saint Cloud, MN • Private

Admissions rate

86%

SAT average

1,086

6. Capitol Technology University

Laurel, MD • Private

Admissions rate

69%

SAT average

1,070

7. Cleveland State University

Cleveland, OH • Private

Admissions rate

88%

SAT average

1,111

8. Portland State University

Portland, OR • Private

Admissions rate

90%

SAT average

1,111

9. The University of Texas at El Paso

El Paso, TX • Private

Admissions rate

100%

SAT average

1,035

10. Purdue University Fort Wayne

Fort Wayne, IN • Private

Admissions rate

97%

SAT average

1,080

Average functional test engineer salary by education level

According to our data, functional test engineers with a Doctorate degree earn the highest average salary, at $87,052 annually. Functional test engineers with a Master's degree earn an average annual salary of $86,721.

Functional test engineer education level	Functional test engineer salary
Master's Degree	$86,721
Bachelor's Degree	$80,610
Doctorate Degree	$87,052
Some College/ Associate Degree	$71,545

Functional test engineer education FAQs

What is the best college for Functional Test Engineers?

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

Search for functional test engineer 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

Browse computer and mathematical jobs