Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
Geotechnical engineer education requirements
Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
There are several educational requirements to become a geotechnical engineer. Geotechnical engineers usually study civil engineering, geology, or geological engineering. 64% of geotechnical engineers hold a bachelor's degree, and 25% hold an master's degree. We analyzed 1,111 real geotechnical engineer resumes to see exactly what geotechnical engineer education sections show.
The most common colleges for geotechnical engineers are the Georgia Institute of Technology and the Georgia Institute of Technology.
There are also many online geotechnical engineer courses to help get the education required to be a geotechnical engineer.
There are certain geotechnical engineer certifications that you should consider. These geotechnical engineer certifications include Engineer In Training Certification (EIT) and Structural Engineer (SE).
What education do you need to become a geotechnical engineer?
What degree do you need to be a geotechnical engineer?
- Bachelor's, 64%
- Master's, 25%
- Doctorate, 5%
- Associate, 3%
- Other Degrees, 3%
What should I major in to become a geotechnical engineer?
- Civil Engineering, 68%
- Geology, 9%
- Engineering, 5%
- Other Majors, 13%
Most common colleges for geotechnical engineers
| Geotechnical engineer common college | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Georgia Institute of Technology | 7.75% |
| University of Iowa | 6.98% |
| Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University | 6.98% |
| Texas A&M University | 6.20% |
| South Dakota School of Mines and Technology | 6.20% |
Best majors for geotechnical engineers
| Rank | Major | Percentages |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Civil Engineering | 68.2% |
| 2 | Geology | 8.6% |
| 3 | Geological Engineering | 5.5% |
| 4 | Engineering | 4.9% |
| 5 | Mining Engineering | 3.0% |
Best colleges for geotechnical engineers
The best colleges for geotechnical engineers are Carnegie Mellon University, Johns Hopkins University, and Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
A geotechnical 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 geotechnical 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 geotechnical engineers.
1. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, MI • Private
In-state tuition
$15,262
Enrollment
30,079
2. Carnegie Mellon University
Pittsburgh, PA • Private
In-state tuition
$55,465
Enrollment
6,483
3. California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo
San Luis Obispo, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$9,816
Enrollment
21,047
4. Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Cambridge, MA • Private
In-state tuition
$51,832
Enrollment
4,550
5. New York University
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$51,828
Enrollment
26,339
6. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Blacksburg, VA • Private
In-state tuition
$13,620
Enrollment
27,730
7. Georgia Institute of Technology
Atlanta, GA • Private
In-state tuition
$12,424
Enrollment
15,201
8. Cornell University
Ithaca, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$55,188
Enrollment
15,105
9. Texas Tech University
Lubbock, TX • Private
In-state tuition
$9,080
Enrollment
30,795
10. Columbia University in the City of New York
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$59,430
Enrollment
8,216
20 best online courses for geotechnical engineers
Advertising disclosure
1. Engineering Project Management
Master strategies and tools to more effectively and successfully manage projects.\n\nToday’s professional environment is highly competitive, continuously changing, and difficult to manage. Employees rarely reach positions of leadership without managing one or more projects or a project segment early in their career.\n\nBrought to you by the Rice Center of Engineering Leadership and team behind the engineering management master's program, the goal of this Specialization is to give you the tools...
2. Construction Management
The Construction Management specialization is curated for professionals in the construction and civil engineering industry looking to advance their careers. Through this specialization, students will gain comprehensive industry knowledge along with the latest trends and development within the industry. This 5-course specialization will cover the major facets of construction management including project initiation and planning, scheduling techniques and procedures, cost estimating and control,...
3. Investigative Journalism
How to find hidden sources. How to look for documents and people...
4. Construction Methodology Basics in Civil Engineering
New Home Construction & Building construction along with Home Repair ,Estimation & Plumbing With Video Step By Step...
5. Data Engineering Foundations
Data engineering is one of the fastest-growing tech occupations, where the demand for skilled data engineers far outweighs the supply. The goal of data engineering is to make quality data available for fact-finding and data-driven decision making. This Specialization from IBM will help anyone interested in pursuing a career in data engineering by teaching fundamental skills to get started in this field. No prior data engineering experience is required to succeed in this Specialization.\n\nThe...
6. Managing Major Engineering Projects
Accelerate your career by improving your project management skills. This Specialization delivers a rigorous exploration of the best practices for planning and delivering these major engineering projects. You’ll learn about the measures of success, how to resolve challenges of governance and typical financing approaches of these projects.\n\nIf you are an engineer or a project manager and you aspire to get involved with major engineering projects, or you are already working on one, then this...
7. Diploma in Basics of Civil Engineering for Construction
Practical Course to Gain Quick Knowledge in Civil Engineering & Get Entry Level Jobs in Construction as Freshers...
8. Construction Procurement Management
A course on procurement designed for engineers new to the infrastructure/construction industry...
9. Construction Site Electrical System Design
Learn how to design a safe, flexible and durable electrical system for any construction site...
10. The Complete Guide to Construction Management
The Most Essential Course for EVERY Construction Project!...
11. Mastering Construction/Project Management
Mastering Construction-Project Management in less than 10 Hours...
12. Construction Project Scheduling
Learn the tools and techniques used by construction management professionals to ensure projects finish on time...
13. Construction Claims - Master Foundation Course
The perfect course for any construction professional looking to gain a firm understanding of construction claims...
14. Construction Cost Estimating and Management
Learn the tools used by construction management professionals to ensure their projects finish under budget...
15. New Home Construction - 2 of 8
From Architectural Plans To foundations...
16. Basics of Material selection for mechanical design engineers
Learn about the fundamentals of materials and their selection for mechanical engineering design for design engineers...
17. Construction Claims Management
This Master Course will provide you with a professional claims management system for all your construction projects...
18. Electrical Power Engineering Principles
Learn all the basic theories and principles of electrical engineering...
19. AML Case Investigation Skills
A guide to conducting AML case investigations, writing quality case narratives and the submission of STRs (STR filing)...
20. Unreal Engine: Intro to Game Design
Like Fortnite? Master the tools used to build it as we build a simple shooting gallery game using the Unreal Engine!...
Top 10 most affordable universities for geotechnical engineers
The most affordable schools for geotechnical engineers are University of Florida, florida state university, and florida atlantic university.
If the best universities for geotechnical 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 geotechnical engineers.
1. University of Florida
Gainesville, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,381
Cost of attendance
21,034
2. Florida State University
Tallahassee, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$5,656
Cost of attendance
21,623
3. Florida Atlantic University
Boca Raton, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$4,831
Cost of attendance
19,559
4. California State University - Sacramento
Sacramento, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$7,310
Cost of attendance
19,807
5. California State University - Northridge
Northridge, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,893
Cost of attendance
18,870
6. University of South Florida
Tampa, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,410
Cost of attendance
20,456
7. Purdue University
West Lafayette, IN • Private
In-state tuition
$9,992
Cost of attendance
22,430
8. California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
Pomona, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$7,353
Cost of attendance
21,302
9. Brigham Young University
Provo, UT • Private
In-state tuition
$5,620
Cost of attendance
18,136
10. 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
Top 10 hardest universities to get into for geotechnical engineers
The hardest universities for geotechnical engineers to get into are Carnegie Mellon University, Johns Hopkins University, and Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Some great schools for geotechnical 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 geotechnical 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. Carnegie Mellon University
Pittsburgh, PA • Private
Admissions rate
17%
SAT average
1,507
2. Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, MD • Private
Admissions rate
11%
SAT average
1,513
3. Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Cambridge, MA • Private
Admissions rate
7%
SAT average
1,545
4. Washington University in St Louis
Saint Louis, MO • Private
Admissions rate
15%
SAT average
1,506
5. Columbia University in the City of New York
New York, NY • Private
Admissions rate
6%
SAT average
1,512
6. New York University
New York, NY • Private
Admissions rate
20%
SAT average
1,419
7. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, MI • Private
Admissions rate
23%
SAT average
1,434
8. Stanford University
Stanford, CA • Private
Admissions rate
4%
SAT average
1,497
9. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
Admissions rate
8%
SAT average
1,508
10. Georgia Institute of Technology
Atlanta, GA • Private
Admissions rate
22%
SAT average
1,465
Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for geotechnical engineers
The easiest schools for geotechnical engineers to get into are Oregon Institute of Technology, washington state university, and alabama a & m university.
Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a geotechnical 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 geotechnical engineers.
1. Oregon Institute of Technology
Klamath Falls, OR • Private
Admissions rate
96%
SAT average
1,139
2. Washington State University
Pullman, WA • Private
Admissions rate
77%
SAT average
1,123
3. Alabama A & M University
Normal, AL • Private
Admissions rate
90%
SAT average
957
4. Portland State University
Portland, OR • Private
Admissions rate
90%
SAT average
1,111
5. Saint Martin's University
Lacey, WA • Private
Admissions rate
96%
SAT average
1,111
6. South Dakota State University
Brookings, SD • Private
Admissions rate
92%
SAT average
1,149
7. North Dakota State University
Fargo, ND • Private
Admissions rate
93%
SAT average
1,170
8. The University of Texas at El Paso
El Paso, TX • Private
Admissions rate
100%
SAT average
1,035
9. Lamar University
Beaumont, TX • Private
Admissions rate
84%
SAT average
1,043
10. The University of Texas at Arlington
Arlington, TX • Private
Admissions rate
80%
SAT average
1,157
Average geotechnical engineer salary by education level
| Geotechnical engineer education level | Geotechnical engineer salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $80,791 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $73,915 |
| Doctorate Degree | $80,294 |
Geotechnical engineer education FAQs
Have more questions? See all answers to common architecture and engineering questions.
Search for geotechnical engineer jobs
Updated January 8, 2025
Updated January 8, 2025