Infrastructure engineer education requirements

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

There are several educational requirements to become an infrastructure engineer. Infrastructure engineers usually study computer science, computer information systems, or electrical engineering. 64% of infrastructure engineers hold a bachelor's degree, and 17% hold an associate degree. We analyzed 1,851 real infrastructure engineer resumes to see exactly what infrastructure engineer education sections show.

The most common colleges for infrastructure engineers are the DeVry University and the DeVry University.

There are also many online infrastructure engineer courses to help get the education required to be an infrastructure engineer.

There are certain infrastructure engineer certifications that you should consider. These infrastructure engineer certifications include Red Hat Certified System Administrator (RHCSA) and VMware Certified Professional 5 - Data Center Virtualization (VCP5-DCV).

What education do you need to become an infrastructure engineer?

What degree do you need to be an infrastructure engineer?

The most common degree for infrastructure engineers is bachelor's degree, with 64% of infrastructure engineers earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are associate degree degree at 17% and associate degree degree at 12%.

Bachelor's, 64%

Associate, 17%

Master's, 12%

Diploma, 4%

Other Degrees, 3%

What should I major in to become an infrastructure engineer?

You should major in computer science to become an infrastructure engineer. 24% of infrastructure engineers major in computer science. Other common majors for an infrastructure engineer include computer information systems and electrical engineering.

Computer Science, 24%

Computer Information Systems, 12%

Electrical Engineering, 10%

Information Technology, 9%

Other Majors, 45%

Most common colleges for infrastructure engineers

Infrastructure engineers often get their degrees at DeVry University, University of Phoenix, and Strayer University. Here are the most common colleges for infrastructure engineers in the US based on their resumes.

Infrastructure engineer common college	Percentages
DeVry University	15.13%
University of Phoenix	10.53%
Strayer University	7.24%
Western Washington University	5.26%
University of Maryland - College Park	5.26%

Show more common infrastructure engineer colleges

Best majors for infrastructure engineers

Rank	Major	Percentages
1	Computer Science	23.5%
2	Computer Information Systems	11.6%
3	Electrical Engineering	10.3%
4	Information Technology	9.4%
5	Business	9.3%

Show more common infrastructure engineer majors

Best colleges for infrastructure engineers

The best colleges for infrastructure engineers are Stanford University, Northwestern University, and Vanderbilt University.

An infrastructure 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 infrastructure 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 infrastructure engineers.

1. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Cambridge, MA • Private

In-state tuition

$51,832

Enrollment

4,550

2. Stanford University

Stanford, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$51,354

Enrollment

7,083

3. Harvard University

Cambridge, MA • Private

In-state tuition

$50,420

Enrollment

7,582

4. Duke University

Durham, NC • Private

In-state tuition

$55,695

Enrollment

6,596

5. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

In-state tuition

$55,584

Enrollment

10,764

6. Georgia Institute of Technology

Atlanta, GA • Private

In-state tuition

$12,424

Enrollment

15,201

7. Cornell University

Ithaca, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$55,188

Enrollment

15,105

8. Georgetown University

Washington, DC • Private

In-state tuition

$54,104

Enrollment

7,089

9. Dartmouth College

Hanover, NH • Private

In-state tuition

$55,453

Enrollment

4,312

10. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

In-state tuition

$54,568

Enrollment

8,451

20 best online courses for infrastructure engineers

Advertising disclosure

1. Essential Google Cloud Infrastructure: Foundation

This accelerated on-demand course introduces participants to the comprehensive and flexible infrastructure and platform services provided by Google Cloud with a focus on Compute Engine. Through a combination of video lectures, demos, and hands-on labs, participants explore and deploy solution elements, including infrastructure components such as networks, virtual machines and applications services. You will learn how to use the Google Cloud through the console and Cloud Shell. You'll also learn...

2. SQL Server High Availability and Disaster Recovery (HA/DR)

4.6

(1,258)

Dive deep into how SQL Server works to implement an effective high availability and disaster recovery solution...

3. VMware vSphere 6.0 Part 5 - VM Backup and Replication

4.7

(298)

Learn to backup and recover VMs using VMware Data Protection and how to replicate VMs using v Sphere Replication...

4. Active Directory on Windows Server

4.6

(8,804)

Learn how to deploy and manage all aspects of Active Directory, Group Policy, DNS and many more technologies...

5. Veeam Backup & Replication Course Zero to Mastery

4.3

(926)

Take Backup & Restore from v Sphere & Hyper-V Replication & Disaster Recovery Secure Backup Data Upto V12...

6. Data Center Infrastructure Design - An Introduction

4.5

(292)

An overview of data center infrastructure design from a structured cabling system designer's perspective...

7. Active Directory Pentesting With Kali Linux - Red Team

4.4

(295)

Attacking and Hacking Active Directory With Kali Linux Full Course - Red Team Hacking Pentesting...

8. Citrix Application and Desktop Virtualization - 7.6

4.6

(2,958)

Master Deploying, managing and implementing App and Desktop Solutions for Citrix Xen App and Xen Desktop 7.6...

9. VMware vSphere 6.7 Optimize Upgrade Troubleshoot w. Ebook

4.7

(898)

34.5hrs of VMware v Sphere 6.7 lectures, lab demos to learn ESXi / v Center, for VCP / VCAP VMware Certification and more...

10. AZ-140 Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD)

4.4

(320)

Journey to Cloud Desktop...

11. Deploying Windows Virtual Desktop in Microsoft Azure

4.2

(374)

Delivering Remote Desktops and Apps in Azure with Windows Virtual Desktop and Azure AD Domain Services...

12. TOTAL: Active Directory with Windows Server 2016

4.6

(2,189)

Identity, Access, and Authentication with Microsoft AD and Identity with Windows Server 2016...

13. Setup a Virtual Web Server using Linode or Digital Ocean

4.8

(492)

Deploy, Configure, and Scale a Production Virtual Web Server on Linode or Digital Ocean. Install LAMP Stack + More...

14. Building Cloud Infrastructure with Terraform

4.5

(1,649)

Create and manage cloud infrastructure as code...

15. Build up on VMware vSphere & ESXi in Enterprise Environmmet

4.8

(456)

Learn to build your own cloud! Get familiar with Vmware ESXi, v Sphere, v Center, Open Filer, v Motion and High Availability...

16. An Introduction to Machine Learning for Data Engineers

4.4

(3,291)

A Prerequisite for Tensorflow on Google's Cloud Platform for Data Engineers...

17. Linux High Availability Clustering on Veritas Cluster Server

4.4

(358)

Veritas Cluster Server (VCS) on Linux Operating Systems. Create Disk Groups, Service Groups and Perform Failover Tests...

18. VEEAM Backup & Replication V12 course / LAB & VMCE questions

4.5

(551)

Learn Everything you Need About Veeam Backup & Replication Master The Technology and Protect Your Infrastructure...

19. Microsoft windows server 2016 industry lab MCSA fast track

4.7

(1,412)

Building your own network from scratch, study MCSA and get ready for your interview and next job, 2022 updates...

20. [Active Directory] Management using Windows PowerShell

4.5

(1,078)

[Power Shell] Simplified practical knowledge for automation & management of [Active Directory] using Windows Power Shell...

Top 10 most affordable universities for infrastructure engineers

The most affordable schools for infrastructure engineers are Brooklyn College of the City University of New York, brigham young university, and hunter college of the city university of new york.

If the best universities for infrastructure 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 infrastructure engineers.

1. Brooklyn College of the City University of New York

Brooklyn, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,240

Cost of attendance

13,991

2. Brigham Young University

Provo, UT • Private

In-state tuition

$5,620

Cost of attendance

18,136

3. Hunter College of the City University of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,182

Cost of attendance

13,998

4. Clayton State University

Morrow, GA • Private

In-state tuition

$5,419

Cost of attendance

17,697

5. Purdue University

West Lafayette, IN • Private

In-state tuition

$9,992

Cost of attendance

22,430

6. Queens College of the City University of New York

Queens, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,338

Cost of attendance

14,281

7. Brigham Young University - Hawaii

Laie, HI • Private

In-state tuition

$5,560

Cost of attendance

18,043

8. Inter American University of Puerto Rico Arecibo

Arecibo, PR • Private

In-state tuition

$5,872

Cost of attendance

13,476

9. Inter American University of Puerto Rico Ponce

Mercedita, PR • Private

In-state tuition

$5,914

Cost of attendance

13,564

10. Trident University International

Cypress, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$9,240

Cost of attendance

17,912

Top 10 hardest universities to get into for infrastructure engineers

The hardest universities for infrastructure engineers to get into are Stanford University, Northwestern University, and Vanderbilt University.

Some great schools for infrastructure 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 infrastructure 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. Stanford University

Stanford, CA • Private

Admissions rate

SAT average

1,497

2. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

Admissions rate

SAT average

1,508

3. Vanderbilt University

Nashville, TN • Private

Admissions rate

10%

SAT average

1,514

4. Amherst College

Amherst, MA • Private

Admissions rate

13%

SAT average

1,449

5. University of Rochester

Rochester, NY • Private

Admissions rate

29%

SAT average

1,422

6. Tufts University

Medford, MA • Private

Admissions rate

15%

SAT average

1,461

7. University of Tulsa

Tulsa, OK • Private

Admissions rate

41%

SAT average

1,321

8. Boston College

Chestnut Hill, MA • Private

Admissions rate

28%

SAT average

1,429

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

SAT average

1,520

Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for infrastructure engineers

The easiest schools for infrastructure engineers to get into are Nyack College, saint martin's university, and oklahoma wesleyan university.

Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as an infrastructure 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 infrastructure engineers.

1. Nyack College

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

98%

SAT average

999

2. Saint Martin's University

Lacey, WA • Private

Admissions rate

96%

SAT average

1,111

3. Oklahoma Wesleyan University

Bartlesville, OK • Private

Admissions rate

68%

SAT average

964

4. Barry University

Miami, FL • Private

Admissions rate

91%

SAT average

1,006

5. Linfield College

McMinnville, OR • Private

Admissions rate

81%

SAT average

1,117

6. La Roche College

Pittsburgh, PA • Private

Admissions rate

99%

SAT average

1,008

7. Cardinal Stritch University

Milwaukee, WI • Private

Admissions rate

71%

SAT average

1,035

8. Saint Xavier University

Chicago, IL • Private

Admissions rate

74%

SAT average

1,061

9. Saint Mary's University of Minnesota

Winona, MN • Private

Admissions rate

91%

SAT average

1,148

10. Longwood University

Farmville, VA • Private

Admissions rate

89%

SAT average

1,065

Average infrastructure engineer salary by education level

Infrastructure engineers with a Master's degree earn more than those without, at $120,033 annually. With a Bachelor's degree, infrastructure engineers earn a median annual income of $115,717 compared to $104,482 for infrastructure engineers with an Associate degree.

Infrastructure engineer education level	Infrastructure engineer salary
Master's Degree	$120,033
High School Diploma or Less	$103,109
Bachelor's Degree	$115,717
Some College/ Associate Degree	$104,482

Infrastructure engineer education FAQs

What is the best college for Infrastructure Engineers?

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

Search for infrastructure 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