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Junior electrical engineer education requirements

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read

There are several educational requirements to become a junior electrical engineer. Junior electrical engineers usually study electrical engineering, electrical engineering technology, or computer engineering. 79% of junior electrical engineers hold a bachelor's degree, and 9% hold an associate degree. We analyzed 359 real junior electrical engineer resumes to see exactly what junior electrical engineer education sections show.

The most common colleges for junior electrical engineers are the Pennsylvania State University and the Pennsylvania State University.

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

What education do you need to become a junior electrical engineer?

What degree do you need to be a junior electrical engineer?

The most common degree for junior electrical engineers is bachelor's degree, with 79% of junior electrical engineers earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are associate degree degree at 9% and associate degree degree at 5%.
  • Bachelor's, 79%
  • Associate, 9%
  • Master's, 5%
  • Diploma, 5%
  • Other Degrees, 2%

What should I major in to become a junior electrical engineer?

You should major in electrical engineering to become a junior electrical engineer. 68% of junior electrical engineers major in electrical engineering. Other common majors for a junior electrical engineer include electrical engineering technology and computer engineering.

Most common colleges for junior electrical engineers

Junior electrical engineers often get their degrees at Pennsylvania State University, New Jersey Institute of Technology, and University of California - Davis. Here are the most common colleges for junior electrical engineers in the US based on their resumes.
Junior electrical engineer common collegePercentages
Pennsylvania State University10.00%
New Jersey Institute of Technology8.00%
University of California - Davis6.00%
Rochester Institute of Technology6.00%
University of Miami6.00%

Best majors for junior electrical engineers

Best colleges for junior electrical engineers

The best colleges for junior electrical engineers are Northeastern University, Stanford University, and Northwestern University.

A junior electrical 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 junior electrical 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 junior electrical engineers.

1. Michigan Technological University

Houghton, MI • Private

In-state tuition

$15,646

Enrollment

5,736

2. Wentworth Institute of Technology

Boston, MA • Private

In-state tuition

$33,950

Enrollment

4,254

3. Northeastern University

Boston, MA • Private

In-state tuition

$51,522

Enrollment

13,760

4. California State University - Long Beach

Long Beach, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,798

Enrollment

31,503

5. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Cambridge, MA • Private

In-state tuition

$51,832

Enrollment

4,550

6. Stanford University

Stanford, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$51,354

Enrollment

7,083

7. Purdue University

West Lafayette, IN • Private

In-state tuition

$9,992

Enrollment

33,495

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. California State Polytechnic University, Pomona

Pomona, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$7,353

Enrollment

24,841

20 best online courses for junior electrical engineers

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This course familiarizes you with standards and policies of the electric utility industry, and provides you with basic vocabulary used in the business. It introduces the electric power system, from generation of the electricity all the way to the wall plug. You will learn about the segments of the system, and common components like power cables and transformers. This course is for individuals considering a career in the energy field (who have a high school diploma, at minimum, and basic...

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7. The Complete Electrical Power Control and Protection

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Your Complete Practical Guide in Electrical Control & Protection Systems for Stations , Substations & Distribution Zones...

8. Construction Site Electrical System Design

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Learn how to design a safe, flexible and durable electrical system for any construction site...

9. Ultimate Electrical Power Protection, Control & Switchgear

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10. Electrical Power Engineering Principles

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11. Electric Circuits for Electrical Engineering and Electronics

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Fundamentals of Electricity & Electric Circuits for Electronics - Circuit Design - Electrical Engineering...

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15. Ultimate Electrical Machines for Electrical Engineering

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16. Control Systems: From Mathematical Modelling to PID Control

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17. Electrical Schematics (Industrial Controls)

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18. Electrical Low Voltage System Distribution Design

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Design of Power & Lighting Distribution System using Auto CAD, DIALux, & Low Voltage Calculations Using Excel Sheets...

19. Electric Vehicle Battery Management System - Course

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Battery management system battery design & modelling Electric vehicle Lithium ion battery management Simulation...

20. Complete Etap course for Power Electrical Engineering

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The easiest way to become a Pro Designer in Electrical Power Systems using Etap from scratch!...

Top 10 most affordable universities for junior electrical engineers

The most affordable schools for junior electrical engineers are California State University - Long Beach, suny farmingdale, and inter american university of puerto rico bayamon.

If the best universities for junior electrical 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 junior electrical engineers.

1. California State University - Long Beach

Long Beach, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,798

Cost of attendance

18,306

2. SUNY Farmingdale

Farmingdale, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$8,306

Cost of attendance

16,091

3. Inter American University of Puerto Rico Bayamon

Bayamon, PR • Private

In-state tuition

$5,940

Cost of attendance

13,508

4. Brigham Young University

Provo, UT • Private

In-state tuition

$5,620

Cost of attendance

18,136

5. California State Polytechnic University, Pomona

Pomona, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$7,353

Cost of attendance

21,302

6. Purdue University

West Lafayette, IN • Private

In-state tuition

$9,992

Cost of attendance

22,430

7. SUNY Polytechnic Institute

Utica, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$8,238

Cost of attendance

21,567

8. West Virginia University Institute of Technology

Beckley, WV • Private

In-state tuition

$7,464

Cost of attendance

17,166

9. University of Puerto Rico - Mayaguez

Mayaguez, PR • Private

In-state tuition

$4,094

Cost of attendance

14,302

10. National University College - Bayamon

Bayamon, PR • Private

In-state tuition

$6,675

Cost of attendance

12,941

Top 10 hardest universities to get into for junior electrical engineers

The hardest universities for junior electrical engineers to get into are Northeastern University, Stanford University, and Northwestern University.

Some great schools for junior electrical 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 junior electrical 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. Northeastern University

Boston, MA • Private

Admissions rate

19%

SAT average

1,466

2. Stanford University

Stanford, CA • Private

Admissions rate

4%

SAT average

1,497

3. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

Admissions rate

8%

SAT average

1,508

4. Southern Methodist University

Dallas, TX • Private

Admissions rate

51%

SAT average

1,395

5. Vanderbilt University

Nashville, TN • Private

Admissions rate

10%

SAT average

1,514

6. Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore, MD • Private

Admissions rate

11%

SAT average

1,513

7. Yale University

New Haven, CT • Private

Admissions rate

6%

SAT average

1,517

8. University of Rochester

Rochester, NY • Private

Admissions rate

29%

SAT average

1,422

9. Tufts University

Medford, MA • Private

Admissions rate

15%

SAT average

1,461

10. Washington University in St Louis

Saint Louis, MO • Private

Admissions rate

15%

SAT average

1,506

Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for junior electrical engineers

The easiest schools for junior electrical engineers to get into are Oregon Institute of Technology, capitol technology university, and pennsylvania state university - altoona.

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

1. Oregon Institute of Technology

Klamath Falls, OR • Private

Admissions rate

96%

SAT average

1,139

2. Capitol Technology University

Laurel, MD • Private

Admissions rate

69%

SAT average

1,070

3. Pennsylvania State University - Altoona

Altoona, PA • Private

Admissions rate

91%

SAT average

1,094

4. Pennsylvania State University - Berks

Reading, PA • Private

Admissions rate

87%

SAT average

1,107

5. South Dakota State University

Brookings, SD • Private

Admissions rate

92%

SAT average

1,149

6. Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi

Corpus Christi, TX • Private

Admissions rate

87%

SAT average

1,068

7. Alabama A & M University

Normal, AL • Private

Admissions rate

90%

SAT average

957

8. Purdue University Fort Wayne

Fort Wayne, IN • Private

Admissions rate

97%

SAT average

1,080

9. Cleveland State University

Cleveland, OH • Private

Admissions rate

88%

SAT average

1,111

10. Kean University

Union, NJ • Private

Admissions rate

86%

SAT average

991

Average junior electrical engineer salary by education level

Junior electrical engineers with a Doctorate degree earn more than those without, at $85,143 annually. With a Master's degree, junior electrical engineers earn a median annual income of $76,004 compared to $66,485 for junior electrical engineers with an Bachelor's degree.
Junior electrical engineer education levelJunior electrical engineer salary
Master's Degree$76,004
Bachelor's Degree$66,485
Doctorate Degree$85,143

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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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