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Junior manufacturing engineer education requirements

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read

There are several educational requirements to become a junior manufacturing engineer. Junior manufacturing engineers usually study mechanical engineering, industrial engineering, or business. 69% of junior manufacturing engineers hold a bachelor's degree, and 17% hold an associate degree. We analyzed 163 real junior manufacturing engineer resumes to see exactly what junior manufacturing engineer education sections show.

The most common colleges for junior manufacturing engineers are the Florida International University and the Florida International University.

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

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

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

The most common degree for junior manufacturing engineers is bachelor's degree, with 69% of junior manufacturing engineers earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are associate degree degree at 17% and associate degree degree at 5%.
  • Bachelor's, 69%
  • Associate, 17%
  • High School Diploma, 5%
  • Master's, 5%
  • Other Degrees, 4%

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

You should major in mechanical engineering to become a junior manufacturing engineer. 23% of junior manufacturing engineers major in mechanical engineering. Other common majors for a junior manufacturing engineer include industrial engineering and business.

Most common colleges for junior manufacturing engineers

Junior manufacturing engineers often get their degrees at Florida International University, San Jose State University, and National University. Here are the most common colleges for junior manufacturing engineers in the US based on their resumes.
Junior manufacturing engineer common collegePercentages
Florida International University11.11%
San Jose State University11.11%
National University7.41%
University of California, Santa Barbara7.41%
Western New England University7.41%

Best majors for junior manufacturing engineers

Best colleges for junior manufacturing engineers

The best colleges for junior manufacturing engineers are Northwestern University, Columbia University in the City of New York, and Johns Hopkins University.

A junior manufacturing 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 manufacturing 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 manufacturing engineers.

1. Georgia Institute of Technology

Atlanta, GA • Private

In-state tuition

$12,424

Enrollment

15,201

2. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

In-state tuition

$54,568

Enrollment

8,451

3. Columbia University in the City of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$59,430

Enrollment

8,216

4. Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore, MD • Private

In-state tuition

$53,740

Enrollment

5,567

5. University of Texas at Austin

Austin, TX • Private

In-state tuition

$10,610

Enrollment

40,329

6. University of Wisconsin - Madison

Madison, WI • Private

In-state tuition

$10,555

Enrollment

30,360

7. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Troy, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$53,880

Enrollment

6,590

8. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Champaign, IL • Private

In-state tuition

$15,094

Enrollment

32,974

9. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Blacksburg, VA • Private

In-state tuition

$13,620

Enrollment

27,730

10. Pennsylvania State University

University Park, PA • Private

In-state tuition

$18,454

Enrollment

40,108

20 best online courses for junior manufacturing engineers

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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. Sensor Manufacturing and Process Control

coursera

"Sensor Manufacturing and Process Control" can also be taken for academic credit as ECEA 5343, part of CU Boulder’s Master of Science in Electrical Engineering degree. This is our fourth course in our specialization on Embedding Sensor and Motors. To get the most out of this course, you should first take our first course entitled "Sensors and Sensor Circuits", our second course entitled "Motor and Motor Control Circuits", and our third course entitled "Pressure, Force, Motion, and Humidity...

3. Manufacturing process selection and Design for manufacturing

udemy
4.5
(657)

Learn about the basics of selecting process for a mechanical design and the principles of design for Manufacturing...

4. Manufacturing Guide for Mechanical Product Development

udemy
4.9
(491)

Learn how everyday physical products are manufactured with no prior experience in engineering...

5. Introduction to Mechanical Engineering Design and Manufacturing with Fusion 360

coursera

Design for manufacturing is the process of designing parts, components, or products with the understanding surrounding design requirements for a specific manufacturing method. This course explores the design for manufacture workflow and shows how to validate models and create the G code, the programming language needed to instruct the CNC machine on how to move. We practice the basics of part and assembly design, and tools such as animation, rendering, and simulations using Autodesk Fusion 360...

6. Intro to Digital Manufacturing with Autodesk Fusion 360

coursera

The manufacturing industry is making a digital transformation, allowing companies to customize production through advances in machine learning, sustainable design, generative design, and collaboration, with integrated design and manufacturing processes. This course introduces innovations in CAD and digital manufacturing, speaking to the rapid changes taking place that are forever transforming the future of making. This course will also explore foundational concepts behind Autodesk® Fusion 360™...

7. Understanding Engineering Drawings

udemy
4.2
(384)

How Technical Information is Conveyed from Engineers and Designers to Manufacturing and Supply Chain Professionals...

8. Aerospace Engineering: Aircraft Fundamentals and Advanced

udemy
4.6
(2,504)

Aerospace and Aeronautical Engineering: Master the Mechanics of Airplanes - Aerodynamics, Flight Maneuvers, JET Engines...

9. Autodesk CAD/CAM/CAE for Mechanical Engineering

coursera

The demand placed on today’s engineers goes above and beyond the job description. Products have become complex and engineers are more frequently asked to leave specialized roles and to take on a wide variety of tasks that are beyond their traditional responsibilities. These tasks are centered on form, fit, and function. Engineers need to factor in broader concerns such as cost, procurement, sustainability, manufacturability, and serviceability. Their role has moved away from an individual...

10. Semiconductor Packaging Manufacturing

coursera

This course will provide information on the various stages of semiconductor package manufacturing, including sort, assembly, and final test. In addition, we will also describe how to select, build, and test the packages with the die and other components to ensure the quality of the package and total assembly performance. We will also discuss the role of Process Control Systems in semiconductor manufacturing as they relate to quality testing. Specifically, we will explore how Process Control...

11. Aerospace Engineering: Aircraft Systems and Avionics

udemy
4.6
(960)

Aerospace and Aeronautical Engineering: Master the Systems of Airplanes - Hydraulics, Avionics, Electric, Propulsion...

12. Aerospace Engineering: Airplanes, Airlines and Airports

udemy
4.5
(780)

Understand how Airplanes generate Lift, how Airlines and Airports operate and what is Aerospace Engineering today...

13. The Production Part Approval Process (PPAP)

udemy
4.5
(1,218)

The 18-step process for ensuring new parts are consistently manufactured and meet their customers' quality expectations...

14. 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...

15. Product Development & Systems Engineering

udemy
4.6
(3,086)

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

16. Mechanical design and Product development process

udemy
4.2
(604)

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

17. Introduction to SOLIDWORKS

udemy
4.6
(1,147)

Learn the fundamentals of SOLIDWORKS engineering and design software including parts, drawings, and assemblies...

18. Lean Manufacturing A-Z: Lean Operations Management

udemy
4.6
(3,222)

Lean Business Operations Management, Lean Process and Systems Improvement in Production and Industry. MBA style course...

19. Complete Field Instrumentation Engineering Course

udemy
4.3
(259)

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

20. Basics of Material selection for mechanical design engineers

udemy
4.4
(542)

Learn about the fundamentals of materials and their selection for mechanical engineering design for design engineers...

Top 10 most affordable universities for junior manufacturing engineers

The most affordable schools for junior manufacturing engineers are Florida International University, inter american university of puerto rico arecibo, and inter american university of puerto rico bayamon.

If the best universities for junior manufacturing 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 manufacturing engineers.

1. Florida International University

Miami, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,556

Cost of attendance

19,434

2. Inter American University of Puerto Rico Arecibo

Arecibo, PR • Private

In-state tuition

$5,872

Cost of attendance

13,476

3. Inter American University of Puerto Rico Bayamon

Bayamon, PR • Private

In-state tuition

$5,940

Cost of attendance

13,508

4. University of Puerto Rico - Mayaguez

Mayaguez, PR • Private

In-state tuition

$4,094

Cost of attendance

14,302

5. Florida State University

Tallahassee, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$5,656

Cost of attendance

21,623

6. California State University - Northridge

Northridge, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,893

Cost of attendance

18,870

7. Purdue University

West Lafayette, IN • Private

In-state tuition

$9,992

Cost of attendance

22,430

8. University of South Florida

Tampa, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,410

Cost of attendance

20,456

9. California State Polytechnic University, Pomona

Pomona, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$7,353

Cost of attendance

21,302

10. Georgia Institute of Technology

Atlanta, GA • Private

In-state tuition

$12,424

Cost of attendance

28,501

Top 10 hardest universities to get into for junior manufacturing engineers

The hardest universities for junior manufacturing engineers to get into are Northwestern University, Columbia University in the City of New York, and Johns Hopkins University.

Some great schools for junior manufacturing 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 manufacturing 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

8%

SAT average

1,508

2. Columbia University in the City of New York

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

6%

SAT average

1,512

3. Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore, MD • Private

Admissions rate

11%

SAT average

1,513

4. California Institute of Technology

Pasadena, CA • Private

Admissions rate

7%

SAT average

1,566

5. Georgia Institute of Technology

Atlanta, GA • Private

Admissions rate

22%

SAT average

1,465

6. Carnegie Mellon University

Pittsburgh, PA • Private

Admissions rate

17%

SAT average

1,507

7. Tufts University

Medford, MA • Private

Admissions rate

15%

SAT average

1,461

8. Northeastern University

Boston, MA • Private

Admissions rate

19%

SAT average

1,466

9. Stanford University

Stanford, CA • Private

Admissions rate

4%

SAT average

1,497

10. Cornell University

Ithaca, NY • Private

Admissions rate

11%

SAT average

1,471

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

The easiest schools for junior manufacturing engineers to get into are Oregon Institute of Technology, cleveland state university, and saint martin's university.

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

1. Oregon Institute of Technology

Klamath Falls, OR • Private

Admissions rate

96%

SAT average

1,139

2. Cleveland State University

Cleveland, OH • Private

Admissions rate

88%

SAT average

1,111

3. Saint Martin's University

Lacey, WA • Private

Admissions rate

96%

SAT average

1,111

4. Texas A&M University - Kingsville

Kingsville, TX • Private

Admissions rate

89%

SAT average

1,035

5. The University of Texas at El Paso

El Paso, TX • Private

Admissions rate

100%

SAT average

1,035

6. North Dakota State University

Fargo, ND • Private

Admissions rate

93%

SAT average

1,170

7. Western New England University

Springfield, MA • Private

Admissions rate

85%

SAT average

1,160

8. Lamar University

Beaumont, TX • Private

Admissions rate

84%

SAT average

1,043

9. Wichita State University

Wichita, KS • Private

Admissions rate

97%

SAT average

1,152

10. Wright State University

Dayton, OH • Private

Admissions rate

95%

SAT average

1,100

Average junior manufacturing engineer salary by education level

Junior manufacturing engineers with a Doctorate degree earn more than those without, at $72,541 annually. With a Master's degree, junior manufacturing engineers earn a median annual income of $66,178 compared to $59,492 for junior manufacturing engineers with an Bachelor's degree.
Junior manufacturing engineer education levelJunior manufacturing engineer salary
Master's Degree$66,178
Bachelor's Degree$59,492
Doctorate Degree$72,541

Junior manufacturing engineer 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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