Lead mechanical designer education requirements

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

There are several educational requirements to become a lead mechanical designer. Lead mechanical designers usually study drafting and design, mechanical engineering, or engineering. 45% of lead mechanical designers hold a associate degree, and 43% hold an bachelor's degree. We analyzed 577 real lead mechanical designer resumes to see exactly what lead mechanical designer education sections show.

The most common colleges for lead mechanical designers are the California State University - San Bernardino and the California State University - San Bernardino.

There are also many online lead mechanical designer courses to help get the education required to be a lead mechanical designer.

What education do you need to become a lead mechanical designer?

What degree do you need to be a lead mechanical designer?

The most common degree for lead mechanical designers is associate degree, with 45% of lead mechanical designers earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are bachelor's degree degree at 43% and bachelor's degree degree at 5%.

Associate, 45%

Bachelor's, 43%

Master's, 5%

Diploma, 4%

Other Degrees, 3%

What should I major in to become a lead mechanical designer?

You should major in drafting and design to become a lead mechanical designer. 32% of lead mechanical designers major in drafting and design. Other common majors for a lead mechanical designer include mechanical engineering and engineering.

Drafting And Design, 32%

Mechanical Engineering, 25%

Engineering, 7%

Mechanical Engineering Technology, 6%

Other Majors, 30%

Most common colleges for lead mechanical designers

Lead mechanical designers often get their degrees at California State University - San Bernardino, University of California - Davis, and University of Utah. Here are the most common colleges for lead mechanical designers in the US based on their resumes.

Lead mechanical designer common college	Percentages
California State University - San Bernardino	10.00%
University of California - Davis	8.00%
University of Utah	8.00%
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University	6.00%
Purdue University	6.00%

Show more common lead mechanical designer colleges

Best majors for lead mechanical designers

Rank	Major	Percentages
1	Drafting And Design	31.8%
2	Mechanical Engineering	25.4%
3	Engineering	7.0%
4	Mechanical Engineering Technology	6.4%
5	Engineering Technology	5.0%

Show more common lead mechanical designer majors

Best colleges for lead mechanical designers

The best colleges for lead mechanical designers are Northwestern University, Carnegie Mellon University, and California Institute of Technology.

A lead mechanical designer with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for lead mechanical designers. 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 lead mechanical designers.

1. Carnegie Mellon University

Pittsburgh, PA • Private

In-state tuition

$55,465

Enrollment

6,483

2. Michigan Technological University

Houghton, MI • Private

In-state tuition

$15,646

Enrollment

5,736

3. Georgia Institute of Technology

Atlanta, GA • Private

In-state tuition

$12,424

Enrollment

15,201

4. Cornell University

Ithaca, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$55,188

Enrollment

15,105

5. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

In-state tuition

$54,568

Enrollment

8,451

6. Columbia University in the City of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$59,430

Enrollment

8,216

7. Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore, MD • Private

In-state tuition

$53,740

Enrollment

5,567

8. Iowa State University of Science and Technology

Ames, IA • Private

In-state tuition

$8,988

Enrollment

29,248

9. University of Texas at Austin

Austin, TX • Private

In-state tuition

$10,610

Enrollment

40,329

10. University of Wisconsin - Madison

Madison, WI • Private

In-state tuition

$10,555

Enrollment

30,360

20 best online courses for lead mechanical designers

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3. Mechanical design and Product development process

4.2

(604)

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

4. Basics of Material selection for mechanical design engineers

4.4

(542)

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

5. Quantum Mechanics for Engineers

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6. AutoCAD Mechanical 2D and 3D for Beginners to Advanced

(417)

Auto CAD Mechanical Engineering/ Drawing / Drafting / Design in 2D and 3D...

7. Basics of Sheet metal design for Mechanical design engineers

4.3

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8. Mechanics / Statics - Introduction to Mechanical Engineering

4.5

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Engineering Solid Mechanics / Engineering Statics...

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4.3

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Autodesk Auto CAD 2023- 21 for Mechanical Engineer, Beginner to Advanced Auto CAD Course for 2D, 3D and advanced commands...

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11. Data Center Essentials: Mechanical & Cooling

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13. Python for Mechanical Engineers

4.3

(444)

Learn Python to solve problems in mechanical fields...

14. HVAC (PART2) with Revit MEP & Practical Projects

4.1

(398)

your Practical Guide in the Heating Ventilation & Air Conditioning with Programs & Layouts (A Complete Project Included)...

15. Engineering Mechanics: Statics

4.8

(611)

The Study of Objects in Equilibrium...

16. Manufacturing process selection and Design for manufacturing

4.5

(657)

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

17. 47 Graphic Design Projects for Photoshop Beginners

4.8

(324)

Photoshop graphic design for beginners! Includes 47 Photoshop projects for your graphic design portfolio...

18. Graphic Design Masterclass - Learn GREAT Design

4.7

(55,714)

The Ultimate Graphic Design Course Which Covers Photoshop, Illustrator, In Design,Design Theory, Branding and Logo Design...

19. HVAC (PART1) with HAPExcelAutoCADManual Calculations

4.5

(1,349)

A Practical Guide in the Heating Ventilation & Air Conditioning with Programs & Layouts (Including 4 Practical Projects)...

20. Graphic Design Foundations in Canva: Theory and Projects

4.7

(545)

Learn design theory and practice GREAT graphic design through practical real world projects in Canva...

Top 10 most affordable universities for lead mechanical designers

The most affordable schools for lead mechanical designers are Brigham Young University, inter american university of puerto rico san german, and university of puerto rico - mayaguez.

If the best universities for lead mechanical designers 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 lead mechanical designers.

1. Brigham Young University

Provo, UT • Private

In-state tuition

$5,620

Cost of attendance

18,136

2. Inter American University of Puerto Rico San German

San German, PR • Private

In-state tuition

$5,940

Cost of attendance

14,322

3. University of Puerto Rico - Mayaguez

Mayaguez, PR • Private

In-state tuition

$4,094

Cost of attendance

14,302

4. Florida International University

Miami, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,556

Cost of attendance

19,434

5. Inter American University of Puerto Rico Arecibo

Arecibo, PR • Private

In-state tuition

$5,872

Cost of attendance

13,476

6. Purdue University

West Lafayette, IN • Private

In-state tuition

$9,992

Cost of attendance

22,430

7. Inter American University of Puerto Rico Bayamon

Bayamon, PR • Private

In-state tuition

$5,940

Cost of attendance

13,508

8. Florida State University

Tallahassee, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$5,656

Cost of attendance

21,623

9. California State University - Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,749

Cost of attendance

14,823

10. Inter American University of Puerto Rico Aguadilla

Aguadilla, PR • Private

In-state tuition

$5,902

Cost of attendance

13,284

Top 10 hardest universities to get into for lead mechanical designers

The hardest universities for lead mechanical designers to get into are Northwestern University, Carnegie Mellon University, and California Institute of Technology.

Some great schools for lead mechanical designers 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 lead mechanical designers 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. Carnegie Mellon University

Pittsburgh, PA • Private

Admissions rate

17%

SAT average

1,507

3. California Institute of Technology

Pasadena, CA • Private

Admissions rate

SAT average

1,566

4. Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore, MD • Private

Admissions rate

11%

SAT average

1,513

5. Columbia University in the City of New York

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

SAT average

1,512

6. Cornell University

Ithaca, NY • Private

Admissions rate

11%

SAT average

1,471

7. Stanford University

Stanford, CA • Private

Admissions rate

SAT average

1,497

8. Georgia Institute of Technology

Atlanta, GA • Private

Admissions rate

22%

SAT average

1,465

9. Boston University

Boston, MA • Private

Admissions rate

22%

SAT average

1,420

10. Vanderbilt University

Nashville, TN • Private

Admissions rate

10%

SAT average

1,514

Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for lead mechanical designers

The easiest schools for lead mechanical designers to get into are Saint Martin's University, oregon institute of technology, and south dakota state university.

Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a lead mechanical designer 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 lead mechanical designers.

1. Saint Martin's University

Lacey, WA • Private

Admissions rate

96%

SAT average

1,111

2. Oregon Institute of Technology

Klamath Falls, OR • Private

Admissions rate

96%

SAT average

1,139

3. South Dakota State University

Brookings, SD • Private

Admissions rate

92%

SAT average

1,149

4. Cleveland State University

Cleveland, OH • Private

Admissions rate

88%

SAT average

1,111

5. Montana Technological University

Butte, MT • Private

Admissions rate

92%

SAT average

1,199

6. Indiana University - Purdue University Indianapolis

Indianapolis, IN • Private

Admissions rate

81%

SAT average

1,111

7. University of Southern Maine

Portland, ME • Private

Admissions rate

85%

SAT average

1,050

8. Old Dominion University

Norfolk, VA • Private

Admissions rate

87%

SAT average

1,093

9. Purdue University Fort Wayne

Fort Wayne, IN • Private

Admissions rate

97%

SAT average

1,080

10. Saint Cloud State University

Saint Cloud, MN • Private

Admissions rate

86%

SAT average

1,086

Average lead mechanical designer salary by education level

Lead mechanical designers with a Doctorate degree earn more than those without, at $112,819 annually. With a Master's degree, lead mechanical designers earn a median annual income of $105,551 compared to $95,261 for lead mechanical designers with an Bachelor's degree.

Lead mechanical designer education level	Lead mechanical designer salary
Master's Degree	$105,551
Bachelor's Degree	$95,261
Doctorate Degree	$112,819

Lead mechanical designer education FAQs

What is the best college for Lead Mechanical Designers?

Have more questions? See all answers to common architecture and engineering questions.

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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

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