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Manufacturing consultant education requirements
Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
There are several educational requirements to become a manufacturing consultant. Manufacturing consultants usually study business, mechanical engineering, or industrial engineering. 68% of manufacturing consultants hold a bachelor's degree, and 15% hold an master's degree. We analyzed 1,100 real manufacturing consultant resumes to see exactly what manufacturing consultant education sections show.
The most common colleges for manufacturing consultants are the University of Phoenix and the University of Phoenix.
There are also many online manufacturing consultant courses to help get the education required to be a manufacturing consultant.
There are certain manufacturing consultant certifications that you should consider. These manufacturing consultant certifications include Six Sigma Green Belt and Certified Manufacturing Specialist (CMS).
What education do you need to become a manufacturing consultant?
What degree do you need to be a manufacturing consultant?
- Bachelor's, 68%
- Master's, 15%
- Associate, 12%
- Diploma, 2%
- Other Degrees, 3%
What should I major in to become a manufacturing consultant?
- Business, 22%
- Management, 5%
- Other Majors, 43%
Most common colleges for manufacturing consultants
| Manufacturing consultant common college | Percentages |
|---|---|
| University of Phoenix | 8.57% |
| University of Iowa | 6.67% |
| University of Houston | 5.71% |
| Purdue University | 5.71% |
| Texas A&M University | 4.76% |
Best majors for manufacturing consultants
| Rank | Major | Percentages |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Business | 22.3% |
| 2 | Mechanical Engineering | 16.8% |
| 3 | Industrial Engineering | 12.8% |
| 4 | Management | 4.8% |
| 5 | Accounting | 4.8% |
Best colleges for manufacturing consultants
The best colleges for manufacturing consultants are Northwestern University, University of Pennsylvania, and Stanford University.
A manufacturing consultant with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for manufacturing consultants. 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 manufacturing consultants.
1. New York University
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$51,828
Enrollment
26,339
2. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
In-state tuition
$54,568
Enrollment
8,451
3. University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$56,225
Enrollment
19,548
4. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
In-state tuition
$55,584
Enrollment
10,764
5. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, MI • Private
In-state tuition
$15,262
Enrollment
30,079
6. Clemson University
Clemson, SC • Private
In-state tuition
$15,374
Enrollment
19,564
7. Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Worcester, MA • Private
In-state tuition
$50,530
Enrollment
4,571
8. Stanford University
Stanford, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$51,354
Enrollment
7,083
9. Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, MD • Private
In-state tuition
$53,740
Enrollment
5,567
10. Lehigh University
Bethlehem, PA • Private
In-state tuition
$52,930
Enrollment
5,030
20 best online courses for manufacturing consultants
Advertising disclosure
1. Operations Management A-Z: Business Processes and Systems
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2. Lean Manufacturing A-Z: Lean Operations Management
Lean Business Operations Management, Lean Process and Systems Improvement in Production and Industry. MBA style course...
3. Business Process Mapping
The complete guide to map any business process...
4. Leadership, Business Process Improvement, & Process Mapping!
Learn the leadership, communication, and process mapping skills to accelerate your career!...
5. Essential Lean Manufacturing for Management Consultants
A practical guide on how to improve production and operations in a firm and analyze potential savings in Excel...
6. The Complete Business Process Management (BPM) Master Class
12000+ enrollments Learn the Business Process Management methods used by the world's most successful organizations...
7. Introduction to Business Process Modeling
Learn how to analyze, model, and improve your organization's business processes...
8. Lean BPM - Lean Business Process Management Change Skills
Lean BPM - learn how to use lean business management techniques to reduce waste and improve your business efficiency...
9. Process Improvement
#1 Process Improvement course: The step by step guide on how to deliver effective and lasting process improvements...
10. Performance Improvement Projects for Management Consultants
A practical guide on how to conduct consulting projects on the level of Mc Kinsey, Bain, BCG, Pw C...
11. Process Mining with Celonis
Learn and practice how to combine data science and process mapping techniques to visualize processes with real data...
12. Retail for Business Analysts and Management Consultants
A practical guide with cases studies how to analyze and improve a retail business during management consulting projects...
13. Process Optimization for Management Consultants & Analysts
A practical guide on how to optimize processes in practice and improve efficiently things...
14. Process Capability Analysis
A Powerful Tool Set for Understanding your Manufacturing Process Relative to Your Customers' Quality Expectations...
15. Operations Management: Facilities Planning and Management
Operations Management Training Program (Course 8 of 8)...
16. FMCG for Management Consultants and Business Analysts
A practical guide on how to analyze in Excel and improve consumer goods business during consulting projects...
17. Manufacturing process selection and Design for manufacturing
Learn about the basics of selecting process for a mechanical design and the principles of design for Manufacturing...
18. Consulting Business: How to Start a Consulting Business
Consulting Business 90-Step Startup + 5-Phase Consulting Business Proposal Plan to Start Consulting Business Fast...
19. Supply Chain for Management Consultants & Business Analysts
A practical guide how to improve supply chain in a firm and analyze potential savings in Excel during consulting project...
20. Practical Project Management for Management Consultants
How to manage successfully a consulting project - a practical guide for Project Managers...
Top 10 most affordable universities for manufacturing consultants
The most affordable schools for manufacturing consultants are United States Merchant Marine Academy, california state university - long beach, and suny farmingdale.
If the best universities for manufacturing consultants 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 manufacturing consultants.
1. United States Merchant Marine Academy
Kings Point, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$1,080
Cost of attendance
6,646
2. California State University - Long Beach
Long Beach, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,798
Cost of attendance
18,306
3. SUNY Farmingdale
Farmingdale, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$8,306
Cost of attendance
16,091
4. University of Florida
Gainesville, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,381
Cost of attendance
21,034
5. California State University - Bakersfield
Bakersfield, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$7,309
Cost of attendance
16,714
6. University of Puerto Rico - Mayaguez
Mayaguez, PR • Private
In-state tuition
$4,094
Cost of attendance
14,302
7. Florida International University
Miami, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,556
Cost of attendance
19,434
8. University of South Florida
Tampa, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,410
Cost of attendance
20,456
9. California State University - Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,749
Cost of attendance
14,823
10. Baruch College of the City University of New York
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,262
Cost of attendance
14,046
Top 10 hardest universities to get into for manufacturing consultants
The hardest universities for manufacturing consultants to get into are Northwestern University, University of Pennsylvania, and Stanford University.
Some great schools for manufacturing consultants 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 manufacturing consultants 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. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
Admissions rate
8%
SAT average
1,492
3. Stanford University
Stanford, CA • Private
Admissions rate
4%
SAT average
1,497
4. Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, MD • Private
Admissions rate
11%
SAT average
1,513
5. University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA • Private
Admissions rate
13%
SAT average
1,445
6. New York University
New York, NY • Private
Admissions rate
20%
SAT average
1,419
7. Washington University in St Louis
Saint Louis, MO • Private
Admissions rate
15%
SAT average
1,506
8. Georgetown University
Washington, DC • Private
Admissions rate
15%
SAT average
1,456
9. Lehigh University
Bethlehem, PA • Private
Admissions rate
22%
SAT average
1,380
10. Cornell University
Ithaca, NY • Private
Admissions rate
11%
SAT average
1,471
Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for manufacturing consultants
The easiest schools for manufacturing consultants to get into are Oklahoma Wesleyan University, notre dame de namur university, and university of the incarnate word.
Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a manufacturing consultant 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 manufacturing consultants.
1. Oklahoma Wesleyan University
Bartlesville, OK • Private
Admissions rate
68%
SAT average
964
2. Notre Dame de Namur University
Belmont, CA • Private
Admissions rate
82%
SAT average
983
3. University of the Incarnate Word
San Antonio, TX • Private
Admissions rate
88%
SAT average
1,044
4. Texas A&M University - Kingsville
Kingsville, TX • Private
Admissions rate
89%
SAT average
1,035
5. Holy Names University
Oakland, CA • Private
Admissions rate
70%
SAT average
849
6. Notre Dame College
Cleveland, OH • Private
Admissions rate
90%
SAT average
994
7. LIM College
New York, NY • Private
Admissions rate
83%
SAT average
1,061
8. Pennsylvania State University - Fayette (The Eberly Campus)
Lemont Furnace, PA • Private
Admissions rate
80%
SAT average
1,067
9. Saint Martin's University
Lacey, WA • Private
Admissions rate
96%
SAT average
1,111
10. The University of Texas at El Paso
El Paso, TX • Private
Admissions rate
100%
SAT average
1,035
Average manufacturing consultant salary by education level
| Manufacturing consultant education level | Manufacturing consultant salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $109,206 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $91,561 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $70,331 |
Manufacturing consultant education FAQs
Have more questions? See all answers to common architecture and engineering questions.
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Updated January 8, 2025
Updated January 8, 2025