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Manufacturing development engineer education requirements

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read

There are several educational requirements to become a manufacturing development engineer. Manufacturing development engineers usually study mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, or business. 73% of manufacturing development engineers hold a bachelor's degree, and 14% hold an master's degree. We analyzed 637 real manufacturing development engineer resumes to see exactly what manufacturing development engineer education sections show.

The most common colleges for manufacturing development engineers are the Purdue University and the Purdue University.

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

There are certain manufacturing development engineer certifications that you should consider. These manufacturing development engineer certifications include Certified Quality Engineer (CQE) and Six Sigma Green Belt.

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

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

The most common degree for manufacturing development engineers is bachelor's degree, with 73% of manufacturing development engineers earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are master's degree degree at 14% and master's degree degree at 9%.
  • Bachelor's, 73%
  • Master's, 14%
  • Associate, 9%
  • High School Diploma, 1%
  • Other Degrees, 3%

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

You should major in mechanical engineering to become a manufacturing development engineer. 30% of manufacturing development engineers major in mechanical engineering. Other common majors for a manufacturing development engineer include electrical engineering and business.

Most common colleges for manufacturing development engineers

Manufacturing development engineers often get their degrees at Purdue University, San Jose State University, and Stanford University. Here are the most common colleges for manufacturing development engineers in the US based on their resumes.
Manufacturing development engineer common collegePercentages
Purdue University14.63%
San Jose State University6.50%
Stanford University5.69%
Brigham Young University5.69%
University of California, Santa Barbara5.69%

Best majors for manufacturing development engineers

Best colleges for manufacturing development engineers

The best colleges for manufacturing development engineers are Northwestern University, Johns Hopkins University, and Stanford University.

A manufacturing development 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 manufacturing development 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 manufacturing development engineers.

1. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

In-state tuition

$54,568

Enrollment

8,451

2. Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore, MD • Private

In-state tuition

$53,740

Enrollment

5,567

3. New York University

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$51,828

Enrollment

26,339

4. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Champaign, IL • Private

In-state tuition

$15,094

Enrollment

32,974

5. Georgia Institute of Technology

Atlanta, GA • Private

In-state tuition

$12,424

Enrollment

15,201

6. University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$56,225

Enrollment

19,548

7. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

In-state tuition

$55,584

Enrollment

10,764

8. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Ann Arbor, MI • Private

In-state tuition

$15,262

Enrollment

30,079

9. Cornell University

Ithaca, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$55,188

Enrollment

15,105

10. Stanford University

Stanford, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$51,354

Enrollment

7,083

20 best online courses for manufacturing development engineers

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1. Engineering and Product Design Processes

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2. Strategic Product Development

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This course discusses how companies create new products that customers want while achieving their financial objectives. Learners begin by defining the product strategies necessary to ensure a company’s long-term growth. Learners then explore the different product development processes used by high-tech businesses today, such as Stage-Gate and Lean/Agile techniques. Learners conclude by illustrating the tools to build the high-performance teams that take the development process from concept...

3. Manufacturing Guide for Mechanical Product Development

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

4. Mechanical design and Product development process

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

5. Product Development & Systems Engineering

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

6. Manufacturing process selection and Design for manufacturing

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

7. ISO 13485 - IQOQPQ - Process Validation for Medical Devices

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Installation Qualification (IQ), Operational Qualification (OQ) & Performance Qualification (PQ) Medical Devices...

8. Medical Device Process Validation. ISO 13485. IQ OQ PQ.

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9. ISO 13485:2016 - Design and Development of Medical Devices

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Design and Development of Medical Devices in the perspective of ISO 13485:2016 and Medical Devices Industry...

10. The Production Part Approval Process (PPAP)

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11. Product Design Management for Agile Practitioners

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Application of product design management principles, concepts, tools and techniques in agile product management...

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13. Improving software development productivity

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Improving software development productivity. Practical techniques...

14. Introduction to Automotive Product Design & development

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15. Medical Devices Quality Management System - ISO 13485:2016

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Awareness and Application for the requirements of ISO 13485:2016 for Medical Device Development and QMS...

16. Product Management Crash Course; IT Product Management

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Product Management Essentials & Product Management Fundamentals to kick-start your career in Product Management...

17. Internal audit on Medical Device QMS - ISO 13485:2016

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Successfully conduct an internal audit based on requirements of ISO 13485:2016 for Medical Device Development and QMS...

18. 50 Personal Development And Personal Productivity Skills

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Personal transformation to be a top-1% performer! Personal development, business productivity, and personal productivity...

19. Automotive product design using CATIA V5

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Automotive domain design using CATIA, interior and exterior trims on CATIA, Plastic product design in Automotive sector...

20. Process/Chemical Engineering - BOOTCAMP 2021

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The only course with over 10 hours practical knowledge about main process equipment Design, Control and Safety...

Top 10 most affordable universities for manufacturing development engineers

The most affordable schools for manufacturing development engineers are United States Merchant Marine Academy, university of florida, and california state university - long beach.

If the best universities for manufacturing development 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 manufacturing development engineers.

1. United States Merchant Marine Academy

Kings Point, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$1,080

Cost of attendance

6,646

2. University of Florida

Gainesville, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,381

Cost of attendance

21,034

3. California State University - Long Beach

Long Beach, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,798

Cost of attendance

18,306

4. SUNY Farmingdale

Farmingdale, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$8,306

Cost of attendance

16,091

5. California State University - Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,749

Cost of attendance

14,823

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. California State University - Bakersfield

Bakersfield, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$7,309

Cost of attendance

16,714

9. New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology

Socorro, NM • Private

In-state tuition

$7,770

Cost of attendance

21,244

10. University of South Florida

Tampa, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,410

Cost of attendance

20,456

Top 10 hardest universities to get into for manufacturing development engineers

The hardest universities for manufacturing development engineers to get into are Northwestern University, Johns Hopkins University, and Stanford University.

Some great schools for manufacturing development 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 manufacturing development 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. Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore, MD • Private

Admissions rate

11%

SAT average

1,513

3. Stanford University

Stanford, CA • Private

Admissions rate

4%

SAT average

1,497

4. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

Admissions rate

8%

SAT average

1,492

5. Cornell University

Ithaca, NY • Private

Admissions rate

11%

SAT average

1,471

6. Carnegie Mellon University

Pittsburgh, PA • Private

Admissions rate

17%

SAT average

1,507

7. Columbia University in the City of New York

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

6%

SAT average

1,512

8. University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA • Private

Admissions rate

13%

SAT average

1,445

9. Georgia Institute of Technology

Atlanta, GA • Private

Admissions rate

22%

SAT average

1,465

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 manufacturing development engineers

The easiest schools for manufacturing development engineers to get into are Oklahoma Wesleyan University, texas a&m; university - kingsville, and notre dame de namur university.

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

1. Oklahoma Wesleyan University

Bartlesville, OK • Private

Admissions rate

68%

SAT average

964

2. Texas A&M University - Kingsville

Kingsville, TX • Private

Admissions rate

89%

SAT average

1,035

3. Notre Dame de Namur University

Belmont, CA • Private

Admissions rate

82%

SAT average

983

4. The University of Texas Permian Basin

Odessa, TX • Private

Admissions rate

91%

SAT average

1,046

5. Saint Martin's University

Lacey, WA • Private

Admissions rate

96%

SAT average

1,111

6. University of the Incarnate Word

San Antonio, TX • Private

Admissions rate

88%

SAT average

1,044

7. The University of Texas at El Paso

El Paso, TX • Private

Admissions rate

100%

SAT average

1,035

8. Holy Names University

Oakland, CA • Private

Admissions rate

70%

SAT average

849

9. Notre Dame College

Cleveland, OH • Private

Admissions rate

90%

SAT average

994

10. Oregon Institute of Technology

Klamath Falls, OR • Private

Admissions rate

96%

SAT average

1,139

Average manufacturing development engineer salary by education level

Manufacturing development engineers with a Master's degree earn more than those without, at $91,148 annually. With a Bachelor's degree, manufacturing development engineers earn a median annual income of $80,838 compared to $67,544 for manufacturing development engineers with an Associate degree.
Manufacturing development engineer education levelManufacturing development engineer salary
Master's Degree$91,148
Bachelor's Degree$80,838
Some College/ Associate Degree$67,544

Manufacturing development 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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