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Patent drafter education requirements
Updated January 8, 2025
3 min read
There are several educational requirements to become a patent drafter. Patent drafters usually study drafting and design, communication, or biology. 60% of patent drafters hold a bachelor's degree, and 20% hold an associate degree. We analyzed 19 real patent drafter resumes to see exactly what patent drafter education sections show.
The most common colleges for patent drafters are the University of Houston and the University of Houston.
There are also many online patent drafter courses to help get the education required to be a patent drafter.
What education do you need to become a patent drafter?
What degree do you need to be a patent drafter?
- Bachelor's, 60%
- Associate, 20%
- High School Diploma, 10%
- Master's, 10%
What should I major in to become a patent drafter?
- Drafting And Design, 15%
- Communication, 8%
- Biology, 8%
- Other Majors, 61%
Most common colleges for patent drafters
| Patent drafter common college | Percentages |
|---|---|
| University of Houston | 16.67% |
| Boston University | 16.67% |
| Academy of Art University | 16.67% |
| University of Oklahoma | 16.67% |
| University of Virginia | 16.67% |
Best majors for patent drafters
| Rank | Major | Percentages |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Drafting And Design | 15.4% |
| 2 | Communication | 7.7% |
| 3 | Biology | 7.7% |
| 4 | Speech Communication And Rhetoric | 7.7% |
| 5 | Mechanical Engineering | 7.7% |
Best colleges for patent drafters
The best colleges for patent drafters are Northwestern University, Columbia University in the City of New York, and Carnegie Mellon University.
A patent drafter with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for patent drafters. 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 patent drafters.
1. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
In-state tuition
$54,568
Enrollment
8,451
2. Columbia University in the City of New York
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$59,430
Enrollment
8,216
3. Carnegie Mellon University
Pittsburgh, PA • Private
In-state tuition
$55,465
Enrollment
6,483
4. University of Texas at Austin
Austin, TX • Private
In-state tuition
$10,610
Enrollment
40,329
5. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
In-state tuition
$55,584
Enrollment
10,764
6. Pennsylvania State University
University Park, PA • Private
In-state tuition
$18,454
Enrollment
40,108
7. Northeastern University
Boston, MA • Private
In-state tuition
$51,522
Enrollment
13,760
8. University of Wisconsin - Madison
Madison, WI • Private
In-state tuition
$10,555
Enrollment
30,360
9. Cornell University
Ithaca, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$55,188
Enrollment
15,105
10. Boston University
Boston, MA • Private
In-state tuition
$53,948
Enrollment
17,238
20 best online courses for patent drafters
Advertising disclosure
1. Intellectual Property Law
Intellectual property is the currency of the tech world. The pharmaceutical patent for Lipitor generated over $100 billion in revenue, the copyright for the Harry Potter franchise has generated over $25 billion to date, and the trademarked brands of the world’s largest tech companies now eclipse $100 billion in value. But what makes these intangible assets so valuable?\n\nThrough the courses in this specialization, you will learn the differences between the various forms of U.S. intellectual...
2. Protecting Business Innovation
The modern day business is bustling with ideas, products, and designs that often fail to benefit from their discoveries and inventions when they are unable to adequately protect those innovations. Protecting a business’s innovations entails essential skills, ranging from an understanding of intellectual property rights and trademark law, to the process of getting a patent.\n\nThis specialization covers business law and strategy, along with other essential skills and concepts, and what they mean...
3. Patents & Trademarks: Learn the Patent and Trademark Process
2 courses in 1. Learn the process for patenting your idea, invention and how to trademark you brand...
4. Do-It-Yourself Patent Searching Using Free Web Resources
Is what you invent patentable? Use free websites to thoroughly search patents. For the novice inventor and entrepreneur...
5. Introduction to Intellectual Property
Intellectual property is the currency of the tech world, with the world’s most valuable intellectual property assets dwarfing the value of their real-world counterparts. Apple’ trademarked brand was valued at over $100 billion as of 2017. J.K. Rowling’s Harry potter franchise has generated over $25 billion to date. But how did the law come to create such enormous value in intangible assets? This course will introduce the various types of U.S. intellectual property: patents, which cover...
6. Legal Aspects of Entrepreneurship
By its nature, the law touches on many aspects of entrepreneurship, making it an applicable and versatile topic of study. For aspiring entrepreneurs, it's important to understand how to form the business, work with the initial customers, and hire. For active entrepreneurs, there are critical considerations on employment law, operating policies, and managing contracts. For everyone, the role that the law plays in managing the company, and its associated risks, must be properly understood to...
7. Certificate course in Intellectual Property Rights (IPR)
This course has been designed by experts to cover the basics of IPR and understand Patents, Trademarks and Copyright...
8. Intellectual Property Security Awareness
How to Use Social Media without Infringing on Trademarks, Copyrights, Trade Secrets and Patents...
9. Intellectual Property in the Healthcare Industry
This course begins with an overview of general intellectual property law in the United States, then examines how the policy choices behind those laws shapes the behavior of major players in the healthcare industry. We will examine how patents and trademarks shape the behavior of pharmaceutical companies, and how complex issues involving medical research in university settings, and ownership of genetic information and material, are resolved by intellectual property laws. The course concludes...
10. European Business Law
The European Union is one of the world's largest and most important economies. This specialization is a 3-course bundle that will teach learners the fundamentals of European Business Law.\n\nIn the first course, Understanding the Fundamentals, the learner will examine core structures of the European Union and the main sources of law. This will include being able to understand relevant laws and regulations regarding the internal European Union market, understand how to apply the fundamental...
11. Business Analysis: Data Flow Diagrams to Visualize Workflows
Process Modeling Techniques for Requirements Elicitation and Workflow Analysis - Now with Chat GPT and Jasper Demos...
12. Salesforce Lightning Flows - Flows Made Easy
Salesforce Lightning Flow Course - Fast and Easy Path to Flow Automation - Updated in 2023 - Includes Practice Test...
13. European Business Law: Understanding the Fundamentals
The European Union is one of the world’s largest and most important economies. This six week course is the first in a series of three that will provide students with an insight into European Business Law. The series ranges from considering the basic structures and principles of the European Union to focusing on various specialized areas of law. Each course will give the students an understanding of the laws and policies that regulate the internal market of European Union, as well as relevant...
14. Business Analysis: Functional & Non-Functional Requirements
Simple Requirements Decomposition / Drill-Down Techniques for Defining Product Behaviors and Qualities (Now with AI)...
15. 2023 Salesforce Flows: The Complete Guide to Lightning Flows
13x Certified Architect and Developer teaches you the Salesforce Flow skills that quadrupled my salary...
16. Salesforce Flows: Get Started with Lightning Flow Builder
Learn the new Salesforce Lightning Flow Builder and learn to automate your business process using Salesforce flows...
17. Agile Business Analysis: Getting / Writing Lean Requirements
How to Discover Requirements, User Stories, Features, and Gherkin (G-W-T) Tests - Now with Chat GPT!...
18. Accounting-Statement of Cash Flows
Unlocking the Secrets of Cash Flow Statements: Mastering Construction, Analysis, and Interpretation...
19. Business Analysis: Developing Requirements
Master the methods involved in planning and gathering requirements and framing input into requirements documents...
20. Salesforce Lightning Flows Complete Course
Learn the new Salesforce Lightning Flows and learn to automate your business process using Salesforce Lightning flows...
Top 10 most affordable universities for patent drafters
The most affordable schools for patent drafters are Brigham Young University, florida international university, and university of florida.
If the best universities for patent drafters 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 patent drafters.
1. Brigham Young University
Provo, UT • Private
In-state tuition
$5,620
Cost of attendance
18,136
2. Florida International University
Miami, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,556
Cost of attendance
19,434
3. University of Florida
Gainesville, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,381
Cost of attendance
21,034
4. Florida State University
Tallahassee, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$5,656
Cost of attendance
21,623
5. Baruch College of the City University of New York
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,262
Cost of attendance
14,046
6. California State University - Long Beach
Long Beach, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,798
Cost of attendance
18,306
7. University of Puerto Rico - Mayaguez
Mayaguez, PR • Private
In-state tuition
$4,094
Cost of attendance
14,302
8. California State University - Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,749
Cost of attendance
14,823
9. SUNY Farmingdale
Farmingdale, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$8,306
Cost of attendance
16,091
10. Florida Atlantic University
Boca Raton, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$4,831
Cost of attendance
19,559
Top 10 hardest universities to get into for patent drafters
The hardest universities for patent drafters to get into are Northwestern University, Columbia University in the City of New York, and Carnegie Mellon University.
Some great schools for patent drafters 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 patent drafters 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. Carnegie Mellon University
Pittsburgh, PA • Private
Admissions rate
17%
SAT average
1,507
4. Vanderbilt University
Nashville, TN • Private
Admissions rate
10%
SAT average
1,514
5. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
Admissions rate
8%
SAT average
1,492
6. Northeastern University
Boston, MA • Private
Admissions rate
19%
SAT average
1,466
7. Washington University in St Louis
Saint Louis, MO • Private
Admissions rate
15%
SAT average
1,506
8. University of Notre Dame
Notre Dame, IN • Private
Admissions rate
18%
SAT average
1,502
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 patent drafters
The easiest schools for patent drafters to get into are Oregon Institute of Technology, texas a&m; university - corpus christi, and midwestern state university.
Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a patent drafter 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 patent drafters.
1. Oregon Institute of Technology
Klamath Falls, OR • Private
Admissions rate
96%
SAT average
1,139
2. Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi
Corpus Christi, TX • Private
Admissions rate
87%
SAT average
1,068
3. Midwestern State University
Wichita Falls, TX • Private
Admissions rate
71%
SAT average
1,033
4. Felician University
Lodi, NJ • Private
Admissions rate
81%
SAT average
999
5. Barry University
Miami, FL • Private
Admissions rate
91%
SAT average
1,006
6. Cleveland State University
Cleveland, OH • Private
Admissions rate
88%
SAT average
1,111
7. Saint Francis University
Loretto, PA • Private
Admissions rate
75%
SAT average
1,146
8. Thomas More University
Crestview Hills, KY • Private
Admissions rate
90%
SAT average
1,099
9. Old Dominion University
Norfolk, VA • Private
Admissions rate
87%
SAT average
1,093
10. Texas A&M University - Kingsville
Kingsville, TX • Private
Admissions rate
89%
SAT average
1,035
Average patent drafter salary by education level
| Patent drafter education level | Patent drafter salary |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma or Less | $57,747 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $60,849 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $59,006 |
Patent drafter education FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025
Updated January 8, 2025