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Piping designer education requirements
Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
There are several educational requirements to become a piping designer. Piping designers usually study drafting and design, mechanical engineering, or engineering. 55% of piping designers hold a associate degree, and 28% hold an bachelor's degree. We analyzed 6,145 real piping designer resumes to see exactly what piping designer education sections show.
The most common colleges for piping designers are the University of Houston and the University of Houston.
There are also many online piping designer courses to help get the education required to be a piping designer.
What education do you need to become a piping designer?
What degree do you need to be a piping designer?
- Associate, 55%
- Bachelor's, 28%
- High School Diploma, 6%
- Diploma, 5%
- Other Degrees, 6%
What should I major in to become a piping designer?
- Drafting And Design, 44%
- Engineering, 6%
- Other Majors, 31%
Most common colleges for piping designers
| Piping designer common college | Percentages |
|---|---|
| University of Houston | 24.77% |
| Lamar University | 13.30% |
| Brazosport College | 8.26% |
| Southeastern Louisiana University | 6.42% |
| Mississippi College | 4.59% |
Best majors for piping designers
| Rank | Major | Percentages |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Drafting And Design | 43.7% |
| 2 | Mechanical Engineering | 14.8% |
| 3 | Engineering | 6.0% |
| 4 | Mechanical Engineering Technology | 4.4% |
| 5 | Engineering Technology | 3.4% |
Best colleges for piping designers
The best colleges for piping designers are Northwestern University, Carnegie Mellon University, and California Institute of Technology.
A piping 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 piping 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 piping 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 piping designers
Advertising disclosure
1. Piping Design Engineering & Piping Isometrics Masterclass
Everything you need to know to draft , design & fabricate your piping system & piping isometrics like a pro...
2. Designing Piping Systems: Pipe Fittings Flanges Valves
Understanding piping systems , their components , codes & specification for successful design , construction & operation...
3. PG Diploma in Piping Design Engineering
Learn Piping Design Engineering...
4. Know Read Understand Piping & Instrumentation Diagrams P & IDs
Learn how Process Control, Safety Instrumented Systems, Interlock & Alarms are represented in engineering P & ID drawings...
5. Flow of fluids through piping systems , valves and pumps
Learn to size valves & piping systems, calculate pressure drop, flow of liquids & gases through pipe , fittings & valves...
6. How to Read P & ID, PFD & BFD used in Process Plant like Pro
Learn How to Read Piping and Instrument Diagram-P & ID, Process Flow Diagram and Block Flow Diagram used in Process Plant...
7. How To Read Piping and Instrumentation Diagrams Made Easy
All you'll ever need to easily Read P & IDs in one Clear and Concise Course for Plant Operators, Maintenance & Engineers...
8. 3D Modeling Piped Systems in AutoCAD
From absolute ZERO all the way to creating sophisticated, 3D models and professional drawing packages in Auto CAD...
9. Valves: Principles , Operation & Designs
A complete understanding of construction details & functioning of valves for successful operation of your piping system...
10. Learn CAESAR II: The complete piping stress analysis course
Learn everything you need to know about piping stress analysis using CAESAR II software, from beginner to expert - 2022...
11. Complete Course on Piping Valves for Your Career Success
Learn about 18 types of valves used in Oil & Gas Piping, including their Standards, Manufacturing, Inspection & Testing...
12. The Complete Course on Piping Components for Oil & Gas Career
Learn about Pipe,Fittings,Olets,Gaskets, Flanges,Bolting materials,Valve,orifice flanges,Spectacle Blind,steam traps etc...
13. Heat Exchangers: Design , Operation & Maintenance
A complete understanding of construction details , functionning and design of heat exchangers for successful operation...
14. HVAC (PART2) with Revit MEP & Practical Projects
your Practical Guide in the Heating Ventilation & Air Conditioning with Programs & Layouts (A Complete Project Included)...
15. AutoCAD Civil 3D - MEGA course for Civil Works
Autodesk Civil3D - All the land works design, from zero to expert...
16. Centrifugal pumps: Principles , Operation and Design
A complete understanding of construction details and functioning of centrifugal pumps for successful plant operation...
17. Unit Operations in Chemical Engineering
Learn the most important Unit Operations in Chemical Plants...
18. Learning AutoCAD Civil 3D 2016
A Practical Course That Teaches How To Get The Most From Auto CAD Civil 3D...
19. Graphic Design Masterclass - Learn GREAT Design
The Ultimate Graphic Design Course Which Covers Photoshop, Illustrator, In Design,Design Theory, Branding and Logo Design...
20. HVAC (PART1) with HAPExcelAutoCADManual Calculations
A Practical Guide in the Heating Ventilation & Air Conditioning with Programs & Layouts (Including 4 Practical Projects)...
Top 10 most affordable universities for piping designers
The most affordable schools for piping designers are Brigham Young University, inter american university of puerto rico san german, and university of puerto rico - mayaguez.
If the best universities for piping 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 piping 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 piping designers
The hardest universities for piping designers to get into are Northwestern University, Carnegie Mellon University, and California Institute of Technology.
Some great schools for piping 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 piping 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
8%
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
7%
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
6%
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
4%
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 piping designers
The easiest schools for piping 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 piping 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 piping 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 piping designer salary by education level
| Piping designer education level | Piping designer salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $68,461 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $56,968 |
| Doctorate Degree | $77,137 |
Piping designer 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