Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
Professional engineer education requirements
Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
There are several educational requirements to become a professional engineer. Professional engineers usually study civil engineering, mechanical engineering, or electrical engineering. 77% of professional engineers hold a bachelor's degree, and 13% hold an master's degree. We analyzed 1,042 real professional engineer resumes to see exactly what professional engineer education sections show.
The most common colleges for professional engineers are the University of Florida and the University of Florida.
There are also many online professional engineer courses to help get the education required to be a professional engineer.
There are certain professional engineer certifications that you should consider. These professional engineer certifications include Engineer In Training Certification (EIT) and Six Sigma Green Belt.
What education do you need to become a professional engineer?
What degree do you need to be a professional engineer?
- Bachelor's, 77%
- Master's, 13%
- Associate, 5%
- Doctorate, 2%
- Other Degrees, 3%
What should I major in to become a professional engineer?
- Civil Engineering, 31%
- Engineering, 7%
- Other Majors, 31%
Most common colleges for professional engineers
| Professional engineer common college | Percentages |
|---|---|
| University of Florida | 11.83% |
| Pennsylvania State University | 8.28% |
| Texas A&M University | 7.10% |
| Purdue University | 5.92% |
| The University of Tennessee - Knoxville | 5.33% |
Best majors for professional engineers
| Rank | Major | Percentages |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Civil Engineering | 30.9% |
| 2 | Mechanical Engineering | 17.1% |
| 3 | Electrical Engineering | 14.3% |
| 4 | Engineering | 7.3% |
| 5 | Chemical Engineering | 7.0% |
Best colleges for professional engineers
The best colleges for professional engineers are Carnegie Mellon University, Johns Hopkins University, and Columbia University in the City of New York.
A professional 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 professional 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 professional engineers.
1. Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Cambridge, MA • Private
In-state tuition
$51,832
Enrollment
4,550
2. Carnegie Mellon University
Pittsburgh, PA • Private
In-state tuition
$55,465
Enrollment
6,483
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. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, MI • Private
In-state tuition
$15,262
Enrollment
30,079
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. Stanford University
Stanford, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$51,354
Enrollment
7,083
9. California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo
San Luis Obispo, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$9,816
Enrollment
21,047
10. University of Texas at Austin
Austin, TX • Private
In-state tuition
$10,610
Enrollment
40,329
20 best online courses for professional engineers
Advertising disclosure
1. Introduction to Systems Engineering
Introduction to Systems Engineering introduces you to the holistic and interdisciplinary systems engineering approach to designing, realizing, and managing complex systems. In this three-course specialization, you will learn how to evolve a project from idea to fielded hardware customized to meet customer requirements while effectively managing costs, timescales, and limiting risks. You will identify and define a system and its components, model a system life cycle, and apply systems...
2. The Need for Systems Engineering
Systems engineering is an interdisciplinary approach to designing, realizing, and managing complex systems. In this course, you will be introduced to principles of systems engineering and its importance to the development of complex systems. You will learn to identify and define systems, manage their complexity, and describe their life cycle. The course uses real-world engineering examples to address how the systems engineering approach can address challenges. This course can be taken for...
3. Diploma in Basics of Civil Engineering for Construction
Practical Course to Gain Quick Knowledge in Civil Engineering & Get Entry Level Jobs in Construction as Freshers...
4. Product Development & Systems Engineering
The complete Product Development & Systems Engineering course! Earn 25 contact hours AND prepare to take the INCOSE Exam...
5. Engineering Project Management
Master strategies and tools to more effectively and successfully manage projects.\n\nToday’s professional environment is highly competitive, continuously changing, and difficult to manage. Employees rarely reach positions of leadership without managing one or more projects or a project segment early in their career.\n\nBrought to you by the Rice Center of Engineering Leadership and team behind the engineering management master's program, the goal of this Specialization is to give you the tools...
6. Construction Cost Estimating and Management
Learn the tools used by construction management professionals to ensure their projects finish under budget...
7. Google Cloud Professional Data Engineer Practice Tests
Pass the Google Cloud Professional Data Engineer Exam...
8. Railway Systems Engineering (Equivalent to Micro MSc )
A Journey in the World of Railway Systems Operation Rolling Stock Traction System Engineering Infrastructure...
9. Diesel Engine Fundamentals (Mechanical Engineering)
Learn about the diesel engine! Ideal for Automotive Engineering and Automobile Engineering!...
10. Unreal Engine: Character Skill System
Master the tools used to build Fortnite as we craft our very own character skill system using the Unreal Engine!...
11. Aerospace Engineering: Aircraft Systems and Avionics
Aerospace and Aeronautical Engineering: Master the Systems of Airplanes - Hydraulics, Avionics, Electric, Propulsion...
12. Quantity Surveying Building Estimation BBS with Excel & CAD
Quantity Surveying, Construction Estimation ,Quantity survey ,Cost Estimation ,Civil engineering, Building Estimation...
13. AWS Certified DevOps Engineer Professional Practice Exams
Be an AWS Dev Ops Engineer! AWS Certified Dev Ops Engineer Professional Practice Tests that covers all DOP-C02 topics!...
14. Understanding Engineering Drawings
How Technical Information is Conveyed from Engineers and Designers to Manufacturing and Supply Chain Professionals...
15. Construction Methodology Basics in Civil Engineering
New Home Construction & Building construction along with Home Repair ,Estimation & Plumbing With Video Step By Step...
16. Internal Combustion Engine Basics (Mechanical Engineering)
Learn how internal combustion engines work! Learn all of a combustion engine's main components and how they work!...
17. Power Engineering: Power System Analysis - Part 1
Start your career in electrical engineering and power engineering by learning the fundamentals of power system analysis...
18. Google Professional Cloud Security Engineer Certification
Learn Google Cloud - GCP with 50+ Hands-on Demo lab & Prepare yourself for GCP Professional Cloud Security Engineer Exam...
19. Electrical Power Engineering Principles
Learn all the basic theories and principles of electrical engineering...
20. Requirements Engineering: Software Engineering
Everything you need to know about software requirements: elicitation, analysis, documentation, validation and management...
Top 10 most affordable universities for professional engineers
The most affordable schools for professional engineers are University of Florida, california state university - long beach, and florida state university.
If the best universities for professional 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 professional engineers.
1. University of Florida
Gainesville, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,381
Cost of attendance
21,034
2. California State University - Long Beach
Long Beach, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,798
Cost of attendance
18,306
3. Florida State University
Tallahassee, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$5,656
Cost of attendance
21,623
4. Florida Atlantic University
Boca Raton, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$4,831
Cost of attendance
19,559
5. City College of New York of the City University of New York, The
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,140
Cost of attendance
14,430
6. Brigham Young University
Provo, UT • Private
In-state tuition
$5,620
Cost of attendance
18,136
7. California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
Pomona, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$7,353
Cost of attendance
21,302
8. University of South Florida
Tampa, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,410
Cost of attendance
20,456
9. University of Puerto Rico - Mayaguez
Mayaguez, PR • Private
In-state tuition
$4,094
Cost of attendance
14,302
10. California State University - Northridge
Northridge, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,893
Cost of attendance
18,870
Top 10 hardest universities to get into for professional engineers
The hardest universities for professional engineers to get into are Carnegie Mellon University, Johns Hopkins University, and Columbia University in the City of New York.
Some great schools for professional 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 professional 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. Carnegie Mellon University
Pittsburgh, PA • Private
Admissions rate
17%
SAT average
1,507
2. Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, MD • Private
Admissions rate
11%
SAT average
1,513
3. Columbia University in the City of New York
New York, NY • Private
Admissions rate
6%
SAT average
1,512
4. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
Admissions rate
8%
SAT average
1,508
5. Cornell University
Ithaca, NY • Private
Admissions rate
11%
SAT average
1,471
6. California Institute of Technology
Pasadena, CA • Private
Admissions rate
7%
SAT average
1,566
7. Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Cambridge, MA • Private
Admissions rate
7%
SAT average
1,545
8. Georgia Institute of Technology
Atlanta, GA • Private
Admissions rate
22%
SAT average
1,465
9. Washington University in St Louis
Saint Louis, MO • Private
Admissions rate
15%
SAT average
1,506
10. New York University
New York, NY • Private
Admissions rate
20%
SAT average
1,419
Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for professional engineers
The easiest schools for professional engineers to get into are Oregon Institute of Technology, south dakota state university, and washington state university.
Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a professional 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 professional engineers.
1. Oregon Institute of Technology
Klamath Falls, OR • Private
Admissions rate
96%
SAT average
1,139
2. South Dakota State University
Brookings, SD • Private
Admissions rate
92%
SAT average
1,149
3. Washington State University
Pullman, WA • Private
Admissions rate
77%
SAT average
1,123
4. Alabama A & M University
Normal, AL • Private
Admissions rate
90%
SAT average
957
5. Cleveland State University
Cleveland, OH • Private
Admissions rate
88%
SAT average
1,111
6. Portland State University
Portland, OR • Private
Admissions rate
90%
SAT average
1,111
7. The University of Texas at El Paso
El Paso, TX • Private
Admissions rate
100%
SAT average
1,035
8. Pennsylvania State University - Altoona
Altoona, PA • Private
Admissions rate
91%
SAT average
1,094
9. California State University - Chico
Chico, CA • Private
Admissions rate
65%
SAT average
1,092
10. Purdue University Fort Wayne
Fort Wayne, IN • Private
Admissions rate
97%
SAT average
1,080
Average professional engineer salary by education level
| Professional engineer education level | Professional engineer salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $94,048 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $85,171 |
| Doctorate Degree | $93,402 |
Professional engineer education FAQs
Have more questions? See all answers to common architecture and engineering questions.
Search for professional engineer jobs
Updated January 8, 2025
Updated January 8, 2025