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Project engineer education requirements
Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
There are several educational requirements to become a project engineer. Project engineers usually study mechanical engineering, civil engineering, or electrical engineering. 77% of project engineers hold a bachelor's degree, and 12% hold an master's degree. We analyzed 58,605 real project engineer resumes to see exactly what project engineer education sections show.
The most common colleges for project engineers are the Purdue University and the Purdue University.
There are also many online project engineer courses to help get the education required to be a project engineer.
There are certain project engineer certifications that you should consider. These project engineer certifications include Engineer In Training Certification (EIT) and OSHA Safety Certificate .
What education do you need to become a project engineer?
What degree do you need to be a project engineer?
- Bachelor's, 77%
- Master's, 12%
- Associate, 8%
- Diploma, 1%
- Other Degrees, 2%
What should I major in to become a project engineer?
- Civil Engineering, 18%
- Business, 5%
- Other Majors, 36%
Most common colleges for project engineers
| Project engineer common college | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Purdue University | 11.10% |
| Pennsylvania State University | 9.42% |
| Texas A&M University | 7.78% |
| Georgia Institute of Technology | 5.38% |
| Michigan Technological University | 5.25% |
Best majors for project engineers
| Rank | Major | Percentages |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mechanical Engineering | 27.9% |
| 2 | Civil Engineering | 18.3% |
| 3 | Electrical Engineering | 12.7% |
| 4 | Business | 5.0% |
| 5 | Chemical Engineering | 4.8% |
Best colleges for project engineers
The best colleges for project engineers are Johns Hopkins University, Columbia University in the City of New York, and Carnegie Mellon University.
A project 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 project 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 project engineers.
1. Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Cambridge, MA • Private
In-state tuition
$51,832
Enrollment
4,550
2. Georgia Institute of Technology
Atlanta, GA • Private
In-state tuition
$12,424
Enrollment
15,201
3. Cornell University
Ithaca, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$55,188
Enrollment
15,105
4. Columbia University in the City of New York
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$59,430
Enrollment
8,216
5. Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, MD • Private
In-state tuition
$53,740
Enrollment
5,567
6. Carnegie Mellon University
Pittsburgh, PA • Private
In-state tuition
$55,465
Enrollment
6,483
7. University of Texas at Austin
Austin, TX • Private
In-state tuition
$10,610
Enrollment
40,329
8. Stanford University
Stanford, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$51,354
Enrollment
7,083
9. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, MI • Private
In-state tuition
$15,262
Enrollment
30,079
10. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
In-state tuition
$54,568
Enrollment
8,451
20 best online courses for project engineers
Advertising disclosure
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3. Projects Cost Management, Estimating, Budgeting and Control.
Learn how to estimate costs for any project, how to determine budget and how to use Earned Value Management tools. 3 PDU...
4. Construction Cost Estimating and Management
Learn the tools used by construction management professionals to ensure their projects finish under budget...
5. Engineering Project Management: Risk, Quality, Teams, and Procurement
Many Project Managers focus only on the scope, schedule and budget. However, a successful project requires that you manage risk, control the quality of the deliverables, engage and manage people and procure goods and services. This course will focus on these key support functions that make the difference between a highly successful project and an average one. During the course, you will prepare a Qualitative Risk Analysis and Evaluate the Cost of Quality for a provided Case Study. By the end of...
6. Contracts Management in Construction Projects
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7. IT Project Budget & Cost Management
Project Management tips to manage a million dollar IT Project budget from start to finish...
8. Learn Estimating & Cost Control
Develop a good practical understanding of best practice estimating and cost control on building & construction Projects...
9. Project Management: Cost & Schedule Monitoring using EVM
Earned Value Management, Project Management, Cost Control & Monitor, Budget, Schedule & Cost Variance, Performance Index...
10. Construction Project Scheduling
Learn the tools and techniques used by construction management professionals to ensure projects finish on time...
11. 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...
12. Project Management - Complete Guide For A+ Project Managers
Complete guide to project management - stakeholders, planning, cost, quality, risks, feasibility, methods & resourcing...
13. Quantity Surveying Building Estimation,Cad Excel & Planswift
Quantity Surveying, Quantity Takeoff, BBS In Excel ,Complete Project In Autocad, Project Planning With Primavera P6...
14. Project Management Essentials
A crash course in the essentials of project management for new project managers...
15. Mastering Construction/Project Management
Mastering Construction-Project Management in less than 10 Hours...
16. Quantity Surveying Building Estimation BBS with Excel & CAD
Quantity Surveying, Construction Estimation ,Quantity survey ,Cost Estimation ,Civil engineering, Building Estimation...
17. HVAC Ductwork Quantity Take off for Quantity Surveyors
HVAC, Duct, Take off, Estimation, Quantity Surveying, Length, Area, Weight, SMACNA, POMI, AUTOCAD, Excel, Template, MEP...
18. Product Development & Systems Engineering
The complete Product Development & Systems Engineering course! Earn 25 contact hours AND prepare to take the INCOSE Exam...
19. Project Management Training
Project Management Certification Training with 4 Full Practice Tests...
20. Quantity Surveying Templates for Effective Cost Management
Quantity Surveying, Payment Application, Payment Tracker, Variation, Claim, Material Claim, Guarantees, Price Comparison...
Top 10 most affordable universities for project engineers
The most affordable schools for project engineers are University of Florida, california state university - long beach, and florida state university.
If the best universities for project 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 project 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 Puerto Rico - Mayaguez
Mayaguez, PR • Private
In-state tuition
$4,094
Cost of attendance
14,302
9. University of South Florida
Tampa, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,410
Cost of attendance
20,456
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 project engineers
The hardest universities for project engineers to get into are Johns Hopkins University, Columbia University in the City of New York, and Carnegie Mellon University.
Some great schools for project 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 project 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. Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, MD • Private
Admissions rate
11%
SAT average
1,513
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. 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. Stanford University
Stanford, CA • Private
Admissions rate
4%
SAT average
1,497
10. Northeastern University
Boston, MA • Private
Admissions rate
19%
SAT average
1,466
Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for project engineers
The easiest schools for project engineers to get into are Oregon Institute of Technology, south dakota state university, and alabama a & m university.
Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a project 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 project 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. Alabama A & M University
Normal, AL • Private
Admissions rate
90%
SAT average
957
4. Portland State University
Portland, OR • Private
Admissions rate
90%
SAT average
1,111
5. Cleveland State University
Cleveland, OH • Private
Admissions rate
88%
SAT average
1,111
6. Pennsylvania State University - Altoona
Altoona, PA • Private
Admissions rate
91%
SAT average
1,094
7. California State University - Chico
Chico, CA • Private
Admissions rate
65%
SAT average
1,092
8. Purdue University Fort Wayne
Fort Wayne, IN • Private
Admissions rate
97%
SAT average
1,080
9. Washington State University
Pullman, WA • Private
Admissions rate
77%
SAT average
1,123
10. Old Dominion University
Norfolk, VA • Private
Admissions rate
87%
SAT average
1,093
Average project engineer salary by education level
| Project engineer education level | Project engineer salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $83,351 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $74,333 |
| Doctorate Degree | $89,784 |
Project engineer education FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025
Updated January 8, 2025