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Prototype engineer manager education requirements

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read

There are several educational requirements to become a prototype engineer manager. Prototype engineer managers usually study mechanical engineering, business, or electrical engineering. 60% of prototype engineer managers hold a bachelor's degree, and 21% hold an associate degree. We analyzed 241 real prototype engineer manager resumes to see exactly what prototype engineer manager education sections show.

The most common colleges for prototype engineer managers are the Purdue University and the Purdue University.

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

What education do you need to become a prototype engineer manager?

What degree do you need to be a prototype engineer manager?

The most common degree for prototype engineer managers is bachelor's degree, with 60% of prototype engineer managers earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are associate degree degree at 21% and associate degree degree at 8%.
  • Bachelor's, 60%
  • Associate, 21%
  • High School Diploma, 8%
  • Master's, 7%
  • Other Degrees, 4%

What should I major in to become a prototype engineer manager?

You should major in mechanical engineering to become a prototype engineer manager. 24% of prototype engineer managers major in mechanical engineering. Other common majors for a prototype engineer manager include business and electrical engineering.

Most common colleges for prototype engineer managers

Prototype engineer managers often get their degrees at Purdue University, University of California - San Diego, and University of Massachusetts - Lowell. Here are the most common colleges for prototype engineer managers in the US based on their resumes.
Prototype engineer manager common collegePercentages
Purdue University8.82%
University of California - San Diego5.88%
University of Massachusetts - Lowell5.88%
Rochester Institute of Technology5.88%
University of California, Santa Barbara5.88%

Best majors for prototype engineer managers

Best colleges for prototype engineer managers

The best colleges for prototype engineer managers are Northwestern University, Columbia University in the City of New York, and Carnegie Mellon University.

A prototype engineer manager with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for prototype engineer managers. 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 prototype engineer managers.

1. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Ann Arbor, MI • Private

In-state tuition

$15,262

Enrollment

30,079

2. Georgia Institute of Technology

Atlanta, GA • Private

In-state tuition

$12,424

Enrollment

15,201

3. University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$56,225

Enrollment

19,548

4. Pennsylvania State University

University Park, PA • Private

In-state tuition

$18,454

Enrollment

40,108

5. Cornell University

Ithaca, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$55,188

Enrollment

15,105

6. University of Washington

Seattle, WA • Private

In-state tuition

$11,207

Enrollment

30,905

7. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

In-state tuition

$54,568

Enrollment

8,451

8. Columbia University in the City of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$59,430

Enrollment

8,216

9. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

In-state tuition

$55,584

Enrollment

10,764

10. California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo

San Luis Obispo, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$9,816

Enrollment

21,047

20 best online courses for prototype engineer managers

Advertising disclosure

1. Adding Electronics to Rapid Prototypes

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Hello, everyone! Welcome to this course on Adding Electronics to Rapid Prototypes. This is part of the Rapid Prototyping and Tooling specialization. In this course, I’ll cover the basics of electric circuits, breadboards, and multimeters. I’ll then discuss different options for connecting electrical components as well as discuss different types of motors and actuators. Finally, I’ll end this course by discussing microcontrollers and how to use them to make even more sophisticated prototypes. By...

2. Engineering Project Management: Risk, Quality, Teams, and Procurement

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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...

3. Axure RP 9 Fundamentals and Mobile prototyping for UX Design

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4.4
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Learn the fundamentals to advance level of Axure RP skills to create an interactive prototyping for mobile device...

4. ISO 9001:2015 Quality management system auditor

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4.5
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Upgrade your career by learning how to implement and audit a quality management system according to ISO 9001...

5. ISO 9001:2015-Quality Management System Implementation & Audit

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4.2
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Learn how to Implement and Audit a Quality Management System as per ISO 9001: 2015...

6. Certified Quality Engineer Training [2022]

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4.6
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Comprehensive Certified Quality Engineer (CQE) Exam Preparation Course (2022 Body of Knowledge)...

7. Quality Management Systems:Management and Control of Quality

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Learn to Build, Implement, and Sustain a Performance Excellence Culture into Your Organisation...

8. Supply Chain Management: Inventory Management and Control

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Inventory Management in Supply Chain Management & Inventory Control in Warehouse Logistics & Supply chain Management...

9. The Production Part Approval Process (PPAP)

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The 18-step process for ensuring new parts are consistently manufactured and meet their customers' quality expectations...

10. ISO9001 Quality Management System

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Learn why your business should be using Quality Management TODAY and create your own QMS (Quality Management System)...

11. Start Improving Customer Service

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Creating a Customer Service advantage in Your department or business through communication and Customer Management...

12. Customer Service Training: Dealing with Difficult Customers

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Learn how to deal with difficult customers Master customer relationship management Gain conflict management skills...

13. 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...

14. Learning SOLIDWORKS: For Students, Engineers, and Designers

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For Basic and Intermediate Users...

15. Mastering ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management System

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4.6
(2,349)

Plain and Simple Clause by Clause Explanation of ISO 9001:2015 QMS Standard & Implementation Strategies...

16. Inventory Management: Safety Stock Calculation and Control

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4.6
(434)

Optimize your Supply Chain Safety Stock. Simple to Advanced Methods. Reduce Costs and Risk in your Business Operations...

17. Fundamentals of Logistics, Supply Chain & Customer Service

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4.5
(3,822)

Learn Logistics, Supply Chain and Customer Service. 3 Courses in 1...

18. Design Thinking & Project Management: 2 in 1 Complete Guides

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4.3
(780)

(1) DT: Empathy, Define, Ideation, Prototype, Testing PLUS (2) PM: Planning, Cost, Quality, Risks, Feasibility, Methods...

19. Customer Service Foundation

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(290)

An introductory course about understanding the foundations of Customer Service...

20. Electrical Engineering: Power Electronics Masterclass

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Further your knowledge in power engineering by learning to design rectifiers, dc-to-dc converters, and inverters...

Top 10 most affordable universities for prototype engineer managers

The most affordable schools for prototype engineer managers are United States Merchant Marine Academy, university of florida, and california state university - long beach.

If the best universities for prototype engineer managers 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 prototype engineer managers.

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. California State University - Bakersfield

Bakersfield, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$7,309

Cost of attendance

16,714

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. SUNY Farmingdale

Farmingdale, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$8,306

Cost of attendance

16,091

7. Florida International University

Miami, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,556

Cost of attendance

19,434

8. New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology

Socorro, NM • Private

In-state tuition

$7,770

Cost of attendance

21,244

9. University of South Florida

Tampa, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,410

Cost of attendance

20,456

10. California State University - Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,749

Cost of attendance

14,823

Top 10 hardest universities to get into for prototype engineer managers

The hardest universities for prototype engineer managers to get into are Northwestern University, Columbia University in the City of New York, and Carnegie Mellon University.

Some great schools for prototype engineer managers 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 prototype engineer managers 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. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

Admissions rate

8%

SAT average

1,492

5. Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore, MD • Private

Admissions rate

11%

SAT average

1,513

6. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Cambridge, MA • Private

Admissions rate

7%

SAT average

1,545

7. Cornell University

Ithaca, NY • Private

Admissions rate

11%

SAT average

1,471

8. Stanford University

Stanford, CA • Private

Admissions rate

4%

SAT average

1,497

9. Washington University in St Louis

Saint Louis, MO • Private

Admissions rate

15%

SAT average

1,506

10. Harvard University

Cambridge, MA • Private

Admissions rate

5%

SAT average

1,520

Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for prototype engineer managers

The easiest schools for prototype engineer managers to get into are Texas A&M; University - Kingsville, the university of texas permian basin, and pennsylvania state university - dubois.

Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a prototype engineer manager 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 prototype engineer managers.

1. Texas A&M University - Kingsville

Kingsville, TX • Private

Admissions rate

89%

SAT average

1,035

2. The University of Texas Permian Basin

Odessa, TX • Private

Admissions rate

91%

SAT average

1,046

3. Pennsylvania State University - DuBois

DuBois, PA • Private

Admissions rate

85%

SAT average

1,079

4. The University of Texas at El Paso

El Paso, TX • Private

Admissions rate

100%

SAT average

1,035

5. Oregon Institute of Technology

Klamath Falls, OR • Private

Admissions rate

96%

SAT average

1,139

6. Pennsylvania State University - Fayette (The Eberly Campus)

Lemont Furnace, PA • Private

Admissions rate

80%

SAT average

1,067

7. University of the Incarnate Word

San Antonio, TX • Private

Admissions rate

88%

SAT average

1,044

8. Capitol Technology University

Laurel, MD • Private

Admissions rate

69%

SAT average

1,070

9. Saint Martin's University

Lacey, WA • Private

Admissions rate

96%

SAT average

1,111

10. Oklahoma Wesleyan University

Bartlesville, OK • Private

Admissions rate

68%

SAT average

964

Average prototype engineer manager salary by education level

According to our data, prototype engineer managers with a Doctorate degree earn the highest average salary, at $138,653 annually. Prototype engineer managers with a Master's degree earn an average annual salary of $127,678.
Prototype engineer manager education levelPrototype engineer manager salary
Master's Degree$127,678
Bachelor's Degree$118,503
Doctorate Degree$138,653

Prototype engineer manager 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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