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Radiological engineer education requirements

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read

There are several educational requirements to become a radiological engineer. Radiological engineers usually study nuclear engineering, physics, or mechanical engineering. 59% of radiological engineers hold a bachelor's degree, and 19% hold an associate degree. We analyzed 225 real radiological engineer resumes to see exactly what radiological engineer education sections show.

The most common colleges for radiological engineers are the Pennsylvania State University and the Pennsylvania State University.

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

What education do you need to become a radiological engineer?

What degree do you need to be a radiological engineer?

The most common degree for radiological engineers is bachelor's degree, with 59% of radiological engineers earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are associate degree degree at 19% and associate degree degree at 15%.
  • Bachelor's, 59%
  • Associate, 19%
  • Master's, 15%
  • Diploma, 2%
  • Other Degrees, 5%

What should I major in to become a radiological engineer?

You should major in nuclear engineering to become a radiological engineer. 14% of radiological engineers major in nuclear engineering. Other common majors for a radiological engineer include physics and mechanical engineering.

Most common colleges for radiological engineers

Radiological engineers often get their degrees at Pennsylvania State University, Old Dominion University, and University of New Mexico. Here are the most common colleges for radiological engineers in the US based on their resumes.
Radiological engineer common collegePercentages
Pennsylvania State University10.53%
Old Dominion University7.89%
University of New Mexico7.89%
Oregon State University7.89%
Regis University5.26%

Best majors for radiological engineers

RankMajorPercentages
1Nuclear Engineering13.5%
2Physics11.5%
3Mechanical Engineering9.4%
4Biology8.3%
5Business8.3%

Best colleges for radiological engineers

The best colleges for radiological engineers are Stanford University, Northwestern University, and University of Pennsylvania.

A radiological 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 radiological 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 radiological engineers.

1. Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Worcester, MA • Private

In-state tuition

$50,530

Enrollment

4,571

2. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Champaign, IL • Private

In-state tuition

$15,094

Enrollment

32,974

3. SUNY at Buffalo

Buffalo, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$10,099

Enrollment

21,404

4. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Troy, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$53,880

Enrollment

6,590

5. Stanford University

Stanford, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$51,354

Enrollment

7,083

6. Pennsylvania State University

University Park, PA • Private

In-state tuition

$18,454

Enrollment

40,108

7. Missouri University of Science and Technology

Rolla, MO • Private

In-state tuition

$9,440

Enrollment

6,785

8. Georgia Institute of Technology

Atlanta, GA • Private

In-state tuition

$12,424

Enrollment

15,201

9. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

In-state tuition

$55,584

Enrollment

10,764

10. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Ann Arbor, MI • Private

In-state tuition

$15,262

Enrollment

30,079

20 best online courses for radiological engineers

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1. Battery State-of-Health (SOH) Estimation

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This course can also be taken for academic credit as ECEA 5733, part of CU Boulder’s Master of Science in Electrical Engineering degree. In this course, you will learn how to implement different state-of-health estimation methods and to evaluate their relative merits. By the end of the course, you will be able to: - Identify the primary degradation mechanisms that occur in lithium-ion cells and understand how they work - Execute provided Octave/MATLAB script to estimate total capacity using...

2. Visualizing the Living Body: Diagnostic Imaging

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This course teaches learners the underlying principles behind conventional radiography, computerized axial tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and ultrasound. The radiology of chest, abdomen, pelvis, extremities, spine and brain are taught in this course using a combination of lectures and extensive practical activities and assessments. By the end of the course you will be able to: Describe the principles of conventional radiography, CT MRI and ultrasound Describe systematic...

3. Diesel Engine Fundamentals (Mechanical Engineering)

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Learn about the diesel engine! Ideal for Automotive Engineering and Automobile Engineering!...

4. Quantity Surveying Building Estimation BBS with Excel & CAD

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Quantity Surveying, Construction Estimation ,Quantity survey ,Cost Estimation ,Civil engineering, Building Estimation...

5. Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics 2

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An appreciation of thermodynamics is required to become a chemical and biomolecular engineer. Thermodynamics can assess the viability of a process and is one of the curriculum's most essential topics. The principles are utilized in following engineering courses (kinetics, mass transfer, design, materials) and are applicable to numerous engineering disciplines. The increased emphasis on energy usage and transformation as a result of rising demand, diminishing supply, and global warming...

6. Real-World Engineering Management

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Learn software engineering management using the same practices as Amazon Web Services (AWS), with comparisons to the practices at Google and Microsoft! Gain insights to impress on your first (or next) engineering manager (EM or SDM) role.\n\nLead instructor Nancy Wang, Director of Engineering and Product and General Manager of Data Protection Services at Amazon Web Services, shares the key business, technical, design, and leadership skills necessary for success at engineering manager roles at...

7. 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...

8. Unreal Engine 5 C++ Multiplayer Shooter

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Create a fast-paced, competitive multiplayer shooter in Unreal Engine 5 using C++!...

9. Kubernetes Engine: Qwik Start

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This is a self-paced lab that takes place in the Google Cloud console. Google Kubernetes Engine provides a managed environment for deploying, managing, and scaling your containerized applications using Google infrastructure. This hands-on lab shows you how deploy a containerized application with Kubernetes Engine...

10. Basics of Material selection for mechanical design engineers

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Learn about the fundamentals of materials and their selection for mechanical engineering design for design engineers...

11. Automotive Engineering: Automobile Fundamentals and Advanced

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Automotive & Vehicle Engineering: Master the Mechanics of Cars including Engine, Dynamics, Transmission, Chassis & More...

12. From Engineer to Technical Manager: A Survival Guide

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New manager training for engineers - smooth the transition from individual contributor to manager or team lead...

13. Unreal Engine C++ The Ultimate Shooter Course

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Master Unreal Engine by Creating a Complete Shooter Game!...

14. Understanding Engineering Drawings

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How Technical Information is Conveyed from Engineers and Designers to Manufacturing and Supply Chain Professionals...

15. Mechanics / Statics - Introduction to Mechanical Engineering

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4.5
(263)

Engineering Solid Mechanics / Engineering Statics...

16. Complete Field Instrumentation Engineering Course

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Flow, Level, Temperature and Pressure Instrument - Selection, Sizing, Calculation and Detail Engineering...

17. Unreal Engine 5: One Course Solution For Material

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Learn how material works in Unreal Engine 5 through a node by node, step by step approach...

18. Internal Combustion Engine Basics (Mechanical Engineering)

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Learn how internal combustion engines work! Learn all of a combustion engine's main components and how they work!...

19. ISO 45001. Occupational health & safety management system

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Upgrate your health and safety career by understanding the requriements for an OH & S management system from ISO 45001...

20. Mechanical Engineering and Electrical Engineering Explained

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Learn how things work! Boilers, engines, valves, transformers, pumps, learn it all in this constantly growing course!...

Top 10 most affordable universities for radiological engineers

The most affordable schools for radiological engineers are SUNY Farmingdale, university of florida, and california state university - bakersfield.

If the best universities for radiological 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 radiological engineers.

1. SUNY Farmingdale

Farmingdale, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$8,306

Cost of attendance

16,091

2. University of Florida

Gainesville, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,381

Cost of attendance

21,034

3. California State University - Bakersfield

Bakersfield, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$7,309

Cost of attendance

16,714

4. Baruch College of the City University of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,262

Cost of attendance

14,046

5. California State University - Dominguez Hills

Carson, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,942

Cost of attendance

14,469

6. Brooklyn College of the City University of New York

Brooklyn, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,240

Cost of attendance

13,991

7. Purdue University

West Lafayette, IN • Private

In-state tuition

$9,992

Cost of attendance

22,430

8. Brigham Young University

Provo, UT • Private

In-state tuition

$5,620

Cost of attendance

18,136

9. SUNY Polytechnic Institute

Utica, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$8,238

Cost of attendance

21,567

10. USF Sarasota-Manatee

Sarasota, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$5,587

Cost of attendance

13,043

Top 10 hardest universities to get into for radiological engineers

The hardest universities for radiological engineers to get into are Stanford University, Northwestern University, and University of Pennsylvania.

Some great schools for radiological 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 radiological 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. Stanford University

Stanford, CA • Private

Admissions rate

4%

SAT average

1,497

2. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

Admissions rate

8%

SAT average

1,508

3. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

Admissions rate

8%

SAT average

1,492

4. Columbia University in the City of New York

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

6%

SAT average

1,512

5. Boston University

Boston, MA • Private

Admissions rate

22%

SAT average

1,420

6. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Troy, NY • Private

Admissions rate

43%

SAT average

1,415

7. Georgia Institute of Technology

Atlanta, GA • Private

Admissions rate

22%

SAT average

1,465

8. Cornell University

Ithaca, NY • Private

Admissions rate

11%

SAT average

1,471

9. New York University

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

20%

SAT average

1,419

10. University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA • Private

Admissions rate

13%

SAT average

1,445

Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for radiological engineers

The easiest schools for radiological engineers to get into are Oklahoma Wesleyan University, notre dame de namur university, and holy names university.

Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a radiological 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 radiological engineers.

1. Oklahoma Wesleyan University

Bartlesville, OK • Private

Admissions rate

68%

SAT average

964

2. Notre Dame de Namur University

Belmont, CA • Private

Admissions rate

82%

SAT average

983

3. Holy Names University

Oakland, CA • Private

Admissions rate

70%

SAT average

849

4. Notre Dame College

Cleveland, OH • Private

Admissions rate

90%

SAT average

994

5. LIM College

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

83%

SAT average

1,061

6. Nyack College

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

98%

SAT average

999

7. Presentation College

Aberdeen, SD • Private

Admissions rate

97%

SAT average

1,050

8. Life University

Marietta, GA • Private

Admissions rate

94%

SAT average

979

9. D'Youville College

Buffalo, NY • Private

Admissions rate

100%

SAT average

1,072

10. Oregon Institute of Technology

Klamath Falls, OR • Private

Admissions rate

96%

SAT average

1,139

Average radiological engineer salary by education level

According to our data, radiological engineers with a Doctorate degree earn the highest average salary, at $83,502 annually. Radiological engineers with a Master's degree earn an average annual salary of $74,706.
Radiological engineer education levelRadiological engineer salary
Master's Degree$74,706
Bachelor's Degree$65,558
Doctorate Degree$83,502

Radiological engineer 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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