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Railroad signal technician education requirements

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read

There are several educational requirements to become a railroad signal technician. Railroad signal technicians usually study electrical engineering technology, biology, or information systems. 41% of railroad signal technicians hold a high school diploma, and 24% hold an diploma. We analyzed 42 real railroad signal technician resumes to see exactly what railroad signal technician education sections show.

The most common colleges for railroad signal technicians are the Alabama A & M University and the Alabama A & M University.

There are also many online railroad signal technician courses to help get the education required to be a railroad signal technician.

What education do you need to become a railroad signal technician?

What degree do you need to be a railroad signal technician?

The most common degree for railroad signal technicians is high school diploma, with 41% of railroad signal technicians earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are diploma degree at 24% and diploma degree at 24%.
  • High School Diploma, 41%
  • Diploma, 24%
  • Associate, 24%
  • Bachelor's, 6%
  • Other Degrees, 5%

What should I major in to become a railroad signal technician?

You should major in electrical engineering technology to become a railroad signal technician. 13% of railroad signal technicians major in electrical engineering technology. Other common majors for a railroad signal technician include biology and information systems.

Most common colleges for railroad signal technicians

Railroad signal technicians often get their degrees at Alabama A & M University, Nicholls State University, and Dalton State College. Here are the most common colleges for railroad signal technicians in the US based on their resumes.
Railroad signal technician common collegePercentages
Alabama A & M University20.00%
Nicholls State University20.00%
Dalton State College20.00%
Tallahassee Community College20.00%
Youngstown State University20.00%

Best majors for railroad signal technicians

Best colleges for railroad signal technicians

The best colleges for railroad signal technicians are SUNY College of Technology at Alfred, SUNY College of Technology at Delhi, and Northern Michigan University.

A railroad signal technician with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for railroad signal technicians. 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 railroad signal technicians.

1. Dunwoody College of Technology

Minneapolis, MN • Private

In-state tuition

$22,046

Enrollment

1,294

2. SUNY College of Technology at Alfred

Alfred, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$8,570

Enrollment

3,721

3. SUNY College of Technology at Delhi

Delhi, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$8,360

Enrollment

3,142

4. Northern Michigan University

Marquette, MI • Private

In-state tuition

$10,729

Enrollment

6,722

5. New Mexico State University

Las Cruces, NM • Private

In-state tuition

$6,686

Enrollment

11,139

6. SUNY College of Technology at Canton

Canton, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$8,389

Enrollment

3,127

7. Lewis-Clark State College

Lewiston, ID • Private

In-state tuition

$6,618

Enrollment

2,787

8. Michigan State University

East Lansing, MI • Private

In-state tuition

$14,460

Enrollment

39,208

9. Siena Heights University

Adrian, MI • Private

In-state tuition

$27,124

Enrollment

2,035

10. Eastern New Mexico University

Portales, NM • Private

In-state tuition

$6,326

Enrollment

3,347

20 best online courses for railroad signal technicians

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Top 10 most affordable universities for railroad signal technicians

The most affordable schools for railroad signal technicians are Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College, new mexico state university, and lewis-clark state college.

If the best universities for railroad signal technicians 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 railroad signal technicians.

1. Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College

Tifton, GA • Private

In-state tuition

$3,503

Cost of attendance

12,843

2. New Mexico State University

Las Cruces, NM • Private

In-state tuition

$6,686

Cost of attendance

17,885

3. Lewis-Clark State College

Lewiston, ID • Private

In-state tuition

$6,618

Cost of attendance

15,993

4. SUNY College of Technology at Alfred

Alfred, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$8,570

Cost of attendance

23,713

5. SUNY College of Technology at Delhi

Delhi, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$8,360

Cost of attendance

23,486

6. SUNY College of Technology at Canton

Canton, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$8,389

Cost of attendance

22,302

7. Northern Michigan University

Marquette, MI • Private

In-state tuition

$10,729

Cost of attendance

22,224

8. University of New Mexico

Albuquerque, NM • Private

In-state tuition

$7,633

Cost of attendance

19,235

9. Dunwoody College of Technology

Minneapolis, MN • Private

In-state tuition

$22,046

Cost of attendance

28,345

10. Eastern New Mexico University

Portales, NM • Private

In-state tuition

$6,326

Cost of attendance

17,330

Top 10 hardest universities to get into for railroad signal technicians

The hardest universities for railroad signal technicians to get into are SUNY College of Technology at Alfred, SUNY College of Technology at Delhi, and Northern Michigan University.

Some great schools for railroad signal technicians 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 railroad signal technicians 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. SUNY College of Technology at Alfred

Alfred, NY • Private

Admissions rate

63%

SAT average

1,071

2. SUNY College of Technology at Delhi

Delhi, NY • Private

Admissions rate

64%

SAT average

1,011

3. Northern Michigan University

Marquette, MI • Private

Admissions rate

66%

SAT average

1,091

4. SUNY College of Technology at Canton

Canton, NY • Private

Admissions rate

78%

SAT average

997

5. University of New Mexico

Albuquerque, NM • Private

Admissions rate

70%

SAT average

1,120

6. Michigan State University

East Lansing, MI • Private

Admissions rate

78%

SAT average

1,224

7. Lewis-Clark State College

Lewiston, ID • Private

Admissions rate

100%

SAT average

1,009

8. New Mexico State University

Las Cruces, NM • Private

Admissions rate

66%

SAT average

1,050

9. Colorado Mesa University

Grand Junction, CO • Private

Admissions rate

81%

SAT average

1,022

10. Arkansas State University

Jonesboro, AR • Private

Admissions rate

77%

SAT average

1,189

Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for railroad signal technicians

The easiest schools for railroad signal technicians to get into are SUNY College of Technology at Canton, suny college of technology at delhi, and suny college of technology at alfred.

Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a railroad signal technician 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 railroad signal technicians.

1. SUNY College of Technology at Canton

Canton, NY • Private

Admissions rate

78%

SAT average

997

2. SUNY College of Technology at Delhi

Delhi, NY • Private

Admissions rate

64%

SAT average

1,011

3. SUNY College of Technology at Alfred

Alfred, NY • Private

Admissions rate

63%

SAT average

1,071

4. Lewis-Clark State College

Lewiston, ID • Private

Admissions rate

100%

SAT average

1,009

5. Northern Michigan University

Marquette, MI • Private

Admissions rate

66%

SAT average

1,091

6. University of New Mexico

Albuquerque, NM • Private

Admissions rate

70%

SAT average

1,120

7. New Mexico State University

Las Cruces, NM • Private

Admissions rate

66%

SAT average

1,050

8. Michigan State University

East Lansing, MI • Private

Admissions rate

78%

SAT average

1,224

9. Colorado Mesa University

Grand Junction, CO • Private

Admissions rate

81%

SAT average

1,022

10. Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College

Tifton, GA • Private

Admissions rate

69%

SAT average

1,032

Average railroad signal technician salary by education level

Railroad signal technicians with a Associate degree earn more than those without, at $57,426 annually. With a Bachelor's degree, railroad signal technicians earn a median annual income of $52,557 compared to $46,895 for railroad signal technicians with an High School Diploma degree.
Railroad signal technician education levelRailroad signal technician salary
High School Diploma or Less$46,895
Bachelor's Degree$52,557
Some College/ Associate Degree$57,426

Railroad signal technician 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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