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Safety engineer education requirements
Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
There are several educational requirements to become a safety engineer. Safety engineers usually study mechanical engineering, occupational safety and health, or public health. 72% of safety engineers hold a bachelor's degree, and 14% hold an master's degree. We analyzed 3,131 real safety engineer resumes to see exactly what safety engineer education sections show.
The most common colleges for safety engineers are the Columbia Southern University and the Columbia Southern University.
There are also many online safety engineer courses to help get the education required to be a safety engineer.
There are certain safety engineer certifications that you should consider. These safety engineer certifications include OSHA Safety Certificate and Certified Safety Professional (CSP).
What education do you need to become a safety engineer?
What degree do you need to be a safety engineer?
- Bachelor's, 72%
- Master's, 14%
- Associate, 9%
- Diploma, 1%
- Other Degrees, 4%
What should I major in to become a safety engineer?
- Public Health, 8%
- Other Majors, 63%
Most common colleges for safety engineers
| Safety engineer common college | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Columbia Southern University | 12.99% |
| Murray State University | 11.27% |
| Indiana University of Pennsylvania | 7.11% |
| Texas A&M University | 6.86% |
| West Virginia University | 5.88% |
Best majors for safety engineers
| Rank | Major | Percentages |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mechanical Engineering | 11.4% |
| 2 | Occupational Safety And Health | 11.0% |
| 3 | Public Health | 8.5% |
| 4 | Chemical Engineering | 7.3% |
| 5 | Business | 6.9% |
Best colleges for safety engineers
The best colleges for safety engineers are University of Pittsburgh, Purdue University, and Rochester Institute of Technology.
A safety 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 safety 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 safety engineers.
1. University of Connecticut
Storrs, CT • Private
In-state tuition
$15,730
Enrollment
18,830
2. San Diego State University
San Diego, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$7,488
Enrollment
30,018
3. Purdue University
West Lafayette, IN • Private
In-state tuition
$9,992
Enrollment
33,495
4. San Jose State University
San Jose, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$7,796
Enrollment
27,125
5. University of Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, PA • Private
In-state tuition
$19,080
Enrollment
19,127
6. Worldwide Campus
Daytona Beach, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$9,360
Enrollment
10,254
7. Missouri University of Science and Technology
Rolla, MO • Private
In-state tuition
$9,440
Enrollment
6,785
8. Eastern Illinois University
Charleston, IL • Private
In-state tuition
$11,803
Enrollment
4,631
9. University of Minnesota - Duluth
Duluth, MN • Private
In-state tuition
$13,366
Enrollment
9,108
10. University of North Dakota
Grand Forks, ND • Private
In-state tuition
$8,695
Enrollment
9,910
20 best online courses for safety engineers
Advertising disclosure
1. OSHA Safety Training: Conducting Safety Meetings
A Brief Safety Management Course for Current and Aspiring Safety Professionals...
2. Fire Safety: Become A Fire Safety Expert
Become an expert in Fire Safety, Fire Hazards Control, Fire Evacuation Plans, and Fire Risk Assessment...
3. NEBOSH FIRE SAFETY
Managing Fire Safety in Workplace...
4. Basic Fire Safety Awareness
Basic Fire Safety Awareness - Your Gateway towards Career in Fire Safety...
5. OSHA Safety Training: Heat Stress Management
A Workplace Safety Management Course for Current and Future Safety Professionals...
6. Functional Safety for Safety Instrumented Systems
The most complete course available on Functional Safety. 2+ hours of videos, case studies, assignments, & more...
7. Occupational Health & Safety Training
Workplace Health and Safety Course For Employees & Managers...
8. OSHA Safety Pro: Deadly Concrete Dust. Crystalline Silica.
OSHA's General, Construction, and Maritime Industries Hazard Prevention and Safety Standard...
9. OSHA Safety Pro: Personal Protective Equipment
Impress management or get that job with you your ability to display life and dollar saving work place safety practices...
10. Food Safety for Managers and Supervisors
The Highfield Food Safety Level 3 syllabus presented in two hours of video tutorials. Boost your food safety knowledge...
11. OSHA Workplace Safety (General Industry 6 Hr Class)
Learn the requirements and standards associated with OSHA and workplace safety. Safety best practices for the workplace...
12. ISO 22000:2018. Food Safety Management System
Understand the requirements for a food safety management system applicable for any organization in the food chain...
13. NEBOSH health and safety Management System
It Shows the Start point to Build your Health & safety Career and how to Join the field and becoming HSE Specialist...
14. Fun food safety and sanitation course
The food safety course will help prepare you for safely working in a kitchen and food handler tests like Servesafe...
15. Complete Health and Safety Auditor Course. OHSAS 18001.
How to implement and audit a health & safety management system and obtain certification to OHSAS 18001 Standard...
16. Basic Certificate in Health Safety & Environment-HSE Level 2
A comprehensive course for Safety Officers, Supervisors, Managers and Aspiring Safety Professionals...
17. Fire Safety and Prevention Planning
Become an expert in understanding Fire Safety and Prevention Planning for your workplaces and organizations...
18. OSHA Safety Pro: Trenching Excavation & Soil Mechanics
A quick yet detailed certification in OSHA safety with a focus on Trenching, Excavation, & Soil Mechanics...
19. ISO 45001. Occupational health & safety management system
Upgrate your health and safety career by understanding the requriements for an OH & S management system from ISO 45001...
20. Refresher course of Safety Management Systems
A quick overview for aviation managers and safety professionals about basic concepts and philosophy of SMS...
Top 10 most affordable universities for safety engineers
The most affordable schools for safety engineers are California State University - Dominguez Hills, purdue university, and tarleton state university.
If the best universities for safety 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 safety engineers.
1. California State University - Dominguez Hills
Carson, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,942
Cost of attendance
14,469
2. Purdue University
West Lafayette, IN • Private
In-state tuition
$9,992
Cost of attendance
22,430
3. Tarleton State University
Stephenville, TX • Private
In-state tuition
$7,292
Cost of attendance
20,387
4. San Jose State University
San Jose, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$7,796
Cost of attendance
24,514
5. Southeastern Oklahoma State University
Durant, OK • Private
In-state tuition
$6,750
Cost of attendance
15,839
6. Eastern New Mexico University
Portales, NM • Private
In-state tuition
$6,326
Cost of attendance
17,330
7. University of Houston - Downtown
Houston, TX • Private
In-state tuition
$6,500
Cost of attendance
16,547
8. Northwestern State University of Louisiana
Natchitoches, LA • Private
In-state tuition
$7,922
Cost of attendance
20,612
9. University of Wisconsin - Whitewater
Whitewater, WI • Private
In-state tuition
$7,692
Cost of attendance
17,576
10. Northeastern State University
Tahlequah, OK • Private
In-state tuition
$6,650
Cost of attendance
16,625
Top 10 hardest universities to get into for safety engineers
The hardest universities for safety engineers to get into are University of Pittsburgh, Purdue University, and Rochester Institute of Technology.
Some great schools for safety 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 safety 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. University of Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, PA • Private
Admissions rate
59%
SAT average
1,367
2. Purdue University
West Lafayette, IN • Private
Admissions rate
58%
SAT average
1,309
3. Rochester Institute of Technology
Rochester, NY • Private
Admissions rate
66%
SAT average
1,319
4. San Jose State University
San Jose, CA • Private
Admissions rate
55%
SAT average
1,143
5. University of Connecticut
Storrs, CT • Private
Admissions rate
49%
SAT average
1,318
6. Indiana University Bloomington
Bloomington, IN • Private
Admissions rate
77%
SAT average
1,275
7. Grand Valley State University
Allendale, MI • Private
Admissions rate
83%
SAT average
1,158
8. Friends University
Wichita, KS • Private
Admissions rate
47%
SAT average
1,078
9. San Diego State University
San Diego, CA • Private
Admissions rate
35%
SAT average
1,213
10. Missouri University of Science and Technology
Rolla, MO • Private
Admissions rate
84%
SAT average
1,313
Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for safety engineers
The easiest schools for safety engineers to get into are Purdue University Fort Wayne, keene state college, and saint cloud state university.
Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a safety 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 safety engineers.
1. Purdue University Fort Wayne
Fort Wayne, IN • Private
Admissions rate
97%
SAT average
1,080
2. Keene State College
Keene, NH • Private
Admissions rate
81%
SAT average
1,053
3. Saint Cloud State University
Saint Cloud, MN • Private
Admissions rate
86%
SAT average
1,086
4. Tarleton State University
Stephenville, TX • Private
Admissions rate
55%
SAT average
1,056
5. Northeastern State University
Tahlequah, OK • Private
Admissions rate
98%
SAT average
1,064
6. Indiana University of Pennsylvania
Indiana, PA • Private
Admissions rate
93%
SAT average
1,019
7. University of Houston - Downtown
Houston, TX • Private
Admissions rate
83%
SAT average
1,012
8. Indiana State University
Terre Haute, IN • Private
Admissions rate
90%
SAT average
1,019
9. Northwestern State University of Louisiana
Natchitoches, LA • Private
Admissions rate
82%
SAT average
1,102
10. Friends University
Wichita, KS • Private
Admissions rate
47%
SAT average
1,078
Average safety engineer salary by education level
| Safety engineer education level | Safety engineer salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $91,046 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $77,919 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $61,956 |
Safety engineer education FAQs
Have more questions? See all answers to common architecture and engineering questions.
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Updated January 8, 2025
Updated January 8, 2025