Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
Senior manufacturing engineer education requirements
Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
There are several educational requirements to become a senior manufacturing engineer. Senior manufacturing engineers usually study mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, or industrial technology. 73% of senior manufacturing engineers hold a bachelor's degree, and 13% hold an master's degree. We analyzed 6,485 real senior manufacturing engineer resumes to see exactly what senior manufacturing engineer education sections show.
The most common colleges for senior manufacturing engineers are the Purdue University and the Purdue University.
There are also many online senior manufacturing engineer courses to help get the education required to be a senior manufacturing engineer.
There are certain senior manufacturing engineer certifications that you should consider. These senior manufacturing engineer certifications include Six Sigma Green Belt and Certified Manufacturing Engineer (CMfgE).
What education do you need to become a senior manufacturing engineer?
What degree do you need to be a senior manufacturing engineer?
- Bachelor's, 73%
- Master's, 13%
- Associate, 12%
- Diploma, 1%
- Other Degrees, 1%
What should I major in to become a senior manufacturing engineer?
- Other Majors, 42%
Most common colleges for senior manufacturing engineers
| Senior manufacturing engineer common college | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Purdue University | 14.19% |
| University of Phoenix | 7.80% |
| San Jose State University | 6.91% |
| Pennsylvania State University | 6.39% |
| Northeastern University | 5.75% |
Best majors for senior manufacturing engineers
| Rank | Major | Percentages |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mechanical Engineering | 26.4% |
| 2 | Electrical Engineering | 11.6% |
| 3 | Industrial Technology | 10.5% |
| 4 | Industrial Engineering | 10.2% |
| 5 | Business | 7.6% |
Best colleges for senior manufacturing engineers
The best colleges for senior manufacturing engineers are Stanford University, Northwestern University, and Johns Hopkins University.
A senior manufacturing 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 senior manufacturing 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 senior manufacturing engineers.
1. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
In-state tuition
$54,568
Enrollment
8,451
2. Stanford University
Stanford, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$51,354
Enrollment
7,083
3. Boston University
Boston, MA • Private
In-state tuition
$53,948
Enrollment
17,238
4. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Champaign, IL • Private
In-state tuition
$15,094
Enrollment
32,974
5. Georgia Institute of Technology
Atlanta, GA • Private
In-state tuition
$12,424
Enrollment
15,201
6. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Troy, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$53,880
Enrollment
6,590
7. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
In-state tuition
$55,584
Enrollment
10,764
8. Cornell University
Ithaca, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$55,188
Enrollment
15,105
9. Pennsylvania State University
University Park, PA • Private
In-state tuition
$18,454
Enrollment
40,108
10. Columbia University in the City of New York
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$59,430
Enrollment
8,216
20 best online courses for senior manufacturing engineers
Advertising disclosure
1. Engineering and Product Design Processes
Welcome to “Engineering and Product Design Processes!” In this short course, you will learn how engineering design processes and product design processes are carried out. After the course, you will be familiar with the steps in both design processes. You will also be familiar with the main goal of each design process, as well as their similarities and differences...
2. Introduction to Mechanical Engineering Design and Manufacturing with Fusion 360
Design for manufacturing is the process of designing parts, components, or products with the understanding surrounding design requirements for a specific manufacturing method. This course explores the design for manufacture workflow and shows how to validate models and create the G code, the programming language needed to instruct the CNC machine on how to move. We practice the basics of part and assembly design, and tools such as animation, rendering, and simulations using Autodesk Fusion 360...
3. Manufacturing Guide for Mechanical Product Development
Learn how everyday physical products are manufactured with no prior experience in engineering...
4. Product Development & Systems Engineering
The complete Product Development & Systems Engineering course! Earn 25 contact hours AND prepare to take the INCOSE Exam...
5. Mechanical design and Product development process
Learn the basic ideas and concepts behind developing mechanical products related to mechanical engineering...
6. Manufacturing process selection and Design for manufacturing
Learn about the basics of selecting process for a mechanical design and the principles of design for Manufacturing...
7. Great Product Manager: Product Management by a Big Tech's PM
Become a Great Product Manager! Land your dream job with Big Tech's Senior Product Manager...
8. The Production Part Approval Process (PPAP)
The 18-step process for ensuring new parts are consistently manufactured and meet their customers' quality expectations...
9. Product Design Management for Agile Practitioners
Application of product design management principles, concepts, tools and techniques in agile product management...
10. Product Management Crash Course; IT Product Management
Product Management Essentials & Product Management Fundamentals to kick-start your career in Product Management...
11. Technical Product Management: learn on 4 real industry cases
Boost your technicality (as a PM) or tech product skills (as an engineer) to grow in your current role...
12. Introduction Agile & Scrum for Product Owners
[UNOFFICIAL] Learn about agility & Scrum. Prepare for your Project Manager or Product Owner certification in 2023!...
13. Lean Manufacturing A-Z: Lean Operations Management
Lean Business Operations Management, Lean Process and Systems Improvement in Production and Industry. MBA style course...
14. Comprehensive Product management for Product managers
Become a great product manager with comprehensive product management Real world case study with JIRA & Confluence...
15. Product and Service Management
Know the Work that is Involved in Getting a Product Onto the Shelf and a Service Ready for Effective Delivery...
16. The Product Management for AI & Data Science Course
The Complete Course for Becoming a Successful Product Manager in the Field of AI & Data Science...
17. Get Hired as a Product Manager Applying & Interviewing
Complete guide to applying, researching, & interviewing for a Product Management job. + Mock interviews & insider tips...
18. Professional Diploma in Digital Products Management
Program with business cases (Fintech, Retail Banking, Digital Business) & Interactive part...
19. Product Management Fundamentals
Case-based practical course on product management to build strong foundations in product concepts, process & frameworks...
20. Kaizen Practitioner Masterclass for Quality Management.
Structured Approach to identify and Eliminate waste in Business for Continuous Improvement & Quality Management...
Top 10 most affordable universities for senior manufacturing engineers
The most affordable schools for senior manufacturing engineers are SUNY Farmingdale, university of florida, and california state university - bakersfield.
If the best universities for senior manufacturing 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 senior manufacturing 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. California State University - Long Beach
Long Beach, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,798
Cost of attendance
18,306
5. California State University - Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,749
Cost of attendance
14,823
6. Brigham Young University
Provo, UT • Private
In-state tuition
$5,620
Cost of attendance
18,136
7. University of Puerto Rico - Mayaguez
Mayaguez, PR • Private
In-state tuition
$4,094
Cost of attendance
14,302
8. Florida International University
Miami, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,556
Cost of attendance
19,434
9. Florida State University
Tallahassee, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$5,656
Cost of attendance
21,623
10. Baruch College of the City University of New York
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,262
Cost of attendance
14,046
Top 10 hardest universities to get into for senior manufacturing engineers
The hardest universities for senior manufacturing engineers to get into are Stanford University, Northwestern University, and Johns Hopkins University.
Some great schools for senior manufacturing 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 senior manufacturing 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. Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, MD • Private
Admissions rate
11%
SAT average
1,513
4. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
Admissions rate
8%
SAT average
1,492
5. Carnegie Mellon University
Pittsburgh, PA • Private
Admissions rate
17%
SAT average
1,507
6. Columbia University in the City of New York
New York, NY • Private
Admissions rate
6%
SAT average
1,512
7. Cornell University
Ithaca, NY • Private
Admissions rate
11%
SAT average
1,471
8. Georgia Institute of Technology
Atlanta, GA • Private
Admissions rate
22%
SAT average
1,465
9. University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA • Private
Admissions rate
13%
SAT average
1,445
10. Boston University
Boston, MA • Private
Admissions rate
22%
SAT average
1,420
Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for senior manufacturing engineers
The easiest schools for senior manufacturing engineers to get into are Oklahoma Wesleyan University, the university of texas permian basin, and notre dame college.
Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a senior manufacturing 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 senior manufacturing engineers.
1. Oklahoma Wesleyan University
Bartlesville, OK • Private
Admissions rate
68%
SAT average
964
2. The University of Texas Permian Basin
Odessa, TX • Private
Admissions rate
91%
SAT average
1,046
3. Notre Dame College
Cleveland, OH • Private
Admissions rate
90%
SAT average
994
4. Notre Dame de Namur University
Belmont, CA • Private
Admissions rate
82%
SAT average
983
5. LIM College
New York, NY • Private
Admissions rate
83%
SAT average
1,061
6. Holy Names University
Oakland, CA • Private
Admissions rate
70%
SAT average
849
7. Oregon Institute of Technology
Klamath Falls, OR • Private
Admissions rate
96%
SAT average
1,139
8. Saint Martin's University
Lacey, WA • Private
Admissions rate
96%
SAT average
1,111
9. Presentation College
Aberdeen, SD • Private
Admissions rate
97%
SAT average
1,050
10. Midwestern State University
Wichita Falls, TX • Private
Admissions rate
71%
SAT average
1,033
Average senior manufacturing engineer salary by education level
| Senior manufacturing engineer education level | Senior manufacturing engineer salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $101,647 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $92,506 |
| Doctorate Degree | $110,248 |
Senior manufacturing engineer education FAQs
Have more questions? See all answers to common architecture and engineering questions.
Search for senior manufacturing engineer jobs
Updated January 8, 2025
Updated January 8, 2025