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Senior product engineer education requirements

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read

There are several educational requirements to become a senior product engineer. Senior product engineers usually study electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, or business. 70% of senior product engineers hold a bachelor's degree, and 18% hold an master's degree. We analyzed 2,324 real senior product engineer resumes to see exactly what senior product engineer education sections show.

The most common colleges for senior product engineers are the Purdue University and the Purdue University.

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

There are certain senior product engineer certifications that you should consider. These senior product engineer certifications include Six Sigma Green Belt and Project Management Professional (PMP).

What education do you need to become a senior product engineer?

What degree do you need to be a senior product engineer?

The most common degree for senior product engineers is bachelor's degree, with 70% of senior product engineers earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are master's degree degree at 18% and master's degree degree at 8%.
  • Bachelor's, 70%
  • Master's, 18%
  • Associate, 8%
  • Doctorate, 2%
  • Other Degrees, 2%

What should I major in to become a senior product engineer?

You should major in electrical engineering to become a senior product engineer. 31% of senior product engineers major in electrical engineering. Other common majors for a senior product engineer include mechanical engineering and business.

Most common colleges for senior product engineers

Senior product engineers often get their degrees at Purdue University, San Jose State University, and Michigan Technological University. Here are the most common colleges for senior product engineers in the US based on their resumes.
Senior product engineer common collegePercentages
Purdue University11.60%
San Jose State University6.35%
Michigan Technological University6.08%
Arizona State University5.80%
University of Texas at Austin5.80%

Best majors for senior product engineers

Best colleges for senior product engineers

The best colleges for senior product engineers are Northwestern University, Stanford University, and Johns Hopkins University.

A senior product 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 product 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 product 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. Georgia Institute of Technology

Atlanta, GA • Private

In-state tuition

$12,424

Enrollment

15,201

4. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

In-state tuition

$55,584

Enrollment

10,764

5. Pennsylvania State University

University Park, PA • Private

In-state tuition

$18,454

Enrollment

40,108

6. Michigan Technological University

Houghton, MI • Private

In-state tuition

$15,646

Enrollment

5,736

7. Cornell University

Ithaca, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$55,188

Enrollment

15,105

8. Boston University

Boston, MA • Private

In-state tuition

$53,948

Enrollment

17,238

9. Columbia University in the City of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$59,430

Enrollment

8,216

10. University of Nebraska - Lincoln

Lincoln, NE • Private

In-state tuition

$9,242

Enrollment

20,592

20 best online courses for senior product engineers

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1. Engineering and Product Design Processes

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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. Machine Learning Engineering for Production (MLOps)

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Understanding machine learning and deep learning concepts is essential, but if you’re looking to build an effective AI career, you need production engineering capabilities as well.\n\nEffectively deploying machine learning models requires competencies more commonly found in technical fields such as software engineering and DevOps. Machine learning engineering for production combines the foundational concepts of machine learning with the functional expertise of modern software development and...

3. Product Development & Systems Engineering

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4.6
(3,086)

The complete Product Development & Systems Engineering course! Earn 25 contact hours AND prepare to take the INCOSE Exam...

4. Mechanical design and Product development process

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4.2
(604)

Learn the basic ideas and concepts behind developing mechanical products related to mechanical engineering...

5. Architecting with Google Kubernetes Engine: Production

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In this course, "Architecting with Google Kubernetes Engine: Production," you'll learn about Kubernetes and Google Kubernetes Engine (GKE) security; logging and monitoring; and using Google Cloud managed storage and database services from within GKE. This is the final course of the Architecting with Google Kubernetes Engine series. After completing this course, enroll in the Reliable Google Cloud Infrastructure: Design and Process course or the Hybrid Cloud Infrastructure Foundations with...

6. Technical Product Management: learn on 4 real industry cases

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4.3
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Boost your technicality (as a PM) or tech product skills (as an engineer) to grow in your current role...

7. Product Design Management for Agile Practitioners

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4.5
(1,111)

Application of product design management principles, concepts, tools and techniques in agile product management...

8. Manufacturing Guide for Mechanical Product Development

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4.9
(491)

Learn how everyday physical products are manufactured with no prior experience in engineering...

9. Product Management Crash Course; IT Product Management

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4.4
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Product Management Essentials & Product Management Fundamentals to kick-start your career in Product Management...

10. Great Product Manager: Product Management by a Big Tech's PM

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Become a Great Product Manager! Land your dream job with Big Tech's Senior Product Manager...

11. Comprehensive Product management for Product managers

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Become a great product manager with comprehensive product management Real world case study with JIRA & Confluence...

12. Productivity for Mac Users: 10x Your Productivity

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Shortcuts and Tools to 10x Your Productivity on Your Mac...

13. Automotive product design using CATIA V5

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4.4
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Automotive domain design using CATIA, interior and exterior trims on CATIA, Plastic product design in Automotive sector...

14. Product Management Marketing: Dekker's Product Marketing MBA

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4.6
(2,007)

Be a Product Marketing Manager - Product Management : Product Manager MBA : Product to Market : Product Owner Launch GTM...

15. Product and Service Management

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4.7
(957)

Know the Work that is Involved in Getting a Product Onto the Shelf and a Service Ready for Effective Delivery...

16. Introduction to Automotive Product Design & development

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4.4
(648)

Learn about the process, milestones and activities from idea to complete design of cars for Automotive engineers...

17. Scrum Product Owner & Scrum Product Owner Certification

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4.2
(2,012)

Introduction to Agile and Scrum Product Owner Role + Preparation to Product Owner Certification Tests + Mock Exam...

18. Professional Diploma in Digital Products Management

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4.3
(288)

Program with business cases (Fintech, Retail Banking, Digital Business) & Interactive part...

19. Product Management Fundamentals

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4.4
(4,918)

Case-based practical course on product management to build strong foundations in product concepts, process & frameworks...

20. Introduction Agile & Scrum for Product Owners

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4.7
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[UNOFFICIAL] Learn about agility & Scrum. Prepare for your Project Manager or Product Owner certification in 2023!...

Top 10 most affordable universities for senior product engineers

The most affordable schools for senior product engineers are California State University - Long Beach, suny farmingdale, and university of florida.

If the best universities for senior product 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 product engineers.

1. California State University - Long Beach

Long Beach, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,798

Cost of attendance

18,306

2. SUNY Farmingdale

Farmingdale, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$8,306

Cost of attendance

16,091

3. University of Florida

Gainesville, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,381

Cost of attendance

21,034

4. California State University - Bakersfield

Bakersfield, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$7,309

Cost of attendance

16,714

5. California State University - Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,749

Cost of attendance

14,823

6. University of Puerto Rico - Mayaguez

Mayaguez, PR • Private

In-state tuition

$4,094

Cost of attendance

14,302

7. California State University - Fullerton

Fullerton, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,886

Cost of attendance

17,645

8. New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology

Socorro, NM • Private

In-state tuition

$7,770

Cost of attendance

21,244

9. Florida International University

Miami, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,556

Cost of attendance

19,434

10. Florida State University

Tallahassee, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$5,656

Cost of attendance

21,623

Top 10 hardest universities to get into for senior product engineers

The hardest universities for senior product engineers to get into are Northwestern University, Stanford University, and Johns Hopkins University.

Some great schools for senior product 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 product 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. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

Admissions rate

8%

SAT average

1,508

2. Stanford University

Stanford, CA • Private

Admissions rate

4%

SAT average

1,497

3. Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore, MD • Private

Admissions rate

11%

SAT average

1,513

4. Carnegie Mellon University

Pittsburgh, PA • Private

Admissions rate

17%

SAT average

1,507

5. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

Admissions rate

8%

SAT average

1,492

6. Columbia University in the City of New York

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

6%

SAT average

1,512

7. Northeastern University

Boston, MA • Private

Admissions rate

19%

SAT average

1,466

8. Cornell University

Ithaca, NY • Private

Admissions rate

11%

SAT average

1,471

9. Boston University

Boston, MA • Private

Admissions rate

22%

SAT average

1,420

10. Georgia Institute of Technology

Atlanta, GA • Private

Admissions rate

22%

SAT average

1,465

Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for senior product engineers

The easiest schools for senior product engineers to get into are Oregon Institute of Technology, oklahoma wesleyan university, and capitol technology university.

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

1. Oregon Institute of Technology

Klamath Falls, OR • Private

Admissions rate

96%

SAT average

1,139

2. Oklahoma Wesleyan University

Bartlesville, OK • Private

Admissions rate

68%

SAT average

964

3. Capitol Technology University

Laurel, MD • Private

Admissions rate

69%

SAT average

1,070

4. Notre Dame de Namur University

Belmont, CA • Private

Admissions rate

82%

SAT average

983

5. The University of Texas Permian Basin

Odessa, TX • Private

Admissions rate

91%

SAT average

1,046

6. Texas A&M University - Kingsville

Kingsville, TX • Private

Admissions rate

89%

SAT average

1,035

7. Notre Dame College

Cleveland, OH • Private

Admissions rate

90%

SAT average

994

8. Kean University

Union, NJ • Private

Admissions rate

86%

SAT average

991

9. Holy Names University

Oakland, CA • Private

Admissions rate

70%

SAT average

849

10. LIM College

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

83%

SAT average

1,061

Average senior product engineer salary by education level

Senior product engineers with a Doctorate degree earn more than those without, at $118,903 annually. With a Master's degree, senior product engineers earn a median annual income of $111,434 compared to $100,836 for senior product engineers with an Bachelor's degree.
Senior product engineer education levelSenior product engineer salary
Master's Degree$111,434
Bachelor's Degree$100,836
Doctorate Degree$118,903

Senior product 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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