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Signal engineer education requirements
Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
There are several educational requirements to become a signal engineer. Signal engineers usually study electrical engineering, physics, or electrical engineering technology. 76% of signal engineers hold a bachelor's degree, and 9% hold an master's degree. We analyzed 184 real signal engineer resumes to see exactly what signal engineer education sections show.
The most common colleges for signal engineers are the University of North Florida and the University of North Florida.
There are also many online signal engineer courses to help get the education required to be a signal engineer.
What education do you need to become a signal engineer?
What degree do you need to be a signal engineer?
- Bachelor's, 76%
- Master's, 9%
- Associate, 9%
- High School Diploma, 3%
- Other Degrees, 3%
What should I major in to become a signal engineer?
Most common colleges for signal engineers
| Signal engineer common college | Percentages |
|---|---|
| University of North Florida | 7.69% |
| University of Wisconsin Colleges | 7.69% |
| Purdue University | 5.13% |
| University of Florida | 5.13% |
| National University | 5.13% |
Best majors for signal engineers
| Rank | Major | Percentages |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Electrical Engineering | 48.6% |
| 2 | Physics | 7.2% |
| 3 | Electrical Engineering Technology | 6.3% |
| 4 | Business | 4.5% |
| 5 | Computer Engineering | 4.5% |
Best colleges for signal engineers
The best colleges for signal engineers are Northeastern University, Stanford University, and Northwestern University.
A signal 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 signal 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 signal engineers.
1. Michigan Technological University
Houghton, MI • Private
In-state tuition
$15,646
Enrollment
5,736
2. Wentworth Institute of Technology
Boston, MA • Private
In-state tuition
$33,950
Enrollment
4,254
3. Northeastern University
Boston, MA • Private
In-state tuition
$51,522
Enrollment
13,760
4. California State University - Long Beach
Long Beach, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,798
Enrollment
31,503
5. Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Cambridge, MA • Private
In-state tuition
$51,832
Enrollment
4,550
6. Stanford University
Stanford, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$51,354
Enrollment
7,083
7. Purdue University
West Lafayette, IN • Private
In-state tuition
$9,992
Enrollment
33,495
8. Harvard University
Cambridge, MA • Private
In-state tuition
$50,420
Enrollment
7,582
9. Duke University
Durham, NC • Private
In-state tuition
$55,695
Enrollment
6,596
10. California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
Pomona, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$7,353
Enrollment
24,841
20 best online courses for signal engineers
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4. Signals and Systems: From Basics to Advance
Learn the fundamental characteristics of signals and systems, Fourier Transform and Z-Transform from basic to advance...
5. Converter Control
This course can also be taken for academic credit as ECEA 5702, part of CU Boulder’s Master of Science in Electrical Engineering degree. This course teaches how to design a feedback system to control a switching converter. The equivalent circuit models derived in the previous courses are extended to model small-signal ac variations. These models are then solved, to find the important transfer functions of the converter and its regulator system. Finally, the feedback loop is modeled, analyzed,...
6. Complete neural signal processing and analysis: Zero to hero
Learn signal processing and statistics using brain electrical data with expert instruction and code challenges in MATLAB...
7. ESD - An Analog Design Viewpoint
How to apply ESD protection to analog/mixed signal ICs...
8. Digital Signal Processing (DSP) From Ground Up™ in Python
Practical DSP in Python : Over 70 examples, FFT,Filter Design, IIR,FIR, Window Filters,Convolution,Linear Systems etc...
9. DSP From Ground Up™ on ARM Processors [UPDATED]
Digital Signal Processing on ARM : DFT, Filter Design, Convolution, IIR, FIR, CMSIS-DSP, Linear Systems...
10. Digital Signal Processing (DSP) From Ground Up™ in C
Practical DSP in C : FFT, Filter Design, Convolution, IIR, FIR, Hamming Window, Linear Systems, Chebyshev filters etc...
11. VSD - Signal Integrity
VLSI - Real and practical steps to build chip with minimum Signal Integrity issues!!...
12. Railway Systems Engineering (Equivalent to Micro MSc )
A Journey in the World of Railway Systems Operation Rolling Stock Traction System Engineering Infrastructure...
13. CMOS Analog Circuit Design
By Prof. Phillip E Allen...
14. Master the Fourier transform and its applications
Learn the Fourier transform in MATLAB and Python, and its applications in digital signal processing and image processing...
15. Telecom basics (signals-satellite-microwaves-antennas)
مبادئ الاتصالات السلكية واللاسلكية للمبتدئين وغير المهندسين...
16. Rocking System Design
Learn system design, from building blocks to complex architectures for interviews and real world projects...
17. Complete Electronics Hardware Design Course 2022 -EsteemPCB
Complex Mixed Signal Board Design Course (Ethernet PHY, STM32F407, STM32F103, CH340C, DAC/MIC, 24Bit ADC, 36W Drivers)...
18. Model a Car and Design a PID Controller in MATLAB/SIMULINK
Model and simulate an electric car (Tesla Model S) in MATLAB & SIMULINK and design your own PID speed controller...
19. Modulation in Communication System for RF Engineers RAHRF152
Analog and Digital Modulation simplified for Radio Frequency experts This course concentrates more on ideology than math...
20. Linux System Programming - A programmers/Practical Approach
Files, Memory and Process management, Fork, Signals, Threads, IPC - Pipes, FIFO, message Queue, Semaphores,Shared Memory...
Top 10 most affordable universities for signal engineers
The most affordable schools for signal engineers are California State University - Long Beach, suny farmingdale, and inter american university of puerto rico bayamon.
If the best universities for signal 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 signal 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. Inter American University of Puerto Rico Bayamon
Bayamon, PR • Private
In-state tuition
$5,940
Cost of attendance
13,508
4. Brigham Young University
Provo, UT • Private
In-state tuition
$5,620
Cost of attendance
18,136
5. California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
Pomona, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$7,353
Cost of attendance
21,302
6. Purdue University
West Lafayette, IN • Private
In-state tuition
$9,992
Cost of attendance
22,430
7. SUNY Polytechnic Institute
Utica, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$8,238
Cost of attendance
21,567
8. West Virginia University Institute of Technology
Beckley, WV • Private
In-state tuition
$7,464
Cost of attendance
17,166
9. University of Puerto Rico - Mayaguez
Mayaguez, PR • Private
In-state tuition
$4,094
Cost of attendance
14,302
10. National University College - Bayamon
Bayamon, PR • Private
In-state tuition
$6,675
Cost of attendance
12,941
Top 10 hardest universities to get into for signal engineers
The hardest universities for signal engineers to get into are Northeastern University, Stanford University, and Northwestern University.
Some great schools for signal 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 signal 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. Northeastern University
Boston, MA • Private
Admissions rate
19%
SAT average
1,466
2. Stanford University
Stanford, CA • Private
Admissions rate
4%
SAT average
1,497
3. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
Admissions rate
8%
SAT average
1,508
4. Southern Methodist University
Dallas, TX • Private
Admissions rate
51%
SAT average
1,395
5. Vanderbilt University
Nashville, TN • Private
Admissions rate
10%
SAT average
1,514
6. Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, MD • Private
Admissions rate
11%
SAT average
1,513
7. Yale University
New Haven, CT • Private
Admissions rate
6%
SAT average
1,517
8. University of Rochester
Rochester, NY • Private
Admissions rate
29%
SAT average
1,422
9. Tufts University
Medford, MA • Private
Admissions rate
15%
SAT average
1,461
10. Washington University in St Louis
Saint Louis, MO • Private
Admissions rate
15%
SAT average
1,506
Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for signal engineers
The easiest schools for signal engineers to get into are Oregon Institute of Technology, capitol technology university, and pennsylvania state university - altoona.
Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a signal 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 signal engineers.
1. Oregon Institute of Technology
Klamath Falls, OR • Private
Admissions rate
96%
SAT average
1,139
2. Capitol Technology University
Laurel, MD • Private
Admissions rate
69%
SAT average
1,070
3. Pennsylvania State University - Altoona
Altoona, PA • Private
Admissions rate
91%
SAT average
1,094
4. Pennsylvania State University - Berks
Reading, PA • Private
Admissions rate
87%
SAT average
1,107
5. South Dakota State University
Brookings, SD • Private
Admissions rate
92%
SAT average
1,149
6. Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi
Corpus Christi, TX • Private
Admissions rate
87%
SAT average
1,068
7. Alabama A & M University
Normal, AL • Private
Admissions rate
90%
SAT average
957
8. Purdue University Fort Wayne
Fort Wayne, IN • Private
Admissions rate
97%
SAT average
1,080
9. Cleveland State University
Cleveland, OH • Private
Admissions rate
88%
SAT average
1,111
10. Kean University
Union, NJ • Private
Admissions rate
86%
SAT average
991
Average signal engineer salary by education level
| Signal engineer education level | Signal engineer salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $99,493 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $85,126 |
| Doctorate Degree | $113,569 |
Signal engineer education FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025
Updated January 8, 2025