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Solar process engineer education requirements

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read

There are several educational requirements to become a solar process engineer. Solar process engineers usually study mechanical engineering, engineering and industrial management, or materials science and engineering. 58% of solar process engineers hold a bachelor's degree, and 17% hold an high school diploma. We analyzed 15 real solar process engineer resumes to see exactly what solar process engineer education sections show.

The most common colleges for solar process engineers are the Syracuse University and the Syracuse University.

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

What education do you need to become a solar process engineer?

What degree do you need to be a solar process engineer?

The most common degree for solar process engineers is bachelor's degree, with 58% of solar process engineers earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are high school diploma degree at 17% and high school diploma degree at 17%.
  • Bachelor's, 58%
  • High School Diploma, 17%
  • Doctorate, 17%
  • Master's, 8%

What should I major in to become a solar process engineer?

You should major in mechanical engineering to become a solar process engineer. 29% of solar process engineers major in mechanical engineering. Other common majors for a solar process engineer include engineering and industrial management and materials science and engineering.

Most common colleges for solar process engineers

Solar process engineers often get their degrees at Syracuse University, SUNY College at Oswego, and Marquette University. Here are the most common colleges for solar process engineers in the US based on their resumes.
Solar process engineer common collegePercentages
Syracuse University16.67%
SUNY College at Oswego16.67%
Marquette University16.67%
Utah Valley University16.67%
University of Nebraska - Lincoln16.67%

Best majors for solar process engineers

Best colleges for solar process engineers

The best colleges for solar process engineers are Stanford University, California Institute of Technology, and Northwestern University.

A solar process 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 solar process 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 solar process engineers.

1. Georgia Institute of Technology

Atlanta, GA • Private

In-state tuition

$12,424

Enrollment

15,201

2. Cornell University

Ithaca, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$55,188

Enrollment

15,105

3. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

In-state tuition

$54,568

Enrollment

8,451

4. Stanford University

Stanford, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$51,354

Enrollment

7,083

5. University of Texas at Austin

Austin, TX • Private

In-state tuition

$10,610

Enrollment

40,329

6. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

In-state tuition

$55,584

Enrollment

10,764

7. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Cambridge, MA • Private

In-state tuition

$51,832

Enrollment

4,550

8. University of California - Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$13,226

Enrollment

31,568

9. Columbia University in the City of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$59,430

Enrollment

8,216

10. Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore, MD • Private

In-state tuition

$53,740

Enrollment

5,567

20 best online courses for solar process 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. Solar Energy for Engineers, Architects and Code Inspectors

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This specialization provides an overview of solar photovoltaics (PV), intricacies of solar system design, and a framework for solar PV project management. Targeted for engineers, HVAC installers, architects and building code inspectors, it is also appropriate for anyone considering a career in the growing renewable energy field of solar power. Courses introduce how PV operates and the anatomy of solar electric systems, the economics of solar power, pros and cons of different systems,...

3. Process Improvement

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#1 Process Improvement course: The step by step guide on how to deliver effective and lasting process improvements...

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. Data-Driven Process Improvement

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By the end of this course, learners are empowered to implement data-driven process improvement objectives at their organization. The course covers: the business case for IoT (Internet of Things), the strategic importance of aligning operations and performance goals, best practices for collecting data, and facilitating a process mapping activity to visualize and analyze a process’s flow of materials and information. Learners are prepared to focus efforts around business needs, evaluate what the...

6. Physics of silicon solar cells

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The first MOOC “Photovoltaic solar energy” is a general presentation of the solar photovoltaics technologies in the global energetic context, without extensive details. In particular the description of the solar cell operation is restricted to the ideal case In contrast this second MOOC allows a deep understanding of the properties of solar cells based on crystalline semiconductors. It consists in a general presentation of the physics of the photovoltaics devices with a particular emphasize on...

7. Leadership, Business Process Improvement, & Process Mapping!

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8. Operations Management A-Z: Business Processes and Systems

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Operations Management: Supply Chain & Business Processes in Industry for Manufacturing and Services Organizations...

9. Business Process Mapping

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11. Root Cause Analysis and the 8D Corrective Action Process

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12. Introduction to Business Process Modeling

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13. Data Warehouse Development Process

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4.3
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Specific aspects of Data Warehouse Development Process...

14. Aspen Plus - Basic Process Modeling

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Learn how to model Basic Industrial and Chemical Processes!...

15. Process Mining with Celonis

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4.4
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Learn and practice how to combine data science and process mapping techniques to visualize processes with real data...

16. Aspen HYSYS - Basic Process Modeling

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Learn how to model basic Industrial and Chemical Processes!...

17. Certified Process Mapping / Flowcharts Expert Accredited

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18. The Complete Business Process Management (BPM) Master Class

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12000+ enrollments Learn the Business Process Management methods used by the world's most successful organizations...

19. Process Flowcharts & Process Mapping - The Advanced Guide

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Enhance your process flowchart knowledge advanced symbols, concepts, and best practices! - ECBA/CCBA/CBAP endorsed...

20. Financial modeling Renewable Energy: Solar & Wind

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Learn how build a financial model for solar plants and wind plants, and help seal renewable energy deals worldwide!...

Top 10 most affordable universities for solar process engineers

The most affordable schools for solar process engineers are University of Florida, new mexico institute of mining and technology, and california state university - long beach.

If the best universities for solar process 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 solar process engineers.

1. University of Florida

Gainesville, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,381

Cost of attendance

21,034

2. New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology

Socorro, NM • Private

In-state tuition

$7,770

Cost of attendance

21,244

3. California State University - Long Beach

Long Beach, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,798

Cost of attendance

18,306

4. Brigham Young University

Provo, UT • Private

In-state tuition

$5,620

Cost of attendance

18,136

5. University of South Florida

Tampa, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,410

Cost of attendance

20,456

6. California State University - Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,749

Cost of attendance

14,823

7. Florida International University

Miami, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,556

Cost of attendance

19,434

8. Florida State University

Tallahassee, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$5,656

Cost of attendance

21,623

9. City College of New York of the City University of New York, The

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,140

Cost of attendance

14,430

10. California State University - Fullerton

Fullerton, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,886

Cost of attendance

17,645

Top 10 hardest universities to get into for solar process engineers

The hardest universities for solar process engineers to get into are Stanford University, California Institute of Technology, and Northwestern University.

Some great schools for solar process 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 solar process 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. California Institute of Technology

Pasadena, CA • Private

Admissions rate

7%

SAT average

1,566

3. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

Admissions rate

8%

SAT average

1,508

4. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

Admissions rate

8%

SAT average

1,492

5. Columbia University in the City of New York

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

6%

SAT average

1,512

6. Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore, MD • Private

Admissions rate

11%

SAT average

1,513

7. Carnegie Mellon University

Pittsburgh, PA • Private

Admissions rate

17%

SAT average

1,507

8. Cornell University

Ithaca, NY • Private

Admissions rate

11%

SAT average

1,471

9. Duke University

Durham, NC • Private

Admissions rate

9%

SAT average

1,516

10. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Cambridge, MA • Private

Admissions rate

7%

SAT average

1,545

Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for solar process engineers

The easiest schools for solar process engineers to get into are Texas A&M; University - Kingsville, notre dame de namur university, and the university of texas at el paso.

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

1. Texas A&M University - Kingsville

Kingsville, TX • Private

Admissions rate

89%

SAT average

1,035

2. Notre Dame de Namur University

Belmont, CA • Private

Admissions rate

82%

SAT average

983

3. The University of Texas at El Paso

El Paso, TX • Private

Admissions rate

100%

SAT average

1,035

4. Saint Martin's University

Lacey, WA • Private

Admissions rate

96%

SAT average

1,111

5. La Roche College

Pittsburgh, PA • Private

Admissions rate

99%

SAT average

1,008

6. San Francisco State University

San Francisco, CA • Private

Admissions rate

72%

SAT average

1,054

7. Linfield College

McMinnville, OR • Private

Admissions rate

81%

SAT average

1,117

8. Lamar University

Beaumont, TX • Private

Admissions rate

84%

SAT average

1,043

9. Mount Saint Mary's University

Los Angeles, CA • Private

Admissions rate

84%

SAT average

1,031

10. Portland State University

Portland, OR • Private

Admissions rate

90%

SAT average

1,111

Average solar process engineer salary by education level

Solar process engineers with a Doctorate degree earn more than those without, at $105,759 annually. With a Master's degree, solar process engineers earn a median annual income of $98,099 compared to $89,599 for solar process engineers with an Bachelor's degree.
Solar process engineer education levelSolar process engineer salary
Master's Degree$98,099
Bachelor's Degree$89,599
Doctorate Degree$105,759

Solar process 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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