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Solar systems designer education requirements
Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
There are several educational requirements to become a solar systems designer. Solar systems designers usually study mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, or drafting and design. 76% of solar systems designers hold a bachelor's degree, and 9% hold an master's degree. We analyzed 65 real solar systems designer resumes to see exactly what solar systems designer education sections show.
The most common colleges for solar systems designers are the Savannah College of Art and Design and the Savannah College of Art and Design.
There are also many online solar systems designer courses to help get the education required to be a solar systems designer.
What education do you need to become a solar systems designer?
What degree do you need to be a solar systems designer?
- Bachelor's, 76%
- Master's, 9%
- Associate, 7%
- Diploma, 2%
- Other Degrees, 6%
What should I major in to become a solar systems designer?
- Other Majors, 49%
Most common colleges for solar systems designers
| Solar systems designer common college | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Savannah College of Art and Design | 8.33% |
| University of Southern California | 8.33% |
| Central Michigan University | 8.33% |
| Pennsylvania State University | 8.33% |
| Santa Monica College | 4.17% |
Best majors for solar systems designers
| Rank | Major | Percentages |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mechanical Engineering | 23.4% |
| 2 | Electrical Engineering | 12.8% |
| 3 | Drafting And Design | 8.5% |
| 4 | Environmental Science | 6.4% |
| 5 | Graphic Design | 6.4% |
Best colleges for solar systems designers
The best colleges for solar systems designers are Stanford University, Northwestern University, and University of Pennsylvania.
A solar systems designer 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 systems designers. 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 systems designers.
1. Stanford University
Stanford, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$51,354
Enrollment
7,083
2. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
In-state tuition
$55,584
Enrollment
10,764
3. Harvard University
Cambridge, MA • Private
In-state tuition
$50,420
Enrollment
7,582
4. Duke University
Durham, NC • Private
In-state tuition
$55,695
Enrollment
6,596
5. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
In-state tuition
$54,568
Enrollment
8,451
6. Pennsylvania State University
University Park, PA • Private
In-state tuition
$18,454
Enrollment
40,108
7. Cornell University
Ithaca, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$55,188
Enrollment
15,105
8. University of California, Berkeley
Berkeley, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$14,184
Enrollment
30,845
9. Boston University
Boston, MA • Private
In-state tuition
$53,948
Enrollment
17,238
10. New York University
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$51,828
Enrollment
26,339
20 best online courses for solar systems designers
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Top 10 most affordable universities for solar systems designers
The most affordable schools for solar systems designers are University of Florida, california state university - long beach, and suny farmingdale.
If the best universities for solar systems designers 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 systems designers.
1. University of Florida
Gainesville, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,381
Cost of attendance
21,034
2. California State University - Long Beach
Long Beach, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,798
Cost of attendance
18,306
3. SUNY Farmingdale
Farmingdale, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$8,306
Cost of attendance
16,091
4. Florida State University
Tallahassee, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$5,656
Cost of attendance
21,623
5. Brigham Young University
Provo, UT • Private
In-state tuition
$5,620
Cost of attendance
18,136
6. Florida International University
Miami, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,556
Cost of attendance
19,434
7. California State University - Fullerton
Fullerton, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,886
Cost of attendance
17,645
8. California State University - Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,749
Cost of attendance
14,823
9. University of South Florida
Tampa, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,410
Cost of attendance
20,456
10. New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology
Socorro, NM • Private
In-state tuition
$7,770
Cost of attendance
21,244
Top 10 hardest universities to get into for solar systems designers
The hardest universities for solar systems designers to get into are Stanford University, Northwestern University, and University of Pennsylvania.
Some great schools for solar systems designers 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 systems designers 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. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
Admissions rate
8%
SAT average
1,492
4. Harvard University
Cambridge, MA • Private
Admissions rate
5%
SAT average
1,520
5. Duke University
Durham, NC • Private
Admissions rate
9%
SAT average
1,516
6. Carnegie Mellon University
Pittsburgh, PA • Private
Admissions rate
17%
SAT average
1,507
7. Yale University
New Haven, CT • Private
Admissions rate
6%
SAT average
1,517
8. Cornell University
Ithaca, NY • Private
Admissions rate
11%
SAT average
1,471
9. Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, MD • Private
Admissions rate
11%
SAT average
1,513
10. Columbia University in the City of New York
New York, NY • Private
Admissions rate
6%
SAT average
1,512
Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for solar systems designers
The easiest schools for solar systems designers to get into are Notre Dame de Namur University, wayland baptist university, and curry college.
Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a solar systems designer 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 systems designers.
1. Notre Dame de Namur University
Belmont, CA • Private
Admissions rate
82%
SAT average
983
2. Wayland Baptist University
Plainview, TX • Private
Admissions rate
98%
SAT average
1,003
3. Curry College
Milton, MA • Private
Admissions rate
93%
SAT average
1,026
4. Oregon Institute of Technology
Klamath Falls, OR • Private
Admissions rate
96%
SAT average
1,139
5. California University of Pennsylvania
California, PA • Private
Admissions rate
97%
SAT average
1,007
6. Kean University
Union, NJ • Private
Admissions rate
86%
SAT average
991
7. San Francisco State University
San Francisco, CA • Private
Admissions rate
72%
SAT average
1,054
8. Cardinal Stritch University
Milwaukee, WI • Private
Admissions rate
71%
SAT average
1,035
9. Fresno Pacific University
Fresno, CA • Private
Admissions rate
85%
SAT average
1,053
10. Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi
Corpus Christi, TX • Private
Admissions rate
87%
SAT average
1,068
Average solar systems designer salary by education level
| Solar systems designer education level | Solar systems designer salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $83,700 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $66,751 |
| Doctorate Degree | $100,982 |
Solar systems designer 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