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Sound engineer education requirements
Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
There are several educational requirements to become a sound engineer. Sound engineers usually study music, engineering, or audiovisual communications technologies. 53% of sound engineers hold a bachelor's degree, and 26% hold an associate degree. We analyzed 4,787 real sound engineer resumes to see exactly what sound engineer education sections show.
The most common colleges for sound engineers are the Full Sail University and the Full Sail University.
There are also many online sound engineer courses to help get the education required to be a sound engineer.
There are certain sound engineer certifications that you should consider. These sound engineer certifications include Certified Audio Engineer (CEA) and Master Certified Electronics Technician (CETma).
What education do you need to become a sound engineer?
What degree do you need to be a sound engineer?
- Bachelor's, 53%
- Associate, 26%
- High School Diploma, 9%
- Diploma, 4%
- Other Degrees, 8%
What should I major in to become a sound engineer?
- Music, 25%
- Engineering, 9%
- Communication, 8%
- Other Majors, 50%
Most common colleges for sound engineers
| Sound engineer common college | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Full Sail University | 31.02% |
| Berklee College of Music | 10.70% |
| Columbia College Chicago | 5.35% |
| Institute of Production and Recording | 4.81% |
| Musicians Institute | 4.55% |
Best majors for sound engineers
| Rank | Major | Percentages |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Music | 25.0% |
| 2 | Engineering | 9.0% |
| 3 | Audiovisual Communications Technologies | 8.0% |
| 4 | Communication | 7.7% |
| 5 | Business | 7.6% |
Best colleges for sound engineers
The best colleges for sound engineers are Johns Hopkins University, Northwestern University, and Carnegie Mellon University.
A sound 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 sound 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 sound engineers.
1. Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, MD • Private
In-state tuition
$53,740
Enrollment
5,567
2. Northeastern University
Boston, MA • Private
In-state tuition
$51,522
Enrollment
13,760
3. Dartmouth College
Hanover, NH • Private
In-state tuition
$55,453
Enrollment
4,312
4. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, MI • Private
In-state tuition
$15,262
Enrollment
30,079
5. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
In-state tuition
$54,568
Enrollment
8,451
6. Stanford University
Stanford, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$51,354
Enrollment
7,083
7. University of Notre Dame
Notre Dame, IN • Private
In-state tuition
$53,391
Enrollment
8,568
8. University of California, Berkeley
Berkeley, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$14,184
Enrollment
30,845
9. University of Virginia
Charlottesville, VA • Private
In-state tuition
$17,653
Enrollment
16,405
10. University of California - Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$13,226
Enrollment
31,568
20 best online courses for sound engineers
Advertising disclosure
1. Fundamentals of Audio and Music Engineering: Part 1 Musical Sound & Electronics
In this course students learn the basic concepts of acoustics and electronics and how they can applied to understand musical sound and make music with electronic instruments. Topics include: sound waves, musical sound, basic electronics, and applications of these basic principles in amplifiers and speaker design...
2. The Sound Kitchen - Great sound made easy
Sound Engineering course for musicians, volunteers, professionals. For both beginners and people with some knowledge...
3. Operating the Audio Mixer, A Beginning Sound Engineer Course
Learn to Mix Live Sound...
4. Ultimate Live Sound School (1st Edition)
Top of the line training for the Live Sound from a veteran who has worked with Michael Jackson & Whitney Houston...
5. Ableton Live 11 Masterclass: Complete Music Production Guide
Complete Guide To: Music Production, Music Mixing, Electronic Music, Sound Design, Audio Engineering / Production...
6. Ultimate Sound Design: Mastering Sound Design
Master sound design for music production, game audio development, film scoring, composition, and more!...
7. Xfer Serum Synthesizer - Sound Design + Music Production
Learn about Creating your own Sounds, Sound Design, Synthesis + Music Production in Serum Synthesizer by Xfer...
8. Sound Therapy & Sound Healing Accredited Practitioner Course
Learn How Sound can Balance & Heal, How to Run Your Own Sound Healing Sessions & Play 10 instruments. Accredited Course...
9. Sound Design 102: Using Synthesis for Music Production
Using Ableton Live and Reason, we will learn how to craft sounds using any synthesizer to make our tracks amazing...
10. Sound Design 101: Using Sampling for Music Production
Using Ableton Live and Reason, we will learn how to craft sounds using any synthesizer to make amazing beats and tracks...
11. Audio Engineering Fundamentals
Understand how sound systems work, their connections and components...
12. Sound Therapy Full Certification Course
Become a holistic professional who knows both Western and Eastern approaches to Sound Therapy!...
13. Electronic Music Production with Ableton Live
The Complete Course - Create Full Tracks in No Time!...
14. Ableton Live 11 - Music Production in Ableton Live
Learn Music Production, Recording, Editing, Music Mixing, Songwriting + Music Theory in this Ableton Live 11 Course...
15. Certification in Sound Therapy & Sound Healing - Accredited
Become professional therapist / healer Fully Accredited Professional Sound Healing / Sound Therapy Certificate...
16. Music Production in Ableton Live 9 - The Complete Course!
Join Successful students in this Music Production course for Creating, Recording + Performing Music with Ableton Live 9...
17. Tibetan Singing Bowls Sound Therapy & Sound Healing Training
Learn How To Become A Sound Healing Therapist Using Tibetan Bowls. Learn How To Work One-On-One With Clients...
18. Crystal Singing Bowls Sound Therapy & Sound Healing Training
Learn To Play The Frosted Quartz Crystal Singing Bowls And Start Leading Your Own Group Sound Baths...
19. Music Production in Ableton Live 10 - The Complete Course!
Learn Music Production in Ableton Live 10 Today and Understand how to Create, Record and Edit Your Own Music + Live Sets...
20. Game Audio 101: How to Create Sounds for Games
Learn game audio, sound design, and sfx creation along with artistic and technical audio skills for beginners...
Top 10 most affordable universities for sound engineers
The most affordable schools for sound engineers are California State University - Long Beach, university of south florida, and city college of new york of the city university of new york, the.
If the best universities for sound 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 sound engineers.
1. California State University - Long Beach
Long Beach, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,798
Cost of attendance
18,306
2. University of South Florida
Tampa, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,410
Cost of attendance
20,456
3. 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
4. Baruch College of the City University of New York
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,262
Cost of attendance
14,046
5. Brigham Young University
Provo, UT • Private
In-state tuition
$5,620
Cost of attendance
18,136
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. California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
Pomona, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$7,353
Cost of attendance
21,302
9. California State University - Fullerton
Fullerton, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,886
Cost of attendance
17,645
10. SUNY Farmingdale
Farmingdale, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$8,306
Cost of attendance
16,091
Top 10 hardest universities to get into for sound engineers
The hardest universities for sound engineers to get into are Johns Hopkins University, Northwestern University, and Carnegie Mellon University.
Some great schools for sound 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 sound 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. Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, MD • Private
Admissions rate
11%
SAT average
1,513
2. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
Admissions rate
8%
SAT average
1,508
3. Carnegie Mellon University
Pittsburgh, PA • Private
Admissions rate
17%
SAT average
1,507
4. Washington University in St Louis
Saint Louis, MO • Private
Admissions rate
15%
SAT average
1,506
5. Northeastern University
Boston, MA • Private
Admissions rate
19%
SAT average
1,466
6. Dartmouth College
Hanover, NH • Private
Admissions rate
9%
SAT average
1,488
7. Stanford University
Stanford, CA • Private
Admissions rate
4%
SAT average
1,497
8. University of Notre Dame
Notre Dame, IN • Private
Admissions rate
18%
SAT average
1,502
9. University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA • Private
Admissions rate
13%
SAT average
1,445
10. University of California, Berkeley
Berkeley, CA • Private
Admissions rate
15%
SAT average
1,448
Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for sound engineers
The easiest schools for sound engineers to get into are Pennsylvania State University - DuBois, university of the incarnate word, and texas a&m; university - kingsville.
Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a sound 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 sound engineers.
1. Pennsylvania State University - DuBois
DuBois, PA • Private
Admissions rate
85%
SAT average
1,079
2. University of the Incarnate Word
San Antonio, TX • Private
Admissions rate
88%
SAT average
1,044
3. Texas A&M University - Kingsville
Kingsville, TX • Private
Admissions rate
89%
SAT average
1,035
4. Oregon Institute of Technology
Klamath Falls, OR • Private
Admissions rate
96%
SAT average
1,139
5. Kean University
Union, NJ • Private
Admissions rate
86%
SAT average
991
6. Notre Dame de Namur University
Belmont, CA • Private
Admissions rate
82%
SAT average
983
7. Midwestern State University
Wichita Falls, TX • Private
Admissions rate
71%
SAT average
1,033
8. Old Dominion University
Norfolk, VA • Private
Admissions rate
87%
SAT average
1,093
9. Indiana State University
Terre Haute, IN • Private
Admissions rate
90%
SAT average
1,019
10. Nyack College
New York, NY • Private
Admissions rate
98%
SAT average
999
Average sound engineer salary by education level
| Sound engineer education level | Sound engineer salary |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma or Less | $47,449 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $57,396 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $53,513 |
Sound engineer education FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025
Updated January 8, 2025