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Studio engineer education requirements

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read

There are several educational requirements to become a studio engineer. Studio engineers usually study music, communication, or electrical engineering. 52% of studio engineers hold a bachelor's degree, and 23% hold an associate degree. We analyzed 858 real studio engineer resumes to see exactly what studio engineer education sections show.

The most common colleges for studio engineers are the Full Sail University and the Full Sail University.

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

What education do you need to become a studio engineer?

What degree do you need to be a studio engineer?

The most common degree for studio engineers is bachelor's degree, with 52% of studio engineers earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are associate degree degree at 23% and associate degree degree at 11%.
  • Bachelor's, 52%
  • Associate, 23%
  • High School Diploma, 11%
  • Diploma, 6%
  • Other Degrees, 8%

What should I major in to become a studio engineer?

You should major in music to become a studio engineer. 16% of studio engineers major in music. Other common majors for a studio engineer include communication and electrical engineering.

Most common colleges for studio engineers

Studio engineers often get their degrees at Full Sail University, Berklee College of Music, and Belmont University. Here are the most common colleges for studio engineers in the US based on their resumes.
Studio engineer common collegePercentages
Full Sail University22.97%
Berklee College of Music6.76%
Belmont University5.41%
University of Cincinnati5.41%
Michigan Technological University4.05%

Best majors for studio engineers

RankMajorPercentages
1Music15.8%
2Communication11.5%
3Electrical Engineering9.2%
4Business7.8%
5Engineering7.2%

Best colleges for studio engineers

The best colleges for studio engineers are Johns Hopkins University, Northeastern University, and New York University.

A studio 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 studio 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 studio engineers.

1. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Cambridge, MA • Private

In-state tuition

$51,832

Enrollment

4,550

2. New York University

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$51,828

Enrollment

26,339

3. Stanford University

Stanford, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$51,354

Enrollment

7,083

4. Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore, MD • Private

In-state tuition

$53,740

Enrollment

5,567

5. Harvard University

Cambridge, MA • Private

In-state tuition

$50,420

Enrollment

7,582

6. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

In-state tuition

$55,584

Enrollment

10,764

7. Minnesota State University - Mankato

Mankato, MN • Private

In-state tuition

$8,184

Enrollment

11,675

8. Northeastern University

Boston, MA • Private

In-state tuition

$51,522

Enrollment

13,760

9. California State University - Long Beach

Long Beach, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,798

Enrollment

31,503

10. Cornell University

Ithaca, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$55,188

Enrollment

15,105

20 best online courses for studio engineers

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Make Two Full Tracks - Electronic Music Production in FL Studio 21 with Sample Packs & Project Files for FL Studio 21...

5. Music Production with Presonus Studio One

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This course takes an in depth look at how you can produce and write a song with Presonus Studio One...

6. The Sound Kitchen - Great sound made easy

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Sound Engineering course for musicians, volunteers, professionals. For both beginners and people with some knowledge...

7. Music Production + Mixing Music in Presonus Studio One

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Learn Presonus Studio One + Music Production in this Complete Course for Creating, Recording, Mixing Music + Mastering...

8. FL Studio Beginners Course [Learn FL Studio 20 Basics]

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17. Complete Audio Production Course: Record Better Audio

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18. FL Studio 12: Blazing Beat Making Beginner Basics

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19. Ableton Live 11 Masterclass: Complete Music Production Guide

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20. Music + Audio Production in Logic Pro X - The Complete Guide

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Become a master at using Logic Pro X Understand music production Learn to record, edit & mix audio to a pro standard...

Top 10 most affordable universities for studio engineers

The most affordable schools for studio engineers are Baruch College of the City University of New York, california state university - long beach, and suny farmingdale.

If the best universities for studio 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 studio engineers.

1. Baruch College of the City University of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,262

Cost of attendance

14,046

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. Brigham Young University

Provo, UT • Private

In-state tuition

$5,620

Cost of attendance

18,136

5. Hunter College of the City University of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,182

Cost of attendance

13,998

6. Brooklyn College of the City University of New York

Brooklyn, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,240

Cost of attendance

13,991

7. California State Polytechnic University, Pomona

Pomona, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$7,353

Cost of attendance

21,302

8. Queens College of the City University of New York

Queens, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,338

Cost of attendance

14,281

9. University of Florida

Gainesville, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,381

Cost of attendance

21,034

10. California State University - Bakersfield

Bakersfield, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$7,309

Cost of attendance

16,714

Top 10 hardest universities to get into for studio engineers

The hardest universities for studio engineers to get into are Johns Hopkins University, Northeastern University, and New York University.

Some great schools for studio 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 studio 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. Northeastern University

Boston, MA • Private

Admissions rate

19%

SAT average

1,466

3. New York University

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

20%

SAT average

1,419

4. Stanford University

Stanford, CA • Private

Admissions rate

4%

SAT average

1,497

5. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

Admissions rate

8%

SAT average

1,508

6. Vanderbilt University

Nashville, TN • Private

Admissions rate

10%

SAT average

1,514

7. Southern Methodist University

Dallas, TX • Private

Admissions rate

51%

SAT average

1,395

8. Hamilton College

Clinton, NY • Private

Admissions rate

21%

SAT average

1,446

9. Loyola Marymount University

Los Angeles, CA • Private

Admissions rate

47%

SAT average

1,321

10. American University

Washington, DC • Private

Admissions rate

32%

SAT average

1,320

Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for studio engineers

The easiest schools for studio engineers to get into are Notre Dame de Namur University, wayland baptist university, and nyack college.

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

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. Nyack College

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

98%

SAT average

999

4. Kean University

Union, NJ • Private

Admissions rate

86%

SAT average

991

5. Felician University

Lodi, NJ • Private

Admissions rate

81%

SAT average

999

6. Barry University

Miami, FL • Private

Admissions rate

91%

SAT average

1,006

7. Oklahoma Wesleyan University

Bartlesville, OK • Private

Admissions rate

68%

SAT average

964

8. Ottawa University

Ottawa, KS • Private

Admissions rate

78%

SAT average

1,024

9. Thomas More University

Crestview Hills, KY • Private

Admissions rate

90%

SAT average

1,099

10. Saint Martin's University

Lacey, WA • Private

Admissions rate

96%

SAT average

1,111

Average studio engineer salary by education level

According to our data, studio engineers with a Bachelor's degree earn the highest average salary, at $98,838 annually. Studio engineers with a Associate degree earn an average annual salary of $94,900.
Studio engineer education levelStudio engineer salary
High School Diploma or Less$88,502
Bachelor's Degree$98,838
Some College/ Associate Degree$94,900

Studio 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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