System validation engineer education requirements

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

There are several educational requirements to become a system validation engineer. System validation engineers usually study electrical engineering, computer engineering, or mechanical engineering. 66% of system validation engineers hold a bachelor's degree, and 22% hold an master's degree. We analyzed 438 real system validation engineer resumes to see exactly what system validation engineer education sections show.

The most common colleges for system validation engineers are the University of Phoenix and the University of Phoenix.

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

What education do you need to become a system validation engineer?

What degree do you need to be a system validation engineer?

The most common degree for system validation engineers is bachelor's degree, with 66% of system validation engineers earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are master's degree degree at 22% and master's degree degree at 8%.

Bachelor's, 66%

Master's, 22%

Associate, 8%

Doctorate, 2%

Other Degrees, 2%

What should I major in to become a system validation engineer?

You should major in electrical engineering to become a system validation engineer. 35% of system validation engineers major in electrical engineering. Other common majors for a system validation engineer include computer engineering and mechanical engineering.

Electrical Engineering, 35%

Computer Engineering, 14%

Mechanical Engineering, 8%

Computer Science, 7%

Other Majors, 36%

Most common colleges for system validation engineers

System validation engineers often get their degrees at University of Phoenix, Texas A&M; University San Antonio, and University of Puerto Rico - Rio Piedras Campus. Here are the most common colleges for system validation engineers in the US based on their resumes.

System validation engineer common college	Percentages
University of Phoenix	8.57%
Texas A&M University San Antonio	7.14%
University of Puerto Rico - Rio Piedras Campus	5.71%
National University	5.71%
University of California - Davis	5.71%

Show more common system validation engineer colleges

Best majors for system validation engineers

Rank	Major	Percentages
1	Electrical Engineering	35.1%
2	Computer Engineering	13.9%
3	Mechanical Engineering	8.1%
4	Computer Science	7.1%
5	Information Technology	4.1%

Show more common system validation engineer majors

Best colleges for system validation engineers

The best colleges for system validation engineers are Northeastern University, Stanford University, and Northwestern University.

A system validation 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 system validation 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 system validation engineers.

1. Northeastern University

Boston, MA • Private

In-state tuition

$51,522

Enrollment

13,760

2. California State University - Long Beach

Long Beach, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,798

Enrollment

31,503

3. Purdue University

West Lafayette, IN • Private

In-state tuition

$9,992

Enrollment

33,495

4. California State Polytechnic University, Pomona

Pomona, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$7,353

Enrollment

24,841

5. Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University

Tallahassee, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$5,785

Enrollment

7,711

6. Minnesota State University - Mankato

Mankato, MN • Private

In-state tuition

$8,184

Enrollment

11,675

7. Milwaukee School of Engineering

Milwaukee, WI • Private

In-state tuition

$40,749

Enrollment

2,582

8. Texas A&M University

College Station, TX • Private

In-state tuition

$11,870

Enrollment

53,194

9. Western Carolina University

Cullowhee, NC • Private

In-state tuition

$3,926

Enrollment

9,835

10. University of Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh, PA • Private

In-state tuition

$19,080

Enrollment

19,127

20 best online courses for system validation engineers

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2. Introduction to Systems Engineering

Introduction to Systems Engineering introduces you to the holistic and interdisciplinary systems engineering approach to designing, realizing, and managing complex systems. In this three-course specialization, you will learn how to evolve a project from idea to fielded hardware customized to meet customer requirements while effectively managing costs, timescales, and limiting risks. You will identify and define a system and its components, model a system life cycle, and apply systems...

3. Medical Device Process Validation. ISO 13485. IQ OQ PQ.

4.4

(900)

Validate a process to gain approval to sell medical devices in the EU, U.S. & Internationally. Compliance to ISO 13485...

4. Requirements Engineering: Software Engineering

4.4

(754)

Everything you need to know about software requirements: elicitation, analysis, documentation, validation and management...

5. Automate Validation using the Data Validation Tool (DVT)

This is a self-paced lab that takes place in the Google Cloud console. Data validation is a critical step in data warehouse, database, or data lake migration. DVT prints results in the command line interface by default, but can also write results to BigQuery. It is recommended to use BigQuery as a report handler to store and analyze the output...

6. How to Validate your Startup Idea

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7. ISO 13485 - IQOQPQ - Process Validation for Medical Devices

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Installation Qualification (IQ), Operational Qualification (OQ) & Performance Qualification (PQ) Medical Devices...

8. Linux System Programming using C and C++(Practical Approach)

4.2

(501)

Practical approach to Linux c-system programming for fork, thread, semaphore IPC, etc...

9. The Need for Systems Engineering

Systems engineering is an interdisciplinary approach to designing, realizing, and managing complex systems. In this course, you will be introduced to principles of systems engineering and its importance to the development of complex systems. You will learn to identify and define systems, manage their complexity, and describe their life cycle. The course uses real-world engineering examples to address how the systems engineering approach can address challenges. This course can be taken for...

10. How To Validate Any Business Idea

(1,282)

Use Our 1 Page Business Startup Guide to Quickly Test Your Business Ideas...

11. Software Architecture & System Design Practical Case Studies

4.7

(250)

Design Real-life Large Scale Systems, Practice Modern Software Architecture & Prepare for a System Design Interview...

12. Idea Validation: From Idea to Paying Customer in One Day

4.5

(533)

Learn how to test your business and product ideas online quickly, cheaply, and easily. Make sales before you launch...

13. Product Development & Systems Engineering

4.6

(3,086)

The complete Product Development & Systems Engineering course! Earn 25 contact hours AND prepare to take the INCOSE Exam...

14. Control Systems: From Mathematical Modelling to PID Control

4.2

(791)

Learn the mathematics that will allow you to model and control any engineering system. Make machines do what you want!...

15. Railway Systems Engineering (Equivalent to Micro MSc )

4.3

(377)

A Journey in the World of Railway Systems Operation Rolling Stock Traction System Engineering Infrastructure...

16. BMS - Building management system

4.1

(295)

BMS, building management system & building automation systems study , design and calculations...

17. Software Architecture & Design of Modern Large Scale Systems

4.7

(4,499)

Become a Software Architect or Technical Lead by Mastering Software Architecture, System Design & Big Data Processing...

18. Fundamentals of Unix and Linux System Administration

4.2

(1,085)

Master Linux/Unix System administration through a practical and hands on approach...

19. Linux Redhat System Administration II - SA2 (RHEL8)

4.5

(802)

Key tasks needed to become a full time Linux Administrator and to validate those skills via the Linux Certified System...

20. Certificate Program In Management Information Systems

4.1

(261)

Learn about the exciting world of Management Information Systems and its impact on the way organisations now function...

Top 10 most affordable universities for system validation engineers

The most affordable schools for system validation engineers are California State University - Long Beach, suny farmingdale, and inter american university of puerto rico bayamon.

If the best universities for system validation 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 system validation 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. National University College - Bayamon

Bayamon, PR • Private

In-state tuition

$6,675

Cost of attendance

12,941

10. University of Puerto Rico - Mayaguez

Mayaguez, PR • Private

In-state tuition

$4,094

Cost of attendance

14,302

Top 10 hardest universities to get into for system validation engineers

The hardest universities for system validation engineers to get into are Northeastern University, Stanford University, and Northwestern University.

Some great schools for system validation 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 system validation 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

SAT average

1,497

3. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

Admissions rate

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

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 system validation engineers

The easiest schools for system validation 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 system validation 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 system validation 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. Cleveland State University

Cleveland, OH • Private

Admissions rate

88%

SAT average

1,111

9. Purdue University Fort Wayne

Fort Wayne, IN • Private

Admissions rate

97%

SAT average

1,080

10. Kean University

Union, NJ • Private

Admissions rate

86%

SAT average

991

Average system validation engineer salary by education level

System validation engineers with a Doctorate degree earn more than those without, at $108,693 annually. With a Master's degree, system validation engineers earn a median annual income of $100,242 compared to $90,923 for system validation engineers with an Bachelor's degree.

System validation engineer education level	System validation engineer salary
Master's Degree	$100,242
Bachelor's Degree	$90,923
Doctorate Degree	$108,693

System validation engineer education FAQs

What is the best college for System Validation Engineers?

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Updated January 8, 2025

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.

Updated January 8, 2025

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