Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
Tool engineer education requirements
Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
There are several educational requirements to become a tool engineer. Tool engineers usually study mechanical engineering, industrial technology, or mechanical engineering technology. 59% of tool engineers hold a bachelor's degree, and 24% hold an associate degree. We analyzed 2,139 real tool engineer resumes to see exactly what tool engineer education sections show.
The most common colleges for tool engineers are the Purdue University and the Purdue University.
There are also many online tool engineer courses to help get the education required to be a tool engineer.
There are certain tool engineer certifications that you should consider. These tool engineer certifications include Engineer In Training Certification (EIT) and Certified Agile Developer (CAD).
What education do you need to become a tool engineer?
What degree do you need to be a tool engineer?
- Bachelor's, 59%
- Associate, 24%
- Master's, 8%
- Diploma, 4%
- Other Degrees, 5%
What should I major in to become a tool engineer?
- Business, 7%
- Other Majors, 48%
Most common colleges for tool engineers
| Tool engineer common college | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Purdue University | 11.11% |
| Pennsylvania State University | 10.61% |
| Ferris State University | 9.09% |
| University of Akron | 5.56% |
| Baker College | 5.56% |
Best majors for tool engineers
| Rank | Major | Percentages |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mechanical Engineering | 27.9% |
| 2 | Industrial Technology | 9.0% |
| 3 | Mechanical Engineering Technology | 7.9% |
| 4 | Business | 7.3% |
| 5 | Drafting And Design | 7.0% |
Best colleges for tool engineers
The best colleges for tool engineers are California Institute of Technology, Northwestern University, and Columbia University in the City of New York.
A tool 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 tool 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 tool engineers.
1. Michigan Technological University
Houghton, MI • Private
In-state tuition
$15,646
Enrollment
5,736
2. Georgia Institute of Technology
Atlanta, GA • Private
In-state tuition
$12,424
Enrollment
15,201
3. Cornell University
Ithaca, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$55,188
Enrollment
15,105
4. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
In-state tuition
$54,568
Enrollment
8,451
5. Columbia University in the City of New York
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$59,430
Enrollment
8,216
6. Iowa State University of Science and Technology
Ames, IA • Private
In-state tuition
$8,988
Enrollment
29,248
7. Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, MD • Private
In-state tuition
$53,740
Enrollment
5,567
8. Carnegie Mellon University
Pittsburgh, PA • Private
In-state tuition
$55,465
Enrollment
6,483
9. University of Texas at Austin
Austin, TX • Private
In-state tuition
$10,610
Enrollment
40,329
10. University of Wisconsin - Madison
Madison, WI • Private
In-state tuition
$10,555
Enrollment
30,360
20 best online courses for tool engineers
Advertising disclosure
1. Engineering and Product Design Processes
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. Engineering Project Management
Master strategies and tools to more effectively and successfully manage projects.\n\nToday’s professional environment is highly competitive, continuously changing, and difficult to manage. Employees rarely reach positions of leadership without managing one or more projects or a project segment early in their career.\n\nBrought to you by the Rice Center of Engineering Leadership and team behind the engineering management master's program, the goal of this Specialization is to give you the tools...
3. Learning SOLIDWORKS: For Students, Engineers, and Designers
For Basic and Intermediate Users...
4. Mechanical design and Product development process
Learn the basic ideas and concepts behind developing mechanical products related to mechanical engineering...
5. Autodesk CAD/CAM/CAE for Mechanical Engineering
The demand placed on today’s engineers goes above and beyond the job description. Products have become complex and engineers are more frequently asked to leave specialized roles and to take on a wide variety of tasks that are beyond their traditional responsibilities. These tasks are centered on form, fit, and function. Engineers need to factor in broader concerns such as cost, procurement, sustainability, manufacturability, and serviceability. Their role has moved away from an individual...
6. Complete Course in CATIA
For Students, Engineers, and Designers...
7. Product Development & Systems Engineering
The complete Product Development & Systems Engineering course! Earn 25 contact hours AND prepare to take the INCOSE Exam...
8. Automotive product design using CATIA V5
Automotive domain design using CATIA, interior and exterior trims on CATIA, Plastic product design in Automotive sector...
9. Introduction to SOLIDWORKS
Learn the fundamentals of SOLIDWORKS engineering and design software including parts, drawings, and assemblies...
10. The Production Part Approval Process (PPAP)
The 18-step process for ensuring new parts are consistently manufactured and meet their customers' quality expectations...
11. Product Design Management for Agile Practitioners
Application of product design management principles, concepts, tools and techniques in agile product management...
12. Unreal Engine: Intro to Game Design
Like Fortnite? Master the tools used to build it as we build a simple shooting gallery game using the Unreal Engine!...
13. Pro Engineer Creo Fundamental 3D design course
Learn fundamentals of creo parametric from scratch including part design,drawing,assembly...
14. Basics of Sheet metal design for Mechanical design engineers
Learn Sheet metal design, processes and practical design considerations along with Design projects...
15. Introduction to Automotive Product Design & development
Learn about the process, milestones and activities from idea to complete design of cars for Automotive engineers...
16. Complete CATIA V5 course - Aerospace, Automotive, Industrial
Learn CATIA V5 with this perfectly designed course created after live interaction with 1000s of students in classroom...
17. Complete Field Instrumentation Engineering Course
Flow, Level, Temperature and Pressure Instrument - Selection, Sizing, Calculation and Detail Engineering...
18. Catia V5 Electrical Harness Design - Automotive & Industrial
Learn Catia V5 from a design engineer with more la 18 years experience in automotive, racing and industrial design...
19. Fusion 360 CAD/CAM for CNC routers
Make any part using your CNC router with Fusion 360...
20. Master Solidworks 2015 - 3D CAD using real-world examples
Learn how to master Solidworks 3D CAD modelling for any use, from 3D printing to professional product design!...
Top 10 most affordable universities for tool engineers
The most affordable schools for tool engineers are Brigham Young University, inter american university of puerto rico arecibo, and inter american university of puerto rico bayamon.
If the best universities for tool 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 tool engineers.
1. Brigham Young University
Provo, UT • Private
In-state tuition
$5,620
Cost of attendance
18,136
2. Inter American University of Puerto Rico Arecibo
Arecibo, PR • Private
In-state tuition
$5,872
Cost of attendance
13,476
3. Inter American University of Puerto Rico Bayamon
Bayamon, PR • Private
In-state tuition
$5,940
Cost of attendance
13,508
4. Florida International University
Miami, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,556
Cost of attendance
19,434
5. Purdue University
West Lafayette, IN • Private
In-state tuition
$9,992
Cost of attendance
22,430
6. Inter American University of Puerto Rico San German
San German, PR • Private
In-state tuition
$5,940
Cost of attendance
14,322
7. University of Puerto Rico - Mayaguez
Mayaguez, PR • Private
In-state tuition
$4,094
Cost of attendance
14,302
8. Georgia Institute of Technology
Atlanta, GA • Private
In-state tuition
$12,424
Cost of attendance
28,501
9. Florida State University
Tallahassee, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$5,656
Cost of attendance
21,623
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 tool engineers
The hardest universities for tool engineers to get into are California Institute of Technology, Northwestern University, and Columbia University in the City of New York.
Some great schools for tool 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 tool 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. California Institute of Technology
Pasadena, CA • Private
Admissions rate
7%
SAT average
1,566
2. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
Admissions rate
8%
SAT average
1,508
3. Columbia University in the City of New York
New York, NY • Private
Admissions rate
6%
SAT average
1,512
4. Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, MD • Private
Admissions rate
11%
SAT average
1,513
5. Carnegie Mellon University
Pittsburgh, PA • Private
Admissions rate
17%
SAT average
1,507
6. Stanford University
Stanford, CA • Private
Admissions rate
4%
SAT average
1,497
7. Cornell University
Ithaca, NY • Private
Admissions rate
11%
SAT average
1,471
8. Georgia Institute of Technology
Atlanta, GA • Private
Admissions rate
22%
SAT average
1,465
9. Vanderbilt University
Nashville, TN • Private
Admissions rate
10%
SAT average
1,514
10. Boston University
Boston, MA • Private
Admissions rate
22%
SAT average
1,420
Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for tool engineers
The easiest schools for tool engineers to get into are Oregon Institute of Technology, saint martin's university, and cleveland state university.
Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a tool 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 tool engineers.
1. Oregon Institute of Technology
Klamath Falls, OR • Private
Admissions rate
96%
SAT average
1,139
2. Saint Martin's University
Lacey, WA • Private
Admissions rate
96%
SAT average
1,111
3. Cleveland State University
Cleveland, OH • Private
Admissions rate
88%
SAT average
1,111
4. Alabama A & M University
Normal, AL • Private
Admissions rate
90%
SAT average
957
5. University of Southern Maine
Portland, ME • Private
Admissions rate
85%
SAT average
1,050
6. Purdue University Fort Wayne
Fort Wayne, IN • Private
Admissions rate
97%
SAT average
1,080
7. Old Dominion University
Norfolk, VA • Private
Admissions rate
87%
SAT average
1,093
8. Alcorn State University
Alcorn State, MS • Private
Admissions rate
89%
SAT average
1,026
9. Saint Cloud State University
Saint Cloud, MN • Private
Admissions rate
86%
SAT average
1,086
10. Midwestern State University
Wichita Falls, TX • Private
Admissions rate
71%
SAT average
1,033
Average tool engineer salary by education level
| Tool engineer education level | Tool engineer salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $112,416 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $100,160 |
| Doctorate Degree | $121,165 |
Tool engineer education FAQs
Have more questions? See all answers to common architecture and engineering questions.
Search for tool engineer jobs
Updated January 8, 2025
Updated January 8, 2025