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Train system operator education requirements

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read

There are several educational requirements to become a train system operator. Train system operators usually study business, human resources management, or management. 51% of train system operators hold a bachelor's degree, and 30% hold an associate degree. We analyzed 122 real train system operator resumes to see exactly what train system operator education sections show.

The most common colleges for train system operators are the Boise State University and the Boise State University.

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

What education do you need to become a train system operator?

What degree do you need to be a train system operator?

The most common degree for train system operators is bachelor's degree, with 51% of train system operators earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are associate degree degree at 30% and associate degree degree at 9%.
  • Bachelor's, 51%
  • Associate, 30%
  • High School Diploma, 9%
  • Master's, 6%
  • Other Degrees, 4%

What should I major in to become a train system operator?

You should major in business to become a train system operator. 16% of train system operators major in business. Other common majors for a train system operator include human resources management and management.

Most common colleges for train system operators

Train system operators often get their degrees at Boise State University, University of Phoenix, and Southern Illinois University Carbondale. Here are the most common colleges for train system operators in the US based on their resumes.
Train system operator common collegePercentages
Boise State University8.70%
University of Phoenix8.70%
Southern Illinois University Carbondale8.70%
Florida Institute of Technology4.35%
Brown University4.35%

Best majors for train system operators

RankMajorPercentages
1Business15.7%
2Human Resources Management5.9%
3Management5.9%
4Psychology5.9%
5General Studies5.9%

Best colleges for train system operators

The best colleges for train system operators are Stanford University, Northwestern University, and Duke University.

A train system operator with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for train system operators. 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 train system operators.

1. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Troy, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$53,880

Enrollment

6,590

2. Stanford University

Stanford, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$51,354

Enrollment

7,083

3. Pennsylvania State University

University Park, PA • Private

In-state tuition

$18,454

Enrollment

40,108

4. University of Louisiana at Lafayette

Lafayette, LA • Private

In-state tuition

$9,912

Enrollment

14,245

5. SUNY College of Technology at Alfred

Alfred, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$8,570

Enrollment

3,721

6. Duke University

Durham, NC • Private

In-state tuition

$55,695

Enrollment

6,596

7. Sacred Heart University

Fairfield, CT • Private

In-state tuition

$41,420

Enrollment

5,907

8. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

In-state tuition

$55,584

Enrollment

10,764

9. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

In-state tuition

$54,568

Enrollment

8,451

10. Siena Heights University

Adrian, MI • Private

In-state tuition

$27,124

Enrollment

2,035

20 best online courses for train system operators

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Top 10 most affordable universities for train system operators

The most affordable schools for train system operators are SUNY Farmingdale, california state university - bakersfield, and baruch college of the city university of new york.

If the best universities for train system operators 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 train system operators.

1. SUNY Farmingdale

Farmingdale, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$8,306

Cost of attendance

16,091

2. California State University - Bakersfield

Bakersfield, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$7,309

Cost of attendance

16,714

3. Baruch College of the City University of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,262

Cost of attendance

14,046

4. California State University - Dominguez Hills

Carson, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,942

Cost of attendance

14,469

5. Brooklyn College of the City University of New York

Brooklyn, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,240

Cost of attendance

13,991

6. SUNY Polytechnic Institute

Utica, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$8,238

Cost of attendance

21,567

7. USF Sarasota-Manatee

Sarasota, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$5,587

Cost of attendance

13,043

8. Brigham Young University

Provo, UT • Private

In-state tuition

$5,620

Cost of attendance

18,136

9. SUNY Stony Brook

Stony Brook, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$9,625

Cost of attendance

24,718

10. Inter American University of Puerto Rico Bayamon

Bayamon, PR • Private

In-state tuition

$5,940

Cost of attendance

13,508

Top 10 hardest universities to get into for train system operators

The hardest universities for train system operators to get into are Stanford University, Northwestern University, and Duke University.

Some great schools for train system operators 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 train system operators 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. Duke University

Durham, NC • Private

Admissions rate

9%

SAT average

1,516

4. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

Admissions rate

8%

SAT average

1,492

5. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Troy, NY • Private

Admissions rate

43%

SAT average

1,415

6. Boston University

Boston, MA • Private

Admissions rate

22%

SAT average

1,420

7. New York University

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

20%

SAT average

1,419

8. University of Tulsa

Tulsa, OK • Private

Admissions rate

41%

SAT average

1,321

9. University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA • Private

Admissions rate

13%

SAT average

1,445

10. SUNY at Binghamton

Vestal, NY • Private

Admissions rate

40%

SAT average

1,376

Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for train system operators

The easiest schools for train system operators to get into are Oklahoma Wesleyan University, notre dame de namur university, and notre dame college.

Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a train system operator 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 train system operators.

1. Oklahoma Wesleyan University

Bartlesville, OK • Private

Admissions rate

68%

SAT average

964

2. Notre Dame de Namur University

Belmont, CA • Private

Admissions rate

82%

SAT average

983

3. Notre Dame College

Cleveland, OH • Private

Admissions rate

90%

SAT average

994

4. Holy Names University

Oakland, CA • Private

Admissions rate

70%

SAT average

849

5. LIM College

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

83%

SAT average

1,061

6. Oregon Institute of Technology

Klamath Falls, OR • Private

Admissions rate

96%

SAT average

1,139

7. Presentation College

Aberdeen, SD • Private

Admissions rate

97%

SAT average

1,050

8. D'Youville College

Buffalo, NY • Private

Admissions rate

100%

SAT average

1,072

9. Nyack College

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

98%

SAT average

999

10. Life University

Marietta, GA • Private

Admissions rate

94%

SAT average

979

Average train system operator salary by education level

According to our data, train system operators with a Bachelor's degree earn the highest average salary, at $98,507 annually. Train system operators with a Associate degree earn an average annual salary of $95,157.
Train system operator education levelTrain system operator salary
High School Diploma or Less$70,442
Bachelor's Degree$98,507
Some College/ Associate Degree$95,157

Train system operator 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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