Post job

Vice president of operations and engineering education requirements

Updated January 8, 2025
5 min read

There are several educational requirements to become a vice president of operations and engineering. Vice presidents of operations and engineering usually study electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, or business. 72% of vice presidents of operations and engineering hold a bachelor's degree, and 18% hold an master's degree. We analyzed 482 real vice president of operations and engineering resumes to see exactly what vice president of operations and engineering education sections show.

The most common colleges for vice presidents of operations and engineering are the Purdue University and the Purdue University.

There are also many online vice president of operations and engineering courses to help get the education required to be a vice president of operations and engineering.

What education do you need to become a vice president of operations and engineering?

What degree do you need to be a vice president of operations and engineering?

The most common degree for vice presidents of operations and engineering is bachelor's degree, with 72% of vice presidents of operations and engineering earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are master's degree degree at 18% and master's degree degree at 7%.
  • Bachelor's, 72%
  • Master's, 18%
  • Associate, 7%
  • Doctorate, 1%
  • Other Degrees, 2%

What should I major in to become a vice president of operations and engineering?

You should major in electrical engineering to become a vice president of operations and engineering. 20% of vice presidents of operations and engineering major in electrical engineering. Other common majors for a vice president of operations and engineering include mechanical engineering and business.

Most common colleges for vice presidents of operations and engineering

Vice presidents of operations and engineering often get their degrees at Purdue University, Northeastern University, and Stanford University. Here are the most common colleges for vice presidents of operations and engineering in the US based on their resumes.
Vice president of operations and engineering common collegePercentages
Purdue University12.20%
Northeastern University7.32%
Stanford University6.10%
University of Illinois at Chicago6.10%
University of Phoenix6.10%

Best majors for vice presidents of operations and engineering

Best colleges for vice presidents of operations and engineering

The best colleges for vice presidents of operations and engineering are Columbia University in the City of New York, Northwestern University, and Carnegie Mellon University.

A vice president of operations and engineering with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for vice presidents of operations and engineering. 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 vice presidents of operations and engineering.

1. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Ann Arbor, MI • Private

In-state tuition

$15,262

Enrollment

30,079

2. Georgia Institute of Technology

Atlanta, GA • Private

In-state tuition

$12,424

Enrollment

15,201

3. University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$56,225

Enrollment

19,548

4. Cornell University

Ithaca, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$55,188

Enrollment

15,105

5. University of Washington

Seattle, WA • Private

In-state tuition

$11,207

Enrollment

30,905

6. Pennsylvania State University

University Park, PA • Private

In-state tuition

$18,454

Enrollment

40,108

7. Columbia University in the City of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$59,430

Enrollment

8,216

8. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

In-state tuition

$54,568

Enrollment

8,451

9. California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo

San Luis Obispo, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$9,816

Enrollment

21,047

10. Carnegie Mellon University

Pittsburgh, PA • Private

In-state tuition

$55,465

Enrollment

6,483

20 best online courses for vice presidents of operations and engineering

Advertising disclosure

1. Real-World Engineering Management

coursera

Learn software engineering management using the same practices as Amazon Web Services (AWS), with comparisons to the practices at Google and Microsoft! Gain insights to impress on your first (or next) engineering manager (EM or SDM) role.\n\nLead instructor Nancy Wang, Director of Engineering and Product and General Manager of Data Protection Services at Amazon Web Services, shares the key business, technical, design, and leadership skills necessary for success at engineering manager roles at...

2. Strategic Product Development

coursera

This course discusses how companies create new products that customers want while achieving their financial objectives. Learners begin by defining the product strategies necessary to ensure a company’s long-term growth. Learners then explore the different product development processes used by high-tech businesses today, such as Stage-Gate and Lean/Agile techniques. Learners conclude by illustrating the tools to build the high-performance teams that take the development process from concept...

3. Product Development & Systems Engineering

udemy
4.6
(3,086)

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

4. Operations Management: Facilities Planning and Management

udemy
4.4
(357)

Operations Management Training Program (Course 8 of 8)...

5. Engineering and Product Design Processes

coursera

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...

6. Development and Operation on Alibaba Cloud

coursera

This specialization is intended for both students and businesses who aim to learn more about how Cloud technology can help them grow. With Developer, System Operator and Devops courses, users will be exposed to a series of products that combine to make architectures fit for any task.\n\nThis specialization will train the user on two levels: first, the basic specifications and functions of our principle product line, and secondly, evaluates a user's ability to use several different products...

7. Operations Management A-Z: Business Processes and Systems

udemy
4.6
(4,741)

Operations Management: Supply Chain & Business Processes in Industry for Manufacturing and Services Organizations...

8. Improving software development productivity

udemy
4.3
(299)

Improving software development productivity. Practical techniques...

9. Software Engineering 101: Plan and Execute Better Software.

udemy
4.6
(9,607)

Software Engineering 101: Use Software Engineering to Plan and Build Amazing Software + Learn SCRUM Framework!...

10. Mechanical design and Product development process

udemy
4.2
(604)

Learn the basic ideas and concepts behind developing mechanical products related to mechanical engineering...

11. Operations Management: Supply Chains, Products and Services

udemy
4.3
(833)

Master Supply Chain Management and Product and Service Development in Manufacturing and Service Organizations...

12. Google Cloud Platform (GCP) Cert: Associate Cloud Engineer

udemy
4.4
(2,217)

Develop the skills you need to pass the Google Cloud Platform (GCP) Associate Engineer Certification exam!...

13. Production for Management Consultants and Business Analysts

udemy
4.6
(1,684)

Practical guide on how to improve production and operations in a firm and analyze potential savings in Excel...

14. Technical Product Management: learn on 4 real industry cases

udemy
4.3
(930)

Boost your technicality (as a PM) or tech product skills (as an engineer) to grow in your current role...

15. Reverse Engineering and Exploit Development

udemy
4.3
(1,255)

Application Penetration Testing for Security Professionals...

16. Product and Service Management

udemy
4.7
(957)

Know the Work that is Involved in Getting a Product Onto the Shelf and a Service Ready for Effective Delivery...

17. Master Course in Logistics and Supply Chain Management 2.0

udemy
4.1
(250)

Fundamentals, Designs and Operations of SCM and Logistics, International Transport, Port and Shipping, Dropshipping...

18. ISO 13485:2016 - Design and Development of Medical Devices

udemy
4.2
(408)

Design and Development of Medical Devices in the perspective of ISO 13485:2016 and Medical Devices Industry...

19. Secure Programming of Web Applications - Developers and TPMs

udemy
4.3
(254)

Web Application Security for Software Developers and Technical Project Managers...

20. Google Cloud - Associate Cloud Engineer Certification Course

udemy
4.5
(488)

Learn the power of the Google Cloud Platform and prepare yourself for the Associate Cloud Engineer Certification Exam...

Top 10 most affordable universities for vice presidents of operations and engineering

The most affordable schools for vice presidents of operations and engineering are United States Merchant Marine Academy, university of florida, and california state university - long beach.

If the best universities for vice presidents of operations and engineering 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 vice presidents of operations and engineering.

1. United States Merchant Marine Academy

Kings Point, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$1,080

Cost of attendance

6,646

2. University of Florida

Gainesville, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,381

Cost of attendance

21,034

3. California State University - Long Beach

Long Beach, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,798

Cost of attendance

18,306

4. California State University - Bakersfield

Bakersfield, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$7,309

Cost of attendance

16,714

5. 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

6. Florida International University

Miami, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,556

Cost of attendance

19,434

7. New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology

Socorro, NM • Private

In-state tuition

$7,770

Cost of attendance

21,244

8. University of South Florida

Tampa, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,410

Cost of attendance

20,456

9. California State University - Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,749

Cost of attendance

14,823

10. Florida State University

Tallahassee, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$5,656

Cost of attendance

21,623

Top 10 hardest universities to get into for vice presidents of operations and engineering

The hardest universities for vice presidents of operations and engineering to get into are Columbia University in the City of New York, Northwestern University, and Carnegie Mellon University.

Some great schools for vice presidents of operations and engineering 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 vice presidents of operations and engineering 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. Columbia University in the City of New York

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

6%

SAT average

1,512

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. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

Admissions rate

8%

SAT average

1,492

5. Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore, MD • Private

Admissions rate

11%

SAT average

1,513

6. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Cambridge, MA • Private

Admissions rate

7%

SAT average

1,545

7. Cornell University

Ithaca, NY • Private

Admissions rate

11%

SAT average

1,471

8. Stanford University

Stanford, CA • Private

Admissions rate

4%

SAT average

1,497

9. Washington University in St Louis

Saint Louis, MO • Private

Admissions rate

15%

SAT average

1,506

10. Harvard University

Cambridge, MA • Private

Admissions rate

5%

SAT average

1,520

Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for vice presidents of operations and engineering

The easiest schools for vice presidents of operations and engineering to get into are Texas A&M; University - Kingsville, the university of texas permian basin, and the university of texas at el paso.

Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a vice president of operations and engineering 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 vice presidents of operations and engineering.

1. Texas A&M University - Kingsville

Kingsville, TX • Private

Admissions rate

89%

SAT average

1,035

2. The University of Texas Permian Basin

Odessa, TX • Private

Admissions rate

91%

SAT average

1,046

3. The University of Texas at El Paso

El Paso, TX • Private

Admissions rate

100%

SAT average

1,035

4. University of the Incarnate Word

San Antonio, TX • Private

Admissions rate

88%

SAT average

1,044

5. Oregon Institute of Technology

Klamath Falls, OR • Private

Admissions rate

96%

SAT average

1,139

6. Oklahoma Wesleyan University

Bartlesville, OK • Private

Admissions rate

68%

SAT average

964

7. Pennsylvania State University - Fayette (The Eberly Campus)

Lemont Furnace, PA • Private

Admissions rate

80%

SAT average

1,067

8. Saint Martin's University

Lacey, WA • Private

Admissions rate

96%

SAT average

1,111

9. Capitol Technology University

Laurel, MD • Private

Admissions rate

69%

SAT average

1,070

10. Pennsylvania State University - DuBois

DuBois, PA • Private

Admissions rate

85%

SAT average

1,079

Average vice president of operations and engineering salary by education level

Vice presidents of operations and engineering with a Doctorate degree earn more than those without, at $204,720 annually. With a Master's degree, vice presidents of operations and engineering earn a median annual income of $188,803 compared to $175,476 for vice presidents of operations and engineering with an Bachelor's degree.
Vice president of operations and engineering education levelVice president of operations and engineering salary
Master's Degree$188,803
Bachelor's Degree$175,476
Doctorate Degree$204,720

Vice president of operations and engineering education FAQs

Search for vice president of operations and engineering jobs

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.

Browse executive management jobs