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Wind tunnel technician education requirements

Updated January 8, 2025
3 min read

There are several educational requirements to become a wind tunnel technician. Wind tunnel technicians usually study mechanical engineering, business, or electrical engineering. 62% of wind tunnel technicians hold a bachelor's degree, and 19% hold an associate degree. We analyzed 37 real wind tunnel technician resumes to see exactly what wind tunnel technician education sections show.

The most common colleges for wind tunnel technicians are the Missouri University of Science and Technology and the Missouri University of Science and Technology.

There are also many online wind tunnel technician courses to help get the education required to be a wind tunnel technician.

What education do you need to become a wind tunnel technician?

What degree do you need to be a wind tunnel technician?

The most common degree for wind tunnel technicians is bachelor's degree, with 62% of wind tunnel technicians earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are associate degree degree at 19% and associate degree degree at 10%.
  • Bachelor's, 62%
  • Associate, 19%
  • Diploma, 10%
  • High School Diploma, 5%
  • Other Degrees, 4%

What should I major in to become a wind tunnel technician?

You should major in mechanical engineering to become a wind tunnel technician. 19% of wind tunnel technicians major in mechanical engineering. Other common majors for a wind tunnel technician include business and electrical engineering.

Most common colleges for wind tunnel technicians

Wind tunnel technicians often get their degrees at Missouri University of Science and Technology, Pitzer College, and Minnesota State University - Mankato. Here are the most common colleges for wind tunnel technicians in the US based on their resumes.
Wind tunnel technician common collegePercentages
Missouri University of Science and Technology5.56%
Pitzer College5.56%
Minnesota State University - Mankato5.56%
Regis University5.56%
University of Vermont5.56%

Best majors for wind tunnel technicians

RankMajorPercentages
1Mechanical Engineering18.5%
2Business11.1%
3Electrical Engineering11.1%
4History7.4%
5Biology3.7%

Best colleges for wind tunnel technicians

The best colleges for wind tunnel technicians are Northeastern University, Purdue University, and Stanford University.

A wind tunnel technician with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for wind tunnel technicians. 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 wind tunnel technicians.

1. Purdue University

West Lafayette, IN • Private

In-state tuition

$9,992

Enrollment

33,495

2. California State Polytechnic University, Pomona

Pomona, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$7,353

Enrollment

24,841

3. New Mexico State University

Las Cruces, NM • Private

In-state tuition

$6,686

Enrollment

11,139

4. University of Houston

Houston, TX • Private

In-state tuition

$8,913

Enrollment

37,291

5. California State University - Long Beach

Long Beach, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,798

Enrollment

31,503

6. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Cambridge, MA • Private

In-state tuition

$51,832

Enrollment

4,550

7. SUNY Farmingdale

Farmingdale, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$8,306

Enrollment

9,394

8. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University - Daytona Beach

Daytona Beach, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$35,814

Enrollment

5,925

9. Stanford University

Stanford, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$51,354

Enrollment

7,083

10. Oklahoma State University

Stillwater, OK • Private

In-state tuition

$9,019

Enrollment

20,323

20 best online courses for wind tunnel technicians

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Top 10 most affordable universities for wind tunnel technicians

The most affordable schools for wind tunnel technicians are SUNY Farmingdale, california state university - long beach, and california state polytechnic university, pomona.

If the best universities for wind tunnel technicians 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 wind tunnel technicians.

1. SUNY Farmingdale

Farmingdale, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$8,306

Cost of attendance

16,091

2. California State University - Long Beach

Long Beach, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,798

Cost of attendance

18,306

3. California State Polytechnic University, Pomona

Pomona, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$7,353

Cost of attendance

21,302

4. Brigham Young University - Idaho

Rexburg, ID • Private

In-state tuition

$4,118

Cost of attendance

12,223

5. New York City College of Technology of the City University of New York

Brooklyn, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,120

Cost of attendance

13,997

6. Purdue University

West Lafayette, IN • Private

In-state tuition

$9,992

Cost of attendance

22,430

7. New Mexico State University

Las Cruces, NM • Private

In-state tuition

$6,686

Cost of attendance

17,885

8. Southeastern Oklahoma State University

Durant, OK • Private

In-state tuition

$6,750

Cost of attendance

15,839

9. SUNY Polytechnic Institute

Utica, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$8,238

Cost of attendance

21,567

10. West Virginia University Institute of Technology

Beckley, WV • Private

In-state tuition

$7,464

Cost of attendance

17,166

Top 10 hardest universities to get into for wind tunnel technicians

The hardest universities for wind tunnel technicians to get into are Northeastern University, Purdue University, and Stanford University.

Some great schools for wind tunnel technicians 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 wind tunnel technicians 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. Purdue University

West Lafayette, IN • Private

Admissions rate

58%

SAT average

1,309

3. Stanford University

Stanford, CA • Private

Admissions rate

4%

SAT average

1,497

4. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

Admissions rate

8%

SAT average

1,508

5. Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore, MD • Private

Admissions rate

11%

SAT average

1,513

6. University of Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh, PA • Private

Admissions rate

59%

SAT average

1,367

7. Tufts University

Medford, MA • Private

Admissions rate

15%

SAT average

1,461

8. University of Rochester

Rochester, NY • Private

Admissions rate

29%

SAT average

1,422

9. Milwaukee School of Engineering

Milwaukee, WI • Private

Admissions rate

63%

SAT average

1,295

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 wind tunnel technicians

The easiest schools for wind tunnel technicians to get into are Oregon Institute of Technology, capitol technology university, and pennsylvania state university - dubois.

Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a wind tunnel technician 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 wind tunnel technicians.

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 - DuBois

DuBois, PA • Private

Admissions rate

85%

SAT average

1,079

4. Ferris State University

Big Rapids, MI • Private

Admissions rate

81%

SAT average

1,070

5. Central Washington University

Ellensburg, WA • Private

Admissions rate

78%

SAT average

1,062

6. Indiana State University

Terre Haute, IN • Private

Admissions rate

90%

SAT average

1,019

7. Pennsylvania State University - Altoona

Altoona, PA • Private

Admissions rate

91%

SAT average

1,094

8. Eastern Michigan University

Ypsilanti, MI • Private

Admissions rate

76%

SAT average

1,025

9. Brigham Young University - Idaho

Rexburg, ID • Private

Admissions rate

97%

SAT average

1,140

10. Pennsylvania State University - Hazleton

Hazleton, PA • Private

Admissions rate

86%

SAT average

1,046

Average wind tunnel technician salary by education level

According to our data, wind tunnel technicians with a Master's degree earn the highest average salary, at $51,475 annually. Wind tunnel technicians with a Associate degree earn an average annual salary of $49,657.
Wind tunnel technician education levelWind tunnel technician salary
Master's Degree$51,475
High School Diploma or Less$45,567
Bachelor's Degree$48,552
Some College/ Associate Degree$49,657

Wind tunnel technician 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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