Java Developer Education Requirements

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read

There are several educational requirements to become a java developer. Java developers usually study computer science, computer engineering, or electrical engineering. 75% of java developers hold a bachelor's degree, and 22% hold an master's degree. We analyzed 39,338 real java developer resumes to see exactly what java developer education sections show.

The most common colleges for java developers are the New York University and the New York University.

There are also many online java developer courses to help get the education required to be a java developer.

There are certain java developer certifications that you should consider. These java developer certifications include Sun Certified Java Programmer (SCJP) and Oracle Certified Professional, Java SE 8 Programmer I (OCP).

What education do you need to become a java developer?

What degree do you need to be a java developer?

The most common degree for java developers is bachelor's degree, with 75% of java developers earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are master's degree degree at 22% and master's degree degree at 1%.
  • Bachelor's, 75%
  • Master's, 22%
  • Associate, 1%
  • Diploma, 1%
  • Other Degrees, 1%

What should I major in to become a java developer?

You should major in computer science to become a java developer. 42% of java developers major in computer science. Other common majors for a java developer include computer engineering and electrical engineering.

Most common colleges for java developers

Java developers often get their degrees at New York University, Texas Tech University, and University of Georgia. Here are the most common colleges for java developers in the US based on their resumes.
Java Developer Common College
ascdesc
Percentages
ascdesc
New York University11.09%
Texas Tech University8.76%
University of Georgia8.03%
University of Central Missouri7.59%
University of Arizona5.69%

Best majors for java developers

Best colleges for java developers

The best colleges for java developers are Stanford University, Northwestern University, and Vanderbilt University.

A java developer with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for java developers. 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 java developers.

1. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Cambridge, MA • Private

In-State Tuition

$51,832

Enrollment

4,550

Website

web.mit.edu/

Address

77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02139-4307

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $99,600 per year

Net Price: $18,278 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 6.74%
SAT Average - 1545
ACT Average - 35
Most Popular Majors
Business
Business/Commerce
Computer Science
Mechanical Engineering
Mathematics

2. Stanford University

Stanford, CA • Private

In-State Tuition

$51,354

Enrollment

7,083

Website

www.stanford.edu/

Address

450 Serra Mall, Stanford, CA 94305-2061

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $92,800 per year

Net Price: $12,265 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 4.36%
SAT Average - 1497
ACT Average - 34
Most Popular Majors
Computer Science
Business
Education
Mechanical Engineering
Electrical Engineering

3. Harvard University

Cambridge, MA • Private

In-State Tuition

$50,420

Enrollment

7,582

Website

www.harvard.edu

Address

Massachusetts Hall, Cambridge, MA 02138

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $91,300 per year

Net Price: $15,561 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 4.73%
SAT Average - 1520
ACT Average - 34
Most Popular Majors
Education
Business
Computer Science
Finance
Computer Engineering

4. Duke University

Durham, NC • Private

In-State Tuition

$55,695

Enrollment

6,596

Website

WWW.DUKE.EDU

Address

103 Allen Bldg, Durham, NC 27708

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $93,200 per year

Net Price: $23,442 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 8.91%
SAT Average - 1516
ACT Average - 34
Most Popular Majors
Business
Computer Science
Mechanical Engineering
Electrical Engineering
Computer Engineering

5. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

In-State Tuition

$55,584

Enrollment

10,764

Website

www.upenn.edu

Address

1 College Hall, Room 100, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6303

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $91,200 per year

Net Price: $25,033 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 8.41%
SAT Average - 1492
ACT Average - 34
Most Popular Majors
Education
Finance
Business
Information Systems
Computer Science

20 best online courses for java developers

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Top 10 most affordable universities for java developers

The most affordable schools for java developers are Brooklyn College of the City University of New York, brigham young university, and hunter college of the city university of new york.

If the best universities for java developers 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 java developers.

1. Brooklyn College of the City University of New York

Brooklyn, NY • Private

In-State Tuition

$7,240

Cost of Attendance

13,991

Website

www.brooklyn.cuny.edu

Address

2900 Bedford Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11210-2889

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $36,900 per year

Net Price: $3,000 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 44.26%
SAT Average - 1150
Most Popular Majors
Education
Business
Information Systems
Finance
Information Sciences

2. Brigham Young University

Provo, UT • Private

In-State Tuition

$5,620

Cost of Attendance

18,136

Website

www.byu.edu

Address

Main Campus, Provo, UT 84602

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $46,600 per year

Net Price: $13,181 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 64.47%
SAT Average - 1324
ACT Average - 29
Most Popular Majors
Education
Business
Mechanical Engineering
Computer Science
Computer Information Systems

3. Hunter College of the City University of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-State Tuition

$7,182

Cost of Attendance

13,998

Website

www.hunter.cuny.edu

Address

695 Park Ave, New York, NY 10021

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $39,300 per year

Net Price: $2,796 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 36.42%
SAT Average - 1240
Most Popular Majors
Education
Business
Computer Science
Mathematics
Physics

4. Clayton State University

Morrow, GA • Private

In-State Tuition

$5,419

Cost of Attendance

17,697

Website

www.clayton.edu

Address

2000 Clayton State Boulevard, Morrow, GA 30260-0285

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $35,900 per year

Net Price: $11,160 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 54.36%
Most Popular Majors
Business
Information Sciences
Information Systems
Business/Commerce
Education

5. Purdue University

West Lafayette, IN • Private

In-State Tuition

$9,992

Cost of Attendance

22,430

Website

https://www.purdue.edu

Address

Hovde Hall of Administration, West Lafayette, IN 47907-2040

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $49,000 per year

Net Price: $12,527 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 57.98%
SAT Average - 1309
ACT Average - 29
Most Popular Majors
Education
Business
Mechanical Engineering
Computer Science
Electrical Engineering

Top 10 hardest universities to get into for java developers

The hardest universities for java developers to get into are Stanford University, Northwestern University, and Vanderbilt University.

Some great schools for java developers 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 java developers 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

Website

www.stanford.edu/

Address

450 Serra Mall, Stanford, CA 94305-2061

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $92,800 per year

Net Price: $12,265 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 4.36%
SAT Average - 1497
ACT Average - 34
Most Popular Majors
Computer Science
Business
Education
Mechanical Engineering
Electrical Engineering

2. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

Admissions Rate

8%

SAT Average

1,508

Website

www.northwestern.edu

Address

633 Clark St, Evanston, IL 60208

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $71,900 per year

Net Price: $24,840 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 8.47%
SAT Average - 1508
ACT Average - 34
Most Popular Majors
Business/Commerce
Business
Education
Computer Science
Mechanical Engineering

3. Vanderbilt University

Nashville, TN • Private

Admissions Rate

10%

SAT Average

1,514

Website

www.vanderbilt.edu

Address

2101 West End Avenue, Nashville, TN 37240

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $61,900 per year

Net Price: $20,253 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 9.61%
SAT Average - 1514
ACT Average - 34
Most Popular Majors
Education
Computer Science
Mathematics
Business
Mechanical Engineering

4. Amherst College

Amherst, MA • Private

Admissions Rate

13%

SAT Average

1,449

Website

www.amherst.edu

Address

P.O. Box 5000, Amherst, MA 01002-5000

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $61,600 per year

Net Price: $25,208 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 12.81%
SAT Average - 1449
ACT Average - 33
Most Popular Majors
Computer Science
Mathematics
Physics

5. University of Rochester

Rochester, NY • Private

Admissions Rate

29%

SAT Average

1,422

Website

https://www.rochester.edu

Address

Wallis Hall, Rochester, NY 14627

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $49,300 per year

Net Price: $29,373 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 29.42%
SAT Average - 1422
ACT Average - 32
Most Popular Majors
Business
Education
Computer Science
Electrical Engineering
Physics

Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for java developers

The easiest schools for java developers to get into are Nyack College, saint martin's university, and oklahoma wesleyan university.

Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a java developer 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 java developers.

1. Nyack College

New York, NY • Private

Admissions Rate

98%

SAT Average

999

Website

www.nyack.edu/consumerinfo

Address

1 South Boulevard, Nyack, NY 10960-3698

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $38,500 per year

Net Price: $20,151 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 98.25%
SAT Average - 999
ACT Average - 20
Most Popular Majors
Business
Education
Computer Science

2. Saint Martin's University

Lacey, WA • Private

Admissions Rate

96%

SAT Average

1,111

Website

https://www.stmartin.edu

Address

5300 Pacific Ave SE, Lacey, WA 98503-1297

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $41,000 per year

Net Price: $21,826 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 95.63%
SAT Average - 1111
ACT Average - 21
Most Popular Majors
Computer Science
Business
Education
Mechanical Engineering
Mathematics

3. Oklahoma Wesleyan University

Bartlesville, OK • Private

Admissions Rate

68%

SAT Average

964

Website

www.okwu.edu

Address

2201 Silver Lake Rd, Bartlesville, OK 74006-6299

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $50,500 per year

Net Price: $26,279 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 67.73%
SAT Average - 964
ACT Average - 19
Most Popular Majors
Business/Commerce
Education
Business

4. Barry University

Miami, FL • Private

Admissions Rate

91%

SAT Average

1,006

Website

www.barry.edu

Address

11300 NE 2nd Ave, Miami Shores, FL 33161-6695

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $43,700 per year

Net Price: $17,937 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 91.25%
SAT Average - 1006
ACT Average - 20
Most Popular Majors
Business
Education
Information Systems
Finance
Computer Science

5. Linfield College

McMinnville, OR • Private

Admissions Rate

81%

SAT Average

1,117

Website

www.linfield.edu

Address

900 SE Baker, McMinnville, OR 97128-6894

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $52,100 per year

Net Price: $27,369 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 81.04%
SAT Average - 1117
ACT Average - 23
Most Popular Majors
Education
Business
Finance
Mathematics
Computer Science

Average java developer salary by education level

According to our data, java developers with a Master's degree earn the highest average salary, at $94,268 annually. Java developers with a Bachelor's degree earn an average annual salary of $89,895.
Java Developer education level
ascdesc
Java Developer salary
ascdesc
Master's Degree$94,268
Bachelor's Degree$89,895
Some College/ Associate Degree$86,298

Java Developer 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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