Roller Coaster Engineer Education Requirements

Updated January 8, 2025
3 min read

There are several educational requirements to become a roller coaster engineer. Roller coaster engineers usually study business, mechanical engineering, or electrical engineering. 66% of roller coaster engineers hold a bachelor's degree, and 14% hold an master's degree. We analyzed 63 real roller coaster engineer resumes to see exactly what roller coaster engineer education sections show.

The most common colleges for roller coaster engineers are the Pennsylvania State University and the Pennsylvania State University.

There are also many online roller coaster engineer courses to help get the education required to be a roller coaster engineer.

What education do you need to become a roller coaster engineer?

What degree do you need to be a roller coaster engineer?

The most common degree for roller coaster engineers is bachelor's degree, with 66% of roller coaster engineers earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are master's degree degree at 14% and master's degree degree at 7%.
  • Bachelor's, 66%
  • Master's, 14%
  • High School Diploma, 7%
  • Diploma, 7%
  • Other Degrees, 6%

What should I major in to become a roller coaster engineer?

You should major in business to become a roller coaster engineer. 13% of roller coaster engineers major in business. Other common majors for a roller coaster engineer include mechanical engineering and electrical engineering.

Most common colleges for roller coaster engineers

Roller coaster engineers often get their degrees at Pennsylvania State University, Bradley University, and Florida State University. Here are the most common colleges for roller coaster engineers in the US based on their resumes.
Roller Coaster Engineer Common College
ascdesc
Percentages
ascdesc
Pennsylvania State University5.00%
Bradley University5.00%
Florida State University5.00%
New York University5.00%
Maine Maritime Academy5.00%

Best majors for roller coaster engineers

Best colleges for roller coaster engineers

The best colleges for roller coaster engineers are Northwestern University, Stanford University, and Northeastern University.

A roller coaster 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 roller coaster 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 roller coaster engineers.

1. Pennsylvania State University

University Park, PA • Private

In-State Tuition

$18,454

Enrollment

40,108

Website

www.psu.edu/

Address

201 Old Main Building, University Park, PA 16802-1589

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $43,600 per year

Net Price: $30,996 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 56.49%
SAT Average - 1269
ACT Average - 28
Most Popular Majors
Economics
Mechanical Engineering
Electrical Engineering
Business

2. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

In-State Tuition

$54,568

Enrollment

8,451

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
Economics
Mechanical Engineering
Electrical Engineering

3. 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
Business
Mechanical Engineering
Electrical Engineering
Economics

4. Boston University

Boston, MA • Private

In-State Tuition

$53,948

Enrollment

17,238

Website

www.bu.edu

Address

One Silber Way, 8th Floor, Boston, MA 02215

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $52,800 per year

Net Price: $30,729 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 22.09%
SAT Average - 1420
ACT Average - 32
Most Popular Majors
Business
Economics
Mechanical Engineering
Electrical Engineering

5. University of Nebraska - Lincoln

Lincoln, NE • Private

In-State Tuition

$9,242

Enrollment

20,592

Website

www.unl.edu/

Address

201 Canfield Administration Bldg. 14th & R Street, Lincoln, NE 68588-0419

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $39,900 per year

Net Price: $18,086 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 79.61%
SAT Average - 1236
ACT Average - 26
Most Popular Majors
Business
Mechanical Engineering
Electrical Engineering
Economics

20 best online courses for roller coaster engineers

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Top 10 most affordable universities for roller coaster engineers

The most affordable schools for roller coaster engineers are SUNY Farmingdale, california state university - long beach, and california state university - bakersfield.

If the best universities for roller coaster 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 roller coaster engineers.

1. SUNY Farmingdale

Farmingdale, NY • Private

In-State Tuition

$8,306

Cost of Attendance

16,091

Website

www.farmingdale.edu/

Address

2350 Broadhollow Road, Farmingdale, NY 11735-1021

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $44,800 per year

Net Price: $9,268 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 46.07%
SAT Average - 1091
ACT Average - 22
Most Popular Majors
Business
Criminal Justice
Electrical Engineering
Economics

2. California State University - Long Beach

Long Beach, CA • Private

In-State Tuition

$6,798

Cost of Attendance

18,306

Website

www.csulb.edu

Address

1250 Bellflower Blvd, Long Beach, CA 90840-0115

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $40,000 per year

Net Price: $8,982 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 31.21%
SAT Average - 1146
ACT Average - 23
Most Popular Majors
Business
Mechanical Engineering
Electrical Engineering
Economics

3. California State University - Bakersfield

Bakersfield, CA • Private

In-State Tuition

$7,309

Cost of Attendance

16,714

Website

www.csub.edu

Address

9001 Stockdale Hwy, Bakersfield, CA 93311-1022

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $39,100 per year

Net Price: $5,687 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 23.02%
Most Popular Majors
Business
Criminal Justice
Electrical Engineering
Economics

4. California State University - Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA • Private

In-State Tuition

$6,749

Cost of Attendance

14,823

Website

www.calstatela.edu

Address

5151 State University Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90032

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $37,200 per year

Net Price: $4,175 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 41.52%
SAT Average - 978
ACT Average - 18
Most Popular Majors
Business
Mechanical Engineering
Electrical Engineering
Economics

5. University of Florida

Gainesville, FL • Private

In-State Tuition

$6,381

Cost of Attendance

21,034

Website

www.ufl.edu/

Address

300 SW 13th Street, Gainesville, FL 32611

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $47,700 per year

Net Price: $8,057 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 38.75%
SAT Average - 1362
ACT Average - 30
Most Popular Majors
Business
Mechanical Engineering
Electrical Engineering
Economics

Top 10 hardest universities to get into for roller coaster engineers

The hardest universities for roller coaster engineers to get into are Northwestern University, Stanford University, and Northeastern University.

Some great schools for roller coaster 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 roller coaster 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. 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
Economics
Mechanical Engineering
Electrical Engineering

2. 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
Business
Mechanical Engineering
Electrical Engineering
Economics

3. Northeastern University

Boston, MA • Private

Admissions Rate

19%

SAT Average

1,466

Website

www.northeastern.edu

Address

360 Huntington Ave, 110CH, Boston, MA 02115

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $57,800 per year

Net Price: $31,855 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 19.34%
SAT Average - 1466
ACT Average - 33
Most Popular Majors
Mechanical Engineering
Economics
Electrical Engineering
Criminal Justice

4. Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore, MD • Private

Admissions Rate

11%

SAT Average

1,513

Website

www.jhu.edu

Address

3400 N Charles St, Baltimore, MD 21218-2688

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $68,000 per year

Net Price: $30,701 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 11.48%
SAT Average - 1513
ACT Average - 34
Most Popular Majors
Economics
Electrical Engineering
Mechanical Engineering
Business

5. Boston University

Boston, MA • Private

Admissions Rate

22%

SAT Average

1,420

Website

www.bu.edu

Address

One Silber Way, 8th Floor, Boston, MA 02215

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $52,800 per year

Net Price: $30,729 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 22.09%
SAT Average - 1420
ACT Average - 32
Most Popular Majors
Business
Economics
Mechanical Engineering
Electrical Engineering

Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for roller coaster engineers

The easiest schools for roller coaster engineers to get into are Oregon Institute of Technology, the university of texas permian basin, and notre dame college.

Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a roller coaster 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 roller coaster engineers.

1. Oregon Institute of Technology

Klamath Falls, OR • Private

Admissions Rate

96%

SAT Average

1,139

Website

https://www.oit.edu

Address

3201 Campus Drive, Klamath Falls, OR 97601-8801

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $52,900 per year

Net Price: $17,083 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 95.85%
SAT Average - 1139
ACT Average - 23
Most Popular Majors
Mechanical Engineering
Electrical Engineering
Civil Engineering
Business

2. The University of Texas Permian Basin

Odessa, TX • Private

Admissions Rate

91%

SAT Average

1,046

Website

www.utpb.edu

Address

4901 E University, Odessa, TX 79762-0001

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $44,800 per year

Net Price: $9,632 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 90.50%
SAT Average - 1046
ACT Average - 20
Most Popular Majors
Business
Mechanical Engineering
Finance
Criminal Justice

3. Notre Dame College

Cleveland, OH • Private

Admissions Rate

90%

SAT Average

994

Website

www.notredamecollege.edu

Address

4545 College Rd, Cleveland, OH 44121-4293

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $37,000 per year

Net Price: $21,651 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 89.65%
SAT Average - 994
ACT Average - 19
Most Popular Majors
Business
Criminal Justice
Communication
Finance

4. Texas A&M University - Kingsville

Kingsville, TX • Private

Admissions Rate

89%

SAT Average

1,035

Website

https://WWW.TAMUK.EDU

Address

955 University Blvd, Kingsville, TX 78363

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $39,500 per year

Net Price: $14,796 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 89.11%
SAT Average - 1035
ACT Average - 20
Most Popular Majors
Mechanical Engineering
Electrical Engineering
Business
Criminal Justice

5. Kean University

Union, NJ • Private

Admissions Rate

86%

SAT Average

991

Website

www.kean.edu

Address

1000 Morris Ave, Union, NJ 07083-0411

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $38,000 per year

Net Price: $18,547 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 85.98%
SAT Average - 991
ACT Average - 20
Most Popular Majors
Business
Criminal Justice
Economics
Electrical Engineering

Average roller coaster engineer salary by education level

According to our data, roller coaster engineers with a Doctorate degree earn the highest average salary, at $129,011 annually. Roller coaster engineers with a Master's degree earn an average annual salary of $109,815.
Roller Coaster Engineer education level
ascdesc
Roller Coaster Engineer salary
ascdesc
Master's Degree$109,815
Bachelor's Degree$85,684
Doctorate Degree$129,011

Roller Coaster Engineer 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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