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Senior Mechanical Engineer Education Requirements
Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
There are several educational requirements to become a senior mechanical engineer. Senior mechanical engineers usually study mechanical engineering, engineering, or mechanical engineering technology. 73% of senior mechanical engineers hold a bachelor's degree, and 18% hold an master's degree. We analyzed 6,948 real senior mechanical engineer resumes to see exactly what senior mechanical engineer education sections show.
The most common colleges for senior mechanical engineers are the Northeastern University and the Northeastern University.
There are also many online senior mechanical engineer courses to help get the education required to be a senior mechanical engineer.
There are certain senior mechanical engineer certifications that you should consider. These senior mechanical engineer certifications include Engineer In Training Certification (EIT) and Certified Energy Manager (CEM).
What education do you need to become a senior mechanical engineer?
What degree do you need to be a senior mechanical engineer?
- Bachelor's, 73%
- Master's, 18%
- Associate, 6%
- Doctorate, 2%
- Other Degrees, 1%
What should I major in to become a senior mechanical engineer?
- Engineering, 4%
- Business, 3%
- Other Majors, 17%
Most common colleges for senior mechanical engineers
Senior Mechanical Engineer Common College  | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Northeastern University | 9.60% |
| San Jose State University | 8.92% |
| Purdue University | 6.86% |
| Pennsylvania State University | 5.90% |
| Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute | 5.08% |
Best majors for senior mechanical engineers
| Rank | Major | Percentages |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mechanical Engineering | 72.2% |
| 2 | Engineering | 4.2% |
| 3 | Mechanical Engineering Technology | 3.7% |
| 4 | Business | 3.1% |
| 5 | Drafting And Design | 2.8% |
Best colleges for senior mechanical engineers
The best colleges for senior mechanical engineers are California Institute of Technology, Northwestern University, and Columbia University in the City of New York.
A senior mechanical 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 senior mechanical 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 senior mechanical engineers.
1. Michigan Technological University
Houghton, MI • Private
In-State Tuition
$15,646
Enrollment
5,736
2. Georgia Institute of Technology
Atlanta, GA • Private
In-State Tuition
$12,424
Enrollment
15,201
3. Cornell University
Ithaca, NY • Private
In-State Tuition
$55,188
Enrollment
15,105
4. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
In-State Tuition
$54,568
Enrollment
8,451
5. Columbia University in the City of New York
New York, NY • Private
In-State Tuition
$59,430
Enrollment
8,216
20 best online courses for senior mechanical engineers
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4. Basics of Material selection for mechanical design engineers
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5. Mechanics / Statics - Introduction to Mechanical Engineering
Engineering Solid Mechanics / Engineering Statics...
6. Basics of Sheet metal design for Mechanical design engineers
Learn Sheet metal design, processes and practical design considerations along with Design projects...
7. Diesel Engine Fundamentals (Mechanical Engineering)
Learn about the diesel engine! Ideal for Automotive Engineering and Automobile Engineering!...
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Master the fundamentals of mechanics, statics and applied physics and then solve real-world mechanics problems...
9. Manufacturing Guide for Mechanical Product Development
Learn how everyday physical products are manufactured with no prior experience in engineering...
10. Python for Mechanical Engineers
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Top 10 most affordable universities for senior mechanical engineers
The most affordable schools for senior mechanical engineers are Brigham Young University, inter american university of puerto rico arecibo, and inter american university of puerto rico bayamon.
If the best universities for senior mechanical 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 senior mechanical engineers.
1. Brigham Young University
Provo, UT • Private
In-State Tuition
$5,620
Cost of Attendance
18,136
2. Inter American University of Puerto Rico Arecibo
Arecibo, PR • Private
In-State Tuition
$5,872
Cost of Attendance
13,476
3. Inter American University of Puerto Rico Bayamon
Bayamon, PR • Private
In-State Tuition
$5,940
Cost of Attendance
13,508
4. Florida International University
Miami, FL • Private
In-State Tuition
$6,556
Cost of Attendance
19,434
5. Purdue University
West Lafayette, IN • Private
In-State Tuition
$9,992
Cost of Attendance
22,430
Top 10 hardest universities to get into for senior mechanical engineers
The hardest universities for senior mechanical engineers to get into are California Institute of Technology, Northwestern University, and Columbia University in the City of New York.
Some great schools for senior mechanical 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 senior mechanical 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. California Institute of Technology
Pasadena, CA • Private
Admissions Rate
7%
SAT Average
1,566
2. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
Admissions Rate
8%
SAT Average
1,508
3. Columbia University in the City of New York
New York, NY • Private
Admissions Rate
6%
SAT Average
1,512
4. Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, MD • Private
Admissions Rate
11%
SAT Average
1,513
5. Carnegie Mellon University
Pittsburgh, PA • Private
Admissions Rate
17%
SAT Average
1,507
Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for senior mechanical engineers
The easiest schools for senior mechanical engineers to get into are Oregon Institute of Technology, saint martin's university, and cleveland state university.
Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a senior mechanical 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 senior mechanical engineers.
1. Oregon Institute of Technology
Klamath Falls, OR • Private
Admissions Rate
96%
SAT Average
1,139
2. Saint Martin's University
Lacey, WA • Private
Admissions Rate
96%
SAT Average
1,111
3. Cleveland State University
Cleveland, OH • Private
Admissions Rate
88%
SAT Average
1,111
4. Alabama A & M University
Normal, AL • Private
Admissions Rate
90%
SAT Average
957
5. University of Southern Maine
Portland, ME • Private
Admissions Rate
85%
SAT Average
1,050
Average senior mechanical engineer salary by education level
| Senior Mechanical Engineer education level | Senior Mechanical Engineer salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $114,437 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $102,916 |
| Doctorate Degree | $122,599 |
Senior Mechanical Engineer Education FAQs
Have more questions? See all answers to common architecture and engineering questions.
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Updated January 8, 2025
Updated January 8, 2025