Recruiting Manufacturing Talent? Hit the 9 Best Colleges for Manufacturing Graduates First

An engineer showing other engineers how to use a CNC tool making machine

As 2021’s fall semester swings into high gear, manufacturers seeking new talent should start looking closer at the colleges and universities from which their next crop of talent will graduate. Most colleges have STEM programs, but some are more equipped than others for educating students with a specific focus on manufacturing.

For the best places to start your search for manufacturing talent, and find the most qualified candidates to grow your factory workforce, start with these nine institutions:

  • Brigham Young University, Provo. Brigham Young University’s main campus is in Provo, UT. The school also features satellite campuses in Rexburg, ID and Laie, HI. Founded by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, BYU has a current enrollment of approximately 29,000 students at its main campus in Provo. The school offers a prestigious Manufacturing Engineering program — complete with multiple classes and research opportunities designed to prepare students for the manufacturing workforce.
    An engineer working on a laptop with another engineer moving wires behind him
  • University of Wisconsin, Stout. Located in Menomonie, WI, the University of Wisconsin-Stout boasts one of the country’s best engineering programs. In fact, the university was recently named number 92 on S. News and World Report’s list of the best undergraduate engineering programs that don’t offer Ph.D. options. The school currently offers four different undergraduate engineering programs as well as a master’s program.
  • Ferris State University. Only the best and brightest get into Ferris State University; the school only accepts around 55% of those who apply. Ferris State University offers 15 off-campus facilities and an online program along with its main campus in Big Rapids, MI. Their Mechanical Engineering program is one of the school’s most popular, and it’s designed to prepare students for a wide range of occupations within the manufacturing industry.
  • Robert Morris University. Robert Morris University offers the only four-year degree program for Manufacturing Engineering in Western Pennsylvania. Its program teaches students about materials, processes, assembly methods, and much more. Located in Pittsburgh, PA, Robert Morris University also offers a multitude of research and internship programs.
  • California State University, Northridge. CSUN has the second largest undergraduate population of any school in the California State University system. Located in Los Angeles, CA, CSUN offers three different undergraduate degree programs in manufacturing — and three graduate degree programs.
  • Texas State University. The Texas State University Manufacturing Engineering Program teaches students a variety of skills necessary for success in the manufacturing field, including process planning, tool design, and much more. The school offers other engineering programs with different specialties, such as Electrical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, and Civil Engineering. Texas State University is in San Marcos, TX and features a branch campus in Round Rock, TX.
  • Universidad Politécnica de Puerto Rico. Located in San Juan, Puerto Rico, PUPR is the largest private engineering school in Puerto Rico. Mechanical Engineering is the most popular program offered at the university, closely followed by their programs in Engineering/Industrial Management and Civil Engineering. It offers a total of seven different engineering programs.
    Outside of the Grant M. Brown Engineering Building
  • California State Polytechnic University, Pomona. Cal Poly Pomona’s College of Engineering offers 11 different undergraduate programs and seven graduate programs. Several of Cal Poly Pomona’s engineering programs received top rankings in the S. News & World Report’s 2021 list. The school is in Pomona, CA and features a large campus of approximately 1,430 acres.
  • Bradley University. Bradley University is a private school located in Peoria, IL with departments for Civil, Electrical, and Computer Engineering, Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering. With these programs, students learn all aspects of the manufacturing process, including process optimization and lean manufacturing implementation.

Students who graduate from these institutions have had incredible opportunities to learn about the design, development, and implementation of manufacturing systems — as well as materials science and engineering. Whether you’re in a classic manufacturing sector, or on the leading edge of new technology, the people powering your plant drive its success. And these nine institutions are where to find the best talent for your company’s manufacturing future.

Can’t seem to find the maintenance and repair talent you need? You can always count on the professionals at Global Electronic Services. Contact us for all your industrial electronic, servo motor, AC and DC motor, hydraulic, and pneumatic needs — and don’t forget to like and follow us on Facebook!
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