Top US Colleges Offering Metrology Curriculums

Ask any metrologist how they started their career, and you may hear a story of how they “fell” into it.  Many took jobs in machine shops and learned the craft from the ground up.  Others earned engineering degrees and started as applications engineers or service technicians in corporate quality assurance programs.

Likewise, ask any hiring manager how they find metrologists, and they’ll explain a process of recruiting people with engineering backgrounds who can be trained in the profession. In support of these claims, this article by Carol Hockert, a metrologist and former Chief of the Office of Weights and Measures at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), described how her career in metrology started.

Unfortunately, because most metrologists begin their careers in employer training programs, very few high school students or college undergrads are aware of career paths and academic opportunities in the profession, and may not even know what the field of metrology is.  If that describes you or a student you know, here is a brief overview of the discipline.

Metrology is generally defined as the science of measurement.  It is found in many different forms but in terms of quality assurance within manufacturing, dimensional metrology is the precise measurement of sizes, dimensions, and relationships between physical features on manufactured parts and products.

Metrologists are quality assurance professionals who specialize in measuring manufactured parts to ensure compliance to design specifications. Their work may occur at the beginning of a manufacturing process to capture critical dimensions of prototypes or reverse-engineered objects.  It may occur during the manufacturing processes, such as when parts must pass inspection before moving on to subsequent steps in assembly.  Or it may occur at the end of manufacturing when products must pass rigorous quality control standards before being sold to consumers.

While the disciplines of metrology and quality assurance are largely invisible to product end users, the processes that ensure quality are of extreme importance.  Just think of the products you come into contact with every day.  The tiniest of integrated circuits on silicon chips in cell phones have undoubtedly gone through strict adherence to design, manufacturing, and quality standards.  The razor blades in personal shaving products must work flawlessly without risk of consumer recalls.  Electric cars don’t run well without precisely machined gears in their drivetrains.  Plastic lids must clamp tightly to beverage containers to prevent spills in restaurants.  All of these and thousands of other examples underscore the tremendous importance of quality assurance.

We’ve also heard how competitive manufacturing is across the world.  Many industries rely on quality for competitive advantage – including aerospace, automotive, semiconductors, energy, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, plastics, food/beverage, agriculture, and even companies in the entertainment industry!  The pursuit of the highest quality and commitment to measurement standards is presenting increasingly abundant opportunities for those with academic degrees in metrology.

On a day-to-day basis, metrologists analyze and use Computer-Aided Design (CAD) drawings of manufactured parts.  They write software programs to run computerized measurement machines and capture dimensional data with those machines or with handheld tools.  They can analyze measurement data and discuss results with other members of quality assurance and manufacturing teams.  They may also perform equipment and instrumentation calibrations and keep up to date with measurement methods, technologies, and standards.  At a management level, metrologists may be in charge of creating complete quality assurance programs.

Metrology is first and foremost, a science and is therefore best suited for people who think scientifically.  Most metrologists have very good math skills, analytical abilities, troubleshooting, and problem-solving skills.  Engineers in all disciplines – including software and the natural sciences – do well in metrology.

You may be interested in a career in metrology if you enjoy working with computers and software, machines, and manufactured products.  But many other skills can lead to career paths in metrology including technical writing, product management, and those seeking supervisory roles.

Metrologists work with other technically-minded people including engineers who design products from scratch, engineers who create manufacturing processes to mass produce those products, and quality engineers who design methods to ensure product quality lives up to standards.

Advancements in modern manufacturing that may interest you are known as the Fourth Industrial Revolution, or Industry 4.0, and Industry 5.0.  These are the next phases in the digitization of the manufacturing sector, being driven by new technologies including advanced analytics, machine learning, automation, robotics, 3D printing, and collaborative tools that improve agility and productivity.  Industry 5.0 features the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in which people will work alongside robots and smart machines.  As manufacturing companies adopt these tools, a whole new level of technical training is becoming relevant.

To start a career in metrology and quality assurance, you can certainly seek employment in a machine shop and develop your trade.  However, we recommend utilizing an undergraduate college program to become a degreed professional.  While college programs are generally broad and cover aspects of different types of metrology, they aim to provide students with a well-rounded education that can be used to gain entry-level positions in a variety of industries.

Below are some of the best-known metrology and quality assurance-related college-level programs in the US.

California State University, Dominguez Hills, CA

Offering a Bachelor of Science (BS) degree in Quality Assurance.  Website  LinkedIn

Farmingdale State College, Farmingdale, NY

Offering a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Manufacturing Engineering Technology.  Website  LinkedIn

North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, Greensboro, NC

Offering a Bachelor of Science (BS) degree in Applied Engineering Technology.  Website  LinkedIn

Penn State College of Engineering, University Park, PA

Offering undergraduate and graduate level degrees in Industrial Engineering and Additive Manufacturing.  Website  Metrology lab  LinkedIn

Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN

Offering undergraduate and graduate level degrees in Electrical, Mechanical, Industrial, and Manufacturing Engineering Technologies.  Website  Metrology Lab  LinkedIn

Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, NY

Offering Bachelors and graduate level degrees in Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering.  Website  LinkedIn

William States Lee College of Engineering, University of North Carolina (UNC) at Charlotte, NC

Offering Bachelor of Science (BSME) and graduate-level degrees in Mechanical Engineering including a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree.  The BSME with a Concentration in Precision Engineering and Metrology is intended for students interested in specialized and systematic training and education in the area of precision engineering.  Website  Center for Precision Metrology  Large metrology lab   LinkedIn

Broome Community College, Binghamton, NY

Offering Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degrees in Manufacturing Technology and Mechanical Engineering Technology.  Website  LinkedIn

Butler County Community College, Butler, PA

Offering an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree in Measurement Science/Metrology Technology.  Website  LinkedIn

Central Georgia Technical College, Warner Robins, GA

Offering an Associate of Science (AS) degree in Metrology.  Website  LinkedIn

CT State Community College, CT

Offering an Associate of Science (AS) degree in Manufacturing Engineering Technology in Gateway, Manchester, Middlesex, Naugatuck Valley, and Three Rivers locations.   Website  LinkedIn

Danville Community College, Danville, VA

Offering Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degrees in Advanced Manufacturing and Integrated Machining Technology.  Website  LinkedIn

Fullerton College, Fullerton, CA

Offering an Associate of Science (AS) degree in Manufacturing Technology.  Website  LinkedIn

Goodwin University, East Hartford, CT

Offering an Associate of Science (AS) degree in Quality Management Services.  Website  LinkedIn

Hudson Valley Community College (HVCC), Troy, NY

Offering an Associate in Occupational Studies (AOS) degree in Advanced Manufacturing Technology.  The Gene F. Haas Center for Advanced Manufacturing Skills is a 37,000 square foot building with a 1,900 sf. Metrology Lab.  Website  LinkedIn  Instructor Dean Odell

Monroe County Community College, Monroe, MI

Offering an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree in Metrology and Quality Technology.  Website  LinkedIn

New England Institute of Technology, East Greenwich, RI

Offering an Associate of Science (AS) degree in Mechanical Engineering Technology.  Website  LinkedIn

Polk State College, FL

Offering an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree in Engineering Technology in Winter Haven, Lakeland, Bartow, and Lake Wales locations.  Website  LinkedIn

Red Rocks Community College, Lakewood, CO

Offering an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree in Precision Machining.  Website  LinkedIn  Video

South Texas College, McAllen, TX

Offering Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree in Precision Manufacturing Technology.  Website  LinkedIn

Sussex County Community College, Newton, NJ

Offering an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree in Machine Tool Technology.  Website  Linkedin  Video

Coordinate Metrology Society

CMS is based out of Weatherford, Texas, is focused on expanding and promoting the usage of mobile metrology systems. The organization sponsors an annual conference (CMSC) that draws a worldwide audience. If you’re interested in becoming a metrologist, they’ll help you attend their conference for free.

International Manufacturing Technology Show

IMTS, the world’s largest tradeshow for the manufacturing community, was held September 9-14, 2024 in Chicago. The show occurs every two years with the next event planned for September 14-19, 2026.  The show allows attendees to see all of the latest technologies, including metrology, available to manufacturers. It also features the Smartforce Student Summit designed to inspire students to seek an education in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) that leads to a career pathway in manufacturing. This event is inclusive to students and educators at all levels, from all backgrounds.  Smartforce Blog

National Institute of Standards and Technology 

NIST is a part of the U.S. Department of Commerce and has a mission to promote U.S. innovation and industrial competitiveness by advancing measurement science, standards, and technology in ways that enhance economic security and improve our quality of life. NIST Offers a number of in-person and virtual training courses to encourage metrologists to extend their technical skills.

OGP Authorized Representatives

OGP Representatives are companies with metrology specialists that evaluate measurement requirements for manufacturers and recommend solutions that best fit their needs. These companies hire metrologists, service technicians, and applications engineers to build solutions. They offer a breadth of knowledge about the industry and would be a valuable resource for students learning about the profession.

Quality Magazine 

Quality Magazine is a premium industry publication that serves quality professionals involved in manufacturing. Content discusses measurement, testing, inspection, analysis, and quality management challenges and solutions. Website  LinkedIn

OGP (Optical Gaging Products) is a division of Quality Vision International Inc (QVI®), a world leading manufacturer of precision multisensor metrology systems for industrial Quality Control. Our metrology systems focus on measurement technologies that help manufacturers monitor dimensional compliance to design specifications. First introduced in 1992, the famous OGP SmartScope® product family has become one of the world’s most popular and versatile dimensional measurement systems. SmartScope systems are designed and produced at QVI corporate headquarters in Rochester, NY, USA.