Do You Need an Audio Engineering Degree?

Max McAllister

5 years ago

Let’s dive straight in. Do you need an audio engineering degree to become an engineer? No. Traditionally, great engineers have learned by doing—starting as an intern in a studio and being mentored by peers to develop their skills. The professional studio landscape has changed, though, and you’ll probably have a better chance of learning through YouTube than being mentored in a studio.

So what does this mean for the audio engineering degree? It’s a great way to learn the fundamentals, but you might gain more practical skills through real-world experience and mentorship. Don’t be deterred, though! There are many reasons why audio school is an excellent choice for aspiring producers and engineers.

Why Am I Considering an Audio Engineering Degree?

Firstly, it’s important to consider that people go to audio school for a number of different reasons. It’s crucial to pinpoint your own motives before taking the plunge. These are some of the most common ones I observed in my classmates when I was studying recording technology:

They want to learn about recording and mixing technology (obviously!)
They’re aspiring musicians looking for what seems like a more practical “in”
They’re lifelong fans of music unsure of how to turn their passion into a fulfilling career in the industry
They think it’ll guarantee them a good job in the entertainment/music business

If you’re trying to decide whether getting an audio engineering degree is worth it, there are some major pros and cons of these programs.

The Pros of Attending Audio School

1. You Meet New People!

This should be an obvious reason, and one of the main upsides of going to college for anything, really. Going to school for audio engineering means you’ll have the opportunity to meet likeminded individuals and (hopefully) develop meaningful personal and professional relationships.

2. You Learn the Fundamentals

If you’re completely clueless with anything and everything audio-related, you’ll learn more than you ever could have imagined.

Personally, I didn’t even know what “mixing” was until I learned about it at school. I didn’t know anything about acoustics and the science of sound, and I had only a cursory knowledge of the equipment used to produce music.

You’ll become extremely familiar with the basics.

3. You’ll Earn a Certificate or Degree

It’s always satisfying to accomplish something you’ve set your mind to. While a piece of paper may not mean much to some, it’s nevertheless a physical representation of your academic achievements. That’s something to be proud of!

4. You’ll Get to Use Incredible Gear

A school that’s worth its salt will likely have a fantastic facility and top-of-the-line equipment for students to use.

I was particularly lucky; mine had two full-sized, multi-million dollar studios with SSL consoles and a phenomenal mic locker.

This may not be the exact case everywhere, but you’ll no doubt have the opportunity to play with stuff you don’t/won’t own personally!

5. Your Skills Apply to More than Just Music

Most audio programs teach just that: audio. That means that while you’ll definitely study music production, you’ll probably also learn about live sound reinforcement and audio for film, TV, or broadcast.

This is great if you’re still unsure of exactly what you want to do!

Audio Engineering Degree: The Downsides

1. Cost

Time and money are probably your most valued assets. College demands a major investment in both, and for some that may be entirely impractical.

I’d specifically urge you to avoid so-called “fancy,” expensive audio engineering programs. Explore your local community colleges and see if they offer an audio program.

I attended a community college in the greater Los Angeles area that wasn’t just affordable, but one of the top programs in the state. It doesn’t have to cost a lot, but unfortunately college isn’t cheap, generally speaking.

2. You Only Learn the Fundamentals

Unquestionably, real-world experience is superior to whatever you learn in audio school. It’s essential to grasp the basics, which your education will help you do; but you won’t really understand what you know until you’re in a professional studio for the first time.

For many, the formal audio engineering education simply isn’t necessary. With some self-discipline, dedication, and free time, you can probably teach yourself the basics through free online resources.

3. You May Never See Half of that Amazing Equipment Again

An instructor at my college joked that the majority of us would probably never see a facility as nice as the school’s again in our careers. This may sound like an insensitive jab, but he wasn’t completely wrong.

Working on a 48-channel SSL Duality is great, and routinely handling expensive Neumanns and AKG C-12s is a thrill, but only the world’s premiere studios have access to this caliber of gear.

Realistically speaking, your first gig probably won’t be a dream job, and it may be in a smaller space with less über-nice gear.

Likewise, all that time you spent on a console in audio school is wonderful experience–but it isn’t applicable in a studio that works all in-the-box, for example.

4. No One Cares that You Studied Audio

To springboard off #2, a certificate or degree in audio engineering isn’t required for a job in the industry, nor does it guarantee one.

Your practical skills are what potential employers care about most. While being a college grad might land you your first interning gig, professional experience is what’s most relevant in the audio industry.

Closing Thoughts

If your current audio knowledge is next to nil, you’re the type that enjoys an academic environment, and you’re passionate–or even just curious–about learning audio, then going to college for an audio engineering degree is probably a good move. At the very least, you’ll find out very quickly whether it’s “for you.” If the material sticks, you’ll come out the other side with way more knowledge than you had before!

That being said, if audio school seems like an impracticality for any of the aforementioned reasons, don’t think it’s a rite of passage in becoming an audio engineer. Self-taught skills are just as viable as those formally taught in college.