Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
Adjunct faculty education requirements
Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
There are several educational requirements to become an adjunct faculty. Adjunct faculties usually study nursing, business, or psychology. 48% of adjunct faculties hold a bachelor's degree, and 33% hold an master's degree. We analyzed 30,731 real adjunct faculty resumes to see exactly what adjunct faculty education sections show.
The most common colleges for adjunct faculties are the University of Phoenix and the University of Phoenix.
There are also many online adjunct faculty courses to help get the education required to be an adjunct faculty.
There are certain adjunct faculty certifications that you should consider. These adjunct faculty certifications include Certified Professional - Human Resource (IPMA-CP) and Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR).
What education do you need to become an adjunct faculty?
What degree do you need to be an adjunct faculty?
- Bachelor's, 48%
- Master's, 33%
- Doctorate, 9%
- Associate, 7%
- Other Degrees, 3%
What should I major in to become an adjunct faculty?
- Nursing, 18%
- Business, 14%
- Psychology, 10%
- English, 6%
- Other Majors, 52%
Most common colleges for adjunct faculties
| Adjunct faculty common college | Percentages |
|---|---|
| University of Phoenix | 18.62% |
| Arizona State University | 7.17% |
| Walden University | 5.94% |
| Capella University | 4.90% |
| Ohio State University | 4.79% |
Best majors for adjunct faculties
| Rank | Major | Percentages |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nursing | 17.8% |
| 2 | Business | 14.2% |
| 3 | Psychology | 9.8% |
| 4 | English | 6.3% |
| 5 | Education | 5.7% |
Best colleges for adjunct faculties
The best colleges for adjunct faculties are University of Pennsylvania, University of Southern California, and New York University.
An adjunct faculty with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for adjunct faculties. 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 adjunct faculties.
1. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
In-state tuition
$55,584
Enrollment
10,764
2. University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$56,225
Enrollment
19,548
3. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, MI • Private
In-state tuition
$15,262
Enrollment
30,079
4. Stanford University
Stanford, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$51,354
Enrollment
7,083
5. University of Virginia
Charlottesville, VA • Private
In-state tuition
$17,653
Enrollment
16,405
6. Pennsylvania State University
University Park, PA • Private
In-state tuition
$18,454
Enrollment
40,108
7. New York University
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$51,828
Enrollment
26,339
8. California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo
San Luis Obispo, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$9,816
Enrollment
21,047
9. Purdue University
West Lafayette, IN • Private
In-state tuition
$9,992
Enrollment
33,495
10. University of Florida
Gainesville, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,381
Enrollment
34,564
20 best online courses for adjunct faculties
Advertising disclosure
1. Psychological Research
This specialization is primarily aimed at first- and second-year undergraduates interested in psychology, data analysis, ethics in research, and quantitative research methods along with high school students and professionals with similar interests.\n\nLearners will develop knowledge about the fundamentals of research design for quantitative studies in psychology, analysis of data from quantitative studies in psychology, and ethical standards for conducting psychological research. Learning...
2. Being a researcher (in Information Science and Technology)
The course provides a broad view of how to become and progress as a researcher. It spans over a wide range of topics, from the historical development of scientific thought to research methodology, to the pragmatics of publication, research funding, evaluation, and promotion in a researcher’s career. It also stresses the ethical aspects of research. Although the course speaks about scientific research in general, it especially focuses on the field on Information and Communication Science and...
3. Easy Anatomy and Physiology (Platinum Edition)
An Easy Guide to Learning the Anatomy and Physiology of the Human Body...
4. Web Development w/ Google's Go (golang) Programming Language
Learn Web Programming from a University Professor in Computer Science with over 20 years of teaching experience...
5. Project Management Course: Master Project Scope Management
Practical guide to scope development and management - Project Management Certification (PMP, CAPM) Training [Earn 11PDU]...
6. Infopreneur: Create Information Products and Online Courses
Turn your knowledge, experience & passion into profits. Create, package & sell an information product or online course...
7. Agile Crash Course: Agile Project Management; Agile Delivery
Agile Project Management Basics (Scrum) & Agile Project Management Essentials (Scrum). Plus Agile Certification (Scrum)...
8. Top 10 Project Management Lessons Learned - Earn 2 PDU's
Take a 25 year career shortcut with the ten most important lessons learned in Project Management...
9. Plan the Project as a Business Analyst - IIBA Endorsed
Increase your value as a Business Analyst by learning how to plan projects successfully without a Project Manager...
10. Master Course in Project Management 2.0
Project Management, PMP, Agile project management, Project manager, Prince2, Scrum, Project Planning, Project risk cost...
11. Executive Coaching and Business Case Development
The Guide to Executive Coaching and Business Case Development Success...
12. Implementing Positive Behaviour Management in the Classroom
Practical Strategies to Address Behaviour Issues in any Classroom...
13. The Complete Project Management Fundamentals Course + CERT
Project Management Certification to get in an industry that is adding 1.5 million jobs each year: Project Management...
14. Learn Risk Management: Risk Planning in Agile and Scrum
Complete Risk Management and Risk Planning Training: Identify Project Risks, Create Risk Plan and Monitor Risks in Scrum...
15. The Project Management Course: Beginner to PROject Manager
The Complete Course For Becoming A Successful Project Manager...
16. The Result-Oriented Web Developer Course - BOOTCAMP 2023
The Best Full Stack Web Development Bootcamp [For Absolute Beginners & Advanced Developers]. Major Projects. Complete...
17. General Biology I: Foundations of Biology
An essential course in Biology for students of all ages...
18. Project Management Training
Project Management Certification Training with 4 Full Practice Tests...
19. Project Management Essentials
A crash course in the essentials of project management for new project managers...
20. Mathematics for Computer Games Development using Unity
A Beginner's Guide to Essential Mathematics, Data Structures and Algorithms used in Game Programming applied in Unity...
Top 10 most affordable universities for adjunct faculties
The most affordable schools for adjunct faculties are University of Florida, california state university - bakersfield, and california state university - los angeles.
If the best universities for adjunct faculties 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 adjunct faculties.
1. University of Florida
Gainesville, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,381
Cost of attendance
21,034
2. California State University - Bakersfield
Bakersfield, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$7,309
Cost of attendance
16,714
3. California State University - Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,749
Cost of attendance
14,823
4. SUNY Farmingdale
Farmingdale, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$8,306
Cost of attendance
16,091
5. Brigham Young University
Provo, UT • Private
In-state tuition
$5,620
Cost of attendance
18,136
6. University of Puerto Rico - Mayaguez
Mayaguez, PR • Private
In-state tuition
$4,094
Cost of attendance
14,302
7. Minot State University
Minot, ND • Private
In-state tuition
$7,064
Cost of attendance
15,576
8. Brooklyn College of the City University of New York
Brooklyn, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,240
Cost of attendance
13,991
9. Baruch College of the City University of New York
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,262
Cost of attendance
14,046
10. California State University - Dominguez Hills
Carson, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,942
Cost of attendance
14,469
Top 10 hardest universities to get into for adjunct faculties
The hardest universities for adjunct faculties to get into are University of Pennsylvania, University of Southern California, and New York University.
Some great schools for adjunct faculties 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 adjunct faculties 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. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
Admissions rate
8%
SAT average
1,492
2. University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA • Private
Admissions rate
13%
SAT average
1,445
3. New York University
New York, NY • Private
Admissions rate
20%
SAT average
1,419
4. Boston University
Boston, MA • Private
Admissions rate
22%
SAT average
1,420
5. Stanford University
Stanford, CA • Private
Admissions rate
4%
SAT average
1,497
6. George Washington University, The
Washington, DC • Private
Admissions rate
42%
SAT average
1,380
7. University of Virginia
Charlottesville, VA • Private
Admissions rate
26%
SAT average
1,427
8. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
Admissions rate
8%
SAT average
1,508
9. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, MI • Private
Admissions rate
23%
SAT average
1,434
10. Vanderbilt University
Nashville, TN • Private
Admissions rate
10%
SAT average
1,514
Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for adjunct faculties
The easiest schools for adjunct faculties to get into are Gwynedd Mercy University, holy names university, and oklahoma wesleyan university.
Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as an adjunct faculty 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 adjunct faculties.
1. Gwynedd Mercy University
Gwynedd Valley, PA • Private
Admissions rate
92%
SAT average
1,031
2. Holy Names University
Oakland, CA • Private
Admissions rate
70%
SAT average
849
3. Oklahoma Wesleyan University
Bartlesville, OK • Private
Admissions rate
68%
SAT average
964
4. Wayland Baptist University
Plainview, TX • Private
Admissions rate
98%
SAT average
1,003
5. Notre Dame College
Cleveland, OH • Private
Admissions rate
90%
SAT average
994
6. Barry University
Miami, FL • Private
Admissions rate
91%
SAT average
1,006
7. Felician University
Lodi, NJ • Private
Admissions rate
81%
SAT average
999
8. Thomas More University
Crestview Hills, KY • Private
Admissions rate
90%
SAT average
1,099
9. Nyack College
New York, NY • Private
Admissions rate
98%
SAT average
999
10. Holy Family University
Philadelphia, PA • Private
Admissions rate
72%
SAT average
1,017
Average adjunct faculty salary by education level
| Adjunct faculty education level | Adjunct faculty salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $77,287 |
| Doctorate Degree | $100,834 |
Adjunct faculty education FAQs
Have more questions? See all answers to common education, training, and library questions.
Search for adjunct faculty jobs
Updated January 8, 2025
Updated January 8, 2025