Area manager/project manager education requirements

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

There are several educational requirements to become an area manager/project manager. Area manager/project managers usually study business, electrical engineering, or construction management. 65% of area manager/project managers hold a bachelor's degree, and 15% hold an associate degree. We analyzed 503 real area manager/project manager resumes to see exactly what area manager/project manager education sections show.

The most common colleges for area manager/project managers are the University of Phoenix and the University of Phoenix.

There are also many online area manager/project manager courses to help get the education required to be an area manager/project manager.

There are certain area manager/project manager certifications that you should consider. These area manager/project manager certifications include OSHA Safety Certificate and Certified Construction Manager (CCM).

What education do you need to become an area manager/project manager?

What degree do you need to be an area manager/project manager?

The most common degree for area manager/project managers is bachelor's degree, with 65% of area manager/project managers earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are associate degree degree at 15% and associate degree degree at 11%.

Bachelor's, 65%

Associate, 15%

Master's, 11%

High School Diploma, 4%

Other Degrees, 5%

What should I major in to become an area manager/project manager?

You should major in business to become an area manager/project manager. 29% of area manager/project managers major in business. Other common majors for an area manager/project manager include electrical engineering and construction management.

Business, 29%

Electrical Engineering, 10%

Construction Management, 6%

Civil Engineering, 6%

Other Majors, 49%

Most common colleges for area manager/project managers

Area manager/project managers often get their degrees at University of Phoenix, University of Houston, and Pennsylvania State University. Here are the most common colleges for area manager/project managers in the US based on their resumes.

Area manager/project manager common college	Percentages
University of Phoenix	12.90%
University of Houston	8.06%
Pennsylvania State University	6.45%
Western Washington University	6.45%
Texas A&M University	6.45%

Show more common area manager/project manager colleges

Best majors for area manager/project managers

Rank	Major	Percentages
1	Business	29.1%
2	Electrical Engineering	9.6%
3	Construction Management	6.1%
4	Civil Engineering	5.7%
5	Mechanical Engineering	5.2%

Show more common area manager/project manager majors

Best colleges for area manager/project managers

The best colleges for area manager/project managers are University of Pennsylvania, Northwestern University, and Harvard University.

An area manager/project manager with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for area manager/project managers. 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 area manager/project managers.

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. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

In-state tuition

$54,568

Enrollment

8,451

4. Boston University

Boston, MA • Private

In-state tuition

$53,948

Enrollment

17,238

5. Pennsylvania State University

University Park, PA • Private

In-state tuition

$18,454

Enrollment

40,108

6. Harvard University

Cambridge, MA • Private

In-state tuition

$50,420

Enrollment

7,582

7. University of Washington

Seattle, WA • Private

In-state tuition

$11,207

Enrollment

30,905

8. University of Texas at Austin

Austin, TX • Private

In-state tuition

$10,610

Enrollment

40,329

9. New York University

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$51,828

Enrollment

26,339

10. University of Maryland - College Park

College Park, MD • Private

In-state tuition

$10,595

Enrollment

30,184

20 best online courses for area manager/project managers

Advertising disclosure

1. Digital Project Management

Build confidence translating business requirements into project scope statements, creating project plans in Waterfall or Agile, and developing a high-performing team...

2. Agile Crash Course: Agile Project Management; Agile Delivery

4.5

(82,218)

Agile Project Management Basics (Scrum) & Agile Project Management Essentials (Scrum). Plus Agile Certification (Scrum)...

3. Beginning Project Management: Project Management Level One

4.6

(28,219)

Project Management: Growing a Successful Career as a Project Manager...

4. Mastering Construction/Project Management

4.2

(659)

Mastering Construction-Project Management in less than 10 Hours...

5. Project Management: Simple Software Project Management

4.4

(1,144)

Project Management for NEW Project Managers - knowledge, tools, techniques, skills, checklists, guidelines, pitfalls...

6. Project Management Course: Master Project Scope Management

4.3

(457)

Practical guide to scope development and management - Project Management Certification (PMP, CAPM) Training [Earn 11PDU]...

7. Project Management: Becoming a Successful Project manager

4.4

(250)

Project Management...

8. Project Management Training

4.6

(1,394)

Project Management Certification Training with 4 Full Practice Tests...

9. Project Management Essentials

4.5

(15,814)

A crash course in the essentials of project management for new project managers...

10. Agile Project Management Bootcamp: Agile Project Management

4.5

(1,916)

This Agile Project Management Bootcamp course will allow you to learn the Agile Way! Agile Project Management (Scrum)...

11. Project Management: Master Project Management - PMP/PMI

4.6

(12,299)

Master Project Management using this practical certification course...

12. Master Course in Project Management 2.0

4.2

(490)

Project Management, PMP, Agile project management, Project manager, Prince2, Scrum, Project Planning, Project risk cost...

13. Project Management - Complete Guide For A+ Project Managers

4.6

(494)

Complete guide to project management - stakeholders, planning, cost, quality, risks, feasibility, methods & resourcing...

14. Mastering Agile Scrum Project Management

4.5

(5,170)

Review and master agile development & scrum methodologies for your career...

15. Microsoft Project ADVANCED: Project Management Technics 3PDU

4.6

(952)

MS PROJECT 2016 ADVANCED Project Management Techniques -incl Enterprise level. HANDS-ON from #1 BESTSELLING INSTRUCTOR...

16. CompTIA Project+ Exam Prep

4.6

(895)

How to pass the Comp TIA Project+ Exam...

17. Project Management Essentials: Ace Your Next Project!

4.5

(1,719)

The Missing Toolkit for Truly Effective, Everyday Project Management Project Management Basics for Everyone...

18. Project Management Master Class: Government Projects

4.4

(350)

Learn How To Win Big By Always Successfully Completing Government Projects Using Ninja Project Management Techniques...

19. Practical Project Management for Management Consultants

4.5

(809)

How to manage successfully a consulting project - a practical guide for Project Managers...

20. Project Management for Beginners: Fundamentals Crash Course

4.6

(3,748)

Project Management Training for new Project Managers - Introduction to Project Management Certification - PMP - Agile...

Top 10 most affordable universities for area manager/project managers

The most affordable schools for area manager/project managers are University of Florida, baruch college of the city university of new york, and hunter college of the city university of new york.

If the best universities for area manager/project managers 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 area manager/project managers.

1. University of Florida

Gainesville, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,381

Cost of attendance

21,034

2. Baruch College of the City University of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,262

Cost of attendance

14,046

3. Hunter College of the City University of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,182

Cost of attendance

13,998

4. California State University - Long Beach

Long Beach, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,798

Cost of attendance

18,306

5. California State University - Bakersfield

Bakersfield, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$7,309

Cost of attendance

16,714

6. University of South Florida

Tampa, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,410

Cost of attendance

20,456

7. California State University - Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,749

Cost of attendance

14,823

8. Florida State University

Tallahassee, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$5,656

Cost of attendance

21,623

9. Brigham Young University

Provo, UT • Private

In-state tuition

$5,620

Cost of attendance

18,136

10. Florida International University

Miami, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,556

Cost of attendance

19,434

Top 10 hardest universities to get into for area manager/project managers

The hardest universities for area manager/project managers to get into are University of Pennsylvania, Northwestern University, and Harvard University.

Some great schools for area manager/project managers 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 area manager/project managers 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

SAT average

1,492

2. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

Admissions rate

SAT average

1,508

3. Harvard University

Cambridge, MA • Private

Admissions rate

SAT average

1,520

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

6. Washington University in St Louis

Saint Louis, MO • Private

Admissions rate

15%

SAT average

1,506

7. Columbia University in the City of New York

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

SAT average

1,512

8. University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA • Private

Admissions rate

13%

SAT average

1,445

9. Northeastern University

Boston, MA • Private

Admissions rate

19%

SAT average

1,466

10. Duke University

Durham, NC • Private

Admissions rate

SAT average

1,516

Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for area manager/project managers

The easiest schools for area manager/project managers to get into are Mount Saint Mary's University, barry university, and university of the incarnate word.

Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as an area manager/project manager 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 area manager/project managers.

1. Mount Saint Mary's University

Los Angeles, CA • Private

Admissions rate

84%

SAT average

1,031

2. Barry University

Miami, FL • Private

Admissions rate

91%

SAT average

1,006

3. University of the Incarnate Word

San Antonio, TX • Private

Admissions rate

88%

SAT average

1,044

4. University of Baltimore

Baltimore, MD • Private

Admissions rate

78%

SAT average

1,020

5. University of North Texas at Dallas

Dallas, TX • Private

Admissions rate

83%

SAT average

992

6. Holy Names University

Oakland, CA • Private

Admissions rate

70%

SAT average

849

7. Wayland Baptist University

Plainview, TX • Private

Admissions rate

98%

SAT average

1,003

8. Oklahoma Wesleyan University

Bartlesville, OK • Private

Admissions rate

68%

SAT average

964

9. California University of Pennsylvania

California, PA • Private

Admissions rate

97%

SAT average

1,007

10. San Francisco State University

San Francisco, CA • Private

Admissions rate

72%

SAT average

1,054

Average area manager/project manager salary by education level

According to our data, area manager/project managers with a Doctorate degree earn the highest average salary, at $102,110 annually. Area manager/project managers with a Master's degree earn an average annual salary of $96,618.

Area manager/project manager education level	Area manager/project manager salary
Master's Degree	$96,618
High School Diploma or Less	$67,827
Bachelor's Degree	$86,165
Doctorate Degree	$102,110
Some College/ Associate Degree	$71,293

Area manager/project manager education FAQs

What is the best college for Area Manager/Project Managers?

Have more questions? See all answers to common executive management questions.

Search for area manager/project manager jobs

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

Updated January 8, 2025

Browse executive management jobs