Budget counselor education requirements

Updated January 8, 2025

3 min read

There are several educational requirements to become a budget counselor. Budget counselors usually study business, social work, or accounting. 41% of budget counselors hold a bachelor's degree, and 27% hold an master's degree. We analyzed 50 real budget counselor resumes to see exactly what budget counselor education sections show.

The most common colleges for budget counselors are the University of Wisconsin - Green Bay and the University of Wisconsin - Green Bay.

There are also many online budget counselor courses to help get the education required to be a budget counselor.

What education do you need to become a budget counselor?

What degree do you need to be a budget counselor?

The most common degree for budget counselors is bachelor's degree, with 41% of budget counselors earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are master's degree degree at 27% and master's degree degree at 24%.

Bachelor's, 41%

Master's, 27%

Associate, 24%

Doctorate, 5%

Other Degrees, 3%

What should I major in to become a budget counselor?

You should major in business to become a budget counselor. 21% of budget counselors major in business. Other common majors for a budget counselor include social work and accounting.

Business, 21%

Social Work, 13%

Accounting, 8%

Human Services, 8%

Other Majors, 50%

Most common colleges for budget counselors

Budget counselors often get their degrees at University of Wisconsin - Green Bay, Union Institute & University, and University of Utah. Here are the most common colleges for budget counselors in the US based on their resumes.

Budget counselor common college	Percentages
University of Wisconsin - Green Bay	12.00%
Union Institute & University	8.00%
University of Utah	8.00%
Brenau University	8.00%
Michigan Technological University	4.00%

Show more common budget counselor colleges

Best majors for budget counselors

Rank	Major	Percentages
1	Business	21.1%
2	Social Work	13.2%
3	Accounting	7.9%
4	Human Services	7.9%
5	General Studies	5.3%

Show more common budget counselor majors

Best colleges for budget counselors

The best colleges for budget counselors are University of Pennsylvania, Northwestern University, and Vanderbilt University.

A budget counselor with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for budget counselors. 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 budget counselors.

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. Villanova University

Villanova, PA • Private

In-state tuition

$53,308

Enrollment

6,819

4. Georgetown University

Washington, DC • Private

In-state tuition

$54,104

Enrollment

7,089

5. New York University

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$51,828

Enrollment

26,339

6. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

In-state tuition

$54,568

Enrollment

8,451

7. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minneapolis, MN • Private

In-state tuition

$14,760

Enrollment

31,451

8. Vanderbilt University

Nashville, TN • Private

In-state tuition

$49,816

Enrollment

6,840

9. Howard University

Washington, DC • Private

In-state tuition

$26,756

Enrollment

6,166

10. SUNY at Buffalo

Buffalo, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$10,099

Enrollment

21,404

20 best online courses for budget counselors

Advertising disclosure

1. Budgeting essentials and development

The Budgeting Essentials and Development course focus on an integrative and practical view of concepts, methods, and techniques to develop a budget. After finishing this course, learners will be able to: - Develop the budget with a broad view of the corporate functions; - Integrate the strategic guidelines into the discussions of budgeting process; - Structure the budget planning and development in a logical sequence - Coordinate the project of budget planning with the different areas of the...

2. Create a Budget with Google Sheets

By the end of this project, you will be able to build a basic budget using Google Sheets. You will use a template to add, delete, edit, and format a budget to meet the needs of your personal or professional goals. You will be able to read the summary tab, share the budget, and create permissions for others to access, format the charts, and use conditional formatting. You will also be able to take the Google Sheets Budget and put it into presentable files. Note: This course works best for...

3. Building an Organizational Budget

4.4

(440)

Design program budgets from a simplified approach along with conceptual understandings...

4. Financial Planning & Analysis: Building a Company's Budget

4.6

(8,605)

Learn the Fundamentals of Financial Planning and Position Your Career for Success!...

5. Build a Budget and Analyze Variance using Google Sheets

By the end of this project, you will be able to build a simple budget using Google Sheets. You will be able to easily capture variances and identify trends. You will be able to format your budget, identify and communicate drivers of variances and make the budget presentable. Note: This course works best for learners who are based in the North America region. We’re currently working on providing the same experience in other regions...

6. IT Project Budget & Cost Management

4.4

(290)

Project Management tips to manage a million dollar IT Project budget from start to finish...

7. Learn How To Budget - Personal budgeting made easy

4.5

(2,655)

Everything you need to KNOW and everything you need to DO to set and stick to a monthly budget...

8. Budgeting for Business

4.5

(1,712)

Learn how to create and use budgets effectively in company large or small...

9. Time Value of Money & Capital Budgeting - Present Value

4.3

(280)

Mastering Financial Decision-Making: Time Value of Money & Capital Budgeting for Long-Term Success...

10. Financial Budgeting and Forecasting In Excel Complete Course

4.3

(806)

Template Included! Learn how to build a financial model using Microsoft Excel. Become a financial model expert...

11. Learn to be a Financial Analyst

4.8

(552)

Master the skills you need to get a job as a financial analyst: forecasting, budgets, variance analysis and more...

12. Flexible Budgets, Standard Costs, & Variance Analysis

4.4

(289)

Maximizing Financial Insight: Mastering Variance Analysis and Budgeting for Strategic Decision-Making...

13. Projects Cost Management, Estimating, Budgeting and Control.

4.1

(1,381)

Learn how to estimate costs for any project, how to determine budget and how to use Earned Value Management tools. 3 PDU...

14. Financial Planning Coaching Certification Holistic Coaching

4.4

(1,262)

Financial Planning Coaching Practitioner Course Graduates Prepared Professionals in Holistic Financial Planning Coaching...

15. SAS programing on Reports and Tables generating

4.4

(260)

Create reports and tables using Proc Report, SAS Proc Tabulate, SAS Proc Print and SAS ODS...

16. The Simplest Guide to SAS Programming- SAS Base-SAS Advanced

4.5

(2,408)

SAS programming for Data Analysis, Data Science, Data Visualization SAS Certification Exam SAS Base SAS Advanced...

17. Filmmaking Secrets! Write a ZERO Budget MovieMaster Course

4.5

(255)

Screenwriting for micro-budget feature films that you can produce...

18. Professional Certification in Counseling - Fully Accredited

4.2

(386)

Become Professional Counselor (Counsellor)...

19. Budgets, Cashflow Forecasting and Management Accounts

4.5

(817)

Financial Management and Making A Profit For Charities, Not-For-Profits & Small Businesses...

20. Chief Financial Officer Leadership Program

4.4

(849)

An ever expanding program of courses helping financial professionals aspire to the top levels of financial leadership...

Top 10 most affordable universities for budget counselors

The most affordable schools for budget counselors are University of Florida, suny farmingdale, and baruch college of the city university of new york.

If the best universities for budget counselors 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 budget counselors.

1. University of Florida

Gainesville, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,381

Cost of attendance

21,034

2. SUNY Farmingdale

Farmingdale, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$8,306

Cost of attendance

16,091

3. Baruch College of the City University of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,262

Cost of attendance

14,046

4. Florida International University

Miami, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,556

Cost of attendance

19,434

5. Florida State University

Tallahassee, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$5,656

Cost of attendance

21,623

6. Brigham Young University

Provo, UT • Private

In-state tuition

$5,620

Cost of attendance

18,136

7. California State University - Dominguez Hills

Carson, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,942

Cost of attendance

14,469

8. California State University - Long Beach

Long Beach, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,798

Cost of attendance

18,306

9. University of Puerto Rico - Mayaguez

Mayaguez, PR • Private

In-state tuition

$4,094

Cost of attendance

14,302

10. USF Sarasota-Manatee

Sarasota, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$5,587

Cost of attendance

13,043

Top 10 hardest universities to get into for budget counselors

The hardest universities for budget counselors to get into are University of Pennsylvania, Northwestern University, and Vanderbilt University.

Some great schools for budget counselors 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 budget counselors 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. Vanderbilt University

Nashville, TN • Private

Admissions rate

10%

SAT average

1,514

4. University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA • Private

Admissions rate

13%

SAT average

1,445

5. Georgetown University

Washington, DC • Private

Admissions rate

15%

SAT average

1,456

6. New York University

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

20%

SAT average

1,419

7. Villanova University

Villanova, PA • Private

Admissions rate

29%

SAT average

1,407

8. Northeastern University

Boston, MA • Private

Admissions rate

19%

SAT average

1,466

9. Case Western Reserve University

Cleveland, OH • Private

Admissions rate

29%

SAT average

1,443

10. Boston University

Boston, MA • Private

Admissions rate

22%

SAT average

1,420

Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for budget counselors

The easiest schools for budget counselors to get into are Oklahoma Wesleyan University, barry university, and holy names university.

Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a budget counselor 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 budget counselors.

1. Oklahoma Wesleyan University

Bartlesville, OK • Private

Admissions rate

68%

SAT average

964

2. Barry University

Miami, FL • Private

Admissions rate

91%

SAT average

1,006

3. Holy Names University

Oakland, CA • Private

Admissions rate

70%

SAT average

849

4. Notre Dame College

Cleveland, OH • Private

Admissions rate

90%

SAT average

994

5. La Roche College

Pittsburgh, PA • Private

Admissions rate

99%

SAT average

1,008

6. Ottawa University

Ottawa, KS • Private

Admissions rate

78%

SAT average

1,024

7. D'Youville College

Buffalo, NY • Private

Admissions rate

100%

SAT average

1,072

8. Holy Family University

Philadelphia, PA • Private

Admissions rate

72%

SAT average

1,017

9. Saint Joseph's College of Maine

Standish, ME • Private

Admissions rate

84%

SAT average

1,069

10. Kean University

Union, NJ • Private

Admissions rate

86%

SAT average

991

Average budget counselor salary by education level

According to our data, budget counselors with a Master's degree earn the highest average salary, at $72,087 annually. Budget counselors with a Bachelor's degree earn an average annual salary of $63,510.

Budget counselor education level	Budget counselor salary
Master's Degree	$72,087
Bachelor's Degree	$63,510

Budget counselor education FAQs

What is the best college for Budget Counselors?

Have more questions? See all answers to common business and financial questions.

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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

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