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Congressional aide education requirements
Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
There are several educational requirements to become a congressional aide. Congressional aides usually study political science, business, or communication. 73% of congressional aides hold a bachelor's degree, and 16% hold an master's degree. We analyzed 223 real congressional aide resumes to see exactly what congressional aide education sections show.
The most common colleges for congressional aides are the University of Florida and the University of Florida.
There are also many online congressional aide courses to help get the education required to be a congressional aide.
What education do you need to become a congressional aide?
What degree do you need to be a congressional aide?
- Bachelor's, 73%
- Master's, 16%
- Associate, 6%
- High School Diploma, 2%
- Other Degrees, 3%
What should I major in to become a congressional aide?
- Political Science, 42%
- Business, 8%
- Communication, 7%
- Other Majors, 38%
Most common colleges for congressional aides
| Congressional aide common college | Percentages |
|---|---|
| University of Florida | 9.43% |
| Washington and Lee University | 7.55% |
| University of California - Davis | 7.55% |
| University of Akron | 5.66% |
| Lenoir-Rhyne University | 5.66% |
Best majors for congressional aides
| Rank | Major | Percentages |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Political Science | 41.7% |
| 2 | Business | 8.0% |
| 3 | Communication | 6.7% |
| 4 | Public Administration | 4.9% |
| 5 | History | 4.9% |
Best colleges for congressional aides
The best colleges for congressional aides are Northwestern University, Stanford University, and University of Pennsylvania.
A congressional aide with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for congressional aides. 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 congressional aides.
1. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
In-state tuition
$55,584
Enrollment
10,764
2. Stanford University
Stanford, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$51,354
Enrollment
7,083
3. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
In-state tuition
$54,568
Enrollment
8,451
4. Harvard University
Cambridge, MA • Private
In-state tuition
$50,420
Enrollment
7,582
5. University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$56,225
Enrollment
19,548
6. Georgetown University
Washington, DC • Private
In-state tuition
$54,104
Enrollment
7,089
7. University of Virginia
Charlottesville, VA • Private
In-state tuition
$17,653
Enrollment
16,405
8. Columbia University in the City of New York
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$59,430
Enrollment
8,216
9. Boston University
Boston, MA • Private
In-state tuition
$53,948
Enrollment
17,238
10. New York University
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$51,828
Enrollment
26,339
20 best online courses for congressional aides
Advertising disclosure
1. Psychological First Aid
Learn to provide psychological first aid to people in an emergency by employing the RAPID model: Reflective listening, Assessment of needs, Prioritization, Intervention, and Disposition. Utilizing the RAPID model (Reflective listening, Assessment of needs, Prioritization, Intervention, and Disposition), this specialized course provides perspectives on injuries and trauma that are beyond those physical in nature. The RAPID model is readily applicable to public health settings, the workplace, the...
2. Social Policy for Social Services & Health Practitioners
In the U.S., social policy accounts for two-thirds of government spending. Knowing how policies are constructed, what values underlie them, and how they succeed or fail makes everyone more effective at work or in their civic role. This specialization includes an HONORS track in which learners will complete a professional social policy analysis.\n\nTeachers, health care workers, police, and social workers interact with policy daily, but all of us should care about the impact and effectiveness of...
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4. St John Ambulance: Official Baby & Paediatric First Aid
Essential Lifesaving First Aid & CPR Skills for Parents, Guardians & Carers in an Emergency Situation...
5. Wilderness First Aid
Wilderness First Aid is for anyone who wants to improve their safety in nature. In this specialization, you will find basic emergency medical care to help stabilize or evacuate injured or ill people in wilderness settings. The courses include an introduction to wilderness first aid, medical emergencies, traumatic injuries, and environmental emergencies. Join us as we learn from real-life scenarios and stories from wilderness experts and medical professionals...
6. Population Health: Governance
How can we organise care in such a way that we optimize experience, quality and costs? What type of governance is needed? And how should healthcare organisations collaborate? These are central questions in this course. In answering them, we depart from a recognition of the impact of three crucial global shifts in health care governance: 1) the change in focus from cure to population health, 2) the increased attention to social determinants of health, and 3) the stronger involvement of...
7. Mental Health First Aid Skills -
This course is designed to provide the tools and knowledge for learners to help and support those experiencing MH issues...
8. First Aid
A guide to first aid for the common man. Covers sudden illness, wounds, burns, bone injuries and more...
9. Leadership for Public Health Crises
Leadership for Public Health Crises will enable current and prospective managers, directors, unit heads, and elected officials to effectively lead their organizational response to profound health-related emergencies and to build leadership capacity across multiple sectors, agencies, organizations, and divisions. This series of courses prepares graduate students (in, e.g., public administration, public health, social work, business, homeland security, education, and related fields) and...
10. The People, Power, and Pride of Public Health
The People, Power, and Pride of Public Health provides an engaging overview of the incredible accomplishments and promise of the public health field. The first module includes interviews with legendary public health figures whose work led to millions of lives saved with vaccines, air bags and car seats, and the federal Women Infants and Children (WIC) nutrition program. The second module brings key public health tools to life -- including use of data, communications, and policy - through...
11. Pet First Aid (Advanced)
Learn essential knowledge and skills to be able to confidently carry out emergency first aid on a pet animal...
12. First Aid Masterclass: A Complete Guide to First Aid
The Complete Guide to First Aid and Emergency Medicine: Learn CPR, Heimlich, How to Stop Bleedings, Baby Care & More!...
13. AIDS: Fear and Hope
The basic biology of the virus, HIV, and the disease it causes, AIDS. The economic, social and political factors that determine who gets sick and who remains healthy, who lives and who dies. The progress of scientific research and medical treatments. The reasons for hope; the reasons for fear. (To get a glimpse of some of the materials that students have been posting on the course forums, go to @AIDSFAH or #AIDSFAH.)...
14. Emergency Life Support First Aid Training
Learn important life saving first aid. Treatment of major illness and injuries...
15. Herbalism:: Essential First Aid Remedies Certificate
Be prepared by equipping your first aid kit with important herbs, herbal medicine & natural medicine that you need...
16. First Aid, and Children's Health: Your Complete Guide
Taught by a Doctor: Mandatory first aid course covering all of the common injuries and illnesses especially of children...
17. First Aid: Learn How to Save a Life
Covers all first aid skills you need to know to save your loved ones and others in emergencies. Perfect for beginners...
18. Mental Health Ambassador Certificate
Be a leader in improving society's mental health and learn to provide mental health first aid...
19. Press Coverage, Publicity & Public Relations For Branding
Public relations to reach 100,000+ people with influencer marketing, publicity, and press coverage for personal branding...
20. AWS Security and Governance Administration for Professionals
In-Depth AWS Security Administration and Governance: Learn hands-on with certified industry professionals...
Top 10 most affordable universities for congressional aides
The most affordable schools for congressional aides are Baruch College of the City University of New York, california state university - bakersfield, and university of florida.
If the best universities for congressional aides 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 congressional aides.
1. Baruch College of the City University of New York
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,262
Cost of attendance
14,046
2. California State University - Bakersfield
Bakersfield, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$7,309
Cost of attendance
16,714
3. University of Florida
Gainesville, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,381
Cost of attendance
21,034
4. California State University - Long Beach
Long Beach, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,798
Cost of attendance
18,306
5. Hunter College of the City University of New York
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,182
Cost of attendance
13,998
6. Florida State University
Tallahassee, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$5,656
Cost of attendance
21,623
7. Florida International University
Miami, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,556
Cost of attendance
19,434
8. Brigham Young University
Provo, UT • Private
In-state tuition
$5,620
Cost of attendance
18,136
9. City College of New York of the City University of New York, The
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,140
Cost of attendance
14,430
10. University of South Florida
Tampa, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,410
Cost of attendance
20,456
Top 10 hardest universities to get into for congressional aides
The hardest universities for congressional aides to get into are Northwestern University, Stanford University, and University of Pennsylvania.
Some great schools for congressional aides 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 congressional aides 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. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
Admissions rate
8%
SAT average
1,508
2. Stanford University
Stanford, CA • Private
Admissions rate
4%
SAT average
1,497
3. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
Admissions rate
8%
SAT average
1,492
4. Harvard University
Cambridge, MA • Private
Admissions rate
5%
SAT average
1,520
5. Columbia University in the City of New York
New York, NY • Private
Admissions rate
6%
SAT average
1,512
6. Georgetown University
Washington, DC • Private
Admissions rate
15%
SAT average
1,456
7. University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA • Private
Admissions rate
13%
SAT average
1,445
8. Northeastern University
Boston, MA • Private
Admissions rate
19%
SAT average
1,466
9. Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, MD • Private
Admissions rate
11%
SAT average
1,513
10. Yale University
New Haven, CT • Private
Admissions rate
6%
SAT average
1,517
Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for congressional aides
The easiest schools for congressional aides to get into are Barry University, notre dame de namur university, and wayland baptist university.
Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a congressional aide 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 congressional aides.
1. Barry University
Miami, FL • Private
Admissions rate
91%
SAT average
1,006
2. Notre Dame de Namur University
Belmont, CA • Private
Admissions rate
82%
SAT average
983
3. Wayland Baptist University
Plainview, TX • Private
Admissions rate
98%
SAT average
1,003
4. University of North Texas at Dallas
Dallas, TX • Private
Admissions rate
83%
SAT average
992
5. Holy Names University
Oakland, CA • Private
Admissions rate
70%
SAT average
849
6. Notre Dame College
Cleveland, OH • Private
Admissions rate
90%
SAT average
994
7. University of Baltimore
Baltimore, MD • Private
Admissions rate
78%
SAT average
1,020
8. La Roche College
Pittsburgh, PA • Private
Admissions rate
99%
SAT average
1,008
9. Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey - Camden
Camden, NJ • Private
Admissions rate
71%
SAT average
1,086
10. University of the Incarnate Word
San Antonio, TX • Private
Admissions rate
88%
SAT average
1,044
Average congressional aide salary by education level
| Congressional aide education level | Congressional aide salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $43,797 |
| High School Diploma or Less | $37,812 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $42,174 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $39,531 |
Congressional aide education FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025
Updated January 8, 2025