Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
Cost accounting manager education requirements
Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
There are several educational requirements to become a cost accounting manager. Cost accounting managers usually study accounting, business, or finance. 78% of cost accounting managers hold a bachelor's degree, and 14% hold an master's degree. We analyzed 2,757 real cost accounting manager resumes to see exactly what cost accounting manager education sections show.
The most common colleges for cost accounting managers are the University of Phoenix and the University of Phoenix.
There are also many online cost accounting manager courses to help get the education required to be a cost accounting manager.
There are certain cost accounting manager certifications that you should consider. These cost accounting manager certifications include Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and Certified Management Accountant (CMA).
What education do you need to become a cost accounting manager?
What degree do you need to be a cost accounting manager?
- Bachelor's, 78%
- Master's, 14%
- Associate, 5%
- High School Diploma, 1%
- Other Degrees, 2%
What should I major in to become a cost accounting manager?
- Accounting, 50%
- Business, 28%
- Finance, 9%
- Management, 2%
- Other Majors, 11%
Most common colleges for cost accounting managers
| Cost accounting manager common college | Percentages |
|---|---|
| University of Phoenix | 10.49% |
| San Jose State University | 9.79% |
| California State University - San Bernardino | 9.09% |
| University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point | 5.59% |
| University of Illinois at Chicago | 4.90% |
Best majors for cost accounting managers
| Rank | Major | Percentages |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Accounting | 50.5% |
| 2 | Business | 27.7% |
| 3 | Finance | 8.8% |
| 4 | Management | 2.2% |
| 5 | Economics | 2.2% |
Best colleges for cost accounting managers
The best colleges for cost accounting managers are Northwestern University, University of Pennsylvania, and Boston University.
A cost accounting 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 cost accounting 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 cost accounting managers.
1. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
In-state tuition
$55,584
Enrollment
10,764
2. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
In-state tuition
$54,568
Enrollment
8,451
3. University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$56,225
Enrollment
19,548
4. SUNY at Binghamton
Vestal, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$9,808
Enrollment
13,990
5. Villanova University
Villanova, PA • Private
In-state tuition
$53,308
Enrollment
6,819
6. San Diego State University
San Diego, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$7,488
Enrollment
30,018
7. Bentley University
Waltham, MA • Private
In-state tuition
$49,880
Enrollment
4,177
8. SUNY Farmingdale
Farmingdale, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$8,306
Enrollment
9,394
9. Boston University
Boston, MA • Private
In-state tuition
$53,948
Enrollment
17,238
10. SUNY Stony Brook
Stony Brook, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$9,625
Enrollment
17,407
20 best online courses for cost accounting managers
Advertising disclosure
1. Cost Accounting
View the Specialization trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XE5Rx91bdYw\n\nMany corporate decisions need cost accounting information. When you know the costs of your products, you will make better pricing decisions and you can better choose which products to offer. When you know the costs of your departments, you can better detect inefficiencies and you can better incentivize your employees.\n\nIn this Specialization, you will learn the fundamentals of cost accounting. Three courses cover...
2. Cost Accounting: Decision Making
In the third course, you will learn how to use information from cost accounting to improve managerial decision-making. We discuss business decisions and suggest how cost information can support them best. For example, how will costs change if managers adjust cost drivers? How many units do companies need to sell in order to avoid losses or to achieve a targeted profit? How can managers improve pricing or product programs with information from cost accounting?...
3. Cost Accounting: Introduction to Management Accounting
Learn Cost Accounting for Management. Includes Process Costing, ABC Systems, Variance Analysis, Cash Budgets and more...
4. Cost Accounting and Financial Management - A Complete Study
Learn theory and practical concepts in Cost Accounting and Financial Management with loads of video lectures...
5. Basics of Cost Accounting: Product Costing
The core of the first course is to learn how companies record total costs and calculate unit costs for their individual products or services. For example, how can a car manufacturer figure out the costs of an individual car series? During the first weeks, participants learn what costs are and how to distinguish them from expenses or cash flows. Participants will understand how companies record total costs and distinguish important cost types such as material costs, personnel costs, or...
6. Financial Accounting - Inventory Costs
Mastering Inventory Costs & Flows: An In-Depth Guide to Accounting for Inventory in Business Operations...
7. Financial Accounting-Inventory & Merchandising Transactions
Mastering Inventory Accounting: From Merchandising Transactions to Cost Flow Assumptions...
8. Managerial (Cost) Accounting For Beginners
Management accounting for managers and students. Learn managerial and cost accounting. #1 accounting course online...
9. Managerial Accounting & Bookkeeping (Cost Accounting)
Management Accounting & Bookkeeping Basics. Accounting & Bookkeeping Concepts. Learn Accounting & Bookkeeping...
10. Cost Accounting - A Comprehensive Study for CA/CMA/CS /ACCA/
Learn basic to advanced concepts in Cost Accounting comprehensively...
11. Managerial and Cost Accounting: A Comprehensive Guide
Unlock Financial Insights, Make Informed Decisions: Optimize Business Performance, Maximize Profitability...
12. Basics of Accounting
Accounting Concepts & Principles...
13. Financial Accounting-Adjusting Entries & Financial Statement
Master Adjusting Entries & Financial Statements: A Comprehensive Guide for Accurate Accounting and Reporting...
14. Financial Accounting: The Complete Introductory Crash Course
Learn the Basics of Financial Accounting: Financial Statements, Debits and Credits, The Accounting Cycle and More!...
15. Flexible Budgets, Standard Costs, & Variance Analysis
Maximizing Financial Insight: Mastering Variance Analysis and Budgeting for Strategic Decision-Making...
16. Financial Accounting & Excel-Comprehensive Accounting Course
Comprehensive accounting course to learn the accounting cycle in a practical way and pick up critical Excel fundamentals...
17. Financial Accounting - Subsidiary Ledgers & Special Journals
Mastering Special Journals and Subsidiary Ledgers: A Comprehensive Guide to Streamlined Accounting Practices...
18. Financial Accounting-Depreciation Calculation & Fixed Assets
Optimizing Asset Management: Comprehensive Guide to Property, Plant, and Equipment Accounting...
19. Financial Accounting-Debits & Credits-Accounting Transaction
Masterclass: Learn Accounting Principles, Financial Statements, Transactions & More in this Comprehensive Course...
20. Principles of Financial Accounting
Learn the complete accounting cycle -recording business transactions to presenting the Balance Sheet & Income Statement...
Top 10 most affordable universities for cost accounting managers
The most affordable schools for cost accounting managers are SUNY Farmingdale, baruch college of the city university of new york, and brooklyn college of the city university of new york.
If the best universities for cost accounting 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 cost accounting managers.
1. SUNY Farmingdale
Farmingdale, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$8,306
Cost of attendance
16,091
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. Brooklyn College of the City University of New York
Brooklyn, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,240
Cost of attendance
13,991
4. California State University - Dominguez Hills
Carson, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,942
Cost of attendance
14,469
5. USF Sarasota-Manatee
Sarasota, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$5,587
Cost of attendance
13,043
6. Brigham Young University
Provo, UT • Private
In-state tuition
$5,620
Cost of attendance
18,136
7. SUNY Polytechnic Institute
Utica, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$8,238
Cost of attendance
21,567
8. Minot State University
Minot, ND • Private
In-state tuition
$7,064
Cost of attendance
15,576
9. Florida International University
Miami, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,556
Cost of attendance
19,434
10. Clayton State University
Morrow, GA • Private
In-state tuition
$5,419
Cost of attendance
17,697
Top 10 hardest universities to get into for cost accounting managers
The hardest universities for cost accounting managers to get into are Northwestern University, University of Pennsylvania, and Boston University.
Some great schools for cost accounting 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 cost accounting 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. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
Admissions rate
8%
SAT average
1,508
2. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
Admissions rate
8%
SAT average
1,492
3. Boston University
Boston, MA • Private
Admissions rate
22%
SAT average
1,420
4. New York University
New York, NY • Private
Admissions rate
20%
SAT average
1,419
5. University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA • Private
Admissions rate
13%
SAT average
1,445
6. Villanova University
Villanova, PA • Private
Admissions rate
29%
SAT average
1,407
7. Stanford University
Stanford, CA • Private
Admissions rate
4%
SAT average
1,497
8. Bentley University
Waltham, MA • Private
Admissions rate
43%
SAT average
1,338
9. SUNY at Binghamton
Vestal, NY • Private
Admissions rate
40%
SAT average
1,376
10. George Washington University, The
Washington, DC • Private
Admissions rate
42%
SAT average
1,380
Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for cost accounting managers
The easiest schools for cost accounting managers to get into are Notre Dame de Namur University, oklahoma wesleyan university, and holy names university.
Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a cost accounting 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 cost accounting managers.
1. Notre Dame de Namur University
Belmont, CA • Private
Admissions rate
82%
SAT average
983
2. Oklahoma Wesleyan University
Bartlesville, OK • Private
Admissions rate
68%
SAT average
964
3. Holy Names University
Oakland, CA • Private
Admissions rate
70%
SAT average
849
4. D'Youville College
Buffalo, NY • Private
Admissions rate
100%
SAT average
1,072
5. Notre Dame College
Cleveland, OH • Private
Admissions rate
90%
SAT average
994
6. Nyack College
New York, NY • Private
Admissions rate
98%
SAT average
999
7. Gwynedd Mercy University
Gwynedd Valley, PA • Private
Admissions rate
92%
SAT average
1,031
8. University of North Texas at Dallas
Dallas, TX • Private
Admissions rate
83%
SAT average
992
9. Manor College
Jenkintown, PA • Private
Admissions rate
94%
SAT average
898
10. Curry College
Milton, MA • Private
Admissions rate
93%
SAT average
1,026
Average cost accounting manager salary by education level
| Cost accounting manager education level | Cost accounting manager salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $106,283 |
| High School Diploma or Less | $81,727 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $96,015 |
| Doctorate Degree | $110,315 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $81,719 |
Cost accounting manager education FAQs
Have more questions? See all answers to common executive management questions.
Search for cost accounting manager jobs
Updated January 8, 2025
Updated January 8, 2025