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Cost controller education requirements
Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
There are several educational requirements to become a cost controller. Cost controllers usually study accounting, business, or finance. 70% of cost controllers hold a bachelor's degree, and 17% hold an master's degree. We analyzed 946 real cost controller resumes to see exactly what cost controller education sections show.
The most common colleges for cost controllers are the University of Houston and the University of Houston.
There are also many online cost controller courses to help get the education required to be a cost controller.
There are certain cost controller certifications that you should consider. These cost controller certifications include Certified Management Accountant (CMA) and Certified Construction Manager (CCM).
What education do you need to become a cost controller?
What degree do you need to be a cost controller?
- Bachelor's, 70%
- Master's, 17%
- Associate, 7%
- High School Diploma, 2%
- Other Degrees, 4%
What should I major in to become a cost controller?
- Accounting, 31%
- Business, 26%
- Finance, 12%
- Economics, 4%
- Other Majors, 27%
Most common colleges for cost controllers
| Cost controller common college | Percentages |
|---|---|
| University of Houston | 16.19% |
| University of Phoenix | 12.38% |
| Texas State University | 6.67% |
| Texas A&M University | 5.71% |
| Arizona State University | 4.76% |
Best majors for cost controllers
| Rank | Major | Percentages |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Accounting | 30.5% |
| 2 | Business | 26.0% |
| 3 | Finance | 11.8% |
| 4 | Economics | 4.4% |
| 5 | Hospitality Management | 3.5% |
Best colleges for cost controllers
The best colleges for cost controllers are Northwestern University, University of Pennsylvania, and University of Southern California.
A cost controller 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 controllers. 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 controllers.
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. Boston University
Boston, MA • Private
In-state tuition
$53,948
Enrollment
17,238
9. SUNY Stony Brook
Stony Brook, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$9,625
Enrollment
17,407
10. New York University
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$51,828
Enrollment
26,339
20 best online courses for cost controllers
Advertising disclosure
1. 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...
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. Projects Cost Management, Estimating, Budgeting and Control.
Learn how to estimate costs for any project, how to determine budget and how to use Earned Value Management tools. 3 PDU...
4. Learn Estimating & Cost Control
Develop a good practical understanding of best practice estimating and cost control on building & construction Projects...
5. IT Project Budget & Cost Management
Project Management tips to manage a million dollar IT Project budget from start to finish...
6. Cost Reduction: Cut Costs and Maximise Profits
Cost cutting & cost reduction for a profit focused business...
7. Cost Accounting: Introduction to Management Accounting
Learn Cost Accounting for Management. Includes Process Costing, ABC Systems, Variance Analysis, Cash Budgets and more...
8. Cost Accounting and Financial Management - A Complete Study
Learn theory and practical concepts in Cost Accounting and Financial Management with loads of video lectures...
9. Project Management: Cost & Schedule Monitoring using EVM
Earned Value Management, Project Management, Cost Control & Monitor, Budget, Schedule & Cost Variance, Performance Index...
10. Managerial and Cost Accounting: A Comprehensive Guide
Unlock Financial Insights, Make Informed Decisions: Optimize Business Performance, Maximize Profitability...
11. Inventory Management: Safety Stock Calculation and Control
Optimize your Supply Chain Safety Stock. Simple to Advanced Methods. Reduce Costs and Risk in your Business Operations...
12. Cost Accounting - A Comprehensive Study for CA/CMA/CS /ACCA/
Learn basic to advanced concepts in Cost Accounting comprehensively...
13. Managerial (Cost) Accounting For Beginners
Management accounting for managers and students. Learn managerial and cost accounting. #1 accounting course online...
14. Flexible Budgets, Standard Costs, & Variance Analysis
Maximizing Financial Insight: Mastering Variance Analysis and Budgeting for Strategic Decision-Making...
15. Financial Accounting - Inventory Costs
Mastering Inventory Costs & Flows: An In-Depth Guide to Accounting for Inventory in Business Operations...
16. AWS Cost Management Tools (Cost Explorer) Crash Course
Learn everything about AWS Cost Explorer, Cloud Financial Management and Reserved Instance/Savings Plan...
17. Cost Reduction for Managers & Management Consultants
A practical guide on how to cut costs in business & private life. Learn how efficiently to conduct cost-cutting projects...
18. SAP Controlling
SAP Controlling...
19. Supply Chain: Inventory Control & Safety Stock Calculation
Reduce Operational Cost by Optimizing in Inventory Levels...
20. Low Cost Business Models
How to create a no-frill low-cost business model and kill the competition...
Top 10 most affordable universities for cost controllers
The most affordable schools for cost controllers are Baruch College of the City University of New York, usf sarasota-manatee, and suny farmingdale.
If the best universities for cost controllers 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 controllers.
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. USF Sarasota-Manatee
Sarasota, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$5,587
Cost of attendance
13,043
3. SUNY Farmingdale
Farmingdale, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$8,306
Cost of attendance
16,091
4. Brooklyn College of the City University of New York
Brooklyn, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,240
Cost of attendance
13,991
5. California State University - Dominguez Hills
Carson, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,942
Cost of attendance
14,469
6. University of Florida
Gainesville, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,381
Cost of attendance
21,034
7. Brigham Young University
Provo, UT • Private
In-state tuition
$5,620
Cost of attendance
18,136
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. Florida International University
Miami, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,556
Cost of attendance
19,434
Top 10 hardest universities to get into for cost controllers
The hardest universities for cost controllers to get into are Northwestern University, University of Pennsylvania, and University of Southern California.
Some great schools for cost controllers 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 controllers 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. University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA • Private
Admissions rate
13%
SAT average
1,445
4. Boston University
Boston, MA • Private
Admissions rate
22%
SAT average
1,420
5. New York University
New York, NY • Private
Admissions rate
20%
SAT average
1,419
6. Villanova University
Villanova, PA • Private
Admissions rate
29%
SAT average
1,407
7. Vanderbilt University
Nashville, TN • Private
Admissions rate
10%
SAT average
1,514
8. Bentley University
Waltham, MA • Private
Admissions rate
43%
SAT average
1,338
9. George Washington University, The
Washington, DC • Private
Admissions rate
42%
SAT average
1,380
10. University of Rochester
Rochester, NY • Private
Admissions rate
29%
SAT average
1,422
Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for cost controllers
The easiest schools for cost controllers to get into are Oklahoma Wesleyan University, holy names university, and barry university.
Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a cost controller 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 controllers.
1. Oklahoma Wesleyan University
Bartlesville, OK • Private
Admissions rate
68%
SAT average
964
2. Holy Names University
Oakland, CA • Private
Admissions rate
70%
SAT average
849
3. Barry University
Miami, FL • Private
Admissions rate
91%
SAT average
1,006
4. Notre Dame College
Cleveland, OH • Private
Admissions rate
90%
SAT average
994
5. University of North Texas at Dallas
Dallas, TX • Private
Admissions rate
83%
SAT average
992
6. La Roche College
Pittsburgh, PA • Private
Admissions rate
99%
SAT average
1,008
7. Ottawa University
Ottawa, KS • Private
Admissions rate
78%
SAT average
1,024
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 cost controller salary by education level
| Cost controller education level | Cost controller salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $88,696 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $79,240 |
| Doctorate Degree | $91,674 |
Cost controller education FAQs
Have more questions? See all answers to common business and financial questions.
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Updated January 8, 2025
Updated January 8, 2025