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Director of operations and finance education requirements
Updated January 8, 2025
5 min read
There are several educational requirements to become a director of operations and finance. Directors of operations and finance usually study business, accounting, or finance. 70% of directors of operations and finance hold a bachelor's degree, and 22% hold an master's degree. We analyzed 2,426 real director of operations and finance resumes to see exactly what director of operations and finance education sections show.
The most common colleges for directors of operations and finance are the University of Phoenix and the University of Phoenix.
There are also many online director of operations and finance courses to help get the education required to be a director of operations and finance.
There are certain director of operations and finance certifications that you should consider. These director of operations and finance certifications include Certified Management Accountant (CMA) and Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA).
What education do you need to become a director of operations and finance?
What degree do you need to be a director of operations and finance?
- Bachelor's, 70%
- Master's, 22%
- Associate, 5%
- High School Diploma, 1%
- Other Degrees, 2%
What should I major in to become a director of operations and finance?
- Business, 32%
- Accounting, 31%
- Finance, 16%
- Economics, 4%
- Other Majors, 17%
Most common colleges for directors of operations and finance
| Director of operations and finance common college | Percentages |
|---|---|
| University of Phoenix | 10.94% |
| New York University | 9.81% |
| University of Maryland - College Park | 6.42% |
| Michigan State University | 5.28% |
| Pennsylvania State University | 5.28% |
Best majors for directors of operations and finance
| Rank | Major | Percentages |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Business | 31.6% |
| 2 | Accounting | 30.8% |
| 3 | Finance | 16.3% |
| 4 | Economics | 4.0% |
| 5 | Management | 3.2% |
Best colleges for directors of operations and finance
The best colleges for directors of operations and finance are Northwestern University, University of Pennsylvania, and University of Southern California.
A director of operations and finance with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for directors of operations and finance. 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 directors of operations and finance.
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. New York University
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$51,828
Enrollment
26,339
5. University of Texas at Austin
Austin, TX • Private
In-state tuition
$10,610
Enrollment
40,329
6. Pennsylvania State University
University Park, PA • Private
In-state tuition
$18,454
Enrollment
40,108
7. Northeastern University
Boston, MA • Private
In-state tuition
$51,522
Enrollment
13,760
8. SUNY at Binghamton
Vestal, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$9,808
Enrollment
13,990
9. Lehigh University
Bethlehem, PA • Private
In-state tuition
$52,930
Enrollment
5,030
10. Bentley University
Waltham, MA • Private
In-state tuition
$49,880
Enrollment
4,177
20 best online courses for directors of operations and finance
Advertising disclosure
1. Finance & Accounting for Management Consultants and Analysts
A practical guide that will help you understand financial statements & do financial analyses during consulting projects...
2. Audit - Financial Statement
Master the Art of Auditing Financial Statements: In-Depth Analysis, Techniques, and Real-World Case Studies...
3. Financial Statement Auditing Cycles
In this course, we learn how public accountants plan and execute an audit...
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. Complete Financial Modeling for Project Finance in Excel
Learn Financial Modeling for Project Finance and Infrastructure Valuation ( DCF and IRR )...
6. How to Read Financial Statements: Build Financial Literacy.
Read financial statements and speak the language of business without the drudgery of a traditional accounting course...
7. Principles of Financial Accounting
Learn the complete accounting cycle -recording business transactions to presenting the Balance Sheet & Income Statement...
8. Financial Statement Analysis
Learn how to make understanding financial statements your superpower!...
9. Apply finance concepts for smart project management
Learn to read financial statements and make meaningful interpretations for business decisions in the age of big data...
10. Financial Modeling for Business Analysts and Consultants
Learn Financial Modeling in Excel that will allow you to participate in due diligence, strategy or turn around projects...
11. Operations Management A-Z: Business Processes and Systems
Operations Management: Supply Chain & Business Processes in Industry for Manufacturing and Services Organizations...
12. The Complete Finance Manager Course
Financial Management, ERP systems, Accounting, Capital budgeting, Presentation design, Management, and Negotiation...
13. Business Finance: A Complete Introduction
A primer in Business Accounting, Financial Ratio Analysis, and Return on Investment Analysis...
14. Fundamentals of Business Finance 2: Learn Quick and Easy
Learn basic finance in 120 minutes! Learn how to create and analyze basic financial reports...
15. The Personal Finance and Wealth Management Masterclass
Become an Expert in Personal Finance and Investing. Learn MBA-Level Financial Analysis. Master Finance Fundamentals...
16. Financial Analysis for Management Consultants & Analysts
A practical guide with case studies and examples of financial analyses done during consulting projects...
17. IT Project Budget & Cost Management
Project Management tips to manage a million dollar IT Project budget from start to finish...
18. Operational Risks Management ORM
Operational Risks Management ORM Case Studies for Risk Management, Compliance, Audit, IS Security, Banking Professionals...
19. SAP Finance and Controlling
Master SAP Finance and Controlling...
20. The Role and Goal of Financial Management
Introduce yourself with the world of finance, the areas of financial decision-making and plan your learning of finance...
Top 10 most affordable universities for directors of operations and finance
The most affordable schools for directors of operations and finance are Baruch College of the City University of New York, university of florida, and florida state university.
If the best universities for directors of operations and finance 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 directors of operations and finance.
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. University of Florida
Gainesville, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,381
Cost of attendance
21,034
3. Florida State University
Tallahassee, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$5,656
Cost of attendance
21,623
4. Brigham Young University
Provo, UT • Private
In-state tuition
$5,620
Cost of attendance
18,136
5. USF Sarasota-Manatee
Sarasota, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$5,587
Cost of attendance
13,043
6. University of South Florida
Tampa, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,410
Cost of attendance
20,456
7. California State University - Fullerton
Fullerton, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,886
Cost of attendance
17,645
8. Florida International University
Miami, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,556
Cost of attendance
19,434
9. USF St. Petersburg
St. Petersburg, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$5,821
Cost of attendance
19,849
10. SUNY Farmingdale
Farmingdale, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$8,306
Cost of attendance
16,091
Top 10 hardest universities to get into for directors of operations and finance
The hardest universities for directors of operations and finance to get into are Northwestern University, University of Pennsylvania, and University of Southern California.
Some great schools for directors of operations and finance 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 directors of operations and finance 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. Northeastern University
Boston, MA • Private
Admissions rate
19%
SAT average
1,466
5. Carnegie Mellon University
Pittsburgh, PA • Private
Admissions rate
17%
SAT average
1,507
6. New York University
New York, NY • Private
Admissions rate
20%
SAT average
1,419
7. Boston University
Boston, MA • Private
Admissions rate
22%
SAT average
1,420
8. University of Miami
Coral Gables, FL • Private
Admissions rate
32%
SAT average
1,365
9. Lehigh University
Bethlehem, PA • Private
Admissions rate
22%
SAT average
1,380
10. Washington University in St Louis
Saint Louis, MO • Private
Admissions rate
15%
SAT average
1,506
Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for directors of operations and finance
The easiest schools for directors of operations and finance to get into are Mount Saint Mary's University, barry university, and oklahoma wesleyan university.
Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a director of operations and finance 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 directors of operations and finance.
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. Oklahoma Wesleyan University
Bartlesville, OK • Private
Admissions rate
68%
SAT average
964
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 de Namur University
Belmont, CA • Private
Admissions rate
82%
SAT average
983
7. University of the Incarnate Word
San Antonio, TX • Private
Admissions rate
88%
SAT average
1,044
8. Notre Dame College
Cleveland, OH • Private
Admissions rate
90%
SAT average
994
9. Kean University
Union, NJ • Private
Admissions rate
86%
SAT average
991
10. Midwestern State University
Wichita Falls, TX • Private
Admissions rate
71%
SAT average
1,033
Average director of operations and finance salary by education level
| Director of operations and finance education level | Director of operations and finance salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $153,438 |
| High School Diploma or Less | $107,738 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $132,129 |
| Doctorate Degree | $147,767 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $111,067 |
Director of operations and finance education FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025
Updated January 8, 2025