Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
Director of personnel education requirements
Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
There are several educational requirements to become a director of personnel. Directors of personnel usually study business, human resources management, or psychology. 62% of directors of personnel hold a bachelor's degree, and 18% hold an master's degree. We analyzed 1,752 real director of personnel resumes to see exactly what director of personnel education sections show.
The most common colleges for directors of personnel are the University of Phoenix and the University of Phoenix.
There are also many online director of personnel courses to help get the education required to be a director of personnel.
There are certain director of personnel certifications that you should consider. These director of personnel certifications include Certified Professional - Human Resource (IPMA-CP) and Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR).
What education do you need to become a director of personnel?
What degree do you need to be a director of personnel?
- Bachelor's, 62%
- Master's, 18%
- Associate, 12%
- High School Diploma, 4%
- Other Degrees, 4%
What should I major in to become a director of personnel?
- Business, 33%
- Psychology, 8%
- Other Majors, 44%
Most common colleges for directors of personnel
| Director of personnel common college | Percentages |
|---|---|
| University of Phoenix | 17.81% |
| American University | 6.16% |
| Auburn University Main Campus | 5.48% |
| University of Florida | 4.79% |
| University of Pittsburgh | 4.79% |
Best majors for directors of personnel
| Rank | Major | Percentages |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Business | 32.5% |
| 2 | Human Resources Management | 9.6% |
| 3 | Psychology | 8.3% |
| 4 | Political Science | 5.2% |
| 5 | Accounting | 5.2% |
Best colleges for directors of personnel
The best colleges for directors of personnel are Northwestern University, University of Southern California, and University of Pennsylvania.
A director of personnel 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 personnel. 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 personnel.
1. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
In-state tuition
$54,568
Enrollment
8,451
2. University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$56,225
Enrollment
19,548
3. San Diego State University
San Diego, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$7,488
Enrollment
30,018
4. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
In-state tuition
$55,584
Enrollment
10,764
5. Boston University
Boston, MA • Private
In-state tuition
$53,948
Enrollment
17,238
6. SUNY Stony Brook
Stony Brook, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$9,625
Enrollment
17,407
7. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
Minneapolis, MN • Private
In-state tuition
$14,760
Enrollment
31,451
8. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Champaign, IL • Private
In-state tuition
$15,094
Enrollment
32,974
9. George Washington University, The
Washington, DC • Private
In-state tuition
$55,230
Enrollment
12,161
10. SUNY College at Oswego
Oswego, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$8,440
Enrollment
7,039
20 best online courses for directors of personnel
Advertising disclosure
1. Personnel & Third-Party Security
In this course, you will learn all about the process of implementing effective education, training, and awareness programs. You will also study the role personnel security plays in protecting an organization’s assets, intellectual property, and physical assets. You will also be introduced to the steps required for effective Vendor Risk Management (VRM), including: due diligence, contracting, monitoring & accessing, and termination. Throughout the course, you will engage with current case...
2. Master Course in Human Resources 2.0
Strategic human resource management, strategic planning, recruiting, training, HR management,Labour welfare...
3. Ultimate HR Generalist and Human Resource Management Course
Hands-on HR Certification: All HRM topics. Master Employee Life Cycle, Payroll, Recruitment, Engagement, EXDesign and AI...
4. OSHA Workplace Safety (General Industry 6 Hr Class)
Learn the requirements and standards associated with OSHA and workplace safety. Safety best practices for the workplace...
5. Labor Relations for Human Resources
Understand the basics of the collective bargaining agreement process...
6. Ultimate Payroll Management with Income Tax & Year-End 23-24
Basic to Advanced: Certification in Payroll, Compensation Benefits, Income Tax,Year Ending for Payroll & Human Resources...
7. The Human Resources Certification Program (HRCI - PHR/SPHR)
An Exam Preparation Guide to the Human Resource Body of Knowledge...
8. Compensation and Benefits for Beginners
This course is a beginners guide to understanding compensation and benefits...
9. Certification Course in Human Resource Management
Curriculum commensurate to Top B School's Management Program : with downloadable resources, quiz, assessments & exercise...
10. Administrative Human Resources (HR) for Beginners
This course is an introduction to the role and duties of Human Resources (HR)...
11. Effective Human Resource Administration
Effective Human Resource Administration...
12. Performance Management and Compensation Management in HRM
Performance Management and Compensation Management Complete Course...
13. Human Resources (HR) Training for Entry Level Professionals
How To Get Your First Job As An HR Assistant...
14. OSHA Safety Training: Heat Stress Management
A Workplace Safety Management Course for Current and Future Safety Professionals...
15. OSHA Control of Hazardous Energy and Lock Out / Tag Out
OSHA required training under 29 CFR 1910 and 1926...
16. OSHA Safety Pro: Hearing Protection Program
Your guide to preventing hearing loss using OSHA's Occupational Noise Exposure Standards...
17. OSHA Safety Pro: Deadly Concrete Dust. Crystalline Silica.
OSHA's General, Construction, and Maritime Industries Hazard Prevention and Safety Standard...
18. HR,HR Analytics, Human Resource Management, Black Friday Ed
HR Analytics ,HR Courses, human resource management, ,HR certification, HRM, hr payroll, people management, 2022...
19. OSHA Safety Pro: Trenching Excavation & Soil Mechanics
A quick yet detailed certification in OSHA safety with a focus on Trenching, Excavation, & Soil Mechanics...
20. OSHA Safety Training: Conducting Safety Meetings
A Brief Safety Management Course for Current and Aspiring Safety Professionals...
Top 10 most affordable universities for directors of personnel
The most affordable schools for directors of personnel are Baruch College of the City University of New York, suny farmingdale, and university of florida.
If the best universities for directors of personnel 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 personnel.
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. SUNY Farmingdale
Farmingdale, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$8,306
Cost of attendance
16,091
3. University of Florida
Gainesville, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,381
Cost of attendance
21,034
4. Brigham Young University
Provo, UT • Private
In-state tuition
$5,620
Cost of attendance
18,136
5. California State University - Dominguez Hills
Carson, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,942
Cost of attendance
14,469
6. California State University - Bakersfield
Bakersfield, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$7,309
Cost of attendance
16,714
7. California State University - Long Beach
Long Beach, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,798
Cost of attendance
18,306
8. Florida International University
Miami, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,556
Cost of attendance
19,434
9. University of Houston - Victoria
Victoria, TX • Private
In-state tuition
$6,491
Cost of attendance
19,075
10. Florida State University
Tallahassee, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$5,656
Cost of attendance
21,623
Top 10 hardest universities to get into for directors of personnel
The hardest universities for directors of personnel to get into are Northwestern University, University of Southern California, and University of Pennsylvania.
Some great schools for directors of personnel 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 personnel 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 Southern California
Los Angeles, CA • Private
Admissions rate
13%
SAT average
1,445
3. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
Admissions rate
8%
SAT average
1,492
4. Washington University in St Louis
Saint Louis, MO • Private
Admissions rate
15%
SAT average
1,506
5. Boston University
Boston, MA • Private
Admissions rate
22%
SAT average
1,420
6. Northeastern University
Boston, MA • Private
Admissions rate
19%
SAT average
1,466
7. Stanford University
Stanford, CA • Private
Admissions rate
4%
SAT average
1,497
8. New York University
New York, NY • Private
Admissions rate
20%
SAT average
1,419
9. George Washington University, The
Washington, DC • Private
Admissions rate
42%
SAT average
1,380
10. Vanderbilt University
Nashville, TN • Private
Admissions rate
10%
SAT average
1,514
Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for directors of personnel
The easiest schools for directors of personnel to get into are Barry 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 director of personnel 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 personnel.
1. Barry University
Miami, FL • Private
Admissions rate
91%
SAT average
1,006
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. 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. Cardinal Stritch University
Milwaukee, WI • Private
Admissions rate
71%
SAT average
1,035
7. Notre Dame de Namur University
Belmont, CA • Private
Admissions rate
82%
SAT average
983
8. Our Lady of the Lake University
San Antonio, TX • Private
Admissions rate
93%
SAT average
1,002
9. University of Baltimore
Baltimore, MD • Private
Admissions rate
78%
SAT average
1,020
10. Ottawa University
Ottawa, KS • Private
Admissions rate
78%
SAT average
1,024
Average director of personnel salary by education level
| Director of personnel education level | Director of personnel salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $93,543 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $81,573 |
| Doctorate Degree | $98,258 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $66,200 |
Director of personnel education FAQs
Have more questions? See all answers to common executive management questions.
Search for director of personnel jobs
Updated January 8, 2025
Updated January 8, 2025