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Director of sourcing education requirements
Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
There are several educational requirements to become a director of sourcing. Directors of sourcing usually study business, marketing, or management. 72% of directors of sourcing hold a bachelor's degree, and 16% hold an master's degree. We analyzed 724 real director of sourcing resumes to see exactly what director of sourcing education sections show.
The most common colleges for directors of sourcing are the Fashion Institute of Technology and the Fashion Institute of Technology.
There are also many online director of sourcing courses to help get the education required to be a director of sourcing.
There are certain director of sourcing certifications that you should consider. These director of sourcing certifications include Certified Supply Chain Professional (CSCP) and Certified Product Safety Manager (CPSM).
What education do you need to become a director of sourcing?
What degree do you need to be a director of sourcing?
- Bachelor's, 72%
- Master's, 16%
- Associate, 7%
- Diploma, 2%
- Other Degrees, 3%
What should I major in to become a director of sourcing?
- Business, 32%
- Marketing, 10%
- Management, 6%
- Accounting, 6%
- Other Majors, 46%
Most common colleges for directors of sourcing
| Director of sourcing common college | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Fashion Institute of Technology | 17.17% |
| Auburn University Main Campus | 7.07% |
| Rochester Institute of Technology | 7.07% |
| Arizona State University | 6.06% |
| Miami University | 5.05% |
Best majors for directors of sourcing
| Rank | Major | Percentages |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Business | 31.8% |
| 2 | Marketing | 9.5% |
| 3 | Management | 6.4% |
| 4 | Accounting | 6.1% |
| 5 | Finance | 5.4% |
Best colleges for directors of sourcing
The best colleges for directors of sourcing are Stanford University, Northwestern University, and University of Pennsylvania.
A director of sourcing 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 sourcing. 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 sourcing.
1. Stanford University
Stanford, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$51,354
Enrollment
7,083
2. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
In-state tuition
$55,584
Enrollment
10,764
3. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
In-state tuition
$54,568
Enrollment
8,451
4. Maine Maritime Academy
Castine, ME • Private
In-state tuition
$13,478
Enrollment
979
5. University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$56,225
Enrollment
19,548
6. California State University - Bakersfield
Bakersfield, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$7,309
Enrollment
9,142
7. SUNY at Binghamton
Vestal, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$9,808
Enrollment
13,990
8. Villanova University
Villanova, PA • Private
In-state tuition
$53,308
Enrollment
6,819
9. San Diego State University
San Diego, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$7,488
Enrollment
30,018
10. Bentley University
Waltham, MA • Private
In-state tuition
$49,880
Enrollment
4,177
20 best online courses for directors of sourcing
Advertising disclosure
1. Fundamentals of Logistics, Supply Chain & Customer Service
Learn Logistics, Supply Chain and Customer Service. 3 Courses in 1...
2. Operations Management: Supply Chains, Products and Services
Master Supply Chain Management and Product and Service Development in Manufacturing and Service Organizations...
3. The Fundamentals of end-to-end Supply Chain Management
Supply Chain Management - Level 1: Introducing all the Key Components of a Supply Chain...
4. Master Course in Logistics and Supply Chain Management 2.0
Fundamentals, Designs and Operations of SCM and Logistics, International Transport, Port and Shipping, Dropshipping...
5. Supply Chain for Management Consultants & Business Analysts
A practical guide how to improve supply chain in a firm and analyze potential savings in Excel during consulting project...
6. Supply Chain Management A-Z: Operations & Logistics Basics
Supply Chain Management Basics: An MBA style course to boost your career as a business operations & logistics manager...
7. Global Air Logistics Management in Supply Chain Management
2021 Air Logistics Management, Logistics Document, Logistics & Supply Chain Management, Logistics & Supply Chain Costing...
8. Supply Chain Management KPIs: Metrics Inventory Performance
Key Performance Indicators: Measure & Improve the Performance of your Supply Chain and Inventory Operations Management...
9. Strategic Cost Management: Procurement and Supply Chain 2022
How to secure long term Procurement savings without breaking relations with your suppliers (with the updates 2022)...
10. Supply Chain Management for Beginners
Get the basics of Supply Chain Management...
11. International Logistics & Transportation in Supply Chain.
Logistics Management, Supply Chain Calculation, Documents & Export Import Logistics, Logistics & Supply Chain Management...
12. The Business of Logistics in Supply Chain Management
Kick start your Career as a Logistics Manager or a Supply Chain Manager...
13. Production for Management Consultants and Business Analysts
Practical guide on how to improve production and operations in a firm and analyze potential savings in Excel...
14. VPs and Directors of Product Management: Finding Excellence
Succeeding in an intense, stressful, invigorating job...
15. Warehouse Management in Logistics & Supply Chain Management
Warehouse Logistics Management in Supply Chain Management, Warehouse Inventory Management in Logistics and Supply Chain...
16. Supply Chain Fundamentals: Logistic & Transportation
Learn the Fundamentals of Logistic, Warehouse, Inbound, Picking, Packing, transportation and apply it to any ERP system...
17. SAP: Supply Chain Logistics in R/3
Everything you need to know about SAP Supply Chain Logistics and Transportation in one easy place...
18. Logistics and Supply Chains - Fundamentals,Design,Operations
Tactics, Tools, and Techniques for Moving Your End-to-End Global Supply Chain into the 21st Century...
19. Supply Chain Operations Metrics and KPI's
Learn to Create Value, Effectively Measure, Analyze, Optimize Performance and Improve All Supply Chain Operations...
20. Cost of Quality Analysis and Reporting using Microsoft Excel
Expertly collect, analyze and present quality cost data (using Microsoft Excel) to help drive continual improvement...
Top 10 most affordable universities for directors of sourcing
The most affordable schools for directors of sourcing are SUNY Farmingdale, california state university - bakersfield, and baruch college of the city university of new york.
If the best universities for directors of sourcing 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 sourcing.
1. SUNY Farmingdale
Farmingdale, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$8,306
Cost of attendance
16,091
2. California State University - Bakersfield
Bakersfield, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$7,309
Cost of attendance
16,714
3. Baruch College of the City University of New York
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,262
Cost of attendance
14,046
4. California State University - Dominguez Hills
Carson, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,942
Cost of attendance
14,469
5. Brooklyn College of the City University of New York
Brooklyn, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,240
Cost of attendance
13,991
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. USF Sarasota-Manatee
Sarasota, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$5,587
Cost of attendance
13,043
9. San Diego State University
San Diego, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$7,488
Cost of attendance
22,990
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 directors of sourcing
The hardest universities for directors of sourcing to get into are Stanford University, Northwestern University, and University of Pennsylvania.
Some great schools for directors of sourcing 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 sourcing 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. Stanford University
Stanford, CA • Private
Admissions rate
4%
SAT average
1,497
2. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
Admissions rate
8%
SAT average
1,508
3. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
Admissions rate
8%
SAT average
1,492
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. University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA • Private
Admissions rate
13%
SAT average
1,445
7. Villanova University
Villanova, PA • Private
Admissions rate
29%
SAT average
1,407
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. Brandeis University
Waltham, MA • Private
Admissions rate
31%
SAT average
1,398
Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for directors of sourcing
The easiest schools for directors of sourcing to get into are Oklahoma Wesleyan University, notre dame de namur university, and holy names university.
Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a director of sourcing 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 sourcing.
1. Oklahoma Wesleyan University
Bartlesville, OK • Private
Admissions rate
68%
SAT average
964
2. Notre Dame de Namur University
Belmont, CA • Private
Admissions rate
82%
SAT average
983
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. LIM College
New York, NY • Private
Admissions rate
83%
SAT average
1,061
6. Nyack College
New York, NY • Private
Admissions rate
98%
SAT average
999
7. Life University
Marietta, GA • Private
Admissions rate
94%
SAT average
979
8. D'Youville College
Buffalo, NY • Private
Admissions rate
100%
SAT average
1,072
9. Presentation College
Aberdeen, SD • Private
Admissions rate
97%
SAT average
1,050
10. Oregon Institute of Technology
Klamath Falls, OR • Private
Admissions rate
96%
SAT average
1,139
Average director of sourcing salary by education level
| Director of sourcing education level | Director of sourcing salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $173,618 |
| High School Diploma or Less | $123,645 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $152,452 |
| Doctorate Degree | $169,853 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $126,042 |
Director of sourcing education FAQs
Have more questions? See all answers to common executive management questions.
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Updated January 8, 2025
Updated January 8, 2025