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Editor/proofreader education requirements
Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
There are several educational requirements to become an editor/proofreader. Editor/proofreaders usually study english, writing, or communication. 72% of editor/proofreaders hold a bachelor's degree, and 15% hold an master's degree. We analyzed 1,723 real editor/proofreader resumes to see exactly what editor/proofreader education sections show.
The most common colleges for editor/proofreaders are the New York University and the New York University.
There are also many online editor/proofreader courses to help get the education required to be an editor/proofreader.
What education do you need to become an editor/proofreader?
What degree do you need to be an editor/proofreader?
- Bachelor's, 72%
- Master's, 15%
- Associate, 6%
- Doctorate, 2%
- Other Degrees, 5%
What should I major in to become an editor/proofreader?
- English, 36%
- Writing, 10%
- Communication, 7%
- Journalism, 7%
- Other Majors, 40%
Most common colleges for editor/proofreaders
| Editor/proofreader common college | Percentages |
|---|---|
| New York University | 10.24% |
| University of Maryland - College Park | 6.63% |
| University of Iowa | 6.63% |
| Florida State University | 6.63% |
| University of North Texas | 5.42% |
Best majors for editor/proofreaders
| Rank | Major | Percentages |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | 36.4% |
| 2 | Writing | 10.4% |
| 3 | Communication | 7.2% |
| 4 | Journalism | 6.8% |
| 5 | Psychology | 4.6% |
Best colleges for editor/proofreaders
The best colleges for editor/proofreaders are Northwestern University, Harvard University, and Carnegie Mellon University.
An editor/proofreader with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for editor/proofreaders. 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 editor/proofreaders.
1. Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Cambridge, MA • Private
In-state tuition
$51,832
Enrollment
4,550
2. Harvard University
Cambridge, MA • Private
In-state tuition
$50,420
Enrollment
7,582
3. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
In-state tuition
$54,568
Enrollment
8,451
4. Columbia University in the City of New York
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$59,430
Enrollment
8,216
5. University of California, Berkeley
Berkeley, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$14,184
Enrollment
30,845
6. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC • Private
In-state tuition
$8,987
Enrollment
18,946
7. Carnegie Mellon University
Pittsburgh, PA • Private
In-state tuition
$55,465
Enrollment
6,483
8. University of Houston
Houston, TX • Private
In-state tuition
$8,913
Enrollment
37,291
9. Pennsylvania State University
University Park, PA • Private
In-state tuition
$18,454
Enrollment
40,108
10. California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo
San Luis Obispo, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$9,816
Enrollment
21,047
20 best online courses for editor/proofreaders
Advertising disclosure
1. Writing Proofreading Course: Proofread Punctuation & Grammar
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2. Proofreading Power Basics
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3. The Complete Proofreading Course: Editing and Proofreading
Learn All Aspects of Proofreading Writing Editing Punctuation and Other Communication Strategies...
4. Proofread Like a Pro
How to catch and mark up errors in any document...
5. How to Find & Correct Writing Errors: The Proofreading Guide
Identify and Remove Embarrassing Mistakes from Documents...
6. Kickstart a Freelance Editor & Proofreader Career on Upwork
The Complete Guide to Satisfying Clients and Growing Your Freelancing Business...
7. Certification in Editing and Proofreading - Masterclass
A comprehensive course for business / creative writing, copywriting, email writing, content writing, blogging etc...
8. The New Trainer's Guide to Creating End User Documentation
Learn quick, easy and practical technical writing skills to write great end user software documentation - FAST...
9. Legal English Language Certificate (LELC) Level 1 - CPD
Learn from Lawyers - Learn the CORRECT use of articles, prepositions, legal terms & start writing your letter!...
10. English Grammar tenses & structures
Be an expert in the English grammar tenses and structures ( Active & Passive )...
11. Basic English Grammar And Structures
Elementary (A1 & A2) level English course for beginners who want to improve their Basic English Grammar and Structures...
12. English grammar tenses & structures, the ultimate course
All you need to be perfect in English grammar & structures. Be an expert in the English grammar rules...
13. Legal English
Legal language and communication skills...
14. English Course - Learn English with Animations and Dialogues
English course that will teach you how to speak English perfectly with the dialogues recorded by American teachers...
15. The English Master Course: English Grammar, English Speaking
The Complete English Language Course: English grammar, English speaking, and writing. British and American English...
16. English Functional Grammar
Improve your English communication with knowledge of functional grammar...
17. Master English Grammar: A1, A2, B1, B2 Levels
Learn English grammar easily. Master your English grammar skills...
18. Audit - Financial Statement
Master the Art of Auditing Financial Statements: In-Depth Analysis, Techniques, and Real-World Case Studies...
19. Advanced English Grammar: A Comprehensive Guide
A course designed to provide learners of English with the advanced grammar skills necessary for professional success...
20. Best Practices in Document Management
Develop your cost-effective and future-proof documentation strategy...
Top 10 most affordable universities for editor/proofreaders
The most affordable schools for editor/proofreaders are Baruch College of the City University of New York, university of florida, and california state university - long beach.
If the best universities for editor/proofreaders 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 editor/proofreaders.
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. California State University - Long Beach
Long Beach, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,798
Cost of attendance
18,306
4. Brooklyn College of the City University of New York
Brooklyn, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,240
Cost of attendance
13,991
5. Brigham Young University
Provo, UT • Private
In-state tuition
$5,620
Cost of attendance
18,136
6. California State University - Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,749
Cost of attendance
14,823
7. USF Sarasota-Manatee
Sarasota, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$5,587
Cost of attendance
13,043
8. Hunter College of the City University of New York
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,182
Cost of attendance
13,998
9. University of South Florida
Tampa, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,410
Cost of attendance
20,456
10. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC • Private
In-state tuition
$8,987
Cost of attendance
25,527
Top 10 hardest universities to get into for editor/proofreaders
The hardest universities for editor/proofreaders to get into are Northwestern University, Harvard University, and Carnegie Mellon University.
Some great schools for editor/proofreaders 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 editor/proofreaders 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. Harvard University
Cambridge, MA • Private
Admissions rate
5%
SAT average
1,520
3. Carnegie Mellon University
Pittsburgh, PA • Private
Admissions rate
17%
SAT average
1,507
4. Washington University in St Louis
Saint Louis, MO • Private
Admissions rate
15%
SAT average
1,506
5. Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Cambridge, MA • Private
Admissions rate
7%
SAT average
1,545
6. Columbia University in the City of New York
New York, NY • Private
Admissions rate
6%
SAT average
1,512
7. Northeastern University
Boston, MA • Private
Admissions rate
19%
SAT average
1,466
8. Boston University
Boston, MA • Private
Admissions rate
22%
SAT average
1,420
9. Emory University
Atlanta, GA • Private
Admissions rate
19%
SAT average
1,449
10. New York University
New York, NY • Private
Admissions rate
20%
SAT average
1,419
Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for editor/proofreaders
The easiest schools for editor/proofreaders to get into are Mount Saint Mary's 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 an editor/proofreader 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 editor/proofreaders.
1. Mount Saint Mary's University
Los Angeles, CA • Private
Admissions rate
84%
SAT average
1,031
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. Saint Joseph's College of Maine
Standish, ME • Private
Admissions rate
84%
SAT average
1,069
5. Our Lady of the Lake University
San Antonio, TX • Private
Admissions rate
93%
SAT average
1,002
6. Rochester University
Rochester Hills, MI • Private
Admissions rate
100%
SAT average
1,002
7. Grand View University
Des Moines, IA • Private
Admissions rate
92%
SAT average
1,060
8. Rosemont College
Rosemont, PA • Private
Admissions rate
89%
SAT average
1,026
9. Centenary University
Hackettstown, NJ • Private
Admissions rate
67%
SAT average
987
10. La Roche College
Pittsburgh, PA • Private
Admissions rate
99%
SAT average
1,008
Average editor/proofreader salary by education level
| Editor/proofreader education level | Editor/proofreader salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $84,846 |
| High School Diploma or Less | $56,159 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $69,760 |
| Doctorate Degree | $79,819 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $59,385 |
Editor/proofreader education FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025
Updated January 8, 2025