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Education program manager education requirements

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read

There are several educational requirements to become an education program manager. Education program managers usually study business, education, or psychology. 65% of education program managers hold a bachelor's degree, and 24% hold an master's degree. We analyzed 1,802 real education program manager resumes to see exactly what education program manager education sections show.

The most common colleges for education program managers are the University of Phoenix and the University of Phoenix.

There are also many online education program manager courses to help get the education required to be an education program manager.

There are certain education program manager certifications that you should consider. These education program manager certifications include Project Management Professional (PMP) and Educational Certificate: K-12 (Ed:).

What education do you need to become an education program manager?

What degree do you need to be an education program manager?

The most common degree for education program managers is bachelor's degree, with 65% of education program managers earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are master's degree degree at 24% and master's degree degree at 6%.
  • Bachelor's, 65%
  • Master's, 24%
  • Associate, 6%
  • Doctorate, 2%
  • Other Degrees, 3%

What should I major in to become an education program manager?

You should major in business to become an education program manager. 15% of education program managers major in business. Other common majors for an education program manager include education and psychology.

Most common colleges for education program managers

Education program managers often get their degrees at University of Phoenix, George Washington University, The, and New York University. Here are the most common colleges for education program managers in the US based on their resumes.
Education program manager common collegePercentages
University of Phoenix15.49%
George Washington University, The7.04%
New York University5.63%
University of California - Davis5.63%
Florida State University5.16%

Best majors for education program managers

RankMajorPercentages
1Business15.1%
2Education9.9%
3Psychology8.5%
4Elementary Education7.6%
5Communication6.3%

Best colleges for education program managers

The best colleges for education program managers are Northwestern University, University of Pennsylvania, and New York University.

An education program manager with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for education program managers. 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 education program managers.

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. Pennsylvania State University

University Park, PA • Private

In-state tuition

$18,454

Enrollment

40,108

4. California State University - Dominguez Hills

Carson, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,942

Enrollment

13,871

5. University of Washington

Seattle, WA • Private

In-state tuition

$11,207

Enrollment

30,905

6. New York University

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$51,828

Enrollment

26,339

7. Harvard University

Cambridge, MA • Private

In-state tuition

$50,420

Enrollment

7,582

8. University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$56,225

Enrollment

19,548

9. University of North Texas

Denton, TX • Private

In-state tuition

$10,852

Enrollment

31,375

10. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Ann Arbor, MI • Private

In-state tuition

$15,262

Enrollment

30,079

20 best online courses for education program managers

Advertising disclosure

1. Health, Housing, and Educational Services

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Course 5 discusses policies in four areas: housing, education, healthcare, and immigration, with an optional fifth module in child protection. This course addresses issues of power, oppression, and white supremacy. -First we’ll look at housing policy, with its contrasting supports for homeowners and renters. -Then we’ll interpret the structure that provides education and examine debates about its future. -The third module will differentiate the issues in the U.S. healthcare system and develop...

2. Instructional Methods in Health Professions Education

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This course provides those involved in educating members of the health professions an asynchronous, interdisciplinary, and interactive way to obtain, expand, and improve their teaching skills. These skills can then be applied within their own professional context, with a variety of learners, extending across many stages. After completing this course, learners will: 1. Understand educational theory as it relates to health professions education 2. Match instructional methods with desired...

3. Educational Psychology & Special Education (Certificate)

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Informational content for educators and parents to learn about teaching and understanding exceptional children...

4. Train the Trainer Foundation: Adult Education Mastery Course

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4.6
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Deploy a repeatable system for employee learning to ensure you reach every learner…every time...

5. Music Education for Teachers

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In the Music Education for Teachers specialization, you will explore ways of integrating popular music into your teaching. You'll begin by learning from two highly experienced teachers, Krystal Banfield, the Vice President of Educational Outreach for Berklee College of Music, and David Alexis a Berklee Professor and long-time instructor for the Berklee City Music Program. They will take you through their process of incorporating popular music, improvisation, arranging, and music technology into...

6. Computational Thinking & Block Programming in K-12 Education

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In the 21st century, computational thinking is a skill critical for all the world's citizens. Computing and technology is impacting all our lives and everyone needs to know how to formulate problems and express their solutions such that a computer can carry it out.\n\nIn this Specialization you will both learn several block-based languages, but using novel approaches designed to make learning programming easier.\n\nCovers most CSTA Algorithms & Programming Standards for Algorithms, Variables,...

7. Program Management Course - Program Manager Essentials

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In this Program Management course you will learn the essentials and more to become an effective Program Manager...

8. Program Management Interview Course

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Learn how to interview for program manager roles at tech companies...

9. Critical Issues in Urban Education

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Urban school reform in the United States is characterized by contentious, politicized debate. This course explores a set of critical issues in the education and educational reform space, with a focus on aspects of the field that have sparked controversy and polarized views. We will dig into these debates, situating them within the larger history of public education and school reform, and considering the viewpoints, the evidence, and translation of issues into educational policy. We will...

10. Aboriginal Worldviews and Education

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Intended for both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal learners, this course will explore indigenous ways of knowing and how they can benefit all students. Topics include historical, social, and political issues in Aboriginal education; terminology; cultural, spiritual and philosophical themes in Aboriginal worldviews; and how Aboriginal worldviews can inform professional programs and practices, including but not limited to the field of education...

11. Google Certified Educator Level 1 Technical Training

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4.5
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Google Apps for Education...

12. Program Management Fundamentals: The Essentials

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In this course you will learn the essentials of program management. Become your bosses boss start this course today...

13. Online Learning Design for Educators

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This specialization is for educators seeking to improve and expand their repertoire of online teaching skills related to the design, development and delivery of effective and engaging online courses and lessons for school age and adult learners.\n\nLearning in the 21st century no longer takes place exclusively between the four walls of a physical classroom. With advances in technology, learners now expect to be offered flexible study modes outside of the traditional face-to-face model. This...

14. Program Communications Management in ClickUp

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By the end of this guided project, you will be fluent in creating Program Communications artefacts for the Identification/Planning Phase for diverse programs. You will utilise a logical diagramming plan in an agile environment to develop the solution. This will enable you to identify and classify the required components for communication management. Furthermore, it will help develop a structural model for learning about the field of Program Management. If you are interested in building up the...

15. Technical Program Management

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This is a course designed for individuals looking to learn about the Technical Program Management (TPM) discipline...

16. Fundamentals of Programming

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Learn the Basics of Programming in 9 languages simultaneously: Java, Python, Go, C++, PHP, Ruby, C#, Java Script & C...

17. What future for education?

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Through this course you will start to critically examine your own ideas about education, teaching and learning. The critique will be developed through engagement with theories and ideas developed through educational research. You will be encouraged to use these ideas to challenge or support your own ideas about education. Each week we will focus on one key question, using video lectures, key readings and challenges to explore some commonplace notions about education. With the guidance of the...

18. Introduction to Early Childhood Montessori Education

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Learning Montessori Philosophy and Materials by visiting classrooms across the U.S...

19. Linux System Programming Techniques & Concepts

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For Developers - Build Linux Programmable Libraries, Makefiles, Memory Management, Compilation & Linking, C Programming...

20. Seth Godin on learning and education

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Build the future of community, culture and possibility...

Top 10 most affordable universities for education program managers

The most affordable schools for education program managers are Hunter College of the City University of New York, california state university - bakersfield, and california state university - fullerton.

If the best universities for education program managers 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 education program managers.

1. Hunter College of the City University of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,182

Cost of attendance

13,998

2. California State University - Bakersfield

Bakersfield, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$7,309

Cost of attendance

16,714

3. California State University - Fullerton

Fullerton, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,886

Cost of attendance

17,645

4. California State University - Dominguez Hills

Carson, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,942

Cost of attendance

14,469

5. Baruch College of the City University of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,262

Cost of attendance

14,046

6. University of South Florida

Tampa, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,410

Cost of attendance

20,456

7. Brigham Young University

Provo, UT • Private

In-state tuition

$5,620

Cost of attendance

18,136

8. Florida State University

Tallahassee, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$5,656

Cost of attendance

21,623

9. California State University - Long Beach

Long Beach, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,798

Cost of attendance

18,306

10. California State University - Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,749

Cost of attendance

14,823

Top 10 hardest universities to get into for education program managers

The hardest universities for education program managers to get into are Northwestern University, University of Pennsylvania, and New York University.

Some great schools for education program managers 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 education program managers 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. New York University

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

20%

SAT average

1,419

4. Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore, MD • Private

Admissions rate

11%

SAT average

1,513

5. Harvard University

Cambridge, MA • Private

Admissions rate

5%

SAT average

1,520

6. University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA • Private

Admissions rate

13%

SAT average

1,445

7. Columbia University in the City of New York

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

6%

SAT average

1,512

8. Northeastern University

Boston, MA • Private

Admissions rate

19%

SAT average

1,466

9. George Washington University, The

Washington, DC • Private

Admissions rate

42%

SAT average

1,380

10. Boston University

Boston, MA • Private

Admissions rate

22%

SAT average

1,420

Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for education program managers

The easiest schools for education program managers to get into are Mount Saint Mary's University, notre dame de namur university, and university of north texas at dallas.

Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as an education program manager 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 education program managers.

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. University of North Texas at Dallas

Dallas, TX • Private

Admissions rate

83%

SAT average

992

4. Wayland Baptist University

Plainview, TX • Private

Admissions rate

98%

SAT average

1,003

5. Gwynedd Mercy University

Gwynedd Valley, PA • Private

Admissions rate

92%

SAT average

1,031

6. Barry University

Miami, FL • Private

Admissions rate

91%

SAT average

1,006

7. Holy Names University

Oakland, CA • Private

Admissions rate

70%

SAT average

849

8. University of Baltimore

Baltimore, MD • Private

Admissions rate

78%

SAT average

1,020

9. Oklahoma Wesleyan University

Bartlesville, OK • Private

Admissions rate

68%

SAT average

964

10. Grand View University

Des Moines, IA • Private

Admissions rate

92%

SAT average

1,060

Average education program manager salary by education level

According to our data, education program managers with a Doctorate degree earn the highest average salary, at $79,923 annually. Education program managers with a Master's degree earn an average annual salary of $74,675.
Education program manager education levelEducation program manager salary
Master's Degree$74,675
Bachelor's Degree$63,268
Doctorate Degree$79,923

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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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