Grants and programs manager education requirements

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

There are several educational requirements to become a grants and programs manager. Grants and programs managers usually study business, psychology, or political science. 64% of grants and programs managers hold a bachelor's degree, and 26% hold an master's degree. We analyzed 475 real grants and programs manager resumes to see exactly what grants and programs manager education sections show.

The most common colleges for grants and programs managers are the University of Phoenix and the University of Phoenix.

There are also many online grants and programs manager courses to help get the education required to be a grants and programs manager.

What education do you need to become a grants and programs manager?

What degree do you need to be a grants and programs manager?

The most common degree for grants and programs managers is bachelor's degree, with 64% of grants and programs managers earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are master's degree degree at 26% and master's degree degree at 5%.

Bachelor's, 64%

Master's, 26%

Associate, 5%

Doctorate, 4%

Other Degrees, 1%

What should I major in to become a grants and programs manager?

You should major in business to become a grants and programs manager. 19% of grants and programs managers major in business. Other common majors for a grants and programs manager include psychology and political science.

Business, 19%

Psychology, 10%

Political Science, 10%

Criminal Justice, 6%

Other Majors, 55%

Most common colleges for grants and programs managers

Grants and programs managers often get their degrees at University of Phoenix, George Washington University, The, and Southern Illinois University Carbondale. Here are the most common colleges for grants and programs managers in the US based on their resumes.

Grants and programs manager common college	Percentages
University of Phoenix	7.25%
George Washington University, The	7.25%
Southern Illinois University Carbondale	5.80%
DePaul University	5.80%
Saint Cloud State University	5.80%

Show more common grants and programs manager colleges

Best majors for grants and programs managers

Rank	Major	Percentages
1	Business	19.3%
2	Psychology	10.0%
3	Political Science	10.0%
4	Criminal Justice	6.1%
5	English	5.7%

Show more common grants and programs manager majors

Best colleges for grants and programs managers

The best colleges for grants and programs managers are Northwestern University, University of Pennsylvania, and New York University.

A grants and programs 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 grants and programs 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 grants and programs 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 grants and programs managers

Advertising disclosure

1. Program Communications Management in ClickUp

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...

2. Program Management Benefit Transition Sustainment in ClickUp

By the end of this guided project, you will be fluent in creating Program Benefits artefacts for the delivery/ closing Phases 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 benefits transition and sustainment. Furthermore, it will help develop a structural model for learning about the field of Program Management. If you are interested in building up the...

3. Program Management Course - Program Manager Essentials

4.4

(1,222)

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

4. Program Management Fundamentals: The Essentials

4.4

(370)

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

5. Program Management Interview Course

4.5

(899)

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

6. Technical Program Management

4.5

(3,910)

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

7. Project Management Professional Certification Program (PMP)

4.2

(2,380)

Your Guide to the Gold Standard of Project Management Certifications (PMI-PMP) (PMBOK7 updated) (40 PDUs minimum)...

8. The Operations Management Training Program

4.1

(748)

Learn how to design, plan, direct, and improve all the activities that transform resources into goods or services...

9. PgMP (Program Management Professional) Exam Prep Course

4.3

(1,304)

Pg MP 4th Edition Exam prep course by PMI Authorized instructor + 2 Full Exams + 450 Questions + 8 PDU's + 15 Documents...

10. Fundamentals of Programming

(314)

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

11. Operations Management: Facilities Planning and Management

4.4

(357)

Operations Management Training Program (Course 8 of 8)...

12. Chief Financial Officer Leadership Program

4.4

(849)

An ever expanding program of courses helping financial professionals aspire to the top levels of financial leadership...

13. Mastering Go Programming

4.5

(648)

Master programming with Golang by learning how to write idiomatic, effective code...

14. Anger Management & Conflict Resolution Program - (4 hours)

4.3

(676)

How to manage anger and ensure it does not explode into rage. Enhance your life by building quality relationships...

15. Learning Path: Haskell: Functional Programming and Haskell

4.3

(643)

Gain expertise of programming in Haskell — an advanced, purely functional programming language...

16. SQL Programming and MySQL

4.5

(302)

Learn SQL Programming with My SQL Database from scratch. SQL Commands, Functions, Expressions, Joins, Procedures, Views...

17. Rust Programming For Beginners

4.7

(891)

Learn the fundamentals of how to code and develop software applications using the Rust programming language...

18. Go Programming (Golang): The Complete Developer's Guide

4.7

(521)

Master the Go Programming Language (Golang) from an industry expert. Build real world projects that impress employers!...

19. The Risk Management Certification Program (PMI-RMP) (PMBOK7)

4.3

(829)

Planning Risk Management, Identifying Risk, Analyzing Risk and Responding to Risk by PMBOK6 (PMBOK7 Updated)...

20. Linux System Programming Techniques & Concepts

4.5

(884)

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

Top 10 most affordable universities for grants and programs managers

The most affordable schools for grants and programs 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 grants and programs 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 grants and programs 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 grants and programs managers

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

Some great schools for grants and programs 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 grants and programs 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

SAT average

1,508

2. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

Admissions rate

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

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

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 grants and programs managers

The easiest schools for grants and programs 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 a grants and programs 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 grants and programs 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 grants and programs manager salary by education level

According to our data, grants and programs managers with a Doctorate degree earn the highest average salary, at $78,256 annually. Grants and programs managers with a Master's degree earn an average annual salary of $73,065.

Grants and programs manager education level	Grants and programs manager salary
Master's Degree	$73,065
Bachelor's Degree	$61,797
Doctorate Degree	$78,256

Grants and programs manager education FAQs

What is the best college for Grants And Programs Managers?

Have more questions? See all answers to common executive management questions.

Search for grants and programs manager jobs

Updated January 8, 2025

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.

Updated January 8, 2025

Browse executive management jobs