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Incident manager education requirements
Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
There are several educational requirements to become an incident manager. Incident managers usually study business, computer science, or information technology. 60% of incident managers hold a bachelor's degree, and 17% hold an associate degree. We analyzed 1,036 real incident manager resumes to see exactly what incident manager education sections show.
The most common colleges for incident managers are the University of Phoenix and the University of Phoenix.
There are also many online incident manager courses to help get the education required to be an incident manager.
There are certain incident manager certifications that you should consider. These incident manager certifications include IT Information Library Foundations Certification (ITIL) and ITIL Foundation.
What education do you need to become an incident manager?
What degree do you need to be an incident manager?
- Bachelor's, 60%
- Associate, 17%
- Master's, 13%
- Diploma, 4%
- Other Degrees, 6%
What should I major in to become an incident manager?
- Business, 19%
- Computer Science, 15%
- Other Majors, 43%
Most common colleges for incident managers
| Incident manager common college | Percentages |
|---|---|
| University of Phoenix | 17.00% |
| DeVry University | 13.00% |
| Liberty University | 7.00% |
| Strayer University | 6.00% |
| Auburn University Main Campus | 5.00% |
Best majors for incident managers
| Rank | Major | Percentages |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Business | 18.9% |
| 2 | Computer Science | 14.7% |
| 3 | Information Technology | 14.3% |
| 4 | Computer Information Systems | 9.5% |
| 5 | Electrical Engineering | 6.3% |
Best colleges for incident managers
The best colleges for incident managers are Columbia University in the City of New York, Northwestern University, and Carnegie Mellon University.
An incident 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 incident 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 incident managers.
1. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, MI • Private
In-state tuition
$15,262
Enrollment
30,079
2. Georgia Institute of Technology
Atlanta, GA • Private
In-state tuition
$12,424
Enrollment
15,201
3. University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$56,225
Enrollment
19,548
4. Cornell University
Ithaca, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$55,188
Enrollment
15,105
5. University of Washington
Seattle, WA • Private
In-state tuition
$11,207
Enrollment
30,905
6. Pennsylvania State University
University Park, PA • Private
In-state tuition
$18,454
Enrollment
40,108
7. Columbia University in the City of New York
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$59,430
Enrollment
8,216
8. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
In-state tuition
$54,568
Enrollment
8,451
9. California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo
San Luis Obispo, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$9,816
Enrollment
21,047
10. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
In-state tuition
$55,584
Enrollment
10,764
20 best online courses for incident managers
Advertising disclosure
1. Cyber Incident Response
The Cyber Incident Response Specialization will give students a high-level understanding of incident response processes. Students will learn about Incident Response from a practitioner perspective and they will walk away with valuable skills that they will be able to demonstrate, on demand.\n\nThis Specialization begins with a high-level discussion of what happens at each phase of responding to an incident, followed by a technical deep dive into some of the more exciting parts of memory,...
2. Cyber Incident Response
The Cyber Incident Response course will give students an understanding of how incidents are responded to at a high level, as well as allow them to build important technical skills through the hands-on labs and projects. This course starts with a high-level discussion of what happens at each phase of responding to an incident, followed by a technical deep dive into some of the more exciting parts of memory, network, and host analysis and forensics. This course is for anyone wishing to apply...
3. Planning and Implementing a Security Incident Response
Learn all about planning and implementing a Security Incident Response along with best practices and recommendations...
4. Cybersecurity Incident Handling and Response
Become a professional cyber security incident handling team member or team leader...
5. Managing Cybersecurity Incidents and Disasters
Most organizations plan for routine operations, but what happens when unexpected events overtake the routine? This course examines contingency planning used to prepare for and manage non-normal operations, including cybersecurity incidents – like hacking attempts, web site defacement, denial of service attacks, information disclosures; a well as other natural and man-made cybersecurity disasters. In this course, a learner will be able to: ● Define and describe the components of a cybersecurity...
6. Technical Deep Dive with Incident Response Tools
The Cyber Incident Response course will give students an understanding of how incidents are responded to at a high level, as well as allow them to build important technical skills through the hands-on labs and projects. This course starts with a high-level discussion of what happens at each phase of responding to an incident, followed by a technical deep dive into some of the more exciting parts of memory, network, and host analysis and forensics. This course is for anyone wishing to apply...
7. IT service operations and Service Desk management
Improve Service Desk and IT support processes and service functions. Better preparation for the professional exam...
8. Build Security Incident Response for GDPR data protection
CIPT, CIPM FREE GDPR and Incident Response Templates & Documentation - Practical GDPR and Incident Response Blueprint...
9. Engaging in Service Innovation and Management
This course is the continuation of "Introduction to Service Innovation and Management". If you have not yet taken "Introduction to Service Innovation and Management", it is recommended that you complete that course prior to this course. The foundational knowledge and project plan from the introduction are carried through in this deeper dive into service innovation and management. This course will give you tools to examine initial plans for healthcare service/process redesign. You will be...
10. IT Service Management with ITIL 4 Foundation -Full Training
Learn about ITIL 4, ITSM, Concepts of Service Management, the Four Dimensions, Service Value System and Practices...
11. Preventing and Surviving an Active Shooter Incident
Active Shooter/Violent Intruder Prevention and Response...
12. Introduction to Service Management with ITIL 4
Learn about service management, four dimensions, guiding principles, service value system, and ITSM best practices...
13. IT Service Management with ITIL 4 Foundation Course
Lean and Unlock Your Service Management with ITIL 4, Real-World Scenarios, Practical Examples and Mockup exams...
14. ISO/IEC 20000-1:2018. Service management system
Understand the requirements for a service management system according to ISO/IEC 20000-1...
15. ServiceNow IT Service Management (CIS - ITSM) Practice Tests
Prepare for the Service Now Certified Implementation Specialist exam in IT Service Management (CIS-ITSM)...
16. Operations Management: Supply Chains, Products and Services
Master Supply Chain Management and Product and Service Development in Manufacturing and Service Organizations...
17. Product and Service Management
Know the Work that is Involved in Getting a Product Onto the Shelf and a Service Ready for Effective Delivery...
18. Start Improving Customer Service
Creating a Customer Service advantage in Your department or business through communication and Customer Management...
19. Customer Service & Support For Customer Service Executives
Learn Customer Service Skills & Provide Excellent Customer Support, Customer Experience & How To Manage Upset Customers...
20. SAP Customer Service (CS/SM) - Service Management module
Real World SAP CS and SD, Repair Orders, Service Orders, Service Contracts...
Top 10 most affordable universities for incident managers
The most affordable schools for incident managers are United States Merchant Marine Academy, university of florida, and california state university - long beach.
If the best universities for incident 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 incident managers.
1. United States Merchant Marine Academy
Kings Point, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$1,080
Cost of attendance
6,646
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. California State University - Bakersfield
Bakersfield, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$7,309
Cost of attendance
16,714
5. City College of New York of the City University of New York, The
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,140
Cost of attendance
14,430
6. New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology
Socorro, NM • Private
In-state tuition
$7,770
Cost of attendance
21,244
7. University of South Florida
Tampa, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,410
Cost of attendance
20,456
8. Florida International University
Miami, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,556
Cost of attendance
19,434
9. California State University - Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,749
Cost of attendance
14,823
10. University of Puerto Rico - Mayaguez
Mayaguez, PR • Private
In-state tuition
$4,094
Cost of attendance
14,302
Top 10 hardest universities to get into for incident managers
The hardest universities for incident managers to get into are Columbia University in the City of New York, Northwestern University, and Carnegie Mellon University.
Some great schools for incident 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 incident 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. Columbia University in the City of New York
New York, NY • Private
Admissions rate
6%
SAT average
1,512
2. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
Admissions rate
8%
SAT average
1,508
3. Carnegie Mellon University
Pittsburgh, PA • Private
Admissions rate
17%
SAT average
1,507
4. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
Admissions rate
8%
SAT average
1,492
5. Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, MD • Private
Admissions rate
11%
SAT average
1,513
6. Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Cambridge, MA • Private
Admissions rate
7%
SAT average
1,545
7. Stanford University
Stanford, CA • Private
Admissions rate
4%
SAT average
1,497
8. Cornell University
Ithaca, NY • Private
Admissions rate
11%
SAT average
1,471
9. Harvard University
Cambridge, MA • Private
Admissions rate
5%
SAT average
1,520
10. Washington University in St Louis
Saint Louis, MO • Private
Admissions rate
15%
SAT average
1,506
Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for incident managers
The easiest schools for incident managers to get into are Texas A&M; University - Kingsville, the university of texas permian basin, and oklahoma wesleyan university.
Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as an incident 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 incident managers.
1. Texas A&M University - Kingsville
Kingsville, TX • Private
Admissions rate
89%
SAT average
1,035
2. The University of Texas Permian Basin
Odessa, TX • Private
Admissions rate
91%
SAT average
1,046
3. Oklahoma Wesleyan University
Bartlesville, OK • Private
Admissions rate
68%
SAT average
964
4. The University of Texas at El Paso
El Paso, TX • Private
Admissions rate
100%
SAT average
1,035
5. Barry University
Miami, FL • Private
Admissions rate
91%
SAT average
1,006
6. Oregon Institute of Technology
Klamath Falls, OR • Private
Admissions rate
96%
SAT average
1,139
7. Saint Martin's University
Lacey, WA • Private
Admissions rate
96%
SAT average
1,111
8. University of the Incarnate Word
San Antonio, TX • Private
Admissions rate
88%
SAT average
1,044
9. La Roche College
Pittsburgh, PA • Private
Admissions rate
99%
SAT average
1,008
10. Nyack College
New York, NY • Private
Admissions rate
98%
SAT average
999
Average incident manager salary by education level
| Incident manager education level | Incident manager salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $94,390 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $88,466 |
| Doctorate Degree | $101,404 |
Incident manager education FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025
Updated January 8, 2025