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Information manager education requirements
Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
There are several educational requirements to become an information manager. Information managers usually study business, computer information systems, or management. 60% of information managers hold a bachelor's degree, and 19% hold an associate degree. We analyzed 3,558 real information manager resumes to see exactly what information manager education sections show.
The most common colleges for information managers are the University of Phoenix and the University of Phoenix.
There are also many online information manager courses to help get the education required to be an information manager.
There are certain information manager certifications that you should consider. These information manager certifications include Project Management Professional (PMP) and Certified Information Security Manager (CISM).
What education do you need to become an information manager?
What degree do you need to be an information manager?
- Bachelor's, 60%
- Associate, 19%
- Master's, 13%
- High School Diploma, 4%
- Other Degrees, 4%
What should I major in to become an information manager?
- Business, 26%
- Management, 5%
- Accounting, 5%
- Other Majors, 50%
Most common colleges for information managers
| Information manager common college | Percentages |
|---|---|
| University of Phoenix | 15.00% |
| University of Houston | 8.57% |
| Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey | 7.86% |
| Pennsylvania State University | 7.14% |
| American University | 6.07% |
Best majors for information managers
| Rank | Major | Percentages |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Business | 25.9% |
| 2 | Computer Information Systems | 13.8% |
| 3 | Management | 5.3% |
| 4 | Accounting | 5.2% |
| 5 | Communication | 4.9% |
Best colleges for information managers
The best colleges for information managers are Carnegie Mellon University, University of Pennsylvania, and Northwestern University.
An information 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 information 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 information managers.
1. Carnegie Mellon University
Pittsburgh, PA • Private
In-state tuition
$55,465
Enrollment
6,483
2. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
In-state tuition
$55,584
Enrollment
10,764
3. Boston University
Boston, MA • Private
In-state tuition
$53,948
Enrollment
17,238
4. University of Washington
Seattle, WA • Private
In-state tuition
$11,207
Enrollment
30,905
5. New York University
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$51,828
Enrollment
26,339
6. University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$56,225
Enrollment
19,548
7. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
Minneapolis, MN • Private
In-state tuition
$14,760
Enrollment
31,451
8. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
In-state tuition
$54,568
Enrollment
8,451
9. Northeastern University
Boston, MA • Private
In-state tuition
$51,522
Enrollment
13,760
10. Columbia University in the City of New York
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$59,430
Enrollment
8,216
20 best online courses for information managers
Advertising disclosure
1. Information Systems Auditing, Controls and Assurance
The course is awarded The Best Free Online Courses of All Time, and Best Online Courses of the Year (2021 Edition) by Class Central (http://www.classcentral.com). --- Information systems (IS) are important assets to business organizations and are ubiquitous in our daily lives. With the latest IS technologies emerging, such as Big Data, FinTech, Virtual Banks, there are more concerns from the public on how organizations maintain systems’ integrity, such as data privacy, information security, the...
2. Managing Network Security
Almost every organization uses computer networks to share their information and to support their business operations. When we allow network access to data it is exposed to threats from inside and outside of the organization. This course examines the threats associated with using internal and external networks and how to manage the protection of information when it’s accessible via networks. In this course, a learner will be able to: ● Describe the threats to data from information communication...
3. ISO/IEC 27005:2022. Information security risk management
Understand the framework proposed by ISO for managing information security risks in an organization...
4. Agile Crash Course: Agile Project Management; Agile Delivery
Agile Project Management Basics (Scrum) & Agile Project Management Essentials (Scrum). Plus Agile Certification (Scrum)...
5. Informed Risk Taking: Risk Management Process - Analysis
Risk Management Strategies : Risk Analysis Techniques : Risk Management Principles : Risk Management Process : Methods...
6. Risk Management for Cybersecurity and IT Managers
The management's guide to understanding Risk Management decisions in cybersecurity and information technology (IT)...
7. ISO/IEC 27001:2022. Information Security Management System
Learn how your company can protect its information with an ISMS that meets the requirements of ISO/IEC 27001...
8. Project Management Essentials
A crash course in the essentials of project management for new project managers...
9. Project Management: Simple Software Project Management
Project Management for NEW Project Managers - knowledge, tools, techniques, skills, checklists, guidelines, pitfalls...
10. Practical Project Management for Management Consultants
How to manage successfully a consulting project - a practical guide for Project Managers...
11. OnePagerr Project Management
Learn how to create and manage hundreds of small projects efficiently with this one page project management system...
12. Project Management - Complete Guide For A+ Project Managers
Complete guide to project management - stakeholders, planning, cost, quality, risks, feasibility, methods & resourcing...
13. Performance Management and Compensation Management in HRM
Performance Management and Compensation Management Complete Course...
14. Performance Management For Managers
Learn to successfully monitor, encourage and positively improve the performance of employees in the workplace...
15. Project Management: Becoming a Successful Project manager
Project Management...
16. Diploma in (BIM) and Project Management Professional (PMP)
How to Manage Building Information Modeling (BIM) and the integration between Project Management Professional and BIM...
17. Beginning Project Management: Project Management Level One
Project Management: Growing a Successful Career as a Project Manager...
18. Agile Project Management Bootcamp: Agile Project Management
This Agile Project Management Bootcamp course will allow you to learn the Agile Way! Agile Project Management (Scrum)...
19. Employee Engagement Performance Management Certificate 2023
Manager Essentials: Management Coaching People Management Accredited Communication & Human Resources Talent Management...
20. Project Management Training
Project Management Certification Training with 4 Full Practice Tests...
Top 10 most affordable universities for information managers
The most affordable schools for information managers are Baruch College of the City University of New York, brooklyn college of the city university of new york, and brigham young university.
If the best universities for information 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 information managers.
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. Brooklyn College of the City University of New York
Brooklyn, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,240
Cost of attendance
13,991
3. Brigham Young University
Provo, UT • Private
In-state tuition
$5,620
Cost of attendance
18,136
4. California State University - Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,749
Cost of attendance
14,823
5. Minot State University
Minot, ND • Private
In-state tuition
$7,064
Cost of attendance
15,576
6. University of South Florida
Tampa, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,410
Cost of attendance
20,456
7. SUNY Farmingdale
Farmingdale, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$8,306
Cost of attendance
16,091
8. University of Washington
Seattle, WA • Private
In-state tuition
$11,207
Cost of attendance
25,275
9. Purdue University
West Lafayette, IN • Private
In-state tuition
$9,992
Cost of attendance
22,430
10. New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology
Socorro, NM • Private
In-state tuition
$7,770
Cost of attendance
21,244
Top 10 hardest universities to get into for information managers
The hardest universities for information managers to get into are Carnegie Mellon University, University of Pennsylvania, and Northwestern University.
Some great schools for information 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 information 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. Carnegie Mellon University
Pittsburgh, PA • Private
Admissions rate
17%
SAT average
1,507
2. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
Admissions rate
8%
SAT average
1,492
3. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
Admissions rate
8%
SAT average
1,508
4. Columbia University in the City of New York
New York, NY • Private
Admissions rate
6%
SAT average
1,512
5. Northeastern University
Boston, MA • Private
Admissions rate
19%
SAT average
1,466
6. University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA • Private
Admissions rate
13%
SAT average
1,445
7. New York University
New York, NY • Private
Admissions rate
20%
SAT average
1,419
8. Boston University
Boston, MA • Private
Admissions rate
22%
SAT average
1,420
9. Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, MD • Private
Admissions rate
11%
SAT average
1,513
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 information managers
The easiest schools for information managers to get into are Barry University, capitol technology university, and ottawa university.
Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as an information 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 information managers.
1. Barry University
Miami, FL • Private
Admissions rate
91%
SAT average
1,006
2. Capitol Technology University
Laurel, MD • Private
Admissions rate
69%
SAT average
1,070
3. Ottawa University
Ottawa, KS • Private
Admissions rate
78%
SAT average
1,024
4. University of Baltimore
Baltimore, MD • Private
Admissions rate
78%
SAT average
1,020
5. Oklahoma Wesleyan University
Bartlesville, OK • Private
Admissions rate
68%
SAT average
964
6. Gwynedd Mercy University
Gwynedd Valley, PA • Private
Admissions rate
92%
SAT average
1,031
7. Thomas More University
Crestview Hills, KY • Private
Admissions rate
90%
SAT average
1,099
8. Chestnut Hill College
Philadelphia, PA • Private
Admissions rate
96%
SAT average
1,026
9. Felician University
Lodi, NJ • Private
Admissions rate
81%
SAT average
999
10. Washington Adventist Hospital
Takoma Park, MD • Private
Admissions rate
52%
SAT average
958
Average information manager salary by education level
| Information manager education level | Information manager salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $111,713 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $104,158 |
| Doctorate Degree | $114,216 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $85,697 |
Information manager education FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025
Updated January 8, 2025