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Instructor, adjunct faculty education requirements

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read

There are several educational requirements to become an instructor, adjunct faculty. Instructors, adjunct faculty usually study nursing, business, or psychology. 49% of instructors, adjunct faculty hold a bachelor's degree, and 31% hold an master's degree. We analyzed 2,334 real instructor, adjunct faculty resumes to see exactly what instructor, adjunct faculty education sections show.

The most common colleges for instructors, adjunct faculty are the University of Phoenix and the University of Phoenix.

There are also many online instructor, adjunct faculty courses to help get the education required to be an instructor, adjunct faculty.

There are certain instructor, adjunct faculty certifications that you should consider. These instructor, adjunct faculty certifications include Basic Life Support for Healthcare and Public Safety (BLS) and Instructor.

What education do you need to become an instructor, adjunct faculty?

What degree do you need to be an instructor, adjunct faculty?

The most common degree for instructors, adjunct faculty is bachelor's degree, with 49% of instructors, adjunct faculty earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are master's degree degree at 31% and master's degree degree at 12%.
  • Bachelor's, 49%
  • Master's, 31%
  • Associate, 12%
  • Doctorate, 6%
  • Other Degrees, 2%

What should I major in to become an instructor, adjunct faculty?

You should major in nursing to become an instructor, adjunct faculty. 21% of instructors, adjunct faculty major in nursing. Other common majors for an instructor, adjunct faculty include business and psychology.

Most common colleges for instructors, adjunct faculty

Instructors, adjunct faculty often get their degrees at University of Phoenix, Purdue University, and Arizona State University. Here are the most common colleges for instructors, adjunct faculty in the US based on their resumes.
Instructor, adjunct faculty common collegePercentages
University of Phoenix15.57%
Purdue University6.15%
Arizona State University5.74%
Michigan State University5.33%
Walden University4.92%

Best majors for instructors, adjunct faculty

RankMajorPercentages
1Nursing21.2%
2Business14.3%
3Psychology7.9%
4Education6.3%
5English6.0%

Best colleges for instructors, adjunct faculty

The best colleges for instructors, adjunct faculty are University of Pennsylvania, University of Southern California, and New York University.

An instructor, adjunct faculty with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for instructors, adjunct faculty. 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 instructors, adjunct faculty.

1. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

In-state tuition

$55,584

Enrollment

10,764

2. University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$56,225

Enrollment

19,548

3. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Ann Arbor, MI • Private

In-state tuition

$15,262

Enrollment

30,079

4. Stanford University

Stanford, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$51,354

Enrollment

7,083

5. University of Virginia

Charlottesville, VA • Private

In-state tuition

$17,653

Enrollment

16,405

6. Pennsylvania State University

University Park, PA • Private

In-state tuition

$18,454

Enrollment

40,108

7. New York University

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$51,828

Enrollment

26,339

8. California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo

San Luis Obispo, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$9,816

Enrollment

21,047

9. Purdue University

West Lafayette, IN • Private

In-state tuition

$9,992

Enrollment

33,495

10. University of Florida

Gainesville, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,381

Enrollment

34,564

20 best online courses for instructors, adjunct faculty

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5. Lesson Planning with the ELL in Mind

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In this course you will learn how to design lesson plans around the needs of your ELL students and their language level through the analysis of content language and cognitive demands. You will learn how to align language objectives to the adopted standards of your school and content area. You will learn how to modify existing course materials as well as develop graphic organizers and languages frames to support ELLs’ access to content. Analysis of second language acquisition theories will be...

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The healthcare system is a rapidly evolving field with new research leading to advancements in medicine. Developed at Johns Hopkins University and led by top-ranked Hopkins faculty and cancer experts, this specialization on Cancer Biology focuses on the basics of cancer biology, how cancer metastasis occurs, and specifically, screening guidelines for prostate cancer, the most common cancer in American men.\n\nThis specialization starts with an Introduction to the Biology of Cancer, introduces...

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Introduction to Information Technology and Information Systems...

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Teach Online! Turn your expertise, knowledge, experience, or passion into an ONLINE COURSE! Filming, editing, curriculum...

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Learn how to create, use, and teach creative, memorable lessons using Google Classroom...

20. The Complete Mobile Ethical Hacking Course

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Learn how hackers attack phones, mobile applications and mobile devices with latest technology and protect yourself!...

Top 10 most affordable universities for instructors, adjunct faculty

The most affordable schools for instructors, adjunct faculty are University of Florida, california state university - bakersfield, and california state university - los angeles.

If the best universities for instructors, adjunct faculty 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 instructors, adjunct faculty.

1. University of Florida

Gainesville, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,381

Cost of attendance

21,034

2. California State University - Bakersfield

Bakersfield, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$7,309

Cost of attendance

16,714

3. California State University - Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,749

Cost of attendance

14,823

4. SUNY Farmingdale

Farmingdale, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$8,306

Cost of attendance

16,091

5. Brigham Young University

Provo, UT • Private

In-state tuition

$5,620

Cost of attendance

18,136

6. University of Puerto Rico - Mayaguez

Mayaguez, PR • Private

In-state tuition

$4,094

Cost of attendance

14,302

7. Minot State University

Minot, ND • Private

In-state tuition

$7,064

Cost of attendance

15,576

8. Brooklyn College of the City University of New York

Brooklyn, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,240

Cost of attendance

13,991

9. Baruch College of the City University of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,262

Cost of attendance

14,046

10. California State University - Dominguez Hills

Carson, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,942

Cost of attendance

14,469

Top 10 hardest universities to get into for instructors, adjunct faculty

The hardest universities for instructors, adjunct faculty to get into are University of Pennsylvania, University of Southern California, and New York University.

Some great schools for instructors, adjunct faculty 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 instructors, adjunct faculty 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. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

Admissions rate

8%

SAT average

1,492

2. University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA • Private

Admissions rate

13%

SAT average

1,445

3. New York University

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

20%

SAT average

1,419

4. Boston University

Boston, MA • Private

Admissions rate

22%

SAT average

1,420

5. Stanford University

Stanford, CA • Private

Admissions rate

4%

SAT average

1,497

6. George Washington University, The

Washington, DC • Private

Admissions rate

42%

SAT average

1,380

7. University of Virginia

Charlottesville, VA • Private

Admissions rate

26%

SAT average

1,427

8. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

Admissions rate

8%

SAT average

1,508

9. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Ann Arbor, MI • Private

Admissions rate

23%

SAT average

1,434

10. Vanderbilt University

Nashville, TN • Private

Admissions rate

10%

SAT average

1,514

Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for instructors, adjunct faculty

The easiest schools for instructors, adjunct faculty to get into are Gwynedd Mercy University, holy names university, and oklahoma wesleyan university.

Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as an instructor, adjunct faculty 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 instructors, adjunct faculty.

1. Gwynedd Mercy University

Gwynedd Valley, PA • Private

Admissions rate

92%

SAT average

1,031

2. Holy Names University

Oakland, CA • Private

Admissions rate

70%

SAT average

849

3. Oklahoma Wesleyan University

Bartlesville, OK • Private

Admissions rate

68%

SAT average

964

4. Wayland Baptist University

Plainview, TX • Private

Admissions rate

98%

SAT average

1,003

5. Notre Dame College

Cleveland, OH • Private

Admissions rate

90%

SAT average

994

6. Barry University

Miami, FL • Private

Admissions rate

91%

SAT average

1,006

7. Felician University

Lodi, NJ • Private

Admissions rate

81%

SAT average

999

8. Thomas More University

Crestview Hills, KY • Private

Admissions rate

90%

SAT average

1,099

9. Nyack College

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

98%

SAT average

999

10. Holy Family University

Philadelphia, PA • Private

Admissions rate

72%

SAT average

1,017

Average instructor, adjunct faculty salary by education level

According to our data, instructors, adjunct faculty with a Doctorate degree earn the highest average salary, at $60,226 annually. Instructors, adjunct faculty with a Master's degree earn an average annual salary of $49,525.
Instructor, adjunct faculty education levelInstructor, adjunct faculty salary
Master's Degree$49,525
Doctorate Degree$60,226

Instructor, adjunct faculty education FAQs

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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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