Post job

Job recruiter education requirements

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read

There are several educational requirements to become a job recruiter. Job recruiters usually study business, accounting, or psychology. 49% of job recruiters hold a bachelor's degree, and 20% hold an associate degree. We analyzed 287 real job recruiter resumes to see exactly what job recruiter education sections show.

The most common colleges for job recruiters are the University of Phoenix and the University of Phoenix.

There are also many online job recruiter courses to help get the education required to be a job recruiter.

What education do you need to become a job recruiter?

What degree do you need to be a job recruiter?

The most common degree for job recruiters is bachelor's degree, with 49% of job recruiters earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are associate degree degree at 20% and associate degree degree at 17%.
  • Bachelor's, 49%
  • Associate, 20%
  • High School Diploma, 17%
  • Master's, 7%
  • Other Degrees, 7%

What should I major in to become a job recruiter?

You should major in business to become a job recruiter. 28% of job recruiters major in business. Other common majors for a job recruiter include accounting and psychology.

Most common colleges for job recruiters

Job recruiters often get their degrees at University of Phoenix, Ohio State University, and Boston College. Here are the most common colleges for job recruiters in the US based on their resumes.
Job recruiter common collegePercentages
University of Phoenix12.50%
Ohio State University10.00%
Boston College7.50%
Indiana State University7.50%
Columbia College Chicago7.50%

Best majors for job recruiters

RankMajorPercentages
1Business27.7%
2Accounting10.1%
3Psychology7.6%
4Communication5.9%
5Criminal Justice5.0%

Best colleges for job recruiters

The best colleges for job recruiters are Northwestern University, University of Pennsylvania, and University of Southern California.

A job recruiter with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for job recruiters. 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 job recruiters.

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. University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$56,225

Enrollment

19,548

4. San Diego State University

San Diego, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$7,488

Enrollment

30,018

5. Boston University

Boston, MA • Private

In-state tuition

$53,948

Enrollment

17,238

6. SUNY Stony Brook

Stony Brook, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$9,625

Enrollment

17,407

7. New York University

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$51,828

Enrollment

26,339

8. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minneapolis, MN • Private

In-state tuition

$14,760

Enrollment

31,451

9. Harvard University

Cambridge, MA • Private

In-state tuition

$50,420

Enrollment

7,582

10. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Champaign, IL • Private

In-state tuition

$15,094

Enrollment

32,974

20 best online courses for job recruiters

Advertising disclosure

1. Preparation for Job Interviews

coursera

Interview Preparation for Job Interviews. In this guided project, I’ll teach you how to prepare for different types of job interviews, and how to answer some of the most common interview questions recruiters and hiring managers will most likely ask. I’ll also teach you best practices to follow before and after the job interview, as well as to prepare strategic interview questions to ask the hiring manager after the end of the interview. Asking the hiring manager good strategic questions will...

2. Job Search Success Strategies: Proven Job Hunting Strategies

udemy
4.5
(314)

You Want to Land Your Dream Job? Learn How to Impress Recruiters, Beat the Competition and Win Job Interviews!...

3. Interviewing Skills for Jobs: Ace the Job Interview

udemy
4.1
(700)

Interviewing Skills - How to ace any job interview-Excel in all Job Interviewing skills...

4. Job Interviewing: Complete Job Interview Success Course 6HR

udemy
4.8
(747)

Job Interviewing is critical. Learn all key Job Interview skills + demo on answering specific job interview questions...

5. Win Any Job Interview - TOP Strategies For Job Interviews

udemy
4.7
(823)

Job Interview Success to Get Your Dream Job: Skills, Strategies, Hacks. Get Better Job Offers and Make More Money...

6. Job Seeker's Guide To Nailing Every Interview

udemy
4.7
(320)

Everything you need to know about interviewing so you can get the job of your dreams...

7. Using LinkedIn to Get a Job Without Going Crazy

udemy
4.5
(455)

A Practical Guide for Job Seekers...

8. Job Interview Skills Training Course Successful Interviews

udemy
4.4
(376)

Job Interview Skills Training to hit the ground running Interview like a PRO and achieve success in your interviews...

9. Ace Your Virtual Job Interview

udemy
4.4
(811)

How to turn your virtual job interview into a success story...

10. 2023/2024 Compact Job Interview Preparation with Checklist

udemy
4.4
(483)

The 45 mins (not 6HR or 12 HR) Quick & Compact Refresher on Job Interview Preparations...

11. Triple Your Job Interviews - My Huge Job Interview Secret

udemy
4.3
(623)

In 2015, getting 3 - 6 interviews a week is all about using Linked In to bypass HR and apply directly to hiring managers...

12. Work From Home Jobs: Top 10 Best Freelance Jobs!

udemy
4.6
(678)

Discover the top 10 best work from home jobs. Freelance hourly or project based pay. All you need is a computer!...

13. Interview Success: English for Job Interviews

udemy
4.7
(5,746)

Join 137,000+ Satisfied Students and Get Ahead of the Answers...

14. P.O.W.E.R.: Proven Interview System to crack your DREAM job

udemy
4.6
(530)

7-Step Proven System to convert every job interview into a job offer...

15. How To Love Your Job - Help Yourself and Others

udemy
4.3
(344)

Unlock Professional Success: Master Strategies for Job Satisfaction, Positive Mindset, and Lasting Workplace Impact...

16. Job Search Tips & Career Development PLUS ChatGPT Tips

udemy
4.7
(276)

Get the job you want, build your career and learn essential Chat GPT tips for job search success and career growth...

17. Software Testing: Get A Tech Job in Software Testing 2023

udemy
4.5
(4,617)

Testing, Manual Testing, Software Testing, Qa, Qa Testing, Quality Assurance, Manual Software Testing, Jira & Job tips...

18. How To Get A Job In The Video Game Industry

udemy
4.9
(1,580)

Create a Winning Resume, Portfolio, Linked In Profile & Job Application. Dominate Interviews & Networking...

19. Job Interview English Questions, Answers, and Tips

udemy
4.7
(997)

Learn the English skills and techniques you need to answer over 50 common English interview questions, and much more!...

20. How to Find an Email Address & Get Your Dream Job

udemy
4.5
(510)

Don't get stuck in a pile of resumes for your dream job. Learn how to find email addresses and land the job you want!...

Top 10 most affordable universities for job recruiters

The most affordable schools for job recruiters are Baruch College of the City University of New York, suny farmingdale, and california state university - bakersfield.

If the best universities for job recruiters 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 job recruiters.

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. SUNY Farmingdale

Farmingdale, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$8,306

Cost of attendance

16,091

3. California State University - Bakersfield

Bakersfield, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$7,309

Cost of attendance

16,714

4. California State University - Long Beach

Long Beach, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,798

Cost of attendance

18,306

5. California State University - Dominguez Hills

Carson, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,942

Cost of attendance

14,469

6. Brigham Young University

Provo, UT • Private

In-state tuition

$5,620

Cost of attendance

18,136

7. Florida International University

Miami, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,556

Cost of attendance

19,434

8. University of Houston - Victoria

Victoria, TX • Private

In-state tuition

$6,491

Cost of attendance

19,075

9. Brooklyn College of the City University of New York

Brooklyn, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,240

Cost of attendance

13,991

10. California State University - Fresno

Fresno, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,587

Cost of attendance

16,915

Top 10 hardest universities to get into for job recruiters

The hardest universities for job recruiters to get into are Northwestern University, University of Pennsylvania, and University of Southern California.

Some great schools for job recruiters 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 job recruiters 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. University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA • Private

Admissions rate

13%

SAT average

1,445

4. Vanderbilt University

Nashville, TN • Private

Admissions rate

10%

SAT average

1,514

5. New York University

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

20%

SAT average

1,419

6. Boston University

Boston, MA • Private

Admissions rate

22%

SAT average

1,420

7. Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore, MD • Private

Admissions rate

11%

SAT average

1,513

8. Harvard University

Cambridge, MA • Private

Admissions rate

5%

SAT average

1,520

9. Washington University in St Louis

Saint Louis, MO • Private

Admissions rate

15%

SAT average

1,506

10. Boston College

Chestnut Hill, MA • Private

Admissions rate

28%

SAT average

1,429

Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for job recruiters

The easiest schools for job recruiters to get into are Barry University, holy names 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 job recruiter 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 job recruiters.

1. Barry University

Miami, FL • Private

Admissions rate

91%

SAT average

1,006

2. Holy Names University

Oakland, CA • Private

Admissions rate

70%

SAT average

849

3. University of North Texas at Dallas

Dallas, TX • Private

Admissions rate

83%

SAT average

992

4. Oklahoma Wesleyan University

Bartlesville, OK • Private

Admissions rate

68%

SAT average

964

5. Notre Dame de Namur University

Belmont, CA • Private

Admissions rate

82%

SAT average

983

6. Ottawa University

Ottawa, KS • Private

Admissions rate

78%

SAT average

1,024

7. University of the Incarnate Word

San Antonio, TX • Private

Admissions rate

88%

SAT average

1,044

8. Notre Dame College

Cleveland, OH • Private

Admissions rate

90%

SAT average

994

9. Holy Family University

Philadelphia, PA • Private

Admissions rate

72%

SAT average

1,017

10. Cardinal Stritch University

Milwaukee, WI • Private

Admissions rate

71%

SAT average

1,035

Average job recruiter salary by education level

Job recruiters with a Doctorate degree earn more than those without, at $62,475 annually. With a Master's degree, job recruiters earn a median annual income of $57,760 compared to $51,611 for job recruiters with an Bachelor's degree.
Job recruiter education levelJob recruiter salary
Master's Degree$57,760
High School Diploma or Less$42,388
Bachelor's Degree$51,611
Doctorate Degree$62,475
Some College/ Associate Degree$42,545

Job recruiter education FAQs

Search for job recruiter jobs

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.

Browse business and financial jobs