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Lead program manager education requirements
Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
There are several educational requirements to become a lead program manager. Lead program managers usually study business, computer science, or electrical engineering. 64% of lead program managers hold a bachelor's degree, and 22% hold an master's degree. We analyzed 2,177 real lead program manager resumes to see exactly what lead program manager education sections show.
The most common colleges for lead program managers are the University of Phoenix and the University of Phoenix.
There are also many online lead program manager courses to help get the education required to be a lead program manager.
There are certain lead program manager certifications that you should consider. These lead program manager certifications include Project Management Professional (PMP) and Certified Scrum Master (CSM).
What education do you need to become a lead program manager?
What degree do you need to be a lead program manager?
- Bachelor's, 64%
- Master's, 22%
- Associate, 9%
- Doctorate, 1%
- Other Degrees, 4%
What should I major in to become a lead program manager?
- Business, 25%
- Computer Science, 10%
- Psychology, 7%
- Other Majors, 50%
Most common colleges for lead program managers
| Lead program manager common college | Percentages |
|---|---|
| University of Phoenix | 12.29% |
| University of Washington | 7.63% |
| Pennsylvania State University | 7.20% |
| Brigham Young University | 5.93% |
| University of Maryland - College Park | 5.51% |
Best majors for lead program managers
| Rank | Major | Percentages |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Business | 24.8% |
| 2 | Computer Science | 10.3% |
| 3 | Electrical Engineering | 8.1% |
| 4 | Psychology | 7.1% |
| 5 | Mechanical Engineering | 6.6% |
Best colleges for lead program managers
The best colleges for lead program managers are University of Pennsylvania, Northwestern University, and Harvard University.
A lead program 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 lead program 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 lead program managers.
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. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
In-state tuition
$54,568
Enrollment
8,451
4. Boston University
Boston, MA • Private
In-state tuition
$53,948
Enrollment
17,238
5. Pennsylvania State University
University Park, PA • Private
In-state tuition
$18,454
Enrollment
40,108
6. Harvard University
Cambridge, MA • Private
In-state tuition
$50,420
Enrollment
7,582
7. University of Washington
Seattle, WA • Private
In-state tuition
$11,207
Enrollment
30,905
8. University of Texas at Austin
Austin, TX • Private
In-state tuition
$10,610
Enrollment
40,329
9. New York University
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$51,828
Enrollment
26,339
10. University of Maryland - College Park
College Park, MD • Private
In-state tuition
$10,595
Enrollment
30,184
20 best online courses for lead program managers
Advertising disclosure
1. Digital Project Management
Build confidence translating business requirements into project scope statements, creating project plans in Waterfall or Agile, and developing a high-performing team...
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3. The Complete Business Process Management (BPM) Master Class
12000+ enrollments Learn the Business Process Management methods used by the world's most successful organizations...
4. Operations Management A-Z: Business Processes and Systems
Operations Management: Supply Chain & Business Processes in Industry for Manufacturing and Services Organizations...
5. Business Continuity Management & ISO 22301 - Complete Guide
Learn Business Continuity Management from Organizational Resilience, Risk Management & Business Management perspectives!...
6. Program Management Fundamentals: The Essentials
In this course you will learn the essentials of program management. Become your bosses boss start this course today...
7. Business Analyst: Project Management Techniques and Tools
Learn project management techniques to increase your project success rate as a Business Analyst!...
8. Informed Risk Taking: Risk Management Process - Analysis
Risk Management Strategies : Risk Analysis Techniques : Risk Management Principles : Risk Management Process : Methods...
9. The Agile Methodology for Project Risk Managers
The Agile Project Management and Risk Management for Project Professionals Full Course...
10. Business Process Mapping
The complete guide to map any business process...
11. The Business of Logistics in Supply Chain Management
Kick start your Career as a Logistics Manager or a Supply Chain Manager...
12. Business Fundamentals: Management and HR Management
Management and HR Management Fundamentals: Become a more effective leader and supercharge your business for success...
13. Operations Management: Facilities Planning and Management
Operations Management Training Program (Course 8 of 8)...
14. Practical Project Portfolio Management
Selecting & Managing The Right Projects...
15. Project Management Office (PMO) Setup Guide
PMO Step-by-Step Implementation Plan...
16. Project Portfolio Management (PPM) Essentials
Assurance and confidence through portfolio intelligence...
17. Agile Crash Course: Agile Project Management; Agile Delivery
Agile Project Management Basics (Scrum) & Agile Project Management Essentials (Scrum). Plus Agile Certification (Scrum)...
18. Business Continuity Management BCMS & ISO 22301 Masterclass
How to plan and prepare for unforeseen business disruption events through an effective, dynamic Business Continuity Plan...
19. Program Management Course - Program Manager Essentials
In this Program Management course you will learn the essentials and more to become an effective Program Manager...
20. Retail for Business Analysts and Management Consultants
A practical guide with cases studies how to analyze and improve a retail business during management consulting projects...
Top 10 most affordable universities for lead program managers
The most affordable schools for lead program managers are University of Florida, baruch college of the city university of new york, and hunter college of the city university of new york.
If the best universities for lead program 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 lead program managers.
1. University of Florida
Gainesville, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,381
Cost of attendance
21,034
2. Baruch College of the City University of New York
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,262
Cost of attendance
14,046
3. Hunter College of the City University of New York
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,182
Cost of attendance
13,998
4. California State University - Long Beach
Long Beach, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,798
Cost of attendance
18,306
5. California State University - Bakersfield
Bakersfield, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$7,309
Cost of attendance
16,714
6. University of South Florida
Tampa, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,410
Cost of attendance
20,456
7. California State University - Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,749
Cost of attendance
14,823
8. Florida State University
Tallahassee, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$5,656
Cost of attendance
21,623
9. Brigham Young University
Provo, UT • Private
In-state tuition
$5,620
Cost of attendance
18,136
10. Florida International University
Miami, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,556
Cost of attendance
19,434
Top 10 hardest universities to get into for lead program managers
The hardest universities for lead program managers to get into are University of Pennsylvania, Northwestern University, and Harvard University.
Some great schools for lead program 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 lead program 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. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
Admissions rate
8%
SAT average
1,492
2. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
Admissions rate
8%
SAT average
1,508
3. Harvard University
Cambridge, MA • Private
Admissions rate
5%
SAT average
1,520
4. Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, MD • Private
Admissions rate
11%
SAT average
1,513
5. Carnegie Mellon University
Pittsburgh, PA • Private
Admissions rate
17%
SAT average
1,507
6. Washington University in St Louis
Saint Louis, MO • Private
Admissions rate
15%
SAT average
1,506
7. Columbia University in the City of New York
New York, NY • Private
Admissions rate
6%
SAT average
1,512
8. University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA • Private
Admissions rate
13%
SAT average
1,445
9. Northeastern University
Boston, MA • Private
Admissions rate
19%
SAT average
1,466
10. Duke University
Durham, NC • Private
Admissions rate
9%
SAT average
1,516
Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for lead program managers
The easiest schools for lead program managers to get into are Mount Saint Mary's University, barry university, and university of the incarnate word.
Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a lead program 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 lead program managers.
1. Mount Saint Mary's University
Los Angeles, CA • Private
Admissions rate
84%
SAT average
1,031
2. Barry University
Miami, FL • Private
Admissions rate
91%
SAT average
1,006
3. University of the Incarnate Word
San Antonio, TX • Private
Admissions rate
88%
SAT average
1,044
4. University of Baltimore
Baltimore, MD • Private
Admissions rate
78%
SAT average
1,020
5. University of North Texas at Dallas
Dallas, TX • Private
Admissions rate
83%
SAT average
992
6. Holy Names University
Oakland, CA • Private
Admissions rate
70%
SAT average
849
7. Wayland Baptist University
Plainview, TX • Private
Admissions rate
98%
SAT average
1,003
8. Oklahoma Wesleyan University
Bartlesville, OK • Private
Admissions rate
68%
SAT average
964
9. California University of Pennsylvania
California, PA • Private
Admissions rate
97%
SAT average
1,007
10. San Francisco State University
San Francisco, CA • Private
Admissions rate
72%
SAT average
1,054
Average lead program manager salary by education level
| Lead program manager education level | Lead program manager salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $138,433 |
| High School Diploma or Less | $107,412 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $127,521 |
| Doctorate Degree | $144,032 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $111,321 |
Lead program manager education FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025
Updated January 8, 2025