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Mainframe operator education requirements
Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
There are several educational requirements to become a mainframe operator. Mainframe operators usually study computer science, business, or information technology. 45% of mainframe operators hold a bachelor's degree, and 35% hold an associate degree. We analyzed 386 real mainframe operator resumes to see exactly what mainframe operator education sections show.
The most common colleges for mainframe operators are the DeVry University and the DeVry University.
There are also many online mainframe operator courses to help get the education required to be a mainframe operator.
What education do you need to become a mainframe operator?
What degree do you need to be a mainframe operator?
- Bachelor's, 45%
- Associate, 35%
- High School Diploma, 10%
- Master's, 5%
- Other Degrees, 5%
What should I major in to become a mainframe operator?
- Computer Science, 22%
- Business, 12%
- Other Majors, 47%
Most common colleges for mainframe operators
| Mainframe operator common college | Percentages |
|---|---|
| DeVry University | 9.38% |
| University of Phoenix | 9.38% |
| Jacksonville State University | 6.25% |
| Texas Tech University | 6.25% |
| Brigham Young University | 6.25% |
Best majors for mainframe operators
| Rank | Major | Percentages |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Computer Science | 21.6% |
| 2 | Business | 12.3% |
| 3 | Information Technology | 10.5% |
| 4 | Computer Information Systems | 7.6% |
| 5 | Electrical Engineering | 7.0% |
Best colleges for mainframe operators
The best colleges for mainframe operators are Stanford University, Northwestern University, and University of Pennsylvania.
A mainframe operator with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for mainframe operators. 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 mainframe operators.
1. Stanford University
Stanford, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$51,354
Enrollment
7,083
2. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
In-state tuition
$55,584
Enrollment
10,764
3. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
In-state tuition
$54,568
Enrollment
8,451
4. University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$56,225
Enrollment
19,548
5. California State University - Bakersfield
Bakersfield, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$7,309
Enrollment
9,142
6. SUNY at Binghamton
Vestal, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$9,808
Enrollment
13,990
7. San Diego State University
San Diego, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$7,488
Enrollment
30,018
8. Boston University
Boston, MA • Private
In-state tuition
$53,948
Enrollment
17,238
9. New York University
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$51,828
Enrollment
26,339
10. Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Worcester, MA • Private
In-state tuition
$50,530
Enrollment
4,571
20 best online courses for mainframe operators
Advertising disclosure
1. IBM Mainframe Developer
Gain the job-ready skills for an entry-level mainframe programming role. Mainframe computers continue to power many mission-critical, financial, banking, and government agency systems. There are 220 billion lines of COBOL in use today. 43% of banking systems are built on COBOL, and 95% percent of ATM swipes rely on COBOL code.¹\n\nCOBOL is scalable, mature, and self-documenting. You'll learn about COBOL from its birth and through its evolution. You'll learn new features and aspects of the...
2. IBM z/OS Mainframe Practitioner
This Professional Certificate is intended to provide the foundational skills required to launch a career in the enterprise platform that powers over 68% of worldwide transactions. Companies around the world are searching for these skills to run their critical system workloads. In this series of courses, the learner will be introduced to various operating systems, mainframe applications, and get real-time hands-on experience on an IBM Z server. The skills acquired on completion of this...
3. Mainframe - CICS - Beginner to Expert
Comprehensive IBM Mainframe CICS Course: Bridging Theory and Real-World Practice in an Understandable Manner...
4. Mainframe CICS Developer Training By Anil Polsani
Simple Ways to Learn Best Concepts...
5. Introduction to Hardware and Operating Systems
Get ready to enter the thriving field of Information Technology (IT), with job ready skills! This beginner friendly course provides the core hardware and operating system knowledge needed by anyone new to IT and computer hardware who wants to start a new career in technology, including IT Support, Networking, Cybersecurity, and Software Development. You will first be introduced to computing fundamentals, the four functions of computing, and the benefits of computing. You will become...
6. Introduction to Enterprise Computing
Large Scale Enterprise Computing powers all major transactions, and the Mainframe is responsible for 87% of all credit card transactions and enables 71% of all Fortune 500 companies. Mainframes are fundamental on how we do business, and IBM Z is the only production mainframe sold today. Virtually everyone depends on it. This is your introduction to the hardware, operating systems, security, and features that make this possible. On successful completion of this course, learners are eligible to...
7. The Complete Job Control Language (JCL) Course.
Mainframe JCL Procedures, SORT, GDGs, Libraries, Utilities such as IEBCOPY, IEBGENER etc are explained in detail...
8. The Complete Mainframe Professional Course - 4 Courses in 1
The first step in learning about Mainframes. Covers COBOL, JCL, VSAM, TSO/ISPF, Unix System Services and CICS...
9. Mainframe: Code DB2 on COBOL Programs for Absolute Beginners
Master the DDL and DML operations on DB2. Code multiple COBOL DB2 Programs. Master the concept of Cursors on DB2...
10. Mainframe: The Complete JCL Course from Beginner to Expert
Become an expert on JCL. Jcls are used for COBOL Programs. Procedures, Utilities, GDG and basics of TSO/ISPF are covered...
11. Computer Hardware, Operating System and Networking
For Any Graduates/Engineering/Diploma/Arts & Science/Freshers/Home Users/Individuals/Desktop Support/FM/Service Engineer...
12. Mainframe DB2 Developer Training By Anil Polsani
DB2- Pre-compilation - Cursor - Restart logic - sqlcode - Load & Unload...
13. Websphere MQ for Mainframe - A Beginners Guide
A Beginners Guide towards learning and programming Websphere MQ. Mainframe and Distributed will be benefited alike...
14. Batch Processing with Spring Batch & Spring Boot
Batch Processing of Data with Java Spring Framework & My SQL. Item Reader, Item Writer, Item Processor & JPA Reader...
15. Mainframe: The Complete COBOL Course From Beginner To Expert
Become an Expert on COBOL Programs by coding it. Run COBOL Programs with JCL. Basic TSO/ISPF operations are also covered...
16. Master Spring Batch
Learn Spring Batch and Spring Boot together...
17. Mainframe: The Complete TSO/ISPF from Beginner to Expert
Best TSO/ISPF Course. TSO and ISPF commands are explained in detail. Simplified COBOL covered as bonus along with JCL...
18. VMware vSphere 6.0 Part 5 - VM Backup and Replication
Learn to backup and recover VMs using VMware Data Protection and how to replicate VMs using v Sphere Replication...
19. Basic Computer Course - Windows 7/10 - IT & Desktop Support
Basic computer course with troubleshooting skills -computer hardware and computer networking, for IT support technicians...
20. Desktop IT Support Level 1 & 2 in real life (Troubleshooting
Learn everything in real life Troubleshooting for IT Help Desk , Helpdesk , IT Support , System Administration and IT...
Top 10 most affordable universities for mainframe operators
The most affordable schools for mainframe operators are California State University - Bakersfield, suny farmingdale, and brooklyn college of the city university of new york.
If the best universities for mainframe operators 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 mainframe operators.
1. California State University - Bakersfield
Bakersfield, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$7,309
Cost of attendance
16,714
2. SUNY Farmingdale
Farmingdale, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$8,306
Cost of attendance
16,091
3. Brooklyn College of the City University of New York
Brooklyn, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,240
Cost of attendance
13,991
4. California State University - Dominguez Hills
Carson, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,942
Cost of attendance
14,469
5. Brigham Young University
Provo, UT • Private
In-state tuition
$5,620
Cost of attendance
18,136
6. California State University - Long Beach
Long Beach, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,798
Cost of attendance
18,306
7. University of Puerto Rico - Mayaguez
Mayaguez, PR • Private
In-state tuition
$4,094
Cost of attendance
14,302
8. California State University - Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,749
Cost of attendance
14,823
9. New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology
Socorro, NM • Private
In-state tuition
$7,770
Cost of attendance
21,244
10. Baruch College of the City University of New York
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,262
Cost of attendance
14,046
Top 10 hardest universities to get into for mainframe operators
The hardest universities for mainframe operators to get into are Stanford University, Northwestern University, and University of Pennsylvania.
Some great schools for mainframe operators 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 mainframe operators 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. Stanford University
Stanford, CA • Private
Admissions rate
4%
SAT average
1,497
2. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
Admissions rate
8%
SAT average
1,508
3. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
Admissions rate
8%
SAT average
1,492
4. University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA • Private
Admissions rate
13%
SAT average
1,445
5. Boston University
Boston, MA • Private
Admissions rate
22%
SAT average
1,420
6. New York University
New York, NY • Private
Admissions rate
20%
SAT average
1,419
7. Vanderbilt University
Nashville, TN • Private
Admissions rate
10%
SAT average
1,514
8. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Troy, NY • Private
Admissions rate
43%
SAT average
1,415
9. George Washington University, The
Washington, DC • Private
Admissions rate
42%
SAT average
1,380
10. University of Rochester
Rochester, NY • Private
Admissions rate
29%
SAT average
1,422
Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for mainframe operators
The easiest schools for mainframe operators to get into are Oklahoma Wesleyan University, barry university, and nyack college.
Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a mainframe operator 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 mainframe operators.
1. Oklahoma Wesleyan University
Bartlesville, OK • Private
Admissions rate
68%
SAT average
964
2. Barry University
Miami, FL • Private
Admissions rate
91%
SAT average
1,006
3. Nyack College
New York, NY • Private
Admissions rate
98%
SAT average
999
4. La Roche College
Pittsburgh, PA • Private
Admissions rate
99%
SAT average
1,008
5. LIM College
New York, NY • Private
Admissions rate
83%
SAT average
1,061
6. Notre Dame College
Cleveland, OH • Private
Admissions rate
90%
SAT average
994
7. Saint Martin's University
Lacey, WA • Private
Admissions rate
96%
SAT average
1,111
8. Cardinal Stritch University
Milwaukee, WI • Private
Admissions rate
71%
SAT average
1,035
9. Iona College
New Rochelle, NY • Private
Admissions rate
88%
SAT average
1,089
10. Holy Names University
Oakland, CA • Private
Admissions rate
70%
SAT average
849
Average mainframe operator salary by education level
| Mainframe operator education level | Mainframe operator salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $52,039 |
| High School Diploma or Less | $43,237 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $48,623 |
| Doctorate Degree | $50,837 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $43,094 |
Mainframe operator education FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025
Updated January 8, 2025