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Manufacturing program manager education requirements
Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
There are several educational requirements to become a manufacturing program manager. Manufacturing program managers usually study business, mechanical engineering, or industrial engineering. 74% of manufacturing program managers hold a bachelor's degree, and 16% hold an master's degree. We analyzed 473 real manufacturing program manager resumes to see exactly what manufacturing program manager education sections show.
The most common colleges for manufacturing program managers are the San Jose State University and the San Jose State University.
There are also many online manufacturing program manager courses to help get the education required to be a manufacturing program manager.
What education do you need to become a manufacturing program manager?
What degree do you need to be a manufacturing program manager?
- Bachelor's, 74%
- Master's, 16%
- Associate, 8%
- Diploma, 1%
- Other Degrees, 1%
What should I major in to become a manufacturing program manager?
- Business, 22%
- Other Majors, 37%
Most common colleges for manufacturing program managers
| Manufacturing program manager common college | Percentages |
|---|---|
| San Jose State University | 7.95% |
| Worcester Polytechnic Institute | 7.95% |
| Purdue University | 7.95% |
| University of North Carolina at Greensboro | 6.82% |
| University of Phoenix | 6.82% |
Best majors for manufacturing program managers
| Rank | Major | Percentages |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Business | 21.5% |
| 2 | Mechanical Engineering | 20.9% |
| 3 | Industrial Engineering | 10.8% |
| 4 | Electrical Engineering | 9.2% |
| 5 | Industrial Technology | 5.1% |
Best colleges for manufacturing program managers
The best colleges for manufacturing program managers are Northwestern University, Johns Hopkins University, and University of Pennsylvania.
A manufacturing 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 manufacturing 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 manufacturing program managers.
1. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
In-state tuition
$54,568
Enrollment
8,451
2. University of Texas at Austin
Austin, TX • Private
In-state tuition
$10,610
Enrollment
40,329
3. Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, MD • Private
In-state tuition
$53,740
Enrollment
5,567
4. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Blacksburg, VA • Private
In-state tuition
$13,620
Enrollment
27,730
5. University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$56,225
Enrollment
19,548
6. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
In-state tuition
$55,584
Enrollment
10,764
7. University of Wisconsin - Madison
Madison, WI • Private
In-state tuition
$10,555
Enrollment
30,360
8. Stanford University
Stanford, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$51,354
Enrollment
7,083
9. New York University
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$51,828
Enrollment
26,339
10. Lehigh University
Bethlehem, PA • Private
In-state tuition
$52,930
Enrollment
5,030
20 best online courses for manufacturing program managers
Advertising disclosure
1. Manufacturing Guide for Mechanical Product Development
Learn how everyday physical products are manufactured with no prior experience in engineering...
2. Manufacturing Operations - Planning, Management and Control
Cutting-Edge Production Management Methods That Will Help You Outperform the Competition...
3. Manufacturing process selection and Design for manufacturing
Learn about the basics of selecting process for a mechanical design and the principles of design for Manufacturing...
4. Essential Lean Manufacturing for Management Consultants
A practical guide on how to improve production and operations in a firm and analyze potential savings in Excel...
5. Operations Management: Supply Chains, Products and Services
Master Supply Chain Management and Product and Service Development in Manufacturing and Service Organizations...
6. The Production Part Approval Process (PPAP)
The 18-step process for ensuring new parts are consistently manufactured and meet their customers' quality expectations...
7. Lean Manufacturing A-Z: Lean Operations Management
Lean Business Operations Management, Lean Process and Systems Improvement in Production and Industry. MBA style course...
8. Inventory Management in Manufacturing
Complete course on Inventory Management...
9. Product and Service Management
Know the Work that is Involved in Getting a Product Onto the Shelf and a Service Ready for Effective Delivery...
10. Fundamentals of Manufacturing for an ERP like SAP
Manufacturing Fundamentals...
11. Product Management Crash Course; IT Product Management
Product Management Essentials & Product Management Fundamentals to kick-start your career in Product Management...
12. Comprehensive Product management for Product managers
Become a great product manager with comprehensive product management Real world case study with JIRA & Confluence...
13. Product Design Management for Agile Practitioners
Application of product design management principles, concepts, tools and techniques in agile product management...
14. Product Management Fundamentals
Case-based practical course on product management to build strong foundations in product concepts, process & frameworks...
15. Great Product Manager: Product Management by a Big Tech's PM
Become a Great Product Manager! Land your dream job with Big Tech's Senior Product Manager...
16. Product Management 101
Learn to become a more strategic product manager - and have a greater impact on your company and your products...
17. Smart Tips: Product Management
Find impact, innovation, and success as a product manager...
18. Lean Management: Just-In-Time JIT Certification (Accredited)
Get Lean Management and Lean Manufacturing Just In Time Trained Grab Just In Time Specialist Certification Earn PDUs...
19. Product Management Marketing: Dekker's Product Marketing MBA
Be a Product Marketing Manager - Product Management : Product Manager MBA : Product to Market : Product Owner Launch GTM...
20. Operations Management A-Z: Business Processes and Systems
Operations Management: Supply Chain & Business Processes in Industry for Manufacturing and Services Organizations...
Top 10 most affordable universities for manufacturing program managers
The most affordable schools for manufacturing program managers are University of Florida, university of puerto rico - mayaguez, and university of south florida.
If the best universities for manufacturing 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 manufacturing program managers.
1. University of Florida
Gainesville, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,381
Cost of attendance
21,034
2. University of Puerto Rico - Mayaguez
Mayaguez, PR • Private
In-state tuition
$4,094
Cost of attendance
14,302
3. University of South Florida
Tampa, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,410
Cost of attendance
20,456
4. California State University - Long Beach
Long Beach, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,798
Cost of attendance
18,306
5. Florida State University
Tallahassee, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$5,656
Cost of attendance
21,623
6. USF Sarasota-Manatee
Sarasota, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$5,587
Cost of attendance
13,043
7. California State University - Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,749
Cost of attendance
14,823
8. SUNY Farmingdale
Farmingdale, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$8,306
Cost of attendance
16,091
9. New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology
Socorro, NM • Private
In-state tuition
$7,770
Cost of attendance
21,244
10. University of Central Florida
Orlando, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,368
Cost of attendance
21,034
Top 10 hardest universities to get into for manufacturing program managers
The hardest universities for manufacturing program managers to get into are Northwestern University, Johns Hopkins University, and University of Pennsylvania.
Some great schools for manufacturing 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 manufacturing 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. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
Admissions rate
8%
SAT average
1,508
2. Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, MD • Private
Admissions rate
11%
SAT average
1,513
3. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
Admissions rate
8%
SAT average
1,492
4. Stanford University
Stanford, CA • Private
Admissions rate
4%
SAT average
1,497
5. Harvard University
Cambridge, MA • Private
Admissions rate
5%
SAT average
1,520
6. University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA • Private
Admissions rate
13%
SAT average
1,445
7. Carnegie Mellon University
Pittsburgh, PA • Private
Admissions rate
17%
SAT average
1,507
8. Northeastern University
Boston, MA • Private
Admissions rate
19%
SAT average
1,466
9. New York University
New York, NY • Private
Admissions rate
20%
SAT average
1,419
10. Columbia University in the City of New York
New York, NY • Private
Admissions rate
6%
SAT average
1,512
Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for manufacturing program managers
The easiest schools for manufacturing program managers to get into are D'Youville College, university of the incarnate word, and oklahoma wesleyan university.
Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a manufacturing 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 manufacturing program managers.
1. D'Youville College
Buffalo, NY • Private
Admissions rate
100%
SAT average
1,072
2. University of the Incarnate Word
San Antonio, TX • Private
Admissions rate
88%
SAT average
1,044
3. Oklahoma Wesleyan University
Bartlesville, OK • Private
Admissions rate
68%
SAT average
964
4. Texas A&M University - Kingsville
Kingsville, TX • Private
Admissions rate
89%
SAT average
1,035
5. Holy Names University
Oakland, CA • Private
Admissions rate
70%
SAT average
849
6. Gwynedd Mercy University
Gwynedd Valley, PA • Private
Admissions rate
92%
SAT average
1,031
7. Mount Saint Mary's University
Los Angeles, CA • Private
Admissions rate
84%
SAT average
1,031
8. The University of Texas at El Paso
El Paso, TX • Private
Admissions rate
100%
SAT average
1,035
9. Saint Martin's University
Lacey, WA • Private
Admissions rate
96%
SAT average
1,111
10. University of North Texas at Dallas
Dallas, TX • Private
Admissions rate
83%
SAT average
992
Average manufacturing program manager salary by education level
| Manufacturing program manager education level | Manufacturing program manager salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $95,446 |
| High School Diploma or Less | $68,746 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $83,775 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $73,621 |
Manufacturing program manager education FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025
Updated January 8, 2025