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Paper grader education requirements

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read

There are several educational requirements to become a paper grader. Paper graders usually study mathematics, chemical engineering, or mechanical engineering. 77% of paper graders hold a bachelor's degree, and 11% hold an master's degree. We analyzed 100 real paper grader resumes to see exactly what paper grader education sections show.

The most common colleges for paper graders are the University of Kansas and the University of Kansas.

There are also many online paper grader courses to help get the education required to be a paper grader.

What education do you need to become a paper grader?

What degree do you need to be a paper grader?

The most common degree for paper graders is bachelor's degree, with 77% of paper graders earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are master's degree degree at 11% and master's degree degree at 7%.
  • Bachelor's, 77%
  • Master's, 11%
  • High School Diploma, 7%
  • Associate, 5%

What should I major in to become a paper grader?

You should major in mathematics to become a paper grader. 20% of paper graders major in mathematics. Other common majors for a paper grader include chemical engineering and mechanical engineering.

Most common colleges for paper graders

Paper graders often get their degrees at University of Kansas, University of Iowa, and Wichita State University. Here are the most common colleges for paper graders in the US based on their resumes.
Paper grader common collegePercentages
University of Kansas18.60%
University of Iowa13.95%
Wichita State University9.30%
Texas State University6.98%
University of Minnesota - Twin Cities6.98%

Best majors for paper graders

RankMajorPercentages
1Mathematics20.0%
2Chemical Engineering17.8%
3Mechanical Engineering6.7%
4Chemistry4.4%
5Business4.4%

Best colleges for paper graders

The best colleges for paper graders are California Institute of Technology, Northwestern University, and Stanford University.

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

1. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Cambridge, MA • Private

In-state tuition

$51,832

Enrollment

4,550

2. Stanford University

Stanford, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$51,354

Enrollment

7,083

3. Cornell University

Ithaca, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$55,188

Enrollment

15,105

4. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

In-state tuition

$54,568

Enrollment

8,451

5. Columbia University in the City of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$59,430

Enrollment

8,216

6. Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore, MD • Private

In-state tuition

$53,740

Enrollment

5,567

7. Carnegie Mellon University

Pittsburgh, PA • Private

In-state tuition

$55,465

Enrollment

6,483

8. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

In-state tuition

$55,584

Enrollment

10,764

9. Princeton University

Princeton, NJ • Private

In-state tuition

$50,340

Enrollment

5,301

10. Yale University

New Haven, CT • Private

In-state tuition

$53,430

Enrollment

5,963

20 best online courses for paper graders

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1. Mathematics for Engineers

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Top 10 most affordable universities for paper graders

The most affordable schools for paper graders are Baruch College of the City University of New York, university of florida, and california state university - long beach.

If the best universities for paper graders 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 paper graders.

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. University of Florida

Gainesville, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,381

Cost of attendance

21,034

3. California State University - Long Beach

Long Beach, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,798

Cost of attendance

18,306

4. New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology

Socorro, NM • Private

In-state tuition

$7,770

Cost of attendance

21,244

5. Brigham Young University

Provo, UT • Private

In-state tuition

$5,620

Cost of attendance

18,136

6. City College of New York of the City University of New York, The

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,140

Cost of attendance

14,430

7. California State University - Fullerton

Fullerton, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,886

Cost of attendance

17,645

8. University of Puerto Rico - Mayaguez

Mayaguez, PR • Private

In-state tuition

$4,094

Cost of attendance

14,302

9. Florida State University

Tallahassee, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$5,656

Cost of attendance

21,623

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 paper graders

The hardest universities for paper graders to get into are California Institute of Technology, Northwestern University, and Stanford University.

Some great schools for paper graders 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 paper graders 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. California Institute of Technology

Pasadena, CA • Private

Admissions rate

7%

SAT average

1,566

2. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

Admissions rate

8%

SAT average

1,508

3. Stanford University

Stanford, CA • Private

Admissions rate

4%

SAT average

1,497

4. Columbia University in the City of New York

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

6%

SAT average

1,512

5. Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore, MD • Private

Admissions rate

11%

SAT average

1,513

6. Carnegie Mellon University

Pittsburgh, PA • Private

Admissions rate

17%

SAT average

1,507

7. Yale University

New Haven, CT • Private

Admissions rate

6%

SAT average

1,517

8. Princeton University

Princeton, NJ • Private

Admissions rate

5%

SAT average

1,503

9. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Cambridge, MA • Private

Admissions rate

7%

SAT average

1,545

10. Vanderbilt University

Nashville, TN • Private

Admissions rate

10%

SAT average

1,514

Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for paper graders

The easiest schools for paper graders to get into are The University of Texas Permian Basin, d'youville college, and university of houston - downtown.

Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a paper grader 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 paper graders.

1. The University of Texas Permian Basin

Odessa, TX • Private

Admissions rate

91%

SAT average

1,046

2. D'Youville College

Buffalo, NY • Private

Admissions rate

100%

SAT average

1,072

3. University of Houston - Downtown

Houston, TX • Private

Admissions rate

83%

SAT average

1,012

4. Texas A&M University - Kingsville

Kingsville, TX • Private

Admissions rate

89%

SAT average

1,035

5. Gwynedd Mercy University

Gwynedd Valley, PA • Private

Admissions rate

92%

SAT average

1,031

6. Mount Saint Mary's University

Los Angeles, CA • Private

Admissions rate

84%

SAT average

1,031

7. Wayland Baptist University

Plainview, TX • Private

Admissions rate

98%

SAT average

1,003

8. Nyack College

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

98%

SAT average

999

9. Felician University

Lodi, NJ • Private

Admissions rate

81%

SAT average

999

10. Saint Martin's University

Lacey, WA • Private

Admissions rate

96%

SAT average

1,111

Average paper grader salary by education level

According to our data, paper graders with a Doctorate degree earn the highest average salary, at $57,656 annually. Paper graders with a Master's degree earn an average annual salary of $55,393.
Paper grader education levelPaper grader salary
Master's Degree$55,393
High School Diploma or Less$44,414
Bachelor's Degree$47,805
Doctorate Degree$57,656
Some College/ Associate Degree$45,451

Paper grader 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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