Payroll and accounts payable manager education requirements

Updated January 8, 2025

5 min read

There are several educational requirements to become a payroll and accounts payable manager. Payroll and accounts payable managers usually study accounting, business, or finance. 40% of payroll and accounts payable managers hold a bachelor's degree, and 32% hold an associate degree. We analyzed 1,606 real payroll and accounts payable manager resumes to see exactly what payroll and accounts payable manager education sections show.

The most common colleges for payroll and accounts payable managers are the University of Phoenix and the University of Phoenix.

There are also many online payroll and accounts payable manager courses to help get the education required to be a payroll and accounts payable manager.

There are certain payroll and accounts payable manager certifications that you should consider. These payroll and accounts payable manager certifications include Certified Management Accountant (CMA) and International Accredited Business Accountant (IABA).

What education do you need to become a payroll and accounts payable manager?

What degree do you need to be a payroll and accounts payable manager?

The most common degree for payroll and accounts payable managers is bachelor's degree, with 40% of payroll and accounts payable managers earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are associate degree degree at 32% and associate degree degree at 14%.

Bachelor's, 40%

Associate, 32%

High School Diploma, 14%

Master's, 6%

Other Degrees, 8%

What should I major in to become a payroll and accounts payable manager?

You should major in accounting to become a payroll and accounts payable manager. 41% of payroll and accounts payable managers major in accounting. Other common majors for a payroll and accounts payable manager include business and finance.

Accounting, 41%

Business, 32%

Finance, 3%

Health Care Administration, 2%

Other Majors, 22%

Most common colleges for payroll and accounts payable managers

Payroll and accounts payable managers often get their degrees at University of Phoenix, Arizona State University, and University of Houston. Here are the most common colleges for payroll and accounts payable managers in the US based on their resumes.

Payroll and accounts payable manager common college	Percentages
University of Phoenix	25.84%
Arizona State University	5.62%
University of Houston	4.49%
University of Iowa	4.49%
New York University	4.49%

Show more common payroll and accounts payable manager colleges

Best majors for payroll and accounts payable managers

Rank	Major	Percentages
1	Accounting	40.5%
2	Business	31.7%
3	Finance	3.1%
4	Health Care Administration	2.1%
5	Management	2.0%

Show more common payroll and accounts payable manager majors

Best colleges for payroll and accounts payable managers

The best colleges for payroll and accounts payable managers are Northwestern University, University of Pennsylvania, and Boston University.

A payroll and accounts payable 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 payroll and accounts payable 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 payroll and accounts payable managers.

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 Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minneapolis, MN • Private

In-state tuition

$14,760

Enrollment

31,451

4. Stanford University

Stanford, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$51,354

Enrollment

7,083

5. Western Carolina University

Cullowhee, NC • Private

In-state tuition

$3,926

Enrollment

9,835

6. University of Florida

Gainesville, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,381

Enrollment

34,564

7. California State University - Bakersfield

Bakersfield, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$7,309

Enrollment

9,142

8. University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$56,225

Enrollment

19,548

9. Baruch College of the City University of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,262

Enrollment

14,629

10. SUNY College of Agriculture & Technology at Morrisville

Morrisville, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$8,670

Enrollment

2,758

20 best online courses for payroll and accounts payable managers

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4. Accounting 101: Accounts Payable Best Practices For 2023

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Avoid common mistakes and pitfalls when it comes to Accounts Payable. No more fraud, incorrect payments or voided checks...

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(781)

Masterclass: Learn Accounting Principles, Financial Statements, Transactions & More in this Comprehensive Course...

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Master Adjusting Entries & Financial Statements: A Comprehensive Guide for Accurate Accounting and Reporting...

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Learn How to Create an Accounting Worksheet Using Microsoft Excel from a Certified Public Accountant (CPA)...

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17. Principles of Financial Accounting

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Learn the complete accounting cycle -recording business transactions to presenting the Balance Sheet & Income Statement...

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Accounting, Bookkeeping Introduction, Accounting, Bookkeeping Entries, Accounting, Bookkeeping Adjustments & Reports...

20. Financial Bookkeeping and Accountancy: Complete Accounting

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A Complete Course on Book-keeping & Accounting Course For Level 1 & 2 aspirants...

Top 10 most affordable universities for payroll and accounts payable managers

The most affordable schools for payroll and accounts payable managers are Baruch College of the City University of New York, university of florida, and california state university - bakersfield.

If the best universities for payroll and accounts payable 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 payroll and accounts payable managers.

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 - Bakersfield

Bakersfield, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$7,309

Cost of attendance

16,714

4. SUNY Farmingdale

Farmingdale, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$8,306

Cost of attendance

16,091

5. University of Puerto Rico - Mayaguez

Mayaguez, PR • Private

In-state tuition

$4,094

Cost of attendance

14,302

6. California State University - Dominguez Hills

Carson, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,942

Cost of attendance

14,469

7. Dickinson State University

Dickinson, ND • Private

In-state tuition

$6,768

Cost of attendance

15,506

8. Clayton State University

Morrow, GA • Private

In-state tuition

$5,419

Cost of attendance

17,697

9. Brigham Young University

Provo, UT • Private

In-state tuition

$5,620

Cost of attendance

18,136

10. California State University - Long Beach

Long Beach, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,798

Cost of attendance

18,306

Top 10 hardest universities to get into for payroll and accounts payable managers

The hardest universities for payroll and accounts payable managers to get into are Northwestern University, University of Pennsylvania, and Boston University.

Some great schools for payroll and accounts payable 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 payroll and accounts payable 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

SAT average

1,508

2. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

Admissions rate

SAT average

1,492

3. Boston University

Boston, MA • Private

Admissions rate

22%

SAT average

1,420

4. Stanford University

Stanford, CA • Private

Admissions rate

SAT average

1,497

5. New York University

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

20%

SAT average

1,419

6. University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA • Private

Admissions rate

13%

SAT average

1,445

7. Vanderbilt University

Nashville, TN • Private

Admissions rate

10%

SAT average

1,514

8. George Washington University, The

Washington, DC • Private

Admissions rate

42%

SAT average

1,380

9. University of Rochester

Rochester, NY • Private

Admissions rate

29%

SAT average

1,422

10. Carnegie Mellon University

Pittsburgh, PA • Private

Admissions rate

17%

SAT average

1,507

Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for payroll and accounts payable managers

The easiest schools for payroll and accounts payable managers to get into are D'Youville College, gwynedd mercy university, and mount saint mary's university.

Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a payroll and accounts payable 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 payroll and accounts payable managers.

1. D'Youville College

Buffalo, NY • Private

Admissions rate

100%

SAT average

1,072

2. Gwynedd Mercy University

Gwynedd Valley, PA • Private

Admissions rate

92%

SAT average

1,031

3. Mount Saint Mary's University

Los Angeles, CA • Private

Admissions rate

84%

SAT average

1,031

4. Felician University

Lodi, NJ • Private

Admissions rate

81%

SAT average

999

5. Barry University

Miami, FL • Private

Admissions rate

91%

SAT average

1,006

6. Oklahoma Wesleyan University

Bartlesville, OK • Private

Admissions rate

68%

SAT average

964

7. Oregon Institute of Technology

Klamath Falls, OR • Private

Admissions rate

96%

SAT average

1,139

8. Fresno Pacific University

Fresno, CA • Private

Admissions rate

85%

SAT average

1,053

9. Holy Family University

Philadelphia, PA • Private

Admissions rate

72%

SAT average

1,017

10. Lewis-Clark State College

Lewiston, ID • Private

Admissions rate

100%

SAT average

1,009

Average payroll and accounts payable manager salary by education level

Payroll and accounts payable managers with a Doctorate degree earn more than those without, at $81,887 annually. With a Master's degree, payroll and accounts payable managers earn a median annual income of $77,685 compared to $70,681 for payroll and accounts payable managers with an Bachelor's degree.

Payroll and accounts payable manager education level	Payroll and accounts payable manager salary
Master's Degree	$77,685
High School Diploma or Less	$62,345
Bachelor's Degree	$70,681
Doctorate Degree	$81,887
Some College/ Associate Degree	$64,026

Payroll and accounts payable manager education FAQs

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Updated January 8, 2025

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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