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Portfolio manager education requirements
Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
There are several educational requirements to become a portfolio manager. Portfolio managers usually study business, finance, or economics. 71% of portfolio managers hold a bachelor's degree, and 19% hold an master's degree. We analyzed 9,781 real portfolio manager resumes to see exactly what portfolio manager education sections show.
The most common colleges for portfolio managers are the University of Phoenix and the University of Phoenix.
There are also many online portfolio manager courses to help get the education required to be a portfolio manager.
There are certain portfolio manager certifications that you should consider. These portfolio manager certifications include Project Management Professional (PMP) and Certified Property Manager (CPM).
What education do you need to become a portfolio manager?
What degree do you need to be a portfolio manager?
- Bachelor's, 71%
- Master's, 19%
- Associate, 6%
- High School Diploma, 2%
- Other Degrees, 2%
What should I major in to become a portfolio manager?
- Business, 30%
- Finance, 23%
- Economics, 9%
- Accounting, 7%
- Other Majors, 31%
Most common colleges for portfolio managers
| Portfolio manager common college | Percentages |
|---|---|
| University of Phoenix | 10.93% |
| New York University | 9.03% |
| University of Pennsylvania | 6.02% |
| Cornell University | 5.35% |
| University of Maryland - College Park | 4.79% |
Best majors for portfolio managers
| Rank | Major | Percentages |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Business | 29.7% |
| 2 | Finance | 22.9% |
| 3 | Economics | 8.5% |
| 4 | Accounting | 7.0% |
| 5 | Management | 3.7% |
Best colleges for portfolio managers
The best colleges for portfolio managers are Northwestern University, University of Pennsylvania, and Stanford University.
A portfolio 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 portfolio 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 portfolio 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 Southern California
Los Angeles, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$56,225
Enrollment
19,548
4. SUNY at Binghamton
Vestal, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$9,808
Enrollment
13,990
5. Villanova University
Villanova, PA • Private
In-state tuition
$53,308
Enrollment
6,819
6. San Diego State University
San Diego, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$7,488
Enrollment
30,018
7. Bentley University
Waltham, MA • Private
In-state tuition
$49,880
Enrollment
4,177
8. Boston University
Boston, MA • Private
In-state tuition
$53,948
Enrollment
17,238
9. SUNY Stony Brook
Stony Brook, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$9,625
Enrollment
17,407
10. New York University
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$51,828
Enrollment
26,339
20 best online courses for portfolio managers
Advertising disclosure
1. Portfolio and Risk Management
In this course, you will gain an understanding of the theory underlying optimal portfolio construction, the different ways portfolios are actually built in practice and how to measure and manage the risk of such portfolios. You will start by studying how imperfect correlation between assets leads to diversified and optimal portfolios as well as the consequences in terms of asset pricing. Then, you will learn how to shape an investor's profile and build an adequate portfolio by combining...
2. Investment and Portfolio Management
In this four-course Specialization, you’ll learn the essential skills of portfolio management and personal investing.\n\nAll investors – from the largest wealth funds to the smallest individual investors – share common issues in investing: how to meet their liabilities, how to decide where to invest, and how much risk to take on. In this Specialization, you will learn how to think about, discuss, and formulate solutions to these investment questions. You will learn the theory and the real-world...
3. Investment Analysis & Portfolio Management with Python
Financial Analysis Done Right - Rigorously Analyse Investments & Manage Portfolios using Python for Finance / Investing...
4. Investment Analysis & Portfolio Management - Core Finance
Financial Analysis Done Right - Rigorously Analyse Investments & Manage Portfolios using Excel® & Google Sheets...
5. Portfolio Selection and Risk Management
When an investor is faced with a portfolio choice problem, the number of possible assets and the various combinations and proportions in which each can be held can seem overwhelming. In this course, you’ll learn the basic principles underlying optimal portfolio construction, diversification, and risk management. You’ll start by acquiring the tools to characterize an investor’s risk and return trade-off. You will next analyze how a portfolio choice problem can be structured and learn how to...
6. Market Risk Management: Frameworks & Strategies
This course provides the foundation for understanding the frameworks used to develop market risk management strategies. You will identify the market risks associated with each type of financial instrument. You will be introduced to techniques for estimating the risk associated with each class of investments. By the end of the course, you will be able to select the most effective derivatives for managing risk of a single asset and a portfolio of assets, develop asset selection strategies for...
7. Project Portfolio Management (PPM) Essentials
Assurance and confidence through portfolio intelligence...
8. Real Estate Asset Management 101
Real Estate Asset Management Training From Acquisition, To Ownership, Through Sale For Profitable Real Estate Investing...
9. Investment Management
In this Specialization, you will understand how investment strategies are designed to reach financial goals in a global context. You will learn the theory that underlies strong investment decisions, as well as practical, real-world skills that you can apply when discussing investment proposals with your advisor, managing your personal assets or your client’s investment portfolio. You will start by developing a global understanding of financial markets and what impacts rational and irrational...
10. Practical Project Portfolio Management
Selecting & Managing The Right Projects...
11. [2023] IT Asset Management (ITAM)- Software Asset Management
Learn IT Asset Management (ITAM) — Software Asset Management From Basics To Advanced...
12. IT Project Budget & Cost Management
Project Management tips to manage a million dollar IT Project budget from start to finish...
13. Introduction to Compliance Risk Management CRM
Compliance risk management CRM for Compliance, Risk Management, Internal Audit and IS Security Professionals...
14. IT Asset Management (ITAM) - Hardware Asset Management (HAM)
The ultimate course for learning everything about IT Asset Management. Includes free ITAM e Book & free process flows!...
15. Hardware Asset Management in ServiceNow
The perfect course for managing Hardware Assets in Service Now! Unlock the full benefits of IT Asset Management (ITAM)!...
16. Master Course in Project Management 2.0
Project Management, PMP, Agile project management, Project manager, Prince2, Scrum, Project Planning, Project risk cost...
17. Project Management Fundamentals: Risk Management
Without risk, there can be no reward. Learn how to your risks it into your allies...
18. Risk Management for Cybersecurity and IT Managers
The management's guide to understanding Risk Management decisions in cybersecurity and information technology (IT)...
19. The Agile Methodology for Project Risk Managers
The Agile Project Management and Risk Management for Project Professionals Full Course...
20. Informed Risk Taking: Risk Management Process - Analysis
Risk Management Strategies : Risk Analysis Techniques : Risk Management Principles : Risk Management Process : Methods...
Top 10 most affordable universities for portfolio managers
The most affordable schools for portfolio managers are Baruch College of the City University of New York, suny farmingdale, and usf sarasota-manatee.
If the best universities for portfolio 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 portfolio 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. SUNY Farmingdale
Farmingdale, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$8,306
Cost of attendance
16,091
3. USF Sarasota-Manatee
Sarasota, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$5,587
Cost of attendance
13,043
4. Brooklyn College of the City University of New York
Brooklyn, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,240
Cost of attendance
13,991
5. California State University - Dominguez Hills
Carson, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,942
Cost of attendance
14,469
6. Brigham Young University
Provo, UT • Private
In-state tuition
$5,620
Cost of attendance
18,136
7. California State University - Bakersfield
Bakersfield, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$7,309
Cost of attendance
16,714
8. University of Florida
Gainesville, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,381
Cost of attendance
21,034
9. Florida International University
Miami, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,556
Cost of attendance
19,434
10. University of Puerto Rico - Mayaguez
Mayaguez, PR • Private
In-state tuition
$4,094
Cost of attendance
14,302
Top 10 hardest universities to get into for portfolio managers
The hardest universities for portfolio managers to get into are Northwestern University, University of Pennsylvania, and Stanford University.
Some great schools for portfolio 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 portfolio 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. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
Admissions rate
8%
SAT average
1,492
3. Stanford University
Stanford, CA • Private
Admissions rate
4%
SAT average
1,497
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. Villanova University
Villanova, PA • Private
Admissions rate
29%
SAT average
1,407
8. Vanderbilt University
Nashville, TN • Private
Admissions rate
10%
SAT average
1,514
9. Bentley University
Waltham, MA • Private
Admissions rate
43%
SAT average
1,338
10. George Washington University, The
Washington, DC • Private
Admissions rate
42%
SAT average
1,380
Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for portfolio managers
The easiest schools for portfolio managers to get into are Oklahoma Wesleyan University, holy names university, and barry university.
Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a portfolio 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 portfolio managers.
1. Oklahoma Wesleyan University
Bartlesville, OK • Private
Admissions rate
68%
SAT average
964
2. Holy Names University
Oakland, CA • Private
Admissions rate
70%
SAT average
849
3. Barry University
Miami, FL • Private
Admissions rate
91%
SAT average
1,006
4. Notre Dame College
Cleveland, OH • Private
Admissions rate
90%
SAT average
994
5. University of North Texas at Dallas
Dallas, TX • Private
Admissions rate
83%
SAT average
992
6. La Roche College
Pittsburgh, PA • Private
Admissions rate
99%
SAT average
1,008
7. Holy Family University
Philadelphia, PA • Private
Admissions rate
72%
SAT average
1,017
8. Saint Joseph's College of Maine
Standish, ME • Private
Admissions rate
84%
SAT average
1,069
9. Ottawa University
Ottawa, KS • Private
Admissions rate
78%
SAT average
1,024
10. LIM College
New York, NY • Private
Admissions rate
83%
SAT average
1,061
Average portfolio manager salary by education level
| Portfolio manager education level | Portfolio manager salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $161,355 |
| High School Diploma or Less | $96,417 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $132,221 |
| Doctorate Degree | $173,571 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $96,398 |
Portfolio manager education FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025
Updated January 8, 2025