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Process improvement analyst education requirements
Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
There are several educational requirements to become a process improvement analyst. Process improvement analysts usually study business, industrial engineering, or accounting. 72% of process improvement analysts hold a bachelor's degree, and 17% hold an master's degree. We analyzed 1,006 real process improvement analyst resumes to see exactly what process improvement analyst education sections show.
The most common colleges for process improvement analysts are the University of Phoenix and the University of Phoenix.
There are also many online process improvement analyst courses to help get the education required to be a process improvement analyst.
There are certain process improvement analyst certifications that you should consider. These process improvement analyst certifications include Six Sigma Green Belt and Six Sigma Black Belt.
What education do you need to become a process improvement analyst?
What degree do you need to be a process improvement analyst?
- Bachelor's, 72%
- Master's, 17%
- Associate, 7%
- High School Diploma, 1%
- Other Degrees, 3%
What should I major in to become a process improvement analyst?
- Business, 33%
- Accounting, 7%
- Finance, 5%
- Other Majors, 48%
Most common colleges for process improvement analysts
| Process improvement analyst common college | Percentages |
|---|---|
| University of Phoenix | 16.13% |
| University of South Carolina - Columbia | 8.06% |
| Texas A&M University | 7.26% |
| Florida State University | 5.65% |
| Eastern Washington University | 4.84% |
Best majors for process improvement analysts
| Rank | Major | Percentages |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Business | 32.6% |
| 2 | Industrial Engineering | 7.0% |
| 3 | Accounting | 6.6% |
| 4 | Finance | 5.3% |
| 5 | Psychology | 4.6% |
Best colleges for process improvement analysts
The best colleges for process improvement analysts are Northwestern University, University of Pennsylvania, and University of Southern California.
A process improvement analyst with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for process improvement analysts. 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 process improvement analysts.
1. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
In-state tuition
$54,568
Enrollment
8,451
2. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
In-state tuition
$55,584
Enrollment
10,764
3. New York University
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$51,828
Enrollment
26,339
4. University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$56,225
Enrollment
19,548
5. George Washington University, The
Washington, DC • Private
In-state tuition
$55,230
Enrollment
12,161
6. Pennsylvania State University
University Park, PA • Private
In-state tuition
$18,454
Enrollment
40,108
7. Lehigh University
Bethlehem, PA • Private
In-state tuition
$52,930
Enrollment
5,030
8. Harvard University
Cambridge, MA • Private
In-state tuition
$50,420
Enrollment
7,582
9. University of Georgia
Athens, GA • Private
In-state tuition
$11,830
Enrollment
29,474
10. Ball State University
Muncie, IN • Private
In-state tuition
$9,896
Enrollment
15,529
20 best online courses for process improvement analysts
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Harness Excel, SQL, and Tableau to drive powerful analysis and insights. Build confidence and credibility to apply this versatile skill set to countless jobs. This course is offered in person and live online, in a remote classroom setting...
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Use Python, SQL and Statistics to advance your programming skills and refine your ability to work with messy, complex datasets...
4. Data Structures and Algorithms
Get hands-on practice with over 80 data structures and algorithm exercises and guidance from a dedicated mentor to help prepare you for interviews and on-the-job scenarios...
5. Data-Driven Process Improvement
By the end of this course, learners are empowered to implement data-driven process improvement objectives at their organization. The course covers: the business case for IoT (Internet of Things), the strategic importance of aligning operations and performance goals, best practices for collecting data, and facilitating a process mapping activity to visualize and analyze a process’s flow of materials and information. Learners are prepared to focus efforts around business needs, evaluate what the...
6. Business Analysis Process
The Business Analysis Process course will give you a foundational understanding of the process of business analysis and will introduce you to a framework that can be used within a variety of industries and organizations. You’ll see how an analyst assesses a business problem, prepares business requirements, and implements a solution. You will learn how to identify stakeholders, to analyze them, and to define their role in a business analysis project. You’ll also learn how to gather requirements...
7. Process Improvement
#1 Process Improvement course: The step by step guide on how to deliver effective and lasting process improvements...
8. BPMN Process Analysis using Microsoft Visio Professional
Business Analyst Guide to Business Process Modelling with BPMN and Microsoft Visio Professional...
9. Intro to Data Analytics
Discover if data is a career fit for you Regardless of your industry or role, fluency in the language of data analytics will allow you to contribute to data driven decision making. In this free, two-hour livestream, you’ll learn to understand, analyze, and interpret data so you too can join the data conversation. We’ll cover how to ask the right questions of your data and basic analytic functionality. Then you’ll apply your new found data analytic skills to a real-world dataset, allowing you...
10. Data Visualization
You will start by building data visualizations and dashboards, considering your audiences to be as effective as possible. Then, you’ll move into drafting presentations using storytelling techniques, visualizations, and animations to provide data-driven recommendations...
11. Intro to Data Analysis
Start your data science journey right with this hands-on introduction to the discipline of data analysis. In this course you'll learn the 5 key stages of the data analysis process and apply them to real data sets using Python libraries NumPy, pandas, and Matplotlib...
12. Business Analyst: Software Testing Processes & Techniques
Reduce project bugs with repeatable testing processes. Learn to create test cases, scenarios, track defects, & more!...
13. Business Process Mapping
The complete guide to map any business process...
14. Data Visualization
Discover how data visualization can communicate insights far more effectively than text or tables. In this course, you’ll learn how to build data visualizations programmatically using Python, and how you can use visualization to both discover and convey trends in your data...
15. Experimental Design & Recommendations
Learn two of the most in-demand skills in the entire field of data science! By the end of this course, you’ll know how to generate personalized recommendations based on user data, as well as run statistically valid tests that produce clean, interpretable results...
16. Leadership, Business Process Improvement, & Process Mapping!
Learn the leadership, communication, and process mapping skills to accelerate your career!...
17. Continuous Improvement Tools
Essential Lean Tools and Techniques for Business Process Improvement, Operational Excellence, and Customer Satisfaction...
18. Process Optimization for Management Consultants & Analysts
A practical guide on how to optimize processes in practice and improve efficiently things...
19. Introduction to Business Process Modeling
Learn how to analyze, model, and improve your organization's business processes...
20. Lean BPM - Lean Business Process Management Change Skills
Lean BPM - learn how to use lean business management techniques to reduce waste and improve your business efficiency...
Top 10 most affordable universities for process improvement analysts
The most affordable schools for process improvement analysts are Baruch College of the City University of New York, university of florida, and suny farmingdale.
If the best universities for process improvement analysts 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 process improvement analysts.
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. SUNY Farmingdale
Farmingdale, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$8,306
Cost of attendance
16,091
4. Brigham Young University
Provo, UT • Private
In-state tuition
$5,620
Cost of attendance
18,136
5. Florida State University
Tallahassee, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$5,656
Cost of attendance
21,623
6. California State University - Bakersfield
Bakersfield, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$7,309
Cost of attendance
16,714
7. University of South Florida
Tampa, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,410
Cost of attendance
20,456
8. California State University - Long Beach
Long Beach, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,798
Cost of attendance
18,306
9. USF Sarasota-Manatee
Sarasota, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$5,587
Cost of attendance
13,043
10. University of Houston - Victoria
Victoria, TX • Private
In-state tuition
$6,491
Cost of attendance
19,075
Top 10 hardest universities to get into for process improvement analysts
The hardest universities for process improvement analysts to get into are Northwestern University, University of Pennsylvania, and University of Southern California.
Some great schools for process improvement analysts 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 process improvement analysts 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. University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA • Private
Admissions rate
13%
SAT average
1,445
4. New York University
New York, NY • Private
Admissions rate
20%
SAT average
1,419
5. Harvard University
Cambridge, MA • Private
Admissions rate
5%
SAT average
1,520
6. Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, MD • Private
Admissions rate
11%
SAT average
1,513
7. Washington University in St Louis
Saint Louis, MO • Private
Admissions rate
15%
SAT average
1,506
8. Lehigh University
Bethlehem, PA • Private
Admissions rate
22%
SAT average
1,380
9. Boston University
Boston, MA • Private
Admissions rate
22%
SAT average
1,420
10. University of Rochester
Rochester, NY • Private
Admissions rate
29%
SAT average
1,422
Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for process improvement analysts
The easiest schools for process improvement analysts to get into are Notre Dame de Namur University, wayland baptist university, and oklahoma wesleyan university.
Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a process improvement analyst 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 process improvement analysts.
1. Notre Dame de Namur University
Belmont, CA • Private
Admissions rate
82%
SAT average
983
2. Wayland Baptist University
Plainview, TX • Private
Admissions rate
98%
SAT average
1,003
3. Oklahoma Wesleyan University
Bartlesville, OK • Private
Admissions rate
68%
SAT average
964
4. Mount Saint Mary's University
Los Angeles, CA • Private
Admissions rate
84%
SAT average
1,031
5. Felician University
Lodi, NJ • Private
Admissions rate
81%
SAT average
999
6. Holy Names University
Oakland, CA • Private
Admissions rate
70%
SAT average
849
7. University of the Incarnate Word
San Antonio, TX • Private
Admissions rate
88%
SAT average
1,044
8. University of North Texas at Dallas
Dallas, TX • Private
Admissions rate
83%
SAT average
992
9. Life University
Marietta, GA • Private
Admissions rate
94%
SAT average
979
10. University of Baltimore
Baltimore, MD • Private
Admissions rate
78%
SAT average
1,020
Average process improvement analyst salary by education level
| Process improvement analyst education level | Process improvement analyst salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $78,204 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $73,200 |
| Doctorate Degree | $81,132 |
Process improvement analyst education FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025
Updated January 8, 2025