Process improvement manager education requirements

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

There are several educational requirements to become a process improvement manager. Process improvement managers usually study business, industrial engineering, or accounting. 70% of process improvement managers hold a bachelor's degree, and 18% hold an master's degree. We analyzed 2,082 real process improvement manager resumes to see exactly what process improvement manager education sections show.

The most common colleges for process improvement managers are the University of Phoenix and the University of Phoenix.

There are also many online process improvement manager courses to help get the education required to be a process improvement manager.

There are certain process improvement manager certifications that you should consider. These process improvement manager certifications include Six Sigma Green Belt and Six Sigma Black Belt.

What education do you need to become a process improvement manager?

What degree do you need to be a process improvement manager?

The most common degree for process improvement managers is bachelor's degree, with 70% of process improvement managers earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are master's degree degree at 18% and master's degree degree at 8%.

Bachelor's, 70%

Master's, 18%

Associate, 8%

High School Diploma, 1%

Other Degrees, 3%

What should I major in to become a process improvement manager?

You should major in business to become a process improvement manager. 36% of process improvement managers major in business. Other common majors for a process improvement manager include industrial engineering and accounting.

Business, 36%

Industrial Engineering, 7%

Accounting, 6%

Management, 6%

Other Majors, 45%

Most common colleges for process improvement managers

Process improvement managers often get their degrees at University of Phoenix, Purdue University, and Texas A&M; University. Here are the most common colleges for process improvement managers in the US based on their resumes.

Process improvement manager common college	Percentages
University of Phoenix	14.83%
Purdue University	9.51%
Texas A&M University	6.46%
Georgia Institute of Technology	4.94%
Michigan State University	4.94%

Show more common process improvement manager colleges

Best majors for process improvement managers

Rank	Major	Percentages
1	Business	35.6%
2	Industrial Engineering	7.5%
3	Accounting	6.4%
4	Management	6.1%
5	Mechanical Engineering	6.0%

Show more common process improvement manager majors

Best colleges for process improvement managers

The best colleges for process improvement managers are Northwestern University, University of Pennsylvania, and University of Southern California.

A process improvement 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 process improvement 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 process improvement 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. New York University

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$51,828

Enrollment

26,339

5. Pennsylvania State University

University Park, PA • Private

In-state tuition

$18,454

Enrollment

40,108

6. University of Texas at Austin

Austin, TX • Private

In-state tuition

$10,610

Enrollment

40,329

7. SUNY at Binghamton

Vestal, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$9,808

Enrollment

13,990

8. Northeastern University

Boston, MA • Private

In-state tuition

$51,522

Enrollment

13,760

9. Bentley University

Waltham, MA • Private

In-state tuition

$49,880

Enrollment

4,177

10. Lehigh University

Bethlehem, PA • Private

In-state tuition

$52,930

Enrollment

5,030

20 best online courses for process improvement managers

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2. Data-Driven Process Improvement

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3. Process Improvement

4.6

(1,844)

#1 Process Improvement course: The step by step guide on how to deliver effective and lasting process improvements...

4. Leadership, Business Process Improvement, & Process Mapping!

4.5

(3,086)

Learn the leadership, communication, and process mapping skills to accelerate your career!...

5. Lean BPM - Lean Business Process Management Change Skills

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Lean BPM - learn how to use lean business management techniques to reduce waste and improve your business efficiency...

6. Business Process Mapping

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The complete guide to map any business process...

7. Operations Management A-Z: Business Processes and Systems

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8. The Complete Business Process Management (BPM) Master Class

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9. Continuous Improvement Tools

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Essential Lean Tools and Techniques for Business Process Improvement, Operational Excellence, and Customer Satisfaction...

10. Process Optimization for Management Consultants & Analysts

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A practical guide on how to optimize processes in practice and improve efficiently things...

11. Introduction to Business Process Modeling

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Learn how to analyze, model, and improve your organization's business processes...

12. Process Mining with Celonis

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Learn and practice how to combine data science and process mapping techniques to visualize processes with real data...

13. Informed Risk Taking: Risk Management Process - Analysis

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Risk Management Strategies : Risk Analysis Techniques : Risk Management Principles : Risk Management Process : Methods...

14. Certified Process Mapping / Flowcharts Expert Accredited

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Accredited Process Mapping / Process Flowcharts Training And Certification Use Process Mapping For Process Improvement...

15. Kaizen Practitioner Masterclass for Quality Management.

4.5

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Structured Approach to identify and Eliminate waste in Business for Continuous Improvement & Quality Management...

16. ISO 9001, Quality Management and Strategic Thinking Training

4.5

(286)

Combine ISO, Quality & Strategic Thinking with Real Business and boost your Processes...

17. Change Management Training: Master the Change Process!

4.4

(3,656)

Learn how to manage a sustainable change processes and how your company will react to change...

18. Kaizen - Continuous Improvement Practitioner Course

(472)

Learn Kaizen - Continuous Improvement and implement Kaizen in your process and differentiate yourself from others...

19. Lean Manufacturing A-Z: Lean Operations Management

4.6

(3,222)

Lean Business Operations Management, Lean Process and Systems Improvement in Production and Industry. MBA style course...

20. Start Improving Customer Service

4.8

(2,040)

Creating a Customer Service advantage in Your department or business through communication and Customer Management...

Top 10 most affordable universities for process improvement managers

The most affordable schools for process improvement managers are Baruch College of the City University of New York, university of florida, and florida state university.

If the best universities for process improvement 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 process improvement 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. Florida State University

Tallahassee, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$5,656

Cost of attendance

21,623

4. Brigham Young University

Provo, UT • Private

In-state tuition

$5,620

Cost of attendance

18,136

5. USF Sarasota-Manatee

Sarasota, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$5,587

Cost of attendance

13,043

6. University of South Florida

Tampa, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,410

Cost of attendance

20,456

7. California State University - Fullerton

Fullerton, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,886

Cost of attendance

17,645

8. Florida International University

Miami, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,556

Cost of attendance

19,434

9. USF St. Petersburg

St. Petersburg, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$5,821

Cost of attendance

19,849

10. SUNY Farmingdale

Farmingdale, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$8,306

Cost of attendance

16,091

Top 10 hardest universities to get into for process improvement managers

The hardest universities for process improvement managers to get into are Northwestern University, University of Pennsylvania, and University of Southern California.

Some great schools for process improvement 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 process improvement 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. University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA • Private

Admissions rate

13%

SAT average

1,445

4. Northeastern University

Boston, MA • Private

Admissions rate

19%

SAT average

1,466

5. Carnegie Mellon University

Pittsburgh, PA • Private

Admissions rate

17%

SAT average

1,507

6. New York University

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

20%

SAT average

1,419

7. Boston University

Boston, MA • Private

Admissions rate

22%

SAT average

1,420

8. University of Miami

Coral Gables, FL • Private

Admissions rate

32%

SAT average

1,365

9. Lehigh University

Bethlehem, PA • Private

Admissions rate

22%

SAT average

1,380

10. George Washington University, The

Washington, DC • Private

Admissions rate

42%

SAT average

1,380

Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for process improvement managers

The easiest schools for process improvement managers to get into are Mount Saint Mary's University, barry university, and oklahoma wesleyan university.

Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a process improvement 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 process improvement managers.

1. Mount Saint Mary's University

Los Angeles, CA • Private

Admissions rate

84%

SAT average

1,031

2. Barry University

Miami, FL • Private

Admissions rate

91%

SAT average

1,006

3. Oklahoma Wesleyan University

Bartlesville, OK • Private

Admissions rate

68%

SAT average

964

4. University of North Texas at Dallas

Dallas, TX • Private

Admissions rate

83%

SAT average

992

5. Holy Names University

Oakland, CA • Private

Admissions rate

70%

SAT average

849

6. University of the Incarnate Word

San Antonio, TX • Private

Admissions rate

88%

SAT average

1,044

7. Notre Dame de Namur University

Belmont, CA • Private

Admissions rate

82%

SAT average

983

8. Notre Dame College

Cleveland, OH • Private

Admissions rate

90%

SAT average

994

9. Kean University

Union, NJ • Private

Admissions rate

86%

SAT average

991

10. Wayland Baptist University

Plainview, TX • Private

Admissions rate

98%

SAT average

1,003

Average process improvement manager salary by education level

Process improvement managers with a Master's degree earn more than those without, at $124,084 annually. With a Doctorate degree, process improvement managers earn a median annual income of $121,176 compared to $112,934 for process improvement managers with an Bachelor's degree.

Process improvement manager education level	Process improvement manager salary
Master's Degree	$124,084
High School Diploma or Less	$99,315
Bachelor's Degree	$112,934
Doctorate Degree	$121,176
Some College/ Associate Degree	$101,237

Process improvement manager education FAQs

What is the best college for Process Improvement Managers?

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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.

Updated January 8, 2025

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