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Process leader education requirements

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read

There are several educational requirements to become a process leader. Process leaders usually study business, accounting, or electrical engineering. 59% of process leaders hold a bachelor's degree, and 14% hold an master's degree. We analyzed 4,648 real process leader resumes to see exactly what process leader education sections show.

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

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

There are certain process leader certifications that you should consider. These process leader certifications include Six Sigma Green Belt and Project Management Professional (PMP).

What education do you need to become a process leader?

What degree do you need to be a process leader?

The most common degree for process leaders is bachelor's degree, with 59% of process leaders earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are master's degree degree at 14% and master's degree degree at 12%.
  • Bachelor's, 59%
  • Master's, 14%
  • Associate, 12%
  • High School Diploma, 9%
  • Other Degrees, 6%

What should I major in to become a process leader?

You should major in business to become a process leader. 33% of process leaders major in business. Other common majors for a process leader include accounting and electrical engineering.

Most common colleges for process leaders

Process leaders often get their degrees at University of Phoenix, Purdue University, and Michigan State University. Here are the most common colleges for process leaders in the US based on their resumes.
Process leader common collegePercentages
University of Phoenix23.36%
Purdue University6.54%
Michigan State University6.23%
Pennsylvania State University5.30%
University of Florida4.98%

Best majors for process leaders

RankMajorPercentages
1Business32.6%
2Accounting7.1%
3Electrical Engineering5.6%
4Mechanical Engineering5.2%
5Finance4.8%

Best colleges for process leaders

The best colleges for process leaders are Stanford University, Northwestern University, and University of Pennsylvania.

A process leader 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 leaders. 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 leaders.

1. Stanford University

Stanford, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$51,354

Enrollment

7,083

2. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

In-state tuition

$55,584

Enrollment

10,764

3. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

In-state tuition

$54,568

Enrollment

8,451

4. Maine Maritime Academy

Castine, ME • Private

In-state tuition

$13,478

Enrollment

979

5. University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$56,225

Enrollment

19,548

6. California State University - Bakersfield

Bakersfield, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$7,309

Enrollment

9,142

7. SUNY at Binghamton

Vestal, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$9,808

Enrollment

13,990

8. Villanova University

Villanova, PA • Private

In-state tuition

$53,308

Enrollment

6,819

9. San Diego State University

San Diego, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$7,488

Enrollment

30,018

10. Bentley University

Waltham, MA • Private

In-state tuition

$49,880

Enrollment

4,177

20 best online courses for process leaders

Advertising disclosure

1. Business Analysis Process

coursera

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...

2. Business Process Modelling

coursera

Learn to capture and optimize business processes using specialized diagrams. Convert insights from stakeholder interviews and document analysis into concise and precise models. Understand various notations and select the best one for your needs. This comprehensive course covers process identification, capturing, documenting, and adapting models for different audiences. Ideal for process analysts, business analysts, solution architects, service & UX designers, and anyone interested in business...

3. Business Process Mapping

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4.3
(288)

The complete guide to map any business process...

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

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4.5
(3,086)

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

5. Process Improvement

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4.6
(1,844)

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

6. Introduction to Business Process Modeling

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4.5
(8,200)

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

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

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4.2
(860)

12000+ enrollments Learn the Business Process Management methods used by the world's most successful organizations...

8. Process Mining with Celonis

udemy
4.4
(1,084)

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

9. Lean BPM - Lean Business Process Management Change Skills

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4.5
(553)

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

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

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4.6
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Operations Management: Supply Chain & Business Processes in Industry for Manufacturing and Services Organizations...

11. Certified Process Mapping / Flowcharts Expert Accredited

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4.7
(352)

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

12. BPMN For Business Analytics A-Z™: Business Process Modeling

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4.6
(250)

Learn Business Process Modelling with over Real-World case studies...

13. Process Flowcharts & Process Mapping - The Beginner's Guide

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4.6
(12,857)

Use business analysis to model process flows with real-world examples & project-based hands-on activities -IIBA Endorsed...

14. Process Flowcharts & Process Mapping - The Advanced Guide

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4.7
(3,077)

Enhance your process flowchart knowledge advanced symbols, concepts, and best practices! - ECBA/CCBA/CBAP endorsed...

15. BPMN 2.0 Business Process Modelling for Business Analysts

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4
(677)

Become a BPMN 2.0 Expert in 1 day. With this practical hands-on course you will learn proper Business Process Modelling...

16. Business Process Modelling with UML Activity Diagrams & BPMN

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4.5
(307)

Become an expert in Modelling Business Processes with Business Analysis Techniques and UML Activity Diagrams & BPMN...

17. Process Capability Analysis

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4.7
(1,808)

A Powerful Tool Set for Understanding your Manufacturing Process Relative to Your Customers' Quality Expectations...

18. BPMN Process Analysis using Microsoft Visio Professional

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4.4
(1,577)

Business Analyst Guide to Business Process Modelling with BPMN and Microsoft Visio Professional...

19. Certified Quality Process Analyst Training

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4.3
(311)

Certified Quality Process Analyst (CQPA) Exam Preparation Course - Confidently Pass the Exam on the First Attempt...

20. Business Process Modeling A-Z™: Learn BPMN 2.0 From Scratch

udemy
4.5
(4,501)

A-Z Guide To BPMN: Create Your First BMP Models. Business Process Modelling Beginner To Advanced. Sequence Flow, Gateway...

Top 10 most affordable universities for process leaders

The most affordable schools for process leaders are SUNY Farmingdale, california state university - bakersfield, and baruch college of the city university of new york.

If the best universities for process leaders 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 leaders.

1. SUNY Farmingdale

Farmingdale, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$8,306

Cost of attendance

16,091

2. California State University - Bakersfield

Bakersfield, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$7,309

Cost of attendance

16,714

3. Baruch College of the City University of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,262

Cost of attendance

14,046

4. California State University - Dominguez Hills

Carson, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,942

Cost of attendance

14,469

5. Brooklyn College of the City University of New York

Brooklyn, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,240

Cost of attendance

13,991

6. Brigham Young University

Provo, UT • Private

In-state tuition

$5,620

Cost of attendance

18,136

7. SUNY Polytechnic Institute

Utica, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$8,238

Cost of attendance

21,567

8. USF Sarasota-Manatee

Sarasota, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$5,587

Cost of attendance

13,043

9. San Diego State University

San Diego, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$7,488

Cost of attendance

22,990

10. Clayton State University

Morrow, GA • Private

In-state tuition

$5,419

Cost of attendance

17,697

Top 10 hardest universities to get into for process leaders

The hardest universities for process leaders to get into are Stanford University, Northwestern University, and University of Pennsylvania.

Some great schools for process leaders 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 leaders 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. Stanford University

Stanford, CA • Private

Admissions rate

4%

SAT average

1,497

2. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

Admissions rate

8%

SAT average

1,508

3. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

Admissions rate

8%

SAT average

1,492

4. Boston University

Boston, MA • Private

Admissions rate

22%

SAT average

1,420

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. Villanova University

Villanova, PA • Private

Admissions rate

29%

SAT average

1,407

8. Bentley University

Waltham, MA • Private

Admissions rate

43%

SAT average

1,338

9. SUNY at Binghamton

Vestal, NY • Private

Admissions rate

40%

SAT average

1,376

10. Brandeis University

Waltham, MA • Private

Admissions rate

31%

SAT average

1,398

Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for process leaders

The easiest schools for process leaders to get into are Oklahoma Wesleyan University, notre dame de namur university, and holy names university.

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

1. Oklahoma Wesleyan University

Bartlesville, OK • Private

Admissions rate

68%

SAT average

964

2. Notre Dame de Namur University

Belmont, CA • Private

Admissions rate

82%

SAT average

983

3. Holy Names University

Oakland, CA • Private

Admissions rate

70%

SAT average

849

4. Notre Dame College

Cleveland, OH • Private

Admissions rate

90%

SAT average

994

5. LIM College

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

83%

SAT average

1,061

6. Nyack College

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

98%

SAT average

999

7. Life University

Marietta, GA • Private

Admissions rate

94%

SAT average

979

8. D'Youville College

Buffalo, NY • Private

Admissions rate

100%

SAT average

1,072

9. Presentation College

Aberdeen, SD • Private

Admissions rate

97%

SAT average

1,050

10. Oregon Institute of Technology

Klamath Falls, OR • Private

Admissions rate

96%

SAT average

1,139

Average process leader salary by education level

According to our data, process leaders with a Master's degree earn the highest average salary, at $122,115 annually. Process leaders with a Bachelor's degree earn an average annual salary of $105,611.
Process leader education levelProcess leader salary
Master's Degree$122,115
High School Diploma or Less$84,932
Bachelor's Degree$105,611
Some College/ Associate Degree$93,848

Process leader 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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