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Program strategist education requirements
Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
There are several educational requirements to become a program strategist. Program strategists usually study business, computer science, or english. 61% of program strategists hold a bachelor's degree, and 23% hold an master's degree. We analyzed 82 real program strategist resumes to see exactly what program strategist education sections show.
The most common colleges for program strategists are the Northeastern State University and the Northeastern State University.
There are also many online program strategist courses to help get the education required to be a program strategist.
What education do you need to become a program strategist?
What degree do you need to be a program strategist?
- Bachelor's, 61%
- Master's, 23%
- Associate, 5%
- Doctorate, 5%
- Other Degrees, 6%
What should I major in to become a program strategist?
- Business, 20%
- Computer Science, 11%
- English, 7%
- Liberal Arts, 7%
- Other Majors, 55%
Most common colleges for program strategists
| Program strategist common college | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Northeastern State University | 10.71% |
| Webster University | 7.14% |
| California State University - Northridge | 7.14% |
| Arizona State University | 7.14% |
| Fairfield University | 7.14% |
Best majors for program strategists
| Rank | Major | Percentages |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Business | 19.6% |
| 2 | Computer Science | 10.9% |
| 3 | English | 6.5% |
| 4 | Liberal Arts | 6.5% |
| 5 | Industrial Technology | 6.5% |
Best colleges for program strategists
The best colleges for program strategists are Northwestern University, University of Southern California, and Vanderbilt University.
A program strategist with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for program strategists. 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 program strategists.
1. University of Georgia
Athens, GA • Private
In-state tuition
$11,830
Enrollment
29,474
2. Purdue University
West Lafayette, IN • Private
In-state tuition
$9,992
Enrollment
33,495
3. University of Texas at Austin
Austin, TX • Private
In-state tuition
$10,610
Enrollment
40,329
4. University of Wisconsin - Madison
Madison, WI • Private
In-state tuition
$10,555
Enrollment
30,360
5. University of Rhode Island
Kingston, RI • Private
In-state tuition
$14,138
Enrollment
13,743
6. University of Washington
Seattle, WA • Private
In-state tuition
$11,207
Enrollment
30,905
7. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
Minneapolis, MN • Private
In-state tuition
$14,760
Enrollment
31,451
8. Texas State University
San Marcos, TX • Private
In-state tuition
$10,280
Enrollment
34,187
9. Ohio State University
Columbus, OH • Private
In-state tuition
$10,726
Enrollment
45,769
10. Lipscomb University
Nashville, TN • Private
In-state tuition
$32,144
Enrollment
2,914
20 best online courses for program strategists
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1. Product Management (Part Time)
Balance business viability, technical feasibility, and customer desire to lead products and features toward long-term success. Learn from a seasoned expert. This course is offered in person and live online, in a remote classroom setting...
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Gain an in-depth understanding of Google Analytics and marketing analytics. Analyze data and build models with Excel, Data Studio, and create informative data visualizations with Tableau...
5. Attracting and Sourcing Diverse Candidates
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6. Program Change Planning with ClickUp
By the end of this guided project, you will be fluent in creating Program Change Management artefacts for the Planning Phase for diverse programs. You will utilise a logical diagramming plan in an agile environment to develop the solution. This will enable you to identify and classify the required components for change planning. Furthermore, it will help develop a structural model for learning about the field of Program Management. If you are interested in building up the knowledge leading to...
7. Program Management Fundamentals: The Essentials
In this course you will learn the essentials of program management. Become your bosses boss start this course today...
8. Linux System Programming Techniques & Concepts
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9. Product Manager
Envision and lead the product strategy of industry-defining products, and learn to successfully bring them to market. Influence the execution of product development as a Product Manager, one of the most highly-coveted roles in technology...
10. Data Product Manager
Leverage data to build products that deliver the right experiences, to the right users, at the right time. Lead the development of data-driven products that position businesses to win in their market...
11. Program Governance Planning with ClickUp
By the end of this guided project, you will be fluent in creating Program Governance Planning artefacts for diverse programs. You will utilise a logical diagramming plan in an agile environment to develop the solution. This will enable you to identify and classify the required components for programme governance planning. Furthermore, it will help develop a structural model for learning about the field of Program Management. If you are interested in building up the knowledge leading to this...
12. Object Oriented Analysis, Design & Programming with UML
Learn OO Analysis, Design & Programming using UML in C++, Java & C#...
13. Program Management Course - Program Manager Essentials
In this Program Management course you will learn the essentials and more to become an effective Program Manager...
14. Digital Marketing
Gain real-world experience running live campaigns as you learn from top experts in the field. Launch your career with a 360-degree understanding of digital marketing...
15. AI for Business Leaders
Master the foundations of artificial intelligence so you can strategically implement AI in your company. Leverage machine learning technologies to power corporate growth, increase efficiency, and enhance customer experiences...
16. Technical Program Management
This is a course designed for individuals looking to learn about the Technical Program Management (TPM) discipline...
17. Program Management Interview Course
Learn how to interview for program manager roles at tech companies...
18. Business Analytics
In this program, you will learn foundational data skills that apply across functions and industries. You will learn to analyze data and build models with Excel, query databases using SQL, and create informative data visualizations with Tableau...
19. AI Product Manager
Learn to develop AI products that deliver business value. Build skills that help you compete in the new AI-powered world...
20. Become a Senior User Experience (UX) Design Strategist
Learn A Comprehensive System To Manage UX Projects, Which Includes Templates, Tools And Strategies, Tested In The Field...
Top 10 most affordable universities for program strategists
The most affordable schools for program strategists are Fashion Institute of Technology, university of south florida, and university of florida.
If the best universities for program strategists 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 program strategists.
1. Fashion Institute of Technology
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$5,740
Cost of attendance
17,864
2. University of South Florida
Tampa, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,410
Cost of attendance
20,456
3. University of Florida
Gainesville, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,381
Cost of attendance
21,034
4. Brigham Young University
Provo, UT • Private
In-state tuition
$5,620
Cost of attendance
18,136
5. California State University - Long Beach
Long Beach, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,798
Cost of attendance
18,306
6. California State University - Fresno
Fresno, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,587
Cost of attendance
16,915
7. Purdue University
West Lafayette, IN • Private
In-state tuition
$9,992
Cost of attendance
22,430
8. University of Washington
Seattle, WA • Private
In-state tuition
$11,207
Cost of attendance
25,275
9. Florida State University
Tallahassee, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$5,656
Cost of attendance
21,623
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 program strategists
The hardest universities for program strategists to get into are Northwestern University, University of Southern California, and Vanderbilt University.
Some great schools for program strategists 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 program strategists 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 Southern California
Los Angeles, CA • Private
Admissions rate
13%
SAT average
1,445
3. Vanderbilt University
Nashville, TN • Private
Admissions rate
10%
SAT average
1,514
4. University of Texas at Austin
Austin, TX • Private
Admissions rate
39%
SAT average
1,367
5. Tufts University
Medford, MA • Private
Admissions rate
15%
SAT average
1,461
6. Carnegie Mellon University
Pittsburgh, PA • Private
Admissions rate
17%
SAT average
1,507
7. Washington University in St Louis
Saint Louis, MO • Private
Admissions rate
15%
SAT average
1,506
8. Boston College
Chestnut Hill, MA • Private
Admissions rate
28%
SAT average
1,429
9. SUNY at Binghamton
Vestal, NY • Private
Admissions rate
40%
SAT average
1,376
10. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
Admissions rate
8%
SAT average
1,492
Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for program strategists
The easiest schools for program strategists to get into are Oklahoma Wesleyan University, university of the incarnate word, and barry university.
Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a program strategist 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 program strategists.
1. Oklahoma Wesleyan University
Bartlesville, OK • Private
Admissions rate
68%
SAT average
964
2. University of the Incarnate Word
San Antonio, TX • Private
Admissions rate
88%
SAT average
1,044
3. Barry University
Miami, FL • Private
Admissions rate
91%
SAT average
1,006
4. Texas A&M University - Kingsville
Kingsville, TX • Private
Admissions rate
89%
SAT average
1,035
5. LIM College
New York, NY • Private
Admissions rate
83%
SAT average
1,061
6. La Roche College
Pittsburgh, PA • Private
Admissions rate
99%
SAT average
1,008
7. Linfield College
McMinnville, OR • Private
Admissions rate
81%
SAT average
1,117
8. San Francisco State University
San Francisco, CA • Private
Admissions rate
72%
SAT average
1,054
9. Cardinal Stritch University
Milwaukee, WI • Private
Admissions rate
71%
SAT average
1,035
10. The University of Texas at El Paso
El Paso, TX • Private
Admissions rate
100%
SAT average
1,035
Average program strategist salary by education level
| Program strategist education level | Program strategist salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $114,078 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $98,066 |
| Doctorate Degree | $120,336 |
Program strategist education FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025
Updated January 8, 2025