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Project assistant education requirements

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read

There are several educational requirements to become a project assistant. Project assistants usually study business, psychology, or political science. 65% of project assistants hold a bachelor's degree, and 13% hold an associate degree. We analyzed 25,072 real project assistant resumes to see exactly what project assistant education sections show.

The most common colleges for project assistants are the University of Phoenix and the University of Phoenix.

There are also many online project assistant courses to help get the education required to be a project assistant.

There are certain project assistant certifications that you should consider. These project assistant certifications include Medical Assistant and Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA).

What education do you need to become a project assistant?

What degree do you need to be a project assistant?

The most common degree for project assistants is bachelor's degree, with 65% of project assistants earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are associate degree degree at 13% and associate degree degree at 12%.
  • Bachelor's, 65%
  • Associate, 13%
  • Master's, 12%
  • High School Diploma, 5%
  • Other Degrees, 5%

What should I major in to become a project assistant?

You should major in business to become a project assistant. 26% of project assistants major in business. Other common majors for a project assistant include psychology and political science.

Most common colleges for project assistants

Project assistants often get their degrees at University of Phoenix, University of California, Santa Barbara, and University of Maryland - College Park. Here are the most common colleges for project assistants in the US based on their resumes.
Project assistant common collegePercentages
University of Phoenix12.28%
University of California, Santa Barbara6.24%
University of Maryland - College Park5.91%
University of Wisconsin Colleges5.84%
University of California - Davis5.71%

Best majors for project assistants

RankMajorPercentages
1Business25.7%
2Psychology8.4%
3Political Science7.0%
4English5.7%
5Communication5.2%

Best colleges for project assistants

The best colleges for project assistants are Stanford University, Northwestern University, and Boston College.

A project assistant with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for project assistants. 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 project assistants.

1. Western Carolina University

Cullowhee, NC • Private

In-state tuition

$3,926

Enrollment

9,835

2. Stanford University

Stanford, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$51,354

Enrollment

7,083

3. Ball State University

Muncie, IN • Private

In-state tuition

$9,896

Enrollment

15,529

4. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

In-state tuition

$55,584

Enrollment

10,764

5. Bowling Green State University

Bowling Green, OH • Private

In-state tuition

$11,105

Enrollment

13,729

6. Cedar Crest College

Allentown, PA • Private

In-state tuition

$39,216

Enrollment

1,303

7. Morgan State University

Baltimore, MD • Private

In-state tuition

$7,900

Enrollment

6,404

8. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

In-state tuition

$54,568

Enrollment

8,451

9. Siena Heights University

Adrian, MI • Private

In-state tuition

$27,124

Enrollment

2,035

10. University of Akron

Akron, OH • Private

In-state tuition

$11,463

Enrollment

13,676

20 best online courses for project assistants

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Top 10 most affordable universities for project assistants

The most affordable schools for project assistants are Baruch College of the City University of New York, suny farmingdale, and california state university - bakersfield.

If the best universities for project assistants 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 project assistants.

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. California State University - Bakersfield

Bakersfield, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$7,309

Cost of attendance

16,714

4. University of Puerto Rico - Mayaguez

Mayaguez, PR • Private

In-state tuition

$4,094

Cost of attendance

14,302

5. Minot State University

Minot, ND • Private

In-state tuition

$7,064

Cost of attendance

15,576

6. California State University - Dominguez Hills

Carson, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,942

Cost of attendance

14,469

7. Clayton State University

Morrow, GA • Private

In-state tuition

$5,419

Cost of attendance

17,697

8. Brooklyn College of the City University of New York

Brooklyn, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,240

Cost of attendance

13,991

9. Dickinson State University

Dickinson, ND • Private

In-state tuition

$6,768

Cost of attendance

15,506

10. SUNY Polytechnic Institute

Utica, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$8,238

Cost of attendance

21,567

Top 10 hardest universities to get into for project assistants

The hardest universities for project assistants to get into are Stanford University, Northwestern University, and Boston College.

Some great schools for project assistants 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 project assistants 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. Boston College

Chestnut Hill, MA • Private

Admissions rate

28%

SAT average

1,429

4. Boston University

Boston, MA • Private

Admissions rate

22%

SAT average

1,420

5. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

Admissions rate

8%

SAT average

1,492

6. SUNY at Binghamton

Vestal, NY • Private

Admissions rate

40%

SAT average

1,376

7. New York University

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

20%

SAT average

1,419

8. Bentley University

Waltham, MA • Private

Admissions rate

43%

SAT average

1,338

9. University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA • Private

Admissions rate

13%

SAT average

1,445

10. Brandeis University

Waltham, MA • Private

Admissions rate

31%

SAT average

1,398

Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for project assistants

The easiest schools for project assistants to get into are Oklahoma Wesleyan University, notre dame college, and lim college.

Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a project assistant 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 project assistants.

1. Oklahoma Wesleyan University

Bartlesville, OK • Private

Admissions rate

68%

SAT average

964

2. Notre Dame College

Cleveland, OH • Private

Admissions rate

90%

SAT average

994

3. LIM College

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

83%

SAT average

1,061

4. Notre Dame de Namur University

Belmont, CA • Private

Admissions rate

82%

SAT average

983

5. Holy Names University

Oakland, CA • Private

Admissions rate

70%

SAT average

849

6. Oregon Institute of Technology

Klamath Falls, OR • Private

Admissions rate

96%

SAT average

1,139

7. D'Youville College

Buffalo, NY • Private

Admissions rate

100%

SAT average

1,072

8. Presentation College

Aberdeen, SD • Private

Admissions rate

97%

SAT average

1,050

9. Lewis-Clark State College

Lewiston, ID • Private

Admissions rate

100%

SAT average

1,009

10. Fresno Pacific University

Fresno, CA • Private

Admissions rate

85%

SAT average

1,053

Average project assistant salary by education level

According to our data, project assistants with a Master's degree earn the highest average salary, at $47,998 annually. Project assistants with a Bachelor's degree earn an average annual salary of $45,340.
Project assistant education levelProject assistant salary
Master's Degree$47,998
High School Diploma or Less$41,666
Bachelor's Degree$45,340
Some College/ Associate Degree$42,454

Project assistant 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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