Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
Project/process manager education requirements
Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
There are several educational requirements to become a project/process manager. Project/process managers usually study business, chemical engineering, or computer science. 70% of project/process managers hold a bachelor's degree, and 17% hold an master's degree. We analyzed 1,213 real project/process manager resumes to see exactly what project/process manager education sections show.
The most common colleges for project/process managers are the University of Phoenix and the University of Phoenix.
There are also many online project/process manager courses to help get the education required to be a project/process manager.
There are certain project/process manager certifications that you should consider. These project/process manager certifications include Project Management Professional (PMP) and IT Information Library Foundations Certification (ITIL).
What education do you need to become a project/process manager?
What degree do you need to be a project/process manager?
- Bachelor's, 70%
- Master's, 17%
- Associate, 9%
- High School Diploma, 1%
- Other Degrees, 3%
What should I major in to become a project/process manager?
- Business, 25%
- Computer Science, 7%
- Other Majors, 53%
Most common colleges for project/process managers
| Project/process manager common college | Percentages |
|---|---|
| University of Phoenix | 11.28% |
| University of Maryland - College Park | 7.52% |
| George Washington University, The | 7.52% |
| University of Houston | 6.02% |
| Purdue University | 6.02% |
Best majors for project/process managers
| Rank | Major | Percentages |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Business | 25.5% |
| 2 | Chemical Engineering | 8.5% |
| 3 | Computer Science | 6.9% |
| 4 | Electrical Engineering | 5.8% |
| 5 | Project Management | 5.8% |
Best colleges for project/process managers
The best colleges for project/process managers are University of Pennsylvania, Northwestern University, and Harvard University.
A project/process 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 project/process 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 project/process managers.
1. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
In-state tuition
$55,584
Enrollment
10,764
2. University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$56,225
Enrollment
19,548
3. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
In-state tuition
$54,568
Enrollment
8,451
4. Boston University
Boston, MA • Private
In-state tuition
$53,948
Enrollment
17,238
5. Pennsylvania State University
University Park, PA • Private
In-state tuition
$18,454
Enrollment
40,108
6. Harvard University
Cambridge, MA • Private
In-state tuition
$50,420
Enrollment
7,582
7. University of Washington
Seattle, WA • Private
In-state tuition
$11,207
Enrollment
30,905
8. University of Texas at Austin
Austin, TX • Private
In-state tuition
$10,610
Enrollment
40,329
9. New York University
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$51,828
Enrollment
26,339
10. University of Maryland - College Park
College Park, MD • Private
In-state tuition
$10,595
Enrollment
30,184
20 best online courses for project/process managers
Advertising disclosure
1. Digital Project Management
Build confidence translating business requirements into project scope statements, creating project plans in Waterfall or Agile, and developing a high-performing team...
2. 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...
3. Business Process Mapping
The complete guide to map any business process...
4. The Complete Business Process Management (BPM) Master Class
12000+ enrollments Learn the Business Process Management methods used by the world's most successful organizations...
5. 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...
6. Leadership, Business Process Improvement, & Process Mapping!
Learn the leadership, communication, and process mapping skills to accelerate your career!...
7. Introduction to Business Process Modeling
Learn how to analyze, model, and improve your organization's business processes...
8. Operations Management A-Z: Business Processes and Systems
Operations Management: Supply Chain & Business Processes in Industry for Manufacturing and Services Organizations...
9. Process Improvement
#1 Process Improvement course: The step by step guide on how to deliver effective and lasting process improvements...
10. Certified Process Mapping / Flowcharts Expert Accredited
Accredited Process Mapping / Process Flowcharts Training And Certification Use Process Mapping For Process Improvement...
11. Process Flowcharts & Process Mapping - The Beginner's Guide
Use business analysis to model process flows with real-world examples & project-based hands-on activities -IIBA Endorsed...
12. Business Process Modelling with UML Activity Diagrams & BPMN
Become an expert in Modelling Business Processes with Business Analysis Techniques and UML Activity Diagrams & BPMN...
13. Process Mining with Celonis
Learn and practice how to combine data science and process mapping techniques to visualize processes with real data...
14. BPMN For Business Analytics A-Z™: Business Process Modeling
Learn Business Process Modelling with over Real-World case studies...
15. Process Flowcharts & Process Mapping - The Advanced Guide
Enhance your process flowchart knowledge advanced symbols, concepts, and best practices! - ECBA/CCBA/CBAP endorsed...
16. Informed Risk Taking: Risk Management Process - Analysis
Risk Management Strategies : Risk Analysis Techniques : Risk Management Principles : Risk Management Process : Methods...
17. IT Project Budget & Cost Management
Project Management tips to manage a million dollar IT Project budget from start to finish...
18. Business Analyst: Software Testing Processes & Techniques
Reduce project bugs with repeatable testing processes. Learn to create test cases, scenarios, track defects, & more!...
19. Project Management: Becoming a Successful Project manager
Project Management...
20. Beginning Project Management: Project Management Level One
Project Management: Growing a Successful Career as a Project Manager...
Top 10 most affordable universities for project/process managers
The most affordable schools for project/process managers are University of Florida, baruch college of the city university of new york, and hunter college of the city university of new york.
If the best universities for project/process 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 project/process managers.
1. University of Florida
Gainesville, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,381
Cost of attendance
21,034
2. Baruch College of the City University of New York
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,262
Cost of attendance
14,046
3. Hunter College of the City University of New York
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,182
Cost of attendance
13,998
4. California State University - Long Beach
Long Beach, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,798
Cost of attendance
18,306
5. California State University - Bakersfield
Bakersfield, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$7,309
Cost of attendance
16,714
6. University of South Florida
Tampa, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,410
Cost of attendance
20,456
7. California State University - Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,749
Cost of attendance
14,823
8. Florida State University
Tallahassee, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$5,656
Cost of attendance
21,623
9. Brigham Young University
Provo, UT • Private
In-state tuition
$5,620
Cost of attendance
18,136
10. Florida International University
Miami, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,556
Cost of attendance
19,434
Top 10 hardest universities to get into for project/process managers
The hardest universities for project/process managers to get into are University of Pennsylvania, Northwestern University, and Harvard University.
Some great schools for project/process 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 project/process 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. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
Admissions rate
8%
SAT average
1,492
2. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
Admissions rate
8%
SAT average
1,508
3. Harvard University
Cambridge, MA • Private
Admissions rate
5%
SAT average
1,520
4. Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, MD • Private
Admissions rate
11%
SAT average
1,513
5. Carnegie Mellon University
Pittsburgh, PA • Private
Admissions rate
17%
SAT average
1,507
6. Washington University in St Louis
Saint Louis, MO • Private
Admissions rate
15%
SAT average
1,506
7. Columbia University in the City of New York
New York, NY • Private
Admissions rate
6%
SAT average
1,512
8. University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA • Private
Admissions rate
13%
SAT average
1,445
9. Northeastern University
Boston, MA • Private
Admissions rate
19%
SAT average
1,466
10. Duke University
Durham, NC • Private
Admissions rate
9%
SAT average
1,516
Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for project/process managers
The easiest schools for project/process managers to get into are Mount Saint Mary's University, barry university, and university of the incarnate word.
Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a project/process 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 project/process 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. University of the Incarnate Word
San Antonio, TX • Private
Admissions rate
88%
SAT average
1,044
4. University of Baltimore
Baltimore, MD • Private
Admissions rate
78%
SAT average
1,020
5. University of North Texas at Dallas
Dallas, TX • Private
Admissions rate
83%
SAT average
992
6. Holy Names University
Oakland, CA • Private
Admissions rate
70%
SAT average
849
7. Wayland Baptist University
Plainview, TX • Private
Admissions rate
98%
SAT average
1,003
8. Oklahoma Wesleyan University
Bartlesville, OK • Private
Admissions rate
68%
SAT average
964
9. California University of Pennsylvania
California, PA • Private
Admissions rate
97%
SAT average
1,007
10. San Francisco State University
San Francisco, CA • Private
Admissions rate
72%
SAT average
1,054
Average project/process manager salary by education level
| Project/process manager education level | Project/process manager salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $124,350 |
| High School Diploma or Less | $96,608 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $114,595 |
| Doctorate Degree | $129,353 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $100,106 |
Project/process manager education FAQs
Have more questions? See all answers to common executive management questions.
Search for project/process manager jobs
Updated January 8, 2025
Updated January 8, 2025