Post job

Section leader education requirements

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read

There are several educational requirements to become a section leader. Section leaders usually study music, business, or criminal justice. 59% of section leaders hold a bachelor's degree, and 15% hold an high school diploma. We analyzed 7,755 real section leader resumes to see exactly what section leader education sections show.

The most common colleges for section leaders are the American University and the American University.

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

There are certain section leader certifications that you should consider. These section leader certifications include Certified Law Enforcement Analysts (CLEA) and Engineer In Training Certification (EIT).

What education do you need to become a section leader?

What degree do you need to be a section leader?

The most common degree for section leaders is bachelor's degree, with 59% of section leaders earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are high school diploma degree at 15% and high school diploma degree at 15%.
  • Bachelor's, 59%
  • High School Diploma, 15%
  • Associate, 15%
  • Master's, 6%
  • Other Degrees, 5%

What should I major in to become a section leader?

You should major in music to become a section leader. 20% of section leaders major in music. Other common majors for a section leader include business and criminal justice.

Most common colleges for section leaders

Section leaders often get their degrees at American University, University of Phoenix, and University of Maryland - College Park. Here are the most common colleges for section leaders in the US based on their resumes.
Section leader common collegePercentages
American University11.85%
University of Phoenix11.64%
University of Maryland - College Park6.86%
Texas A&M University - Central Texas6.24%
University of Connecticut5.41%

Best majors for section leaders

Best colleges for section leaders

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

A section 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 section 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 section 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. University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$56,225

Enrollment

19,548

5. California State University - Bakersfield

Bakersfield, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$7,309

Enrollment

9,142

6. SUNY at Binghamton

Vestal, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$9,808

Enrollment

13,990

7. San Diego State University

San Diego, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$7,488

Enrollment

30,018

8. Boston University

Boston, MA • Private

In-state tuition

$53,948

Enrollment

17,238

9. SUNY Stony Brook

Stony Brook, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$9,625

Enrollment

17,407

10. New York University

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$51,828

Enrollment

26,339

20 best online courses for section leaders

Advertising disclosure

1. ISO 22000:2018. Food Safety Management System

udemy
4.4
(976)

Understand the requirements for a food safety management system applicable for any organization in the food chain...

2. Fundamentals of Logistics, Supply Chain & Customer Service

udemy
4.5
(3,822)

Learn Logistics, Supply Chain and Customer Service. 3 Courses in 1...

3. OSHA Safety Training: Conducting Safety Meetings

udemy
4.5
(958)

A Brief Safety Management Course for Current and Aspiring Safety Professionals...

4. Learn Military Close Combat Training Captain Chris Pizzo

udemy
4.5
(2,610)

Military Hand-To-Hand Self Defense System Lets You Humiliate Younger, Tougher, BIGGER and More Experienced Attackers...

5. Customer Service Training: Dealing with Difficult Customers

udemy
4.5
(1,035)

Learn how to deal with difficult customers Master customer relationship management Gain conflict management skills...

6. Management and Leadership - Modern Leaders Training

udemy
4.6
(1,838)

Tools and practical skills for the modern leader...

7. Advanced Close Combat Training: Scientific Self Defense

udemy
4.7
(484)

How To Download the world's deadliest self defense moves directly into your brain...

8. Executive Communication Training

udemy
4.5
(272)

Being a great leader without being a great communicator is nearly impossible...

9. Business Communication Skills: Handling Clients & Customers

udemy
4.4
(1,161)

Soft Skills Training Social Skills Business Etiquette Business English Customer Service Training...

10. Talent Development for Leaders: Develop Your High-Potentials

udemy
4.5
(5,039)

Become a talent management leader and develop your employees for success!...

11. Customer Service Success: Take Your Skills to the Next Level

udemy
4.5
(2,276)

3-in-1 Customer Service Training: Levels 1, 2, 3 Improve Your Soft Communication Skills, Customer Support & Experience...

12. Personal Development Life Coach Certification1 Training

udemy
4.8
(869)

Personal Development Life Coach Training Course Graduates Prepared Professionals in Personal Development Life Coaching...

13. Become a Leader Development Course with Dekker Fraser, MBA

udemy
4.7
(319)

2023 Leadership Development from an MBA with Fortune 100 Experience & Ivy League Leadership Training Become a Leader!...

14. Functional Safety for Safety Instrumented Systems

udemy
4.1
(263)

The most complete course available on Functional Safety. 2+ hours of videos, case studies, assignments, & more...

15. OSHA Safety Training: Heat Stress Management

udemy
4.6
(465)

A Workplace Safety Management Course for Current and Future Safety Professionals...

16. Leadership Skills Training: Become an Inspiring Leader!

udemy
4.5
(2,407)

Learn how to improve you leadership skills and to become an inspiring leader!...

17. Professional Life Coach Certification PCELC Coach Training

udemy
4.3
(2,678)

Life Coach Training Practitioner Course Graduating Prepared and Ready-To-Work PCELC Professionals in Life Coaching...

18. Customer Service & Support For Customer Service Executives

udemy
4.5
(941)

Learn Customer Service Skills & Provide Excellent Customer Support, Customer Experience & How To Manage Upset Customers...

19. Garnett Cross Training in the Maintenance of Oil Hydraulics

udemy
4.5
(555)

This course will prepare you to work with hydraulic systems, plan maintenance and perform troubleshooting...

20. NEBOSH health and safety Management System

udemy
4.3
(448)

It Shows the Start point to Build your Health & safety Career and how to Join the field and becoming HSE Specialist...

Top 10 most affordable universities for section leaders

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

If the best universities for section 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 section leaders.

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. California State University - Bakersfield

Bakersfield, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$7,309

Cost of attendance

16,714

3. SUNY Farmingdale

Farmingdale, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$8,306

Cost of attendance

16,091

4. Brooklyn College of the City University of New York

Brooklyn, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,240

Cost of attendance

13,991

5. California State University - Dominguez Hills

Carson, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,942

Cost of attendance

14,469

6. Brigham Young University

Provo, UT • Private

In-state tuition

$5,620

Cost of attendance

18,136

7. Florida International University

Miami, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,556

Cost of attendance

19,434

8. University of Florida

Gainesville, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,381

Cost of attendance

21,034

9. Minot State University

Minot, ND • Private

In-state tuition

$7,064

Cost of attendance

15,576

10. Florida State University

Tallahassee, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$5,656

Cost of attendance

21,623

Top 10 hardest universities to get into for section leaders

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

Some great schools for section 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 section 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. University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA • Private

Admissions rate

13%

SAT average

1,445

5. Boston University

Boston, MA • Private

Admissions rate

22%

SAT average

1,420

6. New York University

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

20%

SAT average

1,419

7. Vanderbilt University

Nashville, TN • Private

Admissions rate

10%

SAT average

1,514

8. Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore, MD • Private

Admissions rate

11%

SAT average

1,513

9. Brandeis University

Waltham, MA • Private

Admissions rate

31%

SAT average

1,398

10. University of Rochester

Rochester, NY • Private

Admissions rate

29%

SAT average

1,422

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

The easiest schools for section leaders to get into are Notre Dame de Namur University, oklahoma wesleyan university, and holy names university.

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

1. Notre Dame de Namur University

Belmont, CA • Private

Admissions rate

82%

SAT average

983

2. Oklahoma Wesleyan University

Bartlesville, OK • Private

Admissions rate

68%

SAT average

964

3. Holy Names University

Oakland, CA • Private

Admissions rate

70%

SAT average

849

4. Wayland Baptist University

Plainview, TX • Private

Admissions rate

98%

SAT average

1,003

5. Mount Saint Mary's University

Los Angeles, CA • Private

Admissions rate

84%

SAT average

1,031

6. Nyack College

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

98%

SAT average

999

7. Barry University

Miami, FL • Private

Admissions rate

91%

SAT average

1,006

8. Felician University

Lodi, NJ • Private

Admissions rate

81%

SAT average

999

9. LIM College

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

83%

SAT average

1,061

10. Ottawa University

Ottawa, KS • Private

Admissions rate

78%

SAT average

1,024

Average section leader salary by education level

According to our data, section leaders with a Master's degree earn the highest average salary, at $155,963 annually. Section leaders with a Bachelor's degree earn an average annual salary of $123,978.
Section leader education levelSection leader salary
Master's Degree$155,963
High School Diploma or Less$87,849
Bachelor's Degree$123,978
Some College/ Associate Degree$102,866

Section leader education FAQs

Search for section leader jobs

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.

Browse production and manufacturing jobs