Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
Senior planner education requirements
Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
There are several educational requirements to become a senior planner. Senior planners usually study business, urban planning, or political science. 68% of senior planners hold a bachelor's degree, and 18% hold an master's degree. We analyzed 4,373 real senior planner resumes to see exactly what senior planner education sections show.
The most common colleges for senior planners are the University of Phoenix and the University of Phoenix.
There are also many online senior planner courses to help get the education required to be a senior planner.
There are certain senior planner certifications that you should consider. These senior planner certifications include Certified Planner (AICP) and AICP Certified Planners.
What education do you need to become a senior planner?
What degree do you need to be a senior planner?
- Bachelor's, 68%
- Master's, 18%
- Associate, 9%
- High School Diploma, 2%
- Other Degrees, 3%
What should I major in to become a senior planner?
- Business, 33%
- Urban Planning, 9%
- Management, 5%
- Other Majors, 47%
Most common colleges for senior planners
| Senior planner common college | Percentages |
|---|---|
| University of Phoenix | 15.46% |
| Michigan State University | 7.73% |
| University of California - Davis | 5.74% |
| Pennsylvania State University | 5.49% |
| Texas A&M University | 5.49% |
Best majors for senior planners
| Rank | Major | Percentages |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Business | 33.3% |
| 2 | Urban Planning | 9.2% |
| 3 | Political Science | 5.5% |
| 4 | Management | 5.3% |
| 5 | Marketing | 5.2% |
Best colleges for senior planners
The best colleges for senior planners are University of Pennsylvania, Columbia University in the City of New York, and Northwestern University.
A senior planner with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for senior planners. 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 senior planners.
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. Columbia University in the City of New York
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$59,430
Enrollment
8,216
4. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC • Private
In-state tuition
$8,987
Enrollment
18,946
5. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
In-state tuition
$54,568
Enrollment
8,451
6. University of Washington
Seattle, WA • Private
In-state tuition
$11,207
Enrollment
30,905
7. New York University
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$51,828
Enrollment
26,339
8. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
Minneapolis, MN • Private
In-state tuition
$14,760
Enrollment
31,451
9. Carnegie Mellon University
Pittsburgh, PA • Private
In-state tuition
$55,465
Enrollment
6,483
10. University of Texas at Austin
Austin, TX • Private
In-state tuition
$10,610
Enrollment
40,329
20 best online courses for senior planners
Advertising disclosure
1. Primavera P6 Project Planning and Scheduling Masterclass
Master Primavera P6 Project Management Skills using the Primavera P6 Training - Be an Expert at Primavera P6 Software!...
2. Advanced Planning & Scheduling with Primavera P6
Learn advanced planning & scheduling concepts, and apply them using Primavera P6 and MS Excel...
3. Complete Primavera P6 training; Project Planning
Master project planning and scheduling with Primavera P6 (Basic & Advance)...
4. Primavera P6 Complete Course of Project Planning 2022
Complete course from program inception to reporting...
5. Product Marketing Launch Plan: Product GTM with Dekker, MBA
Product Management Marketing Strategy, Marketing Plan, Product Marketing Manager, Product Manager Marketing Plan...
6. Strategic Planning Skills
Strategic Planning Skills...
7. Advanced Planning Baseline Schedule with Primavera P6 &Excel
Practical Case Study with Step by Step instructions. Work Smart NOT Hard...
8. SAP MM Materials Management (beginner to expert level)
Master SAP Materials Management module with practical implementation steps. Prepare and crack SAP MM Certification exam...
9. SAP - PP - Production Planning
Learn how to plan in SAP from zero with functionality overviews and a case study...
10. Product Management Marketing: Dekker's Product Marketing MBA
Be a Product Marketing Manager - Product Management : Product Manager MBA : Product to Market : Product Owner Launch GTM...
11. The Ultimate Guide to Professional Event Planning Management
Learn techniques to become an amazing event planner. You'll get all the skills you need for event management & planning...
12. Great Product Manager: Product Management by a Big Tech's PM
Become a Great Product Manager! Land your dream job with Big Tech's Senior Product Manager...
13. Product Management Fundamentals
Case-based practical course on product management to build strong foundations in product concepts, process & frameworks...
14. Primavera P6 Project Control + P6 Download Guide [2023]
Enjoy Learning Primavera P6! From basics of primavera P6 we plan a project & reach the Advance level in Primavera P6...
15. Time Management And Goal Planning: The Productivity Combo
The ultimate guide to time management hacks to effectively set and achieve your goals by empowering productive habits...
16. Supply Chain Management A-Z: Operations & Logistics Basics
Supply Chain Management Basics: An MBA style course to boost your career as a business operations & logistics manager...
17. Fundamentals of Logistics, Supply Chain & Customer Service
Learn Logistics, Supply Chain and Customer Service. 3 Courses in 1...
18. Microsoft 365 Planner - Beginner
Learn how to work more efficiently with your teams with Microsoft 365 Planner...
19. Strategic Planning Basics for Human Resources
Learn to collaborate with your organizational leaders on the development and implementation of a strategic plan...
20. Product Management: Mastering Product Roadmaps 2023
A complete guide to building a roadmap that works for both your product team and your stakeholders...
Top 10 most affordable universities for senior planners
The most affordable schools for senior planners are Baruch College of the City University of New York, university of florida, and california state university - bakersfield.
If the best universities for senior planners 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 senior planners.
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. University of Florida
Gainesville, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,381
Cost of attendance
21,034
3. California State University - Bakersfield
Bakersfield, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$7,309
Cost of attendance
16,714
4. California State University - Long Beach
Long Beach, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,798
Cost of attendance
18,306
5. Brooklyn College of the City University of New York
Brooklyn, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,240
Cost of attendance
13,991
6. City College of New York of the City University of New York, The
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,140
Cost of attendance
14,430
7. SUNY Farmingdale
Farmingdale, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$8,306
Cost of attendance
16,091
8. Hunter College of the City University of New York
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,182
Cost of attendance
13,998
9. University of South Florida
Tampa, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,410
Cost of attendance
20,456
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 senior planners
The hardest universities for senior planners to get into are University of Pennsylvania, Columbia University in the City of New York, and Northwestern University.
Some great schools for senior planners 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 senior planners 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. Columbia University in the City of New York
New York, NY • Private
Admissions rate
6%
SAT average
1,512
3. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
Admissions rate
8%
SAT average
1,508
4. Carnegie Mellon University
Pittsburgh, PA • Private
Admissions rate
17%
SAT average
1,507
5. Stanford University
Stanford, CA • Private
Admissions rate
4%
SAT average
1,497
6. University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA • Private
Admissions rate
13%
SAT average
1,445
7. Cornell University
Ithaca, NY • Private
Admissions rate
11%
SAT average
1,471
8. Harvard University
Cambridge, MA • Private
Admissions rate
5%
SAT average
1,520
9. Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, MD • Private
Admissions rate
11%
SAT average
1,513
10. New York University
New York, NY • Private
Admissions rate
20%
SAT average
1,419
Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for senior planners
The easiest schools for senior planners to get into are Notre Dame de Namur University, wayland baptist university, and barry university.
Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a senior planner 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 senior planners.
1. Notre Dame de Namur University
Belmont, CA • Private
Admissions rate
82%
SAT average
983
2. Wayland Baptist University
Plainview, TX • Private
Admissions rate
98%
SAT average
1,003
3. Barry University
Miami, FL • Private
Admissions rate
91%
SAT average
1,006
4. Notre Dame College
Cleveland, OH • Private
Admissions rate
90%
SAT average
994
5. Kean University
Union, NJ • Private
Admissions rate
86%
SAT average
991
6. University of North Texas at Dallas
Dallas, TX • Private
Admissions rate
83%
SAT average
992
7. Oklahoma Wesleyan University
Bartlesville, OK • Private
Admissions rate
68%
SAT average
964
8. Ottawa University
Ottawa, KS • Private
Admissions rate
78%
SAT average
1,024
9. Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey - Camden
Camden, NJ • Private
Admissions rate
71%
SAT average
1,086
10. LIM College
New York, NY • Private
Admissions rate
83%
SAT average
1,061
Average senior planner salary by education level
| Senior planner education level | Senior planner salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $73,860 |
| High School Diploma or Less | $64,179 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $73,780 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $68,268 |
Senior planner education FAQs
Have more questions? See all answers to common business and financial questions.
Search for senior planner jobs
Updated January 8, 2025
Updated January 8, 2025