Explore Jobs
Find Specific Jobs
Explore Careers
Explore Professions
Best Companies
Explore Companies
Social Media Strategist Education Requirements
Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
There are several educational requirements to become a social media strategist. Social media strategists usually study communication, marketing, or business. 81% of social media strategists hold a bachelor's degree, and 10% hold an master's degree. We analyzed 2,733 real social media strategist resumes to see exactly what social media strategist education sections show.
The most common colleges for social media strategists are the Arizona State University and the Arizona State University.
There are also many online social media strategist courses to help get the education required to be a social media strategist.
There are certain social media strategist certifications that you should consider. These social media strategist certifications include Google Data Analytics Professional Certificate and Professional Certified Marketer (PCM).
What education do you need to become a social media strategist?
What degree do you need to be a social media strategist?
- Bachelor's, 81%
- Master's, 10%
- Associate, 6%
- High School Diploma, 1%
- Other Degrees, 2%
What should I major in to become a social media strategist?
- Communication, 18%
- Marketing, 12%
- Business, 11%
- Journalism, 8%
- Other Majors, 51%
Most common colleges for social media strategists
| Social Media Strategist Common College | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Arizona State University | 9.43% |
| University of California, Santa Barbara | 8.08% |
| New York University | 6.73% |
| Syracuse University | 6.40% |
| Northwestern University | 5.72% |
Best majors for social media strategists
| Rank | Major | Percentages |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Communication | 18.4% |
| 2 | Marketing | 12.0% |
| 3 | Business | 10.6% |
| 4 | Journalism | 8.4% |
| 5 | Public Relations | 7.7% |
Best colleges for social media strategists
The best colleges for social media strategists are Northwestern University, Stanford University, and University of Southern California.
A social media 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 social media 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 social media strategists.
1. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL ā¢ Private
In-State Tuition
$54,568
Enrollment
8,451
2. Stanford University
Stanford, CA ā¢ Private
In-State Tuition
$51,354
Enrollment
7,083
3. University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA ā¢ Private
In-State Tuition
$56,225
Enrollment
19,548
4. Villanova University
Villanova, PA ā¢ Private
In-State Tuition
$53,308
Enrollment
6,819
5. San Diego State University
San Diego, CA ā¢ Private
In-State Tuition
$7,488
Enrollment
30,018
6. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA ā¢ Private
In-State Tuition
$55,584
Enrollment
10,764
7. Boston University
Boston, MA ā¢ Private
In-State Tuition
$53,948
Enrollment
17,238
8. Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Worcester, MA ā¢ Private
In-State Tuition
$50,530
Enrollment
4,571
9. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
Minneapolis, MN ā¢ Private
In-State Tuition
$14,760
Enrollment
31,451
10. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Champaign, IL ā¢ Private
In-State Tuition
$15,094
Enrollment
32,974
20 best online courses for social media strategists
Advertising Disclosure
1. Social Media Marketing - Content Marketing Masterclass
Online Digital Marketing / Social Media Strategy For Beginners - Posts / Blogs / Podcasts / Video / Google Local SEO...
2. Social Media Film School: TikTok, Instagram, YouTube & AI
4-in-1 Course + Chat GPT to Supercharge Your Videography, Video Editing & Social Media Content Chat GPT 4 & Filmmaking...
3. Social Media Monitoring
Our new course on Social Media Monitoring in a post Google Reader World is coming soon...
4. Social Media Marketing Strategy 2023: Launch Your SMM!
In-depth social media marketing strategy and management course for businesses. Turn subscribers into real customers!...
5. Become A Freelance Social Media Manager - Home Business
Start a home based business as a freelance social media manager. Find clients, deliver services and build your brand...
6. Social Media Marketing Advertising with Dekker, MBA 2023
Udemy Social Media Marketing (Unofficial) for Linked In, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Tik Tok, Reddit, Quora, You Tube Etc...
7. Social Media Marketing - Complete Certificate Course
The comprehensive social media course, beginner to advanced. Go viral, get started today!...
8. Powerful Social Media Marketing For Beginners
Master Social Media Marketing, Become an Irreplaceable Social Media Manager & Grow Your Successful Social Media Business...
9. Social Media Marketing Course -The Step by Step Guide
The comprehensive social media course, For Expert To Avoid Mistakes. Go viral, get started today!...
10. Digital Marketing Agency Start a Social Media Business
Build a Digital Marketing Agency Business with Social Media (SMMA), Chat GPT, Facebook Ads, Instagram, Word Press, SEO...
11. ChatGPT for Marketing, Content, Social Media, and PR
Learn how to leverage Chat GPT to craft emails, press releases, social media descriptions, blog posts, & more...
12. Social Media Marketing Agency: Digital Marketing + Business
Learn to build a business, find clients, & social media marketing all in one. Facebook ads, Instagram, Google ads & .....
13. Run a Social Media Marketing Online Business
A profitable online business. Quick to set up. Repeat income. Your own Social Media Marketing online business...
14. Facebook Social Media Sales Success
How to Use Social Sites, like Facebook, Twitter and Linked In, to Grow Your Business...
15. WIN at Starting a Social Media Management Business
Learn how to become a freelance social media manager. Get started with videos, templates & support. Join 8,000 students!...
16. Social Media Marketing MASTERY 2023 Ads on 10+ Platforms
MASTER online marketing on Meta, Pinterest, Instagram, You Tube, Facebook, Google and more ad platforms! Coursenvy...
17. Social Media Marketing Mastery: Growing An Engaged Audience
Learn How To Dominate Social Media In An Effective Manner So You Can Get More Sales, Make More Connections, And Thrive!...
18. Social Media Marketing & Management ā¢Certificate Course 2023
Startup Beginners Course with Certificate: Social Media Marketing, Facebook, You Tube, Tik Tok, Email, SEO, Medium, Reddit...
19. Social Media Marketing - Step By Step Blueprint
Social Media Marketing strategies you can use to generate FREE traffic & money. Build a massive following and go viral!...
20. Digital Marketing Fundamentals: Social Media Strategy
Learn the basics of a successful Social Media Marketing Strategy...
Top 10 most affordable universities for social media strategists
The most affordable schools for social media strategists are University of Florida, suny farmingdale, and california state university - dominguez hills.
If the best universities for social media 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 social media strategists.
1. University of Florida
Gainesville, FL ā¢ Private
In-State Tuition
$6,381
Cost of Attendance
21,034
2. SUNY Farmingdale
Farmingdale, NY ā¢ Private
In-State Tuition
$8,306
Cost of Attendance
16,091
3. California State University - Dominguez Hills
Carson, CA ā¢ Private
In-State Tuition
$6,942
Cost of Attendance
14,469
4. Brigham Young University
Provo, UT ā¢ Private
In-State Tuition
$5,620
Cost of Attendance
18,136
5. Florida State University
Tallahassee, FL ā¢ Private
In-State Tuition
$5,656
Cost of Attendance
21,623
6. Baruch College of the City University of New York
New York, NY ā¢ Private
In-State Tuition
$7,262
Cost of Attendance
14,046
7. California State University - Bakersfield
Bakersfield, CA ā¢ Private
In-State Tuition
$7,309
Cost of Attendance
16,714
8. California State University - Long Beach
Long Beach, CA ā¢ Private
In-State Tuition
$6,798
Cost of Attendance
18,306
9. University of Central Florida
Orlando, FL ā¢ Private
In-State Tuition
$6,368
Cost of Attendance
21,034
10. San Diego State University
San Diego, CA ā¢ Private
In-State Tuition
$7,488
Cost of Attendance
22,990
Top 10 hardest universities to get into for social media strategists
The hardest universities for social media strategists to get into are Northwestern University, Stanford University, and University of Southern California.
Some great schools for social media 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 social media 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 ā¢ Private
Admissions Rate
8%
SAT Average
1,508
2. Stanford University
Stanford, CA ā¢ Private
Admissions Rate
4%
SAT Average
1,497
3. University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA ā¢ Private
Admissions Rate
13%
SAT Average
1,445
4. Boston University
Boston, MA ā¢ Private
Admissions Rate
22%
SAT Average
1,420
5. Villanova University
Villanova, PA ā¢ Private
Admissions Rate
29%
SAT Average
1,407
6. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA ā¢ Private
Admissions Rate
8%
SAT Average
1,492
7. Northeastern University
Boston, MA ā¢ Private
Admissions Rate
19%
SAT Average
1,466
8. George Washington University, The
Washington, DC ā¢ Private
Admissions Rate
42%
SAT Average
1,380
9. Tulane University
New Orleans, LA ā¢ Private
Admissions Rate
17%
SAT Average
1,428
10. Southern Methodist University
Dallas, TX ā¢ Private
Admissions Rate
51%
SAT Average
1,395
Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for social media strategists
The easiest schools for social media strategists to get into are Barry University, oklahoma wesleyan university, and notre dame college.
Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a social media 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 social media strategists.
1. Barry University
Miami, FL ā¢ Private
Admissions Rate
91%
SAT Average
1,006
2. Oklahoma Wesleyan University
Bartlesville, OK ā¢ Private
Admissions Rate
68%
SAT Average
964
3. Notre Dame College
Cleveland, OH ā¢ Private
Admissions Rate
90%
SAT Average
994
4. Gwynedd Mercy University
Gwynedd Valley, PA ā¢ Private
Admissions Rate
92%
SAT Average
1,031
5. Holy Names University
Oakland, CA ā¢ Private
Admissions Rate
70%
SAT Average
849
6. Kean University
Union, NJ ā¢ Private
Admissions Rate
86%
SAT Average
991
7. Felician University
Lodi, NJ ā¢ Private
Admissions Rate
81%
SAT Average
999
8. Saint Joseph's College of Maine
Standish, ME ā¢ Private
Admissions Rate
84%
SAT Average
1,069
9. Cardinal Stritch University
Milwaukee, WI ā¢ Private
Admissions Rate
71%
SAT Average
1,035
10. William Paterson University of New Jersey
Wayne, NJ ā¢ Private
Admissions Rate
93%
SAT Average
994
Average social media strategist salary by education level
| Social Media Strategist education level | Social Media Strategist salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $75,487 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $66,388 |
| Doctorate Degree | $75,510 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $53,849 |
Social Media Strategist Education FAQs
Have more questions? See all answers to common computer and mathematical questions.
Search for social media strategist jobs
Updated January 8, 2025
Updated January 8, 2025