Supply manager education requirements

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

There are several educational requirements to become a supply manager. Supply managers usually study business, supply chain management, or management. 58% of supply managers hold a bachelor's degree, and 19% hold an associate degree. We analyzed 4,231 real supply manager resumes to see exactly what supply manager education sections show.

The most common colleges for supply managers are the University of Phoenix and the University of Phoenix.

There are also many online supply manager courses to help get the education required to be a supply manager.

There are certain supply manager certifications that you should consider. These supply manager certifications include Certified Supply Chain Professional (CSCP) and Certified in Production and Inventory Management (CPIM).

What education do you need to become a supply manager?

What degree do you need to be a supply manager?

The most common degree for supply managers is bachelor's degree, with 58% of supply managers earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are associate degree degree at 19% and associate degree degree at 12%.

Bachelor's, 58%

Associate, 19%

Master's, 12%

High School Diploma, 7%

Other Degrees, 4%

What should I major in to become a supply manager?

You should major in business to become a supply manager. 38% of supply managers major in business. Other common majors for a supply manager include supply chain management and management.

Business, 38%

Supply Chain Management, 9%

Management, 6%

General Studies, 5%

Other Majors, 42%

Most common colleges for supply managers

Supply managers often get their degrees at University of Phoenix, Texas A&M; University - Central Texas, and Michigan State University. Here are the most common colleges for supply managers in the US based on their resumes.

Supply manager common college	Percentages
University of Phoenix	20.42%
Texas A&M University - Central Texas	8.49%
Michigan State University	7.43%
Pennsylvania State University	6.10%
University of Maryland - College Park	4.51%

Show more common supply manager colleges

Best majors for supply managers

Rank	Major	Percentages
1	Business	38.3%
2	Supply Chain Management	9.1%
3	Management	6.2%
4	General Studies	5.2%
5	Marketing	4.0%

Show more common supply manager majors

Best colleges for supply managers

The best colleges for supply managers are Stanford University, Northwestern University, and University of Pennsylvania.

A supply 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 supply 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 supply managers.

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. Maine Maritime Academy

Castine, ME • Private

In-state tuition

$13,478

Enrollment

979

5. University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$56,225

Enrollment

19,548

6. California State University - Bakersfield

Bakersfield, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$7,309

Enrollment

9,142

7. SUNY at Binghamton

Vestal, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$9,808

Enrollment

13,990

8. Villanova University

Villanova, PA • Private

In-state tuition

$53,308

Enrollment

6,819

9. San Diego State University

San Diego, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$7,488

Enrollment

30,018

10. Bentley University

Waltham, MA • Private

In-state tuition

$49,880

Enrollment

4,177

20 best online courses for supply managers

Advertising disclosure

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2. Supply Chain Logistics

Have you ever wondered how goods get delivered to us so quickly as soon as we order them? One word: Logistics! In this introductory Supply Chain Logistics course, I will take you on a journey to this fascinating backbone of global trade. We cover the three major building blocks of logistics networks: transportation, warehousing, and inventory. After completing this course, you will be able to differentiate the advantages and disadvantages of different modes of transportation. You will...

3. Supply Chain Management A-Z: Operations & Logistics Basics

4.5

(2,394)

Supply Chain Management Basics: An MBA style course to boost your career as a business operations & logistics manager...

4. Fundamentals of Logistics, Supply Chain & Customer Service

4.5

(3,822)

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

5. Supply Chain Excellence

Supply chain leaders manage products, information, and finances to create an efficient, effective supply chain. With this online certificate program, you’ll study at the graduate level to gain the knowledge you need to advance in your career. You’ll gain a thorough understanding of the three distinct flows that create supply chain excellence in any company. Learn from lectures, readings, discussions and quizzes designed by faculty from the Department of Supply Chain Management at Rutgers...

6. RA: Data Science and Supply chain analytics.(A-Z with R)

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Learn R,Supply-chain Data Science, Inventory Optimization,Big Data forecasting, Machine learning and Revenue Management...

7. The Fundamentals of end-to-end Supply Chain Management

4.5

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Supply Chain Management - Level 1: Introducing all the Key Components of a Supply Chain...

8. Strategic Cost Management: Procurement and Supply Chain 2022

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How to secure long term Procurement savings without breaking relations with your suppliers (with the updates 2022)...

9. RA: Data Science and Supply Chain analytics. A-Z with Python

4.4

(840)

Learn Python, Supply Chain Data Science ,Linear Programming, Forecasting, Pricing and Inventory Management...

10. RISK MANAGEMENT for Supply Chain and Procurement specialists

4.4

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Tools and methods used by the world class procurement companies and supply chain managers (with the updates 2022)...

11. SAP: Supply Chain Logistics in R/3

4.6

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Everything you need to know about SAP Supply Chain Logistics and Transportation in one easy place...

12. Practical Pharmaceutical Supply Management: LMIC Focus

4.4

(2,385)

Pharmaceutical Supply Mastery: From Procurement to Efficient Distribution...

13. Supply Chain Fundamentals: Logistic & Transportation

4.5

(577)

Learn the Fundamentals of Logistic, Warehouse, Inbound, Picking, Packing, transportation and apply it to any ERP system...

14. Procurement & Supply Planning tools and techniques.

4.4

(310)

Learn how to Make purchasing strategies ,MRP, forecast, inventory policies and techniques to minimize supply costs...

15. SAP MM Materials Management (beginner to expert level)

4.3

(331)

Master SAP Materials Management module with practical implementation steps. Prepare and crack SAP MM Certification exam...

16. SAP Supply Chain: Learn EDI & Idocs Interface Architecture

4.4

(591)

Understand and Implement an E2E Supply Chain EDI solution by using industry standards, middleware, Idocs in SAP S/4...

17. SAP: Supply Chain Logistics & Transportation in S/4 HANA

4.4

(1,249)

Everything you need to know about SAP S/4 HANA Supply Chain Logistics and Transportation Management in one place...

18. Financial Accounting - Inventory Costs

4.3

(254)

Mastering Inventory Costs & Flows: An In-Depth Guide to Accounting for Inventory in Business Operations...

19. Fundamentals of Residential Property Management

(490)

Understand the foundation of residential property management as a property manager or landlord...

20. SAP Materials Management (MM) Super User Training

4.6

(614)

Complete Beginner and Intermediate Purchasing & Inventory Management Training - Perform all the task in SAP in no time...

Top 10 most affordable universities for supply managers

The most affordable schools for supply managers are SUNY Farmingdale, california state university - bakersfield, and baruch college of the city university of new york.

If the best universities for supply 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 supply managers.

1. SUNY Farmingdale

Farmingdale, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$8,306

Cost of attendance

16,091

2. California State University - Bakersfield

Bakersfield, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$7,309

Cost of attendance

16,714

3. Baruch College of the City University of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,262

Cost of attendance

14,046

4. California State University - Dominguez Hills

Carson, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,942

Cost of attendance

14,469

5. Brooklyn College of the City University of New York

Brooklyn, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,240

Cost of attendance

13,991

6. Brigham Young University

Provo, UT • Private

In-state tuition

$5,620

Cost of attendance

18,136

7. SUNY Polytechnic Institute

Utica, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$8,238

Cost of attendance

21,567

8. USF Sarasota-Manatee

Sarasota, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$5,587

Cost of attendance

13,043

9. San Diego State University

San Diego, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$7,488

Cost of attendance

22,990

10. Clayton State University

Morrow, GA • Private

In-state tuition

$5,419

Cost of attendance

17,697

Top 10 hardest universities to get into for supply managers

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

Some great schools for supply 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 supply 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. Stanford University

Stanford, CA • Private

Admissions rate

SAT average

1,497

2. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

Admissions rate

SAT average

1,508

3. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

Admissions rate

SAT average

1,492

4. Boston University

Boston, MA • Private

Admissions rate

22%

SAT average

1,420

5. New York University

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

20%

SAT average

1,419

6. University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA • Private

Admissions rate

13%

SAT average

1,445

7. Villanova University

Villanova, PA • Private

Admissions rate

29%

SAT average

1,407

8. Bentley University

Waltham, MA • Private

Admissions rate

43%

SAT average

1,338

9. SUNY at Binghamton

Vestal, NY • Private

Admissions rate

40%

SAT average

1,376

10. Brandeis University

Waltham, MA • Private

Admissions rate

31%

SAT average

1,398

Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for supply managers

The easiest schools for supply managers to get into are Oklahoma Wesleyan University, notre dame de namur university, and holy names university.

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

1. Oklahoma Wesleyan University

Bartlesville, OK • Private

Admissions rate

68%

SAT average

964

2. Notre Dame de Namur University

Belmont, CA • Private

Admissions rate

82%

SAT average

983

3. Holy Names University

Oakland, CA • Private

Admissions rate

70%

SAT average

849

4. Notre Dame College

Cleveland, OH • Private

Admissions rate

90%

SAT average

994

5. LIM College

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

83%

SAT average

1,061

6. Nyack College

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

98%

SAT average

999

7. Life University

Marietta, GA • Private

Admissions rate

94%

SAT average

979

8. D'Youville College

Buffalo, NY • Private

Admissions rate

100%

SAT average

1,072

9. Presentation College

Aberdeen, SD • Private

Admissions rate

97%

SAT average

1,050

10. Oregon Institute of Technology

Klamath Falls, OR • Private

Admissions rate

96%

SAT average

1,139

Average supply manager salary by education level

Supply managers with a Doctorate degree earn more than those without, at $122,150 annually. With a Master's degree, supply managers earn a median annual income of $116,227 compared to $105,060 for supply managers with an Bachelor's degree.

Supply manager education level	Supply manager salary
Master's Degree	$116,227
High School Diploma or Less	$85,073
Bachelor's Degree	$105,060
Doctorate Degree	$122,150
Some College/ Associate Degree	$88,879

Supply manager education FAQs

What is the best college for Supply Managers?

Have more questions? See all answers to common executive management questions.

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Updated January 8, 2025

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.

Updated January 8, 2025

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