Survey project manager education requirements

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

There are several educational requirements to become a survey project manager. Survey project managers usually study surveying, mapping, and hydraulic technologies, civil engineering, or business. 57% of survey project managers hold a bachelor's degree, and 24% hold an associate degree. We analyzed 917 real survey project manager resumes to see exactly what survey project manager education sections show.

The most common colleges for survey project managers are the Ferris State University and the Ferris State University.

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

There are certain survey project manager certifications that you should consider. These survey project manager certifications include Certified Survey Technician (CST) and Engineer In Training Certification (EIT).

What education do you need to become a survey project manager?

What degree do you need to be a survey project manager?

The most common degree for survey project managers is bachelor's degree, with 57% of survey project managers earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are associate degree degree at 24% and associate degree degree at 6%.

Bachelor's, 57%

Associate, 24%

Diploma, 6%

Master's, 5%

Other Degrees, 8%

What should I major in to become a survey project manager?

You should major in surveying, mapping, and hydraulic technologies to become a survey project manager. 21% of survey project managers major in surveying, mapping, and hydraulic technologies. Other common majors for a survey project manager include civil engineering and business.

Surveying, Mapping, And Hydraulic Technologies, 21%

Civil Engineering, 15%

Business, 9%

Natural Resources Management, 8%

Other Majors, 47%

Most common colleges for survey project managers

Survey project managers often get their degrees at Ferris State University, Michigan Technological University, and Pennsylvania State University. Here are the most common colleges for survey project managers in the US based on their resumes.

Survey project manager common college	Percentages
Ferris State University	10.53%
Michigan Technological University	9.21%
Pennsylvania State University	7.89%
University of Phoenix	6.58%
Southern Illinois University Carbondale	5.26%

Show more common survey project manager colleges

Best majors for survey project managers

Rank	Major	Percentages
1	Surveying, Mapping, And Hydraulic Technologies	20.5%
2	Civil Engineering	14.8%
3	Business	9.4%
4	Natural Resources Management	7.9%
5	Engineering	7.3%

Show more common survey project manager majors

Best colleges for survey project managers

The best colleges for survey project managers are Johns Hopkins University, Carnegie Mellon University, and Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

A survey project 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 survey project 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 survey project managers.

1. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Cambridge, MA • Private

In-state tuition

$51,832

Enrollment

4,550

2. Pennsylvania State University

University Park, PA • Private

In-state tuition

$18,454

Enrollment

40,108

3. University of Florida

Gainesville, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,381

Enrollment

34,564

4. Georgia Institute of Technology

Atlanta, GA • Private

In-state tuition

$12,424

Enrollment

15,201

5. Cornell University

Ithaca, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$55,188

Enrollment

15,105

6. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Ann Arbor, MI • Private

In-state tuition

$15,262

Enrollment

30,079

7. Columbia University in the City of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$59,430

Enrollment

8,216

8. Ohio State University

Columbus, OH • Private

In-state tuition

$10,726

Enrollment

45,769

9. New Jersey Institute of Technology

Newark, NJ • Private

In-state tuition

$17,338

Enrollment

7,820

10. University of California, Berkeley

Berkeley, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$14,184

Enrollment

30,845

20 best online courses for survey project managers

Advertising disclosure

1. Survey Data Collection and Analytics

This specialization covers the fundamentals of surveys as used in market research, evaluation research, social science and political research, official government statistics, and many other topic domains. In six courses, you will learn the basics of questionnaire design, data collection methods, sampling design, dealing with missing values, making estimates, combining data from different sources, and the analysis of survey data. In the final Capstone Project, you’ll apply the skills learned...

2. Analyze Survey Data with Tableau

Surveys are used in a variety of scenarios, both in businesses and in research. Companies are using them to better understand consumer insights and feedback, and researchers are going beyond the traditional uses to learn more about the world around us. Tableau can help visualize survey data of all kinds in a useful way—without needing advanced statistics, graphic design, or a statistics background. In this project, learners will learn how to create an account in Tableau and how to manipulate...

3. Quantity Surveying Building Estimation BBS with Excel & CAD

4.4

(1,052)

Quantity Surveying, Construction Estimation ,Quantity survey ,Cost Estimation ,Civil engineering, Building Estimation...

4. Statistics / Data Analysis: Survey Data and Likert Scales

4.6

(505)

How to Process Survey Data and Analyze Likert Scales In SPSS...

5. Utilize Survey Monkey as an Evaluation Tool

Surveys and evaluations can be used to reflect on your training or customer experiences. The data you collect can help to adjust your training and you can find out directly from your employees if they are satisfied. Customers can let you know what they are thinking and what they actually want. In this project you will learn about Survey Monkey as an evaluation tool throughout the cycle of developing an event. By the end of your time in this project you will have multiple evaluation surveys to...

6. Mastering Construction/Project Management

4.2

(659)

Mastering Construction-Project Management in less than 10 Hours...

7. Quantity Surveying Templates for Effective Cost Management

4.5

(345)

Quantity Surveying, Payment Application, Payment Tracker, Variation, Claim, Material Claim, Guarantees, Price Comparison...

8. The Ultimate Guide for Land Surveying with Drones - Part 3

4.3

(277)

Master the use of Ground Control Points (GCPs) to make your UAV mapping projects absolutely survey grade!!...

9. Quantity Surveying Building Estimation,Cad Excel & Planswift

4.4

(2,658)

Quantity Surveying, Quantity Takeoff, BBS In Excel ,Complete Project In Autocad, Project Planning With Primavera P6...

10. Construction Project Scheduling

4.5

(346)

Learn the tools and techniques used by construction management professionals to ensure projects finish on time...

11. Contracts Management in Construction Projects

4.3

(730)

Contracts Management, Contract Administration, FIDIC, Bank Guarantees, Contracts, Letter Drafting, Quantity Surveying...

12. Quantity Surveying With Rate Analysis And Take Off-Beginners

4.2

(340)

Quantity Surveying, Quantity Takeoff, Estimation, Rate Analysis, Blubeam Revu, Planswift, Costing, Construction Drawings...

13. Beginning Project Management: Project Management Level One

4.6

(28,219)

Project Management: Growing a Successful Career as a Project Manager...

14. Construction Cost Estimating and Management

4.6

(642)

Learn the tools used by construction management professionals to ensure their projects finish under budget...

15. Project Management Training

4.6

(1,394)

Project Management Certification Training with 4 Full Practice Tests...

16. Project Management Essentials

4.5

(15,814)

A crash course in the essentials of project management for new project managers...

17. Project Management: Master Project Management - PMP/PMI

4.6

(12,299)

Master Project Management using this practical certification course...

18. Construction Procurement Management

4.5

(300)

A course on procurement designed for engineers new to the infrastructure/construction industry...

19. Agile Crash Course: Agile Project Management; Agile Delivery

4.5

(82,218)

Agile Project Management Basics (Scrum) & Agile Project Management Essentials (Scrum). Plus Agile Certification (Scrum)...

20. Construction Claims Management

4.4

(511)

This Master Course will provide you with a professional claims management system for all your construction projects...

Top 10 most affordable universities for survey project managers

The most affordable schools for survey project managers are University of Florida, florida atlantic university, and university of puerto rico - mayaguez.

If the best universities for survey project 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 survey project managers.

1. University of Florida

Gainesville, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,381

Cost of attendance

21,034

2. Florida Atlantic University

Boca Raton, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$4,831

Cost of attendance

19,559

3. University of Puerto Rico - Mayaguez

Mayaguez, PR • Private

In-state tuition

$4,094

Cost of attendance

14,302

4. Florida State University

Tallahassee, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$5,656

Cost of attendance

21,623

5. California State University - Fresno

Fresno, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,587

Cost of attendance

16,915

6. California State University - Northridge

Northridge, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,893

Cost of attendance

18,870

7. University of South Florida

Tampa, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,410

Cost of attendance

20,456

8. Purdue University

West Lafayette, IN • Private

In-state tuition

$9,992

Cost of attendance

22,430

9. California State Polytechnic University, Pomona

Pomona, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$7,353

Cost of attendance

21,302

10. 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

Top 10 hardest universities to get into for survey project managers

The hardest universities for survey project managers to get into are Johns Hopkins University, Carnegie Mellon University, and Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Some great schools for survey project 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 survey project 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. Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore, MD • Private

Admissions rate

11%

SAT average

1,513

2. Carnegie Mellon University

Pittsburgh, PA • Private

Admissions rate

17%

SAT average

1,507

3. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Cambridge, MA • Private

Admissions rate

SAT average

1,545

4. Columbia University in the City of New York

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

SAT average

1,512

5. Stanford University

Stanford, CA • Private

Admissions rate

SAT average

1,497

6. Georgia Institute of Technology

Atlanta, GA • Private

Admissions rate

22%

SAT average

1,465

7. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

Admissions rate

SAT average

1,508

8. University of Virginia

Charlottesville, VA • Private

Admissions rate

26%

SAT average

1,427

9. Cornell University

Ithaca, NY • Private

Admissions rate

11%

SAT average

1,471

10. New York University

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

20%

SAT average

1,419

Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for survey project managers

The easiest schools for survey project managers to get into are Oregon Institute of Technology, alabama a & m university, and portland state university.

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

1. Oregon Institute of Technology

Klamath Falls, OR • Private

Admissions rate

96%

SAT average

1,139

2. Alabama A & M University

Normal, AL • Private

Admissions rate

90%

SAT average

957

3. Portland State University

Portland, OR • Private

Admissions rate

90%

SAT average

1,111

4. Saint Martin's University

Lacey, WA • Private

Admissions rate

96%

SAT average

1,111

5. South Dakota State University

Brookings, SD • Private

Admissions rate

92%

SAT average

1,149

6. Washington State University

Pullman, WA • Private

Admissions rate

77%

SAT average

1,123

7. Ferris State University

Big Rapids, MI • Private

Admissions rate

81%

SAT average

1,070

8. University of Wyoming

Laramie, WY • Private

Admissions rate

96%

SAT average

1,202

9. Pennsylvania State University - Wilkes-Barre

Lehman, PA • Private

Admissions rate

86%

SAT average

1,075

10. Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi

Corpus Christi, TX • Private

Admissions rate

87%

SAT average

1,068

Average survey project manager salary by education level

Survey project manager education level	Survey project manager salary
Bachelor's Degree	$61,303

Survey project manager education FAQs

What is the best college for Survey Project Managers?

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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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