Vocational director education requirements

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

There are several educational requirements to become a vocational director. Vocational directors usually study psychology, business, or social work. 59% of vocational directors hold a bachelor's degree, and 21% hold an master's degree. We analyzed 206 real vocational director resumes to see exactly what vocational director education sections show.

The most common colleges for vocational directors are the University of Wisconsin Colleges and the University of Wisconsin Colleges.

There are also many online vocational director courses to help get the education required to be a vocational director.

What education do you need to become a vocational director?

What degree do you need to be a vocational director?

The most common degree for vocational directors is bachelor's degree, with 59% of vocational directors earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are master's degree degree at 21% and master's degree degree at 11%.

Bachelor's, 59%

Master's, 21%

Associate, 11%

High School Diploma, 5%

Other Degrees, 4%

What should I major in to become a vocational director?

You should major in psychology to become a vocational director. 17% of vocational directors major in psychology. Other common majors for a vocational director include business and social work.

Psychology, 17%

Business, 10%

Social Work, 7%

General Education, Specific Areas, 6%

Other Majors, 60%

Most common colleges for vocational directors

Vocational directors often get their degrees at University of Wisconsin Colleges, University of Louisiana at Lafayette, and Trinity College. Here are the most common colleges for vocational directors in the US based on their resumes.

Vocational director common college	Percentages
University of Wisconsin Colleges	9.38%
University of Louisiana at Lafayette	9.38%
Trinity College	6.25%
Heidelberg University	6.25%
University of South Florida	6.25%

Show more common vocational director colleges

Best majors for vocational directors

Rank	Major	Percentages
1	Psychology	16.9%
2	Business	9.7%
3	Social Work	7.3%
4	General Education, Specific Areas	6.5%
5	Elementary Education	5.6%

Show more common vocational director majors

Best colleges for vocational directors

The best colleges for vocational directors are University of Pennsylvania, Harvard University, and Vanderbilt University.

A vocational director with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for vocational directors. 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 vocational directors.

1. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

In-state tuition

$55,584

Enrollment

10,764

2. Boston University

Boston, MA • Private

In-state tuition

$53,948

Enrollment

17,238

3. Harvard University

Cambridge, MA • Private

In-state tuition

$50,420

Enrollment

7,582

4. University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$56,225

Enrollment

19,548

5. San Diego State University

San Diego, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$7,488

Enrollment

30,018

6. Boston College

Chestnut Hill, MA • Private

In-state tuition

$55,464

Enrollment

9,639

7. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill, NC • Private

In-state tuition

$8,987

Enrollment

18,946

8. New York University

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$51,828

Enrollment

26,339

9. Vanderbilt University

Nashville, TN • Private

In-state tuition

$49,816

Enrollment

6,840

10. Fordham University

Bronx, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$52,687

Enrollment

9,392

20 best online courses for vocational directors

Advertising disclosure

1. Job Search Tips & Career Development PLUS ChatGPT Tips

4.7

(276)

Get the job you want, build your career and learn essential Chat GPT tips for job search success and career growth...

2. Career Coaching Certification in Career Development Coaching

(1,988)

Career Coaching Practitioner Course Graduates Ready-To-Work Professionals in Holistic Career Development Career Coaching...

3. Get a Job As a Web Developer: A Step-by-Step Guide

4.8

(260)

Tips, tricks and industry secrets to help you land that web development job! A step-by-step guide to getting hired...

4. The eParachute Introduction to Your Career and Job Search

4.7

(654)

Discover Your Purpose & Ideal Career w/ the Author of the #1 Career and Job-Hunting Book “What Color is Your Parachute?”...

5. Triple Your Job Interviews - My Huge Job Interview Secret

4.3

(623)

In 2015, getting 3 - 6 interviews a week is all about using Linked In to bypass HR and apply directly to hiring managers...

6. Job Search Success Strategies: Proven Job Hunting Strategies

4.5

(314)

You Want to Land Your Dream Job? Learn How to Impress Recruiters, Beat the Competition and Win Job Interviews!...

7. Interviewing Skills for Jobs: Ace the Job Interview

4.1

(700)

Interviewing Skills - How to ace any job interview-Excel in all Job Interviewing skills...

8. Job Interviewing: Complete Job Interview Success Course 6HR

4.8

(747)

Job Interviewing is critical. Learn all key Job Interview skills + demo on answering specific job interview questions...

9. Win Any Job Interview - TOP Strategies For Job Interviews

4.7

(823)

Job Interview Success to Get Your Dream Job: Skills, Strategies, Hacks. Get Better Job Offers and Make More Money...

10. How To Love Your Job - Help Yourself and Others

4.3

(344)

Unlock Professional Success: Master Strategies for Job Satisfaction, Positive Mindset, and Lasting Workplace Impact...

11. Git a Web Developer Job: Mastering the Modern Workflow

4.7

(7,138)

Learn Git, Git Hub, Node.js, NPM, Object-oriented Java Script, ES6, webpack, Netlify, BEM and Job Interview Tips...

12. Career Coaching: Life Coach Certification (Accredited)

4.5

(841)

Life coach your clients to a successful job search, resume, interviewing skills, Linked In networking & career they love...

13. How To Get A Job In The Video Game Industry

4.9

(1,580)

Create a Winning Resume, Portfolio, Linked In Profile & Job Application. Dominate Interviews & Networking...

14. Using LinkedIn to Get a Job Without Going Crazy

4.5

(455)

A Practical Guide for Job Seekers...

15. Job Seeker's Guide To Nailing Every Interview

4.7

(320)

Everything you need to know about interviewing so you can get the job of your dreams...

16. Job Interview Skills Training Course Successful Interviews

4.4

(376)

Job Interview Skills Training to hit the ground running Interview like a PRO and achieve success in your interviews...

17. Boost Your Career Success by Developing Your Soft Skills

4.4

(13,357)

Assess your personal development skill gaps with the Success@Work Model. Create your action plan to boost career success...

18. P.O.W.E.R.: Proven Interview System to crack your DREAM job

4.6

(530)

7-Step Proven System to convert every job interview into a job offer...

19. 2023/2024 Compact Job Interview Preparation with Checklist

4.4

(483)

The 45 mins (not 6HR or 12 HR) Quick & Compact Refresher on Job Interview Preparations...

20. Personal Development Life Coach Certification1 Training

4.8

(869)

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

Top 10 most affordable universities for vocational directors

The most affordable schools for vocational directors are Baruch College of the City University of New York, california state university - bakersfield, and california state university - long beach.

If the best universities for vocational directors 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 vocational directors.

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. California State University - Long Beach

Long Beach, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,798

Cost of attendance

18,306

4. California State University - Dominguez Hills

Carson, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,942

Cost of attendance

14,469

5. Florida International University

Miami, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,556

Cost of attendance

19,434

6. Hunter College of the City University of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,182

Cost of attendance

13,998

7. Brigham Young University

Provo, UT • Private

In-state tuition

$5,620

Cost of attendance

18,136

8. California State University - Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,749

Cost of attendance

14,823

9. SUNY Farmingdale

Farmingdale, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$8,306

Cost of attendance

16,091

10. California State University - Fresno

Fresno, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,587

Cost of attendance

16,915

Top 10 hardest universities to get into for vocational directors

The hardest universities for vocational directors to get into are University of Pennsylvania, Harvard University, and Vanderbilt University.

Some great schools for vocational directors 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 vocational directors 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

SAT average

1,492

2. Harvard University

Cambridge, MA • Private

Admissions rate

SAT average

1,520

3. Vanderbilt University

Nashville, TN • Private

Admissions rate

10%

SAT average

1,514

4. Boston College

Chestnut Hill, MA • Private

Admissions rate

28%

SAT average

1,429

5. University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA • Private

Admissions rate

13%

SAT average

1,445

6. Boston University

Boston, MA • Private

Admissions rate

22%

SAT average

1,420

7. New York University

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

20%

SAT average

1,419

8. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

Admissions rate

SAT average

1,508

9. Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore, MD • Private

Admissions rate

11%

SAT average

1,513

10. Villanova University

Villanova, PA • Private

Admissions rate

29%

SAT average

1,407

Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for vocational directors

The easiest schools for vocational directors to get into are Barry University, nyack college, and ottawa university.

Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a vocational director 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 vocational directors.

1. Barry University

Miami, FL • Private

Admissions rate

91%

SAT average

1,006

2. Nyack College

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

98%

SAT average

999

3. Ottawa University

Ottawa, KS • Private

Admissions rate

78%

SAT average

1,024

4. Oklahoma Wesleyan University

Bartlesville, OK • Private

Admissions rate

68%

SAT average

964

5. University of North Texas at Dallas

Dallas, TX • Private

Admissions rate

83%

SAT average

992

6. Our Lady of the Lake University

San Antonio, TX • Private

Admissions rate

93%

SAT average

1,002

7. Texas Woman's University

Denton, TX • Private

Admissions rate

87%

SAT average

1,059

8. Fresno Pacific University

Fresno, CA • Private

Admissions rate

85%

SAT average

1,053

9. Gwynedd Mercy University

Gwynedd Valley, PA • Private

Admissions rate

92%

SAT average

1,031

10. Mount Saint Mary's University

Los Angeles, CA • Private

Admissions rate

84%

SAT average

1,031

Average vocational director salary by education level

Vocational directors with a Doctorate degree earn more than those without, at $41,843 annually. With a Master's degree, vocational directors earn a median annual income of $41,514 compared to $38,942 for vocational directors with an Bachelor's degree.

Vocational director education level	Vocational director salary
Master's Degree	$41,514
Bachelor's Degree	$38,942
Doctorate Degree	$41,843

Vocational director education FAQs

What is the best college for Vocational Directors?

Have more questions? See all answers to common community and social services questions.

Search for vocational director jobs

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

Browse community and social services jobs