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Key Account Manager Education Requirements
Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
There are several educational requirements to become a key account manager. Key account managers usually study business, marketing, or communication. 78% of key account managers hold a bachelor's degree, and 10% hold an master's degree. We analyzed 9,947 real key account manager resumes to see exactly what key account manager education sections show.
The most common colleges for key account managers are the University of Phoenix and the University of Phoenix.
There are also many online key account manager courses to help get the education required to be a key account manager.
There are certain key account manager certifications that you should consider. These key account manager certifications include Certified Sales Professional (CSP) and Sales Management.
What education do you need to become a key account manager?
What degree do you need to be a key account manager?
- Bachelor's, 78%
- Master's, 10%
- Associate, 8%
- High School Diploma, 1%
- Other Degrees, 3%
What should I major in to become a key account manager?
- Business, 37%
- Marketing, 16%
- Communication, 7%
- Management, 5%
- Other Majors, 35%
Most common colleges for key account managers
Key Account Manager Common College  | Percentages |
|---|---|
| University of Phoenix | 12.38% |
| Michigan State University | 7.77% |
| Western Michigan University | 6.55% |
| Arizona State University | 6.43% |
| California State University - San Bernardino | 5.70% |
Best majors for key account managers
| Rank | Major | Percentages |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Business | 37.2% |
| 2 | Marketing | 16.3% |
| 3 | Communication | 6.6% |
| 4 | Management | 5.5% |
| 5 | Finance | 3.5% |
Best colleges for key account managers
The best colleges for key account managers are Northwestern University, University of Pennsylvania, and University of Southern California.
A key account 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 key account 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 key account managers.
1. University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA • Private
In-State Tuition
$56,225
Enrollment
19,548
2. University of Wisconsin - Madison
Madison, WI • Private
In-State Tuition
$10,555
Enrollment
30,360
3. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
In-State Tuition
$55,584
Enrollment
10,764
4. University of Georgia
Athens, GA • Private
In-State Tuition
$11,830
Enrollment
29,474
5. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Blacksburg, VA • Private
In-State Tuition
$13,620
Enrollment
27,730
20 best online courses for key account managers
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Top 10 most affordable universities for key account managers
The most affordable schools for key account managers are USF Sarasota-Manatee, university of florida, and university of south florida.
If the best universities for key account 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 key account managers.
U
1. USF Sarasota-Manatee
Sarasota, FL • Private
In-State Tuition
$5,587
Cost of Attendance
13,043
2. University of Florida
Gainesville, FL • Private
In-State Tuition
$6,381
Cost of Attendance
21,034
3. University of South Florida
Tampa, FL • Private
In-State Tuition
$6,410
Cost of Attendance
20,456
4. Brigham Young University
Provo, UT • Private
In-State Tuition
$5,620
Cost of Attendance
18,136
5. University of Puerto Rico - Mayaguez
Mayaguez, PR • Private
In-State Tuition
$4,094
Cost of Attendance
14,302
Top 10 hardest universities to get into for key account managers
The hardest universities for key account managers to get into are Northwestern University, University of Pennsylvania, and University of Southern California.
Some great schools for key account 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 key account 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. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
Admissions Rate
8%
SAT Average
1,508
2. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
Admissions Rate
8%
SAT Average
1,492
3. University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA • Private
Admissions Rate
13%
SAT Average
1,445
4. Northeastern University
Boston, MA • Private
Admissions Rate
19%
SAT Average
1,466
5. Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, MD • Private
Admissions Rate
11%
SAT Average
1,513
Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for key account managers
The easiest schools for key account managers to get into are Gwynedd Mercy University, mount saint mary's university, and oklahoma wesleyan university.
Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a key account 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 key account managers.
1. Gwynedd Mercy University
Gwynedd Valley, PA • Private
Admissions Rate
92%
SAT Average
1,031
2. Mount Saint Mary's University
Los Angeles, CA • Private
Admissions Rate
84%
SAT Average
1,031
3. Oklahoma Wesleyan University
Bartlesville, OK • Private
Admissions Rate
68%
SAT Average
964
4. Holy Names University
Oakland, CA • Private
Admissions Rate
70%
SAT Average
849
5. University of the Incarnate Word
San Antonio, TX • Private
Admissions Rate
88%
SAT Average
1,044
Average key account manager salary by education level
| Key Account Manager education level | Key Account Manager salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $120,903 |
| High School Diploma or Less | $92,634 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $111,230 |
| Doctorate Degree | $116,326 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $92,585 |
Key Account Manager Education FAQs
Have more questions? See all answers to common executive management questions.
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Updated January 8, 2025
Updated January 8, 2025