Loan Processor Education Requirements

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read

There are several educational requirements to become a loan processor. Loan processors usually study business, accounting, or finance. 46% of loan processors hold a bachelor's degree, and 23% hold an associate degree. We analyzed 36,342 real loan processor resumes to see exactly what loan processor education sections show.

The most common colleges for loan processors are the University of Phoenix and the University of Phoenix.

There are also many online loan processor courses to help get the education required to be a loan processor.

What education do you need to become a loan processor?

What degree do you need to be a loan processor?

The most common degree for loan processors is bachelor's degree, with 46% of loan processors earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are associate degree degree at 23% and associate degree degree at 19%.
  • Bachelor's, 46%
  • Associate, 23%
  • High School Diploma, 19%
  • Diploma, 4%
  • Other Degrees, 8%

What should I major in to become a loan processor?

You should major in business to become a loan processor. 36% of loan processors major in business. Other common majors for a loan processor include accounting and finance.

Most common colleges for loan processors

Loan processors often get their degrees at University of Phoenix, DeVry University, and Strayer University. Here are the most common colleges for loan processors in the US based on their resumes.
Loan Processor Common College
ascdesc
Percentages
ascdesc
University of Phoenix30.41%
DeVry University5.21%
Strayer University4.55%
Florida State College at Jacksonville4.48%
California State University - San Bernardino4.48%

Best majors for loan processors

Rank
ascdesc
Major
ascdesc
Percentages
ascdesc
1Business36.2%
2Accounting10.3%
3Finance7.7%
4General Studies5.3%
5Psychology4.3%

Best colleges for loan processors

The best colleges for loan processors are Northwestern University, University of Pennsylvania, and Stanford University.

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

1. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

In-State Tuition

$55,584

Enrollment

10,764

Website

www.upenn.edu

Address

1 College Hall, Room 100, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6303

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $91,200 per year

Net Price: $25,033 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 8.41%
SAT Average - 1492
ACT Average - 34
Most Popular Majors
Education
Finance
Business
Nursing
Economics

2. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

In-State Tuition

$54,568

Enrollment

8,451

Website

www.northwestern.edu

Address

633 Clark St, Evanston, IL 60208

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $71,900 per year

Net Price: $24,840 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 8.47%
SAT Average - 1508
ACT Average - 34
Most Popular Majors
Business
Economics
Liberal Arts
Communication
Psychology

3. University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA • Private

In-State Tuition

$56,225

Enrollment

19,548

Website

www.usc.edu/

Address

University Park, Los Angeles, CA 90089-0012

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $61,400 per year

Net Price: $30,453 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 12.96%
SAT Average - 1445
ACT Average - 32
Most Popular Majors
Business
Computer Science
Education
Communication
Accounting

4. SUNY at Binghamton

Vestal, NY • Private

In-State Tuition

$9,808

Enrollment

13,990

Website

www.binghamton.edu

Address

P.O. Box 6000, Binghamton, NY 13902-6000

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $47,700 per year

Net Price: $18,958 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 39.81%
SAT Average - 1376
ACT Average - 30
Most Popular Majors
Economics
Accounting
Psychology
Nursing
Computer Science

5. Villanova University

Villanova, PA • Private

In-State Tuition

$53,308

Enrollment

6,819

Website

www.villanova.edu

Address

800 Lancaster Avenue, Villanova, PA 19085-1699

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $64,700 per year

Net Price: $40,134 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 29.22%
SAT Average - 1407
ACT Average - 32
Most Popular Majors
Nursing
Business
Finance
Communication
Accounting

20 best online courses for loan processors

Advertising Disclosure

1. Bank Loan Approval Prediction With Artificial Neural Nets

coursera

In this hands-on project, we will build and train a simple deep neural network model to predict the approval of personal loan for a person based on features like age, experience, income, locations, family, education, exiting mortgage, credit card etc. By the end of this project, you will be able to: - Understand the applications of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning techniques in the banking industry - Understand the theory and intuition behind Deep Neural Networks - Import key Python...

2. Become a Mortgage Loan Processor

udemy
4.6
(3,074)

Finibi Mortgage CEO, Joe Correa, teaches you how to become a mortgage loan processor...

3. Advanced Mortgage Loan Processor: Essential Skills Training

udemy
4.5
(764)

Finibi Mortgage CEO, Joe Correa, teaches you how to take your mortgage loan processor career to the next level...

4. Loan Processor & MLO Mortgage Math: Problems & Solutions

udemy
4.7
(271)

Mortgage skills training and SAFE Mortgage Loan Originator Licensing Exam math prep with 115 problems & solutions...

5. How to Become a Mobile Notary and Loan Signing Agent

udemy
4.4
(2,960)

Learn how to make over six figures as a Real Estate Loan Signing Agent and Mobile Notary...

6. U.S. Residential Real Estate, Property & Mortgage Business

udemy
4.6
(2,324)

Property & Mortgage Underwriting Loan Processing Financial Analysis Mortgage Operations Origination...

7. Mastering the Pre-qualification Process of a Mortgage Loan

udemy
4.3
(257)

CEO and Founder of Finibi Mortgage teaches you how to pre-qualify borrowers from start to finish...

8. Start a Profitable Career as a Mortgage Loan Originator

udemy
4.3
(371)

Learn from the president and CEO of Finibi Mortgage, Joe Correa, how the entire mortgage process works...

9. Become a Notary Loan Signing Agent

udemy
4.9
(311)

Learn 27 NSA terms, learn 35 documents typically used in a loan signing, common types of signing packages, and more!...

10. The Ultimate Guide to Becoming a Notary Loan Signing Agent

udemy
4.6
(521)

Step-By-Step Blueprint on Creating a Thriving Mobile Notary Loan Signing Agent Business in Under 30 Days...

Top 10 most affordable universities for loan processors

The most affordable schools for loan processors are Baruch College of the City University of New York, suny farmingdale, and usf sarasota-manatee.

If the best universities for loan processors 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 loan processors.

1. Baruch College of the City University of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-State Tuition

$7,262

Cost of Attendance

14,046

Website

www.baruch.cuny.edu

Address

One Bernard Baruch Way, New York, NY 10010

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $47,500 per year

Net Price: $2,981 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 39.29%
SAT Average - 1305
Most Popular Majors
Finance
Accounting
Business
Psychology
Economics

2. SUNY Farmingdale

Farmingdale, NY • Private

In-State Tuition

$8,306

Cost of Attendance

16,091

Website

www.farmingdale.edu/

Address

2350 Broadhollow Road, Farmingdale, NY 11735-1021

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $44,800 per year

Net Price: $9,268 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 46.07%
SAT Average - 1091
ACT Average - 22
Most Popular Majors
Business
Liberal Arts
Criminal Justice
Nursing
Psychology
U

3. USF Sarasota-Manatee

Sarasota, FL • Private

In-State Tuition

$5,587

Cost of Attendance

13,043

Website

usfsm.edu/

Address

8350 N. Tamiani Trail, Sarasota, FL 34243

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $39,400 per year

Net Price: $4,595 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 32.43%
SAT Average - 1225
ACT Average - 26
Most Popular Majors
Psychology
Education
Liberal Arts
Business
Accounting

4. Brooklyn College of the City University of New York

Brooklyn, NY • Private

In-State Tuition

$7,240

Cost of Attendance

13,991

Website

www.brooklyn.cuny.edu

Address

2900 Bedford Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11210-2889

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $36,900 per year

Net Price: $3,000 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 44.26%
SAT Average - 1150
Most Popular Majors
Education
Business
Psychology
Accounting
Finance

5. California State University - Dominguez Hills

Carson, CA • Private

In-State Tuition

$6,942

Cost of Attendance

14,469

Website

https://www.csudh.edu

Address

1000 E Victoria St, Carson, CA 90747

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $38,300 per year

Net Price: $3,891 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 63.94%
Most Popular Majors
Business
Education
Psychology
Liberal Arts
Criminal Justice

Top 10 hardest universities to get into for loan processors

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

Some great schools for loan processors 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 loan processors 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

Website

www.northwestern.edu

Address

633 Clark St, Evanston, IL 60208

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $71,900 per year

Net Price: $24,840 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 8.47%
SAT Average - 1508
ACT Average - 34
Most Popular Majors
Business
Economics
Liberal Arts
Communication
Psychology

2. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

Admissions Rate

8%

SAT Average

1,492

Website

www.upenn.edu

Address

1 College Hall, Room 100, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6303

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $91,200 per year

Net Price: $25,033 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 8.41%
SAT Average - 1492
ACT Average - 34
Most Popular Majors
Education
Finance
Business
Nursing
Economics

3. Stanford University

Stanford, CA • Private

Admissions Rate

4%

SAT Average

1,497

Website

www.stanford.edu/

Address

450 Serra Mall, Stanford, CA 94305-2061

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $92,800 per year

Net Price: $12,265 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 4.36%
SAT Average - 1497
ACT Average - 34
Most Popular Majors
Computer Science
Business
Education
Economics
Political Science

4. University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA • Private

Admissions Rate

13%

SAT Average

1,445

Website

www.usc.edu/

Address

University Park, Los Angeles, CA 90089-0012

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $61,400 per year

Net Price: $30,453 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 12.96%
SAT Average - 1445
ACT Average - 32
Most Popular Majors
Business
Computer Science
Education
Communication
Accounting

5. Boston University

Boston, MA • Private

Admissions Rate

22%

SAT Average

1,420

Website

www.bu.edu

Address

One Silber Way, 8th Floor, Boston, MA 02215

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $52,800 per year

Net Price: $30,729 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 22.09%
SAT Average - 1420
ACT Average - 32
Most Popular Majors
Business
Education
Communication
Economics
Computer Science

Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for loan processors

The easiest schools for loan processors to get into are Oklahoma Wesleyan University, holy names university, and barry university.

Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a loan processor 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 loan processors.

1. Oklahoma Wesleyan University

Bartlesville, OK • Private

Admissions Rate

68%

SAT Average

964

Website

www.okwu.edu

Address

2201 Silver Lake Rd, Bartlesville, OK 74006-6299

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $50,500 per year

Net Price: $26,279 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 67.73%
SAT Average - 964
ACT Average - 19
Most Popular Majors
Nursing
Liberal Arts
Education
Psychology
Marketing

2. Holy Names University

Oakland, CA • Private

Admissions Rate

70%

SAT Average

849

Website

www.hnu.edu

Address

3500 Mountain Blvd, Oakland, CA 94619-1699

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $49,000 per year

Net Price: $23,175 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 70.04%
SAT Average - 849
ACT Average - 20
Most Popular Majors
Education
Business
Psychology
Nursing
Liberal Arts

3. Barry University

Miami, FL • Private

Admissions Rate

91%

SAT Average

1,006

Website

www.barry.edu

Address

11300 NE 2nd Ave, Miami Shores, FL 33161-6695

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $43,700 per year

Net Price: $17,937 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 91.25%
SAT Average - 1006
ACT Average - 20
Most Popular Majors
Business
Nursing
Education
Liberal Arts
Health Care Administration

4. Notre Dame College

Cleveland, OH • Private

Admissions Rate

90%

SAT Average

994

Website

www.notredamecollege.edu

Address

4545 College Rd, Cleveland, OH 44121-4293

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $37,000 per year

Net Price: $21,651 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 89.65%
SAT Average - 994
ACT Average - 19
Most Popular Majors
Education
Nursing
Business
Psychology
Criminal Justice

5. University of North Texas at Dallas

Dallas, TX • Private

Admissions Rate

83%

SAT Average

992

Website

untdallas.edu

Address

7300 University Hills Blvd, Dallas, TX 75241

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $39,300 per year

Net Price: $7,400 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 83.11%
SAT Average - 992
ACT Average - 18
Most Popular Majors
Criminal Justice
Psychology
Business
Accounting
Education

Average loan processor salary by education level

Loan processors with a Bachelor's degree earn more than those without, at $40,627 annually. With a High School Diploma degree, loan processors earn a median annual income of $38,209 compared to $38,035 for loan processors with an Associate degree.
Loan Processor education level
ascdesc
Loan Processor salary
ascdesc
High School Diploma or Less$38,209
Bachelor's Degree$40,627
Some College/ Associate Degree$38,035

Loan Processor Education FAQs

Search for loan processor jobs

Loading...
Loading...

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
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.

Browse office and administrative jobs