Market Maker Education Requirements

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read

There are several educational requirements to become a market maker. Market makers usually study finance, economics, or business. 87% of market makers hold a bachelor's degree, and 8% hold an master's degree. We analyzed 822 real market maker resumes to see exactly what market maker education sections show.

The most common colleges for market makers are the New York University and the New York University.

There are also many online market maker courses to help get the education required to be a market maker.

What education do you need to become a market maker?

What degree do you need to be a market maker?

The most common degree for market makers is bachelor's degree, with 87% of market makers earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are master's degree degree at 8% and master's degree degree at 2%.
  • Bachelor's, 87%
  • Master's, 8%
  • Associate, 2%
  • High School Diploma, 1%
  • Other Degrees, 2%

What should I major in to become a market maker?

You should major in finance to become a market maker. 29% of market makers major in finance. Other common majors for a market maker include economics and business.

Most common colleges for market makers

Market makers often get their degrees at New York University, University of Illinois at Chicago, and DePaul University. Here are the most common colleges for market makers in the US based on their resumes.
Market Maker Common College
ascdesc
Percentages
ascdesc
New York University10.14%
University of Illinois at Chicago10.14%
DePaul University6.76%
University of Pennsylvania6.08%
Indiana University Bloomington4.73%

Best majors for market makers

Rank
ascdesc
Major
ascdesc
Percentages
ascdesc
1Finance29.1%
2Economics17.5%
3Business15.6%
4Political Science5.7%
5Accounting4.2%

Best colleges for market makers

The best colleges for market makers are Northwestern University, University of Pennsylvania, and Stanford University.

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

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
Finance
Business
Economics
Political Science
Marketing

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
Communication
Accounting
Economics

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
Computer Science
Business

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
Business
Finance
Communication
Accounting
Marketing

20 best online courses for market makers

Advertising Disclosure

1. Capital Markets Immersion: A Financial Markets Introduction

udemy
4.5
(2,256)

Capital Markets Financial Markets Financial Risk Financial Math Yield Curves Derivatives Swaps Options...

2. Financial Derivatives, Futures and Options - Applied Course

udemy
4.5
(435)

Learn Derivatives from Real Data on NSE; A Risk Management Approach; Covers Stock Futures & Options, Commodities...

3. 30 Digital Marketing Courses In 1. Online Marketing For 2023

udemy
4.7
(281)

Online marketing is the future. Learn digital marketing basics like SEO & social media for 2023...

4. Advance Stock Options Trading Strategies (5 Courses) 10+Hour

udemy
4.5
(287)

Profitable Options Trading Strategies For Trading Stock Options, Call & Put Using Technical Analysis w/ Risk Management...

5. Product Marketing Fundamentals

udemy
4.4
(353)

All the frameworks, skills, & advice you need to forge a career in product marketing. Product Marketing Certificate...

6. Digital Marketing B2B: Dekker's Ultimate Digital Marketing

udemy
4.6
(1,291)

Digital Marketing Course Udemy A-Z (Unofficial): Learn B2B Digital Marketing from a F100 Exec: Udemy Digital Marketing...

7. Marketing Strategy: 21 Digital Marketing Tips & Techniques

udemy
4.5
(473)

Digital Marketing Strategy, increase sale, customers & attention by using 21 persuasion & marketing cognitive biases...

8. Product Management Marketing: Dekker's Product Marketing MBA

udemy
4.6
(2,007)

Be a Product Marketing Manager - Product Management : Product Manager MBA : Product to Market : Product Owner Launch GTM...

9. Market Research: Dekker's Complete Marketing Research Course

udemy
4.4
(452)

Competitor Analysis, Market Research Analysis, Marketing Analytics, Consumer Analytics, Conversion Rate Optimization...

10. Marketing Analytics: The Full Marketing Research Masterclass

udemy
4.5
(440)

#1 Course on Marketing Analytics: Become a marketing analytics & strategy expert...

Top 10 most affordable universities for market makers

The most affordable schools for market makers are Baruch College of the City University of New York, suny farmingdale, and university of florida.

If the best universities for market makers 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 market makers.

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
Biology
Psychology
Mathematics

3. University of Florida

Gainesville, FL • Private

In-State Tuition

$6,381

Cost of Attendance

21,034

Website

www.ufl.edu/

Address

300 SW 13th Street, Gainesville, FL 32611

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

Net Price: $8,057 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 38.75%
SAT Average - 1362
ACT Average - 30
Most Popular Majors
Business
Psychology
Political Science
Liberal Arts
Finance

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
Business
Psychology
Accounting
Finance
Communication

5. California State University - Bakersfield

Bakersfield, CA • Private

In-State Tuition

$7,309

Cost of Attendance

16,714

Website

www.csub.edu

Address

9001 Stockdale Hwy, Bakersfield, CA 93311-1022

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $39,100 per year

Net Price: $5,687 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 23.02%
Most Popular Majors
Liberal Arts
Business
Psychology
Communication
English

Top 10 hardest universities to get into for market makers

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

Some great schools for market makers 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 market makers 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
Finance
Business
Economics
Political Science
Marketing

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
Biology
Mathematics
Economics

4. Vanderbilt University

Nashville, TN • Private

Admissions Rate

10%

SAT Average

1,514

Website

www.vanderbilt.edu

Address

2101 West End Avenue, Nashville, TN 37240

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $61,900 per year

Net Price: $20,253 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 9.61%
SAT Average - 1514
ACT Average - 34
Most Popular Majors
Economics
Business
History
Political Science
Finance

5. 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
Communication
Accounting
Economics

Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for market makers

The easiest schools for market makers to get into are Oklahoma Wesleyan University, notre dame college, and kean university.

Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a market maker 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 market makers.

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
Liberal Arts
Psychology
Biology
Marketing
Accounting

2. 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
Business
Psychology
Communication
Accounting
Finance

3. Kean University

Union, NJ • Private

Admissions Rate

86%

SAT Average

991

Website

www.kean.edu

Address

1000 Morris Ave, Union, NJ 07083-0411

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $38,000 per year

Net Price: $18,547 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 85.98%
SAT Average - 991
ACT Average - 20
Most Popular Majors
Psychology
Business
Communication
Accounting
Marketing

4. 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
Business
Psychology
Liberal Arts
Biology
Communication

5. Iona College

New Rochelle, NY • Private

Admissions Rate

88%

SAT Average

1,089

Website

www.iona.edu

Address

715 North Ave, New Rochelle, NY 10801-1890

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $45,900 per year

Net Price: $28,754 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 88.16%
SAT Average - 1089
ACT Average - 23
Most Popular Majors
Business
Marketing
Accounting
Finance
Communication

Average market maker salary by education level

According to our data, market makers with a Master's degree earn the highest average salary, at $137,477 annually. Market makers with a Doctorate degree earn an average annual salary of $123,378.
Market Maker education level
ascdesc
Market Maker salary
ascdesc
Master's Degree$137,477
Bachelor's Degree$108,190
Doctorate Degree$123,378

Market Maker Education FAQs

Search for market maker 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.