Media Planner Education Requirements

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read

There are several educational requirements to become a media planner. Media planners usually study communication, marketing, or advertising. 89% of media planners hold a bachelor's degree, and 8% hold an master's degree. We analyzed 2,986 real media planner resumes to see exactly what media planner education sections show.

The most common colleges for media planners are the Michigan State University and the Michigan State University.

There are also many online media planner courses to help get the education required to be a media planner.

There are certain media planner certifications that you should consider. These media planner certifications include Google Data Analytics Professional Certificate and Certified Medical Interpreter - Spanish (CMI).

What education do you need to become a media planner?

What degree do you need to be a media planner?

The most common degree for media planners is bachelor's degree, with 89% of media planners 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, 89%
  • Master's, 8%
  • Associate, 2%
  • Diploma, 0%
  • Other Degrees, 1%

What should I major in to become a media planner?

You should major in communication to become a media planner. 19% of media planners major in communication. Other common majors for a media planner include marketing and advertising.

Most common colleges for media planners

Media planners often get their degrees at Michigan State University, University of Texas at Austin, and Syracuse University. Here are the most common colleges for media planners in the US based on their resumes.
Media Planner Common College
ascdesc
Percentages
ascdesc
Michigan State University9.98%
University of Texas at Austin8.70%
Syracuse University6.37%
New York University6.16%
University of California - Davis6.16%

Best majors for media planners

Rank
ascdesc
Major
ascdesc
Percentages
ascdesc
1Communication19.1%
2Marketing18.5%
3Advertising13.3%
4Business12.2%
5Public Relations6.4%

Best colleges for media planners

The best colleges for media planners are Northwestern University, Stanford University, and University of Southern California.

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

1. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL ā€¢ 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
Journalism
Communication
Psychology

2. Stanford University

Stanford, CA ā€¢ Private

In-State Tuition

$51,354

Enrollment

7,083

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
Business
Economics
Political Science
English
Journalism And Mass Communications

3. University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA ā€¢ 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
Communication
Economics
Public Relations
Psychology

4. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA ā€¢ 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
Business
Economics
Political Science
Marketing
Journalism And Mass Communications

5. Pennsylvania State University

University Park, PA ā€¢ Private

In-State Tuition

$18,454

Enrollment

40,108

Website

www.psu.edu/

Address

201 Old Main Building, University Park, PA 16802-1589

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $43,600 per year

Net Price: $30,996 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 56.49%
SAT Average - 1269
ACT Average - 28
Most Popular Majors
Economics
Psychology
Public Relations
Journalism
Marketing

20 best online courses for media planners

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Top 10 most affordable universities for media planners

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

If the best universities for media planners 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 media planners.

1. Baruch College of the City University of New York

New York, NY ā€¢ 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
Business
Psychology
Journalism And Mass Communications
Economics
Political Science

2. University of Florida

Gainesville, FL ā€¢ 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
Public Relations
Political Science
Economics

3. SUNY Farmingdale

Farmingdale, NY ā€¢ 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
Journalism And Mass Communications
Graphic Design
Psychology
Economics

4. California State University - Dominguez Hills

Carson, CA ā€¢ 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
Psychology
Sociology
Journalism And Mass Communications
Communication

5. Brigham Young University

Provo, UT ā€¢ Private

In-State Tuition

$5,620

Cost of Attendance

18,136

Website

www.byu.edu

Address

Main Campus, Provo, UT 84602

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $46,600 per year

Net Price: $13,181 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 64.47%
SAT Average - 1324
ACT Average - 29
Most Popular Majors
Business
Psychology
Economics
English
Public Relations

Top 10 hardest universities to get into for media planners

The hardest universities for media planners to get into are Northwestern University, Stanford University, and University of Southern California.

Some great schools for media planners 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 media planners 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 ā€¢ 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
Journalism
Communication
Psychology

2. Stanford University

Stanford, CA ā€¢ 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
Business
Economics
Political Science
English
Journalism And Mass Communications

3. University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA ā€¢ 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
Communication
Economics
Public Relations
Psychology

4. Boston University

Boston, MA ā€¢ 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
Communication
Economics
Psychology
Journalism

5. Villanova University

Villanova, PA ā€¢ Private

Admissions Rate

29%

SAT Average

1,407

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
Communication
Marketing
Economics
Political Science

Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for media planners

The easiest schools for media planners to get into are Barry University, oklahoma wesleyan university, and holy names university.

Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a media planner 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 media planners.

1. Barry University

Miami, FL ā€¢ 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
Journalism And Mass Communications
Psychology
Public Relations
Photography

2. Oklahoma Wesleyan University

Bartlesville, OK ā€¢ 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
Psychology
Marketing
Journalism And Mass Communications
Business
English

3. Holy Names University

Oakland, CA ā€¢ 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
Journalism And Mass Communications
Communication
Marketing

4. Notre Dame College

Cleveland, OH ā€¢ 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
Journalism And Mass Communications
Communication
Marketing

5. Saint Joseph's College of Maine

Standish, ME ā€¢ Private

Admissions Rate

84%

SAT Average

1,069

Website

www.sjcme.edu

Address

278 White's Bridge Road, Standish, ME 04084-5263

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $42,500 per year

Net Price: $26,405 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 83.62%
SAT Average - 1069
ACT Average - 21
Most Popular Majors
Business
Marketing
Psychology
Journalism And Mass Communications
Communication

Average media planner salary by education level

According to our data, media planners with a Master's degree earn the highest average salary, at $60,359 annually. Media planners with a Bachelor's degree earn an average annual salary of $58,333.
Media Planner education level
ascdesc
Media Planner salary
ascdesc
Master's Degree$60,359
Bachelor's Degree$58,333

Media Planner Education FAQs

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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.

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