Explore Jobs
Find Specific Jobs
Explore Careers
Explore Professions
Best Companies
Explore Companies
Owner Education Requirements
Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
There are several educational requirements to become an owner. Owners usually study business, accounting, or psychology. 52% of owners hold a bachelor's degree, and 20% hold an associate degree. We analyzed 310,513 real owner resumes to see exactly what owner education sections show.
The most common colleges for owners are the University of Phoenix and the University of Phoenix.
There are also many online owner courses to help get the education required to be an owner.
There are certain owner certifications that you should consider. These owner certifications include Certified Sales Professional (CSP) and Certified Management Accountant (CMA).
What education do you need to become an owner?
What degree do you need to be an owner?
- Bachelor's, 52%
- Associate, 20%
- High School Diploma, 12%
- Master's, 8%
- Other Degrees, 8%
What should I major in to become an owner?
- Business, 32%
- Accounting, 7%
- Psychology, 5%
- Marketing, 5%
- Other Majors, 51%
Most common colleges for owners
Owner Common College  | Percentages |
|---|---|
| University of Phoenix | 19.84% |
| Arizona State University | 5.83% |
| Ohio State University | 5.43% |
| Pennsylvania State University | 5.05% |
| Michigan State University | 4.67% |
Best majors for owners
| Rank | Major | Percentages |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Business | 32.3% |
| 2 | Accounting | 7.4% |
| 3 | Psychology | 5.3% |
| 4 | Marketing | 5.0% |
| 5 | Communication | 4.7% |
Best colleges for owners
The best colleges for owners are Northwestern University, University of Pennsylvania, and University of Southern California.
An owner with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for owners. 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 owners.
1. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
In-State Tuition
$55,584
Enrollment
10,764
2. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
In-State Tuition
$54,568
Enrollment
8,451
3. University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA • Private
In-State Tuition
$56,225
Enrollment
19,548
4. University of Texas at Austin
Austin, TX • Private
In-State Tuition
$10,610
Enrollment
40,329
5. SUNY at Binghamton
Vestal, NY • Private
In-State Tuition
$9,808
Enrollment
13,990
20 best online courses for owners
Advertising Disclosure
1. Predictive Analytics for Business
Learn to apply predictive analytics and business intelligence to solve real-world business problems...
2. AI for Business Leaders
Master the foundations of artificial intelligence so you can strategically implement AI in your company. Leverage machine learning technologies to power corporate growth, increase efficiency, and enhance customer experiences...
3. QuickBooks Payroll - QuickBooks Online
Processing Quick Books Online payroll for a small business, generating paychecks, processing payroll tax forms...
5. Customer Service, Customer Support, And Customer Experience
Customer service, customer support, and customer experience training. Loyal clients through world-class customer service...
6. Customer Service Mastery: Delight Every Customer
Master Customer Service using this practical customer care course...
7. Customer Service: 6 Keys To Exceptional Customer Service
Master Customer Satisfaction & Astonish Your Customers With A+ Customer Service...
8. Customer Service & Support For Customer Service Executives
Learn Customer Service Skills & Provide Excellent Customer Support, Customer Experience & How To Manage Upset Customers...
9. Real Estate Photography Masterclass
A Guide to Equipment, Technique and Workflow for Real Estate Photography...
10. Mastering Architecture and Real Estate Photography
Start a business photographing real estate photography jobs for architects, builders, and real estate agents...
Top 10 most affordable universities for owners
The most affordable schools for owners are Baruch College of the City University of New York, university of florida, and brigham young university.
If the best universities for owners 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 owners.
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. University of Florida
Gainesville, FL • Private
In-State Tuition
$6,381
Cost of Attendance
21,034
3. Brigham Young University
Provo, UT • Private
In-State Tuition
$5,620
Cost of Attendance
18,136
U
4. USF Sarasota-Manatee
Sarasota, FL • Private
In-State Tuition
$5,587
Cost of Attendance
13,043
5. California State University - Fullerton
Fullerton, CA • Private
In-State Tuition
$6,886
Cost of Attendance
17,645
Top 10 hardest universities to get into for owners
The hardest universities for owners to get into are Northwestern University, University of Pennsylvania, and University of Southern California.
Some great schools for owners 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 owners 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. Carnegie Mellon University
Pittsburgh, PA • Private
Admissions Rate
17%
SAT Average
1,507
5. Northeastern University
Boston, MA • Private
Admissions Rate
19%
SAT Average
1,466
Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for owners
The easiest schools for owners to get into are Mount Saint Mary's University, barry university, and oklahoma wesleyan university.
Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as an owner 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 owners.
1. Mount Saint Mary's University
Los Angeles, CA • Private
Admissions Rate
84%
SAT Average
1,031
2. Barry University
Miami, FL • Private
Admissions Rate
91%
SAT Average
1,006
3. Oklahoma Wesleyan University
Bartlesville, OK • Private
Admissions Rate
68%
SAT Average
964
4. University of North Texas at Dallas
Dallas, TX • Private
Admissions Rate
83%
SAT Average
992
5. Holy Names University
Oakland, CA • Private
Admissions Rate
70%
SAT Average
849
Average owner salary by education level
| Owner education level | Owner salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $100,949 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $94,102 |
| Doctorate Degree | $100,936 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $76,441 |
Search for owner jobs
Loading...
Loading...
Updated January 8, 2025
Updated January 8, 2025