Partner Education Requirements

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read

There are several educational requirements to become a partner. Partners usually study business, law, or accounting. 59% of partners hold a bachelor's degree, and 11% hold an master's degree. We analyzed 45,267 real partner resumes to see exactly what partner education sections show.

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

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

There are certain partner certifications that you should consider. These partner certifications include Certified Management Accountant (CMA) and Basic Life Support for Healthcare and Public Safety (BLS).

What education do you need to become a partner?

What degree do you need to be a partner?

The most common degree for partners is bachelor's degree, with 59% of partners earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are master's degree degree at 11% and master's degree degree at 11%.
  • Bachelor's, 59%
  • Master's, 11%
  • Doctorate, 11%
  • Associate, 10%
  • Other Degrees, 9%

What should I major in to become a partner?

You should major in business to become a partner. 23% of partners major in business. Other common majors for a partner include law and accounting.

Most common colleges for partners

Partners often get their degrees at University of Phoenix, New York University, and University of Florida. Here are the most common colleges for partners in the US based on their resumes.
Partner Common College
ascdesc
Percentages
ascdesc
University of Phoenix10.06%
New York University5.84%
University of Florida5.77%
University of Texas at Austin5.34%
Pennsylvania State University5.27%

Best majors for partners

Rank
ascdesc
Major
ascdesc
Percentages
ascdesc
1Business22.6%
2Law13.9%
3Accounting7.4%
4Psychology5.6%
5Finance5.3%

Best colleges for partners

The best colleges for partners are Northwestern University, University of Pennsylvania, and University of Southern California.

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

1. University of Georgia

Athens, GA • Private

In-State Tuition

$11,830

Enrollment

29,474

Website

www.uga.edu

Address

456 East Broad Street, Athens, GA 30602

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $45,200 per year

Net Price: $13,971 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 48.63%
SAT Average - 1345
ACT Average - 30
Most Popular Majors
Biology
Education
Business
Finance
Psychology

2. University of Wisconsin - Madison

Madison, WI • Private

In-State Tuition

$10,555

Enrollment

30,360

Website

www.wisc.edu

Address

500 Lincoln Dr, Madison, WI 53706

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $49,600 per year

Net Price: $18,219 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 51.73%
SAT Average - 1365
ACT Average - 30
Most Popular Majors
Biology
Education
Economics
Psychology
Finance

3. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minneapolis, MN • Private

In-State Tuition

$14,760

Enrollment

31,451

Website

https://twin-cities.umn.edu

Address

202 Morrill Hall, 100 Church Street SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455-0213

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $46,000 per year

Net Price: $17,479 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 51.87%
SAT Average - 1336
ACT Average - 29
Most Popular Majors
Biology
Education
Business
Computer Science
Psychology

4. Howard University

Washington, DC • Private

In-State Tuition

$26,756

Enrollment

6,166

Website

www.howard.edu

Address

2400 Sixth St NW, Washington, DC 20059-0001

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $39,500 per year

Net Price: $39,792 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 31.59%
SAT Average - 1210
ACT Average - 25
Most Popular Majors
Biology
Law
Political Science
Psychology
Business

5. University of Texas at Austin

Austin, TX • Private

In-State Tuition

$10,610

Enrollment

40,329

Website

www.utexas.edu

Address

110 Inner Campus Drive, Austin, TX 78712

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $52,200 per year

Net Price: $16,505 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 38.52%
SAT Average - 1367
ACT Average - 30
Most Popular Majors
Biology
Business
Economics
Electrical Engineering
Accounting

20 best online courses for partners

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Top 10 most affordable universities for partners

The most affordable schools for partners are University of Florida, fashion institute of technology, and florida state university.

If the best universities for partners 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 partners.

1. 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
Biology
Business
Education
Psychology
Political Science
F

2. Fashion Institute of Technology

New York, NY • Private

In-State Tuition

$5,740

Cost of Attendance

17,864

Website

www.fitnyc.edu

Address

Seventh Avenue At 27th Street, New York, NY 10001-5992

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $43,200 per year

Net Price: $11,760 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 52.67%
Most Popular Majors
Business
Marketing

3. Florida State University

Tallahassee, FL • Private

In-State Tuition

$5,656

Cost of Attendance

21,623

Website

www.fsu.edu

Address

222 South Copeland Street, Tallahassee, FL 32306-1470

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $39,700 per year

Net Price: $10,744 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 36.78%
SAT Average - 1289
ACT Average - 28
Most Popular Majors
Biology
Psychology
Criminal Justice
Liberal Arts
Finance

4. 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
Biology
Nursing
U

5. 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
Biology
Psychology
Liberal Arts
Education
Business

Top 10 hardest universities to get into for partners

The hardest universities for partners to get into are Northwestern University, University of Pennsylvania, and University of Southern California.

Some great schools for partners 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 partners 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
Biology
Business
Economics
Law
Liberal Arts

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
Biology
Finance
Business
Nursing

3. 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
Electrical Engineering
Communication

4. 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
Education
Electrical Engineering

5. Northeastern University

Boston, MA • Private

Admissions Rate

19%

SAT Average

1,466

Website

www.northeastern.edu

Address

360 Huntington Ave, 110CH, Boston, MA 02115

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $57,800 per year

Net Price: $31,855 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 19.34%
SAT Average - 1466
ACT Average - 33
Most Popular Majors
Biology
Economics
Electrical Engineering
Nursing
Law

Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for partners

The easiest schools for partners to get into are Barry University, oklahoma wesleyan university, and university of the incarnate word.

Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a partner 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 partners.

1. 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
Biology
Nursing
Law
Education

2. 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
Biology

3. University of the Incarnate Word

San Antonio, TX • Private

Admissions Rate

88%

SAT Average

1,044

Website

www.uiw.edu

Address

4301 Broadway, San Antonio, TX 78209

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $41,000 per year

Net Price: $23,441 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 87.94%
SAT Average - 1044
ACT Average - 20
Most Popular Majors
Business
Biology
Nursing
Education
Accounting

4. D'Youville College

Buffalo, NY • Private

Admissions Rate

100%

SAT Average

1,072

Website

www.dyc.edu

Address

320 Porter Ave, Buffalo, NY 14201-1084

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $50,600 per year

Net Price: $20,345 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 99.60%
SAT Average - 1072
ACT Average - 19
Most Popular Majors
Nursing
Biology
Business
Psychology
History

5. LIM College

New York, NY • Private

Admissions Rate

83%

SAT Average

1,061

Website

www.limcollege.edu

Address

12 East 53rd St, New York, NY 10022-5268

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $42,300 per year

Net Price: $36,799 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 83.46%
SAT Average - 1061
ACT Average - 21
Most Popular Majors
Marketing
Business

Average partner salary by education level

According to our data, partners with a Doctorate degree earn the highest average salary, at $121,463 annually. Partners with a Master's degree earn an average annual salary of $109,878.
Partner education level
ascdesc
Partner salary
ascdesc
Master's Degree$109,878
Bachelor's Degree$82,725
Doctorate Degree$121,463

Partner 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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