Professional Organizer Education Requirements

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read

There are several educational requirements to become a professional organizer. Professional organizers usually study business, psychology, or communication. 65% of professional organizers hold a bachelor's degree, and 13% hold an associate degree. We analyzed 1,036 real professional organizer resumes to see exactly what professional organizer education sections show.

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

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

What education do you need to become a professional organizer?

What degree do you need to be a professional organizer?

The most common degree for professional organizers is bachelor's degree, with 65% of professional organizers earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are associate degree degree at 13% and associate degree degree at 12%.
  • Bachelor's, 65%
  • Associate, 13%
  • Master's, 12%
  • High School Diploma, 4%
  • Other Degrees, 6%

What should I major in to become a professional organizer?

You should major in business to become a professional organizer. 24% of professional organizers major in business. Other common majors for a professional organizer include psychology and communication.

Most common colleges for professional organizers

Professional organizers often get their degrees at University of Phoenix, University of North Texas, and University of Iowa. Here are the most common colleges for professional organizers in the US based on their resumes.
Professional Organizer Common College
ascdesc
Percentages
ascdesc
University of Phoenix12.15%
University of North Texas9.35%
University of Iowa6.54%
University of California - Davis5.61%
Michigan State University4.67%

Best majors for professional organizers

Rank
ascdesc
Major
ascdesc
Percentages
ascdesc
1Business23.6%
2Psychology9.9%
3Communication7.1%
4Management5.8%
5Nursing5.4%

Best colleges for professional organizers

The best colleges for professional organizers are Vanderbilt University, Northwestern University, and Johns Hopkins University.

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

1. California State University - Dominguez Hills

Carson, CA • Private

In-State Tuition

$6,942

Enrollment

13,871

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
Sociology
Nursing

2. Vanderbilt University

Nashville, TN • Private

In-State Tuition

$49,816

Enrollment

6,840

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
Nursing
Education
Business
Elementary Education
English

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
Education
Communication
Psychology
Marketing

4. 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
Business
Nursing
Marketing
Communication

5. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Ann Arbor, MI • Private

In-State Tuition

$15,262

Enrollment

30,079

Website

https://umich.edu/

Address

2074 Fleming Administration Building, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1340

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $55,900 per year

Net Price: $16,010 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 22.83%
SAT Average - 1434
ACT Average - 32
Most Popular Majors
Business
Education
Nursing
Communication
Fine Arts

20 best online courses for professional organizers

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Top 10 most affordable universities for professional organizers

The most affordable schools for professional organizers are California State University - Bakersfield, california state university - fullerton, and hunter college of the city university of new york.

If the best universities for professional organizers 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 professional organizers.

1. 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
Business
Education
Biology
Psychology
Sociology

2. California State University - Fullerton

Fullerton, CA • Private

In-State Tuition

$6,886

Cost of Attendance

17,645

Website

www.fullerton.edu

Address

800 N State College Blvd, Fullerton, CA 92831-3599

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $38,500 per year

Net Price: $8,234 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 43.41%
SAT Average - 1124
ACT Average - 22
Most Popular Majors
Business
Education
Communication
Psychology
Elementary Education

3. Hunter College of the City University of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-State Tuition

$7,182

Cost of Attendance

13,998

Website

www.hunter.cuny.edu

Address

695 Park Ave, New York, NY 10021

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

Net Price: $2,796 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 36.42%
SAT Average - 1240
Most Popular Majors
Education
Psychology
Nursing
English
Sociology

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

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
Sociology
Nursing

Top 10 hardest universities to get into for professional organizers

The hardest universities for professional organizers to get into are Vanderbilt University, Northwestern University, and Johns Hopkins University.

Some great schools for professional organizers 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 professional organizers 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. 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
Nursing
Education
Business
Elementary Education
English

2. 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
Communication
Psychology
Education
English

3. Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore, MD • Private

Admissions Rate

11%

SAT Average

1,513

Website

www.jhu.edu

Address

3400 N Charles St, Baltimore, MD 21218-2688

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $68,000 per year

Net Price: $30,701 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 11.48%
SAT Average - 1513
ACT Average - 34
Most Popular Majors
Education
Biology
Nursing
Marketing
Business

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
Education
Communication
Psychology
Marketing

5. 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
Business
Nursing
Marketing
Communication

Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for professional organizers

The easiest schools for professional organizers to get into are Mount Saint Mary's University, holy names university, and bluefield college.

Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a professional organizer 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 professional organizers.

1. Mount Saint Mary's University

Los Angeles, CA • Private

Admissions Rate

84%

SAT Average

1,031

Website

https://www.msmu.edu

Address

12001 Chalon Road, Los Angeles, CA 90049

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $57,700 per year

Net Price: $29,267 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 83.82%
SAT Average - 1031
ACT Average - 20
Most Popular Majors
Nursing
Education
Business
Biology
Sociology

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
Communication

3. Bluefield College

Bluefield, VA • Private

Admissions Rate

95%

SAT Average

980

Website

www.bluefield.edu

Address

3000 College Dr, Bluefield, VA 24605

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

Net Price: $21,997 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 95.36%
SAT Average - 980
ACT Average - 18
Most Popular Majors
Biology
Business
Nursing
Criminal Justice
Education

4. 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

5. Wayland Baptist University

Plainview, TX • Private

Admissions Rate

98%

SAT Average

1,003

Website

www.wbu.edu

Address

1900 W 7th St., Plainview, TX 79072

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $41,300 per year

Net Price: $21,855 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 98.04%
SAT Average - 1003
ACT Average - 19
Most Popular Majors
Business
Education
Elementary Education
Nursing
Biology

Average professional organizer salary by education level

According to our data, professional organizers with a Master's degree earn the highest average salary, at $53,640 annually. Professional organizers with a Bachelor's degree earn an average annual salary of $45,123.
Professional Organizer education level
ascdesc
Professional Organizer salary
ascdesc
Master's Degree$53,640
High School Diploma or Less$37,309
Bachelor's Degree$45,123
Some College/ Associate Degree$39,381

Professional Organizer 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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