Restaurant/BAR Manager Education Requirements

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read

There are several educational requirements to become a restaurant/bar manager. Restaurant/bar managers usually study business, hospitality management, or communication. 58% of restaurant/bar managers hold a bachelor's degree, and 21% hold an associate degree. We analyzed 2,034 real restaurant/bar manager resumes to see exactly what restaurant/bar manager education sections show.

The most common colleges for restaurant/bar managers are the University of Phoenix and the University of Phoenix.

There are also many online restaurant/bar manager courses to help get the education required to be a restaurant/bar manager.

There are certain restaurant/bar manager certifications that you should consider. These restaurant/bar manager certifications include Certified Food Manager (CFM) and Food Safety Manager Certification.

What education do you need to become a restaurant/bar manager?

What degree do you need to be a restaurant/bar manager?

The most common degree for restaurant/bar managers is bachelor's degree, with 58% of restaurant/bar managers earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are associate degree degree at 21% and associate degree degree at 11%.
  • Bachelor's, 58%
  • Associate, 21%
  • High School Diploma, 11%
  • Diploma, 4%
  • Other Degrees, 6%

What should I major in to become a restaurant/bar manager?

You should major in business to become a restaurant/bar manager. 26% of restaurant/bar managers major in business. Other common majors for a restaurant/bar manager include hospitality management and communication.

Most common colleges for restaurant/bar managers

Restaurant/bar managers often get their degrees at University of Phoenix, Johnson & Wales University, and Arizona State University. Here are the most common colleges for restaurant/bar managers in the US based on their resumes.
Restaurant/BAR Manager Common College
ascdesc
Percentages
ascdesc
University of Phoenix11.41%
Johnson & Wales University9.40%
Arizona State University6.71%
University of Nevada - Las Vegas6.04%
Texas Tech University6.04%

Best majors for restaurant/bar managers

Best colleges for restaurant/bar managers

The best colleges for restaurant/bar managers are Cornell University, New York University, and Boston University.

A restaurant/bar manager with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for restaurant/bar managers. 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 restaurant/bar managers.

1. Cornell University

Ithaca, NY • Private

In-State Tuition

$55,188

Enrollment

15,105

Website

www.cornell.edu

Address

300 Day Hall, Ithaca, NY 14853

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $76,300 per year

Net Price: $30,494 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 10.61%
SAT Average - 1471
ACT Average - 33
Most Popular Majors
Business
Hospitality Management
Political Science
Communication
Sociology

2. SUNY College of Technology at Delhi

Delhi, NY • Private

In-State Tuition

$8,360

Enrollment

3,142

Website

www.delhi.edu

Address

454 Delhi Drive, Delhi, NY 13753-1100

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $33,300 per year

Net Price: $15,066 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 63.61%
SAT Average - 1011
ACT Average - 20
Most Popular Majors
Nursing
Liberal Arts
Criminal Justice
Hospitality Management
Business

3. Boston University

Boston, MA • Private

In-State Tuition

$53,948

Enrollment

17,238

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
Psychology
Criminal Justice
Hospitality Management

4. New York University

New York, NY • Private

In-State Tuition

$51,828

Enrollment

26,339

Website

www.nyu.edu

Address

70 Washington Square South, New York, NY 10012-1091

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

Net Price: $42,397 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 19.99%
SAT Average - 1419
ACT Average - 32
Most Popular Majors
Liberal Arts
Business
Psychology
Political Science
Accounting

5. Inter American University of Puerto Rico Ponce

Mercedita, PR • Private

In-State Tuition

$5,914

Enrollment

4,155

Website

www.ponce.inter.edu/

Address

104 Turpo Industrial Park Road #1, Mercedita, PR 00715-1602

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $19,300 per year

Net Price: $8,026 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 27.54%

20 best online courses for restaurant/bar managers

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Top 10 most affordable universities for restaurant/bar managers

The most affordable schools for restaurant/bar managers are USF Sarasota-Manatee, suny farmingdale, and brooklyn college of the city university of new york.

If the best universities for restaurant/bar managers 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 restaurant/bar managers.

U

1. 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
Psychology
Liberal Arts
Business
Hospitality Management
Accounting

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
Criminal Justice
Biology
Nursing

3. 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
English

4. 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
Criminal Justice
Sociology

5. California State University - Long Beach

Long Beach, CA • Private

In-State Tuition

$6,798

Cost of Attendance

18,306

Website

www.csulb.edu

Address

1250 Bellflower Blvd, Long Beach, CA 90840-0115

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $40,000 per year

Net Price: $8,982 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 31.21%
SAT Average - 1146
ACT Average - 23
Most Popular Majors
Business
Psychology
Liberal Arts
Communication
English

Top 10 hardest universities to get into for restaurant/bar managers

The hardest universities for restaurant/bar managers to get into are Cornell University, New York University, and Boston University.

Some great schools for restaurant/bar managers 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 restaurant/bar managers 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. Cornell University

Ithaca, NY • Private

Admissions Rate

11%

SAT Average

1,471

Website

www.cornell.edu

Address

300 Day Hall, Ithaca, NY 14853

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $76,300 per year

Net Price: $30,494 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 10.61%
SAT Average - 1471
ACT Average - 33
Most Popular Majors
Business
Hospitality Management
Political Science
Communication
Sociology

2. New York University

New York, NY • Private

Admissions Rate

20%

SAT Average

1,419

Website

www.nyu.edu

Address

70 Washington Square South, New York, NY 10012-1091

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

Net Price: $42,397 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 19.99%
SAT Average - 1419
ACT Average - 32
Most Popular Majors
Liberal Arts
Business
Psychology
Political Science
Accounting

3. Boston University

Boston, MA • 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
Psychology
Criminal Justice
Hospitality Management

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
Business
Biology
Education
Political Science
English

5. 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
Liberal Arts
Communication
Psychology
Political Science

Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for restaurant/bar managers

The easiest schools for restaurant/bar managers to get into are Life University, university of north texas at dallas, and oklahoma wesleyan university.

Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a restaurant/bar manager 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 restaurant/bar managers.

1. Life University

Marietta, GA • Private

Admissions Rate

94%

SAT Average

979

Website

www.life.edu

Address

1269 Barclay Circle, Marietta, GA 30060

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $36,500 per year

Net Price: $26,841 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 93.63%
SAT Average - 979
ACT Average - 19
Most Popular Majors
Biology
Psychology
Business
Liberal Arts

2. University of North Texas at Dallas

Dallas, TX • Private

Admissions Rate

83%

SAT Average

992

Website

untdallas.edu

Address

7300 University Hills Blvd, Dallas, TX 75241

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

Net Price: $7,400 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 83.11%
SAT Average - 992
ACT Average - 18
Most Popular Majors
Criminal Justice
Psychology
Business
Sociology
Accounting

3. 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

4. Texas Woman's University

Denton, TX • Private

Admissions Rate

87%

SAT Average

1,059

Website

www.twu.edu

Address

304 Administration Dr, Denton, TX 76201

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $42,800 per year

Net Price: $9,727 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 86.80%
SAT Average - 1059
ACT Average - 20
Most Popular Majors
Liberal Arts
Business
Health Care Administration
Psychology
Criminal Justice

5. Notre Dame de Namur University

Belmont, CA • Private

Admissions Rate

82%

SAT Average

983

Website

www.ndnu.edu

Address

1500 Ralston Ave, Belmont, CA 94002-1908

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $49,000 per year

Net Price: $25,610 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 81.52%
SAT Average - 983
ACT Average - 19
Most Popular Majors
Business
Biology
Psychology
Liberal Arts
Sociology

Average restaurant/bar manager salary by education level

Restaurant/bar managers with a Master's degree earn more than those without, at $60,372 annually. With a Bachelor's degree, restaurant/bar managers earn a median annual income of $58,533 compared to $53,229 for restaurant/bar managers with an Associate degree.
Restaurant/BAR Manager education level
ascdesc
Restaurant/BAR Manager salary
ascdesc
Master's Degree$60,372
High School Diploma or Less$51,054
Bachelor's Degree$58,533
Some College/ Associate Degree$53,229

Restaurant/BAR Manager 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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