Youth Program Manager Education Requirements

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read

There are several educational requirements to become a youth program manager. Youth program managers usually study business, psychology, or criminal justice. 59% of youth program managers hold a bachelor's degree, and 15% hold an master's degree. We analyzed 2,047 real youth program manager resumes to see exactly what youth program manager education sections show.

The most common colleges for youth program managers are the University of Phoenix and the University of Phoenix.

There are also many online youth program manager courses to help get the education required to be a youth program manager.

There are certain youth program manager certifications that you should consider. These youth program manager certifications include Global Career Development Facilitator (GCDF) and First Aid, CPR and AED Instructor.

What education do you need to become a youth program manager?

What degree do you need to be a youth program manager?

The most common degree for youth program managers is bachelor's degree, with 59% of youth program managers earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are master's degree degree at 15% and master's degree degree at 12%.
  • Bachelor's, 59%
  • Master's, 15%
  • Associate, 12%
  • High School Diploma, 9%
  • Other Degrees, 5%

What should I major in to become a youth program manager?

You should major in business to become a youth program manager. 13% of youth program managers major in business. Other common majors for a youth program manager include psychology and criminal justice.

Most common colleges for youth program managers

Youth program managers often get their degrees at University of Phoenix, Ball State University, and University of California - Davis. Here are the most common colleges for youth program managers in the US based on their resumes.
Youth Program Manager Common College
ascdesc
Percentages
ascdesc
University of Phoenix10.49%
Ball State University9.09%
University of California - Davis5.59%
Morgan State University5.59%
University of Washington4.90%

Best majors for youth program managers

Rank
ascdesc
Major
ascdesc
Percentages
ascdesc
1Business13.5%
2Psychology11.4%
3Criminal Justice11.0%
4Social Work7.8%
5Sociology5.7%

Best colleges for youth program managers

The best colleges for youth program managers are Northwestern University, University of Pennsylvania, and New York University.

A youth program 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 youth program 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 youth program managers.

1. 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
Social Work
Political Science
Communication

2. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • 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
Liberal Arts
Communication
Psychology
Education

3. Pennsylvania State University

University Park, PA • 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
Education
Psychology
Kinesiology
Criminal Justice
Political Science

4. 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
Liberal Arts
Sociology

5. University of Washington

Seattle, WA • Private

In-State Tuition

$11,207

Enrollment

30,905

Website

www.washington.edu

Address

P.O. Box 351230, Seattle, WA 98195-4550

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $50,300 per year

Net Price: $12,001 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 48.69%
SAT Average - 1347
ACT Average - 30
Most Popular Majors
Education
Business
Communication
Political Science
Social Work

20 best online courses for youth program managers

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Top 10 most affordable universities for youth program managers

The most affordable schools for youth program managers are Hunter College of the City University of New York, california state university - bakersfield, and california state university - fullerton.

If the best universities for youth program 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 youth program managers.

1. 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
Social Work
English
Sociology

2. 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
Education
Psychology
Criminal Justice

3. 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
Sociology

4. 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
Liberal Arts
Sociology

5. Baruch College of the City University of New York

New York, NY • 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
Political Science
Marketing
Liberal Arts

Top 10 hardest universities to get into for youth program managers

The hardest universities for youth program managers to get into are Northwestern University, University of Pennsylvania, and New York University.

Some great schools for youth program 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 youth program 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. 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
Education

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
Business
Social Work
Political Science
Communication

3. 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
Education
Social Work
Psychology

4. 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
Political Science
Marketing
Business
Communication

5. Harvard University

Cambridge, MA • Private

Admissions Rate

5%

SAT Average

1,520

Website

www.harvard.edu

Address

Massachusetts Hall, Cambridge, MA 02138

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $91,300 per year

Net Price: $15,561 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 4.73%
SAT Average - 1520
ACT Average - 34
Most Popular Majors
Education
Business
History
Political Science
Music

Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for youth program managers

The easiest schools for youth program managers to get into are Mount Saint Mary's University, notre dame de namur university, and university of north texas at dallas.

Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a youth program 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 youth program managers.

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
Education
Liberal Arts
Business
Sociology
Social Work

2. 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
Education
Psychology
Liberal Arts
Sociology

3. 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
Education

4. 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
Liberal Arts
Business
Education
Criminal Justice
Human Services

5. Gwynedd Mercy University

Gwynedd Valley, PA • Private

Admissions Rate

92%

SAT Average

1,031

Website

https://www.gmercyu.edu/

Address

1325 Sumneytown Pike, P. O. Box 901, Gwynedd Valley, PA 19437-0901

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $48,000 per year

Net Price: $23,213 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 92.00%
SAT Average - 1031
ACT Average - 21
Most Popular Majors
Education
Business
Elementary Education
Criminal Justice
Psychology

Average youth program manager salary by education level

According to our data, youth program managers with a Doctorate degree earn the highest average salary, at $74,523 annually. Youth program managers with a Master's degree earn an average annual salary of $68,158.
Youth Program Manager education level
ascdesc
Youth Program Manager salary
ascdesc
Master's Degree$68,158
Bachelor's Degree$54,815
Doctorate Degree$74,523

Youth Program 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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