Updated April 5, 2024
4 min read
The educational requirements for a hedge fund manager are typically a bachelor's or master's degree in finance, business, economics, accounting, or history. According to the data, 32.66% of hedge fund managers hold a bachelor's degree, while 65.34% have earned a master's degree.
Notably, the top schools that produce successful hedge fund managers include the University of Pennsylvania, Northwestern University, and the University of Southern California. As Rebecca Smith, a hedge fund manager at XYZ Investments, explains, "A strong educational background in finance or a related field is crucial for understanding the complexities of the hedge fund industry."
What education do you need to become a hedge fund manager?
What degree do you need to be a hedge fund manager?
- Bachelor's, 74%
- Master's, 16%
- Associate, 4%
- Diploma, 2%
- Other Degrees, 4%
What should I major in to become a hedge fund manager?
Based on the given data, the best college majors for a hedge fund manager are finance, business, and economics. According to the education requirements, a bachelor's degree is needed for this role, with a master's degree being more common. Majors such as accounting, history, mathematics, psychology, computer science, management, and legal studies are also relevant.
- Finance, 30%
- Business, 20%
- Economics, 12%
- Accounting, 9%
- Other Majors, 29%
Most common colleges for hedge fund managers
| Hedge Fund Manager Common College | Percentages |
|---|---|
| University of Michigan - Ann Arbor | 8.16% |
| Baruch College of the City University of New York | 8.16% |
| Pace University | 6.12% |
| Pennsylvania State University | 6.12% |
| California State University - San Bernardino | 6.12% |
Show more common hedge fund manager colleges
Best majors for hedge fund managers
Based on the given data, the best college majors for a hedge fund manager are finance, business, and economics. According to the education requirements, a bachelor's degree is needed for this role, with a master's degree being more common. Majors such as accounting, history, mathematics, psychology, computer science, management, and legal studies are also relevant.
| Rank | Major | Percentages |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Finance | 29.9% |
| 2 | Business | 19.5% |
| 3 | Economics | 12.1% |
| 4 | Accounting | 9.2% |
| 5 | History | 4.0% |
Show more common hedge fund manager majors
Best colleges for hedge fund managers
The University of Pennsylvania, Northwestern University, and the University of Southern California rank among the top colleges for aspiring hedge fund managers. These institutions matter because they offer strong education programs, with a majority of hedge fund managers holding a master's degree. They also boast competitive admissions and retention rates, along with favorable post-graduation employment and earnings statistics.
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. SUNY at Binghamton
Vestal, NY • Private
In-State Tuition
$9,808
Enrollment
13,990
5. Villanova University
Villanova, PA • Private
In-State Tuition
$53,308
Enrollment
6,819
6. San Diego State University
San Diego, CA • Private
In-State Tuition
$7,488
Enrollment
30,018
7. Boston University
Boston, MA • Private
In-State Tuition
$53,948
Enrollment
17,238
8. SUNY Stony Brook
Stony Brook, NY • Private
In-State Tuition
$9,625
Enrollment
17,407
9. New York University
New York, NY • Private
In-State Tuition
$51,828
Enrollment
26,339
10. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
Minneapolis, MN • Private
In-State Tuition
$14,760
Enrollment
31,451
20 best online courses for hedge fund managers
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Top 10 most affordable universities for hedge fund managers
The most affordable schools for hedge fund managers are Baruch College of the City University of New York, suny farmingdale, and university of florida.
If the best universities for hedge fund 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 hedge fund managers.
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. SUNY Farmingdale
Farmingdale, NY • Private
In-State Tuition
$8,306
Cost of Attendance
16,091
3. University of Florida
Gainesville, FL • Private
In-State Tuition
$6,381
Cost of Attendance
21,034
4. Brooklyn College of the City University of New York
Brooklyn, NY • Private
In-State Tuition
$7,240
Cost of Attendance
13,991
5. California State University - Long Beach
Long Beach, CA • Private
In-State Tuition
$6,798
Cost of Attendance
18,306
6. USF Sarasota-Manatee
Sarasota, FL • Private
In-State Tuition
$5,587
Cost of Attendance
13,043
7. California State University - Dominguez Hills
Carson, CA • Private
In-State Tuition
$6,942
Cost of Attendance
14,469
8. Brigham Young University
Provo, UT • Private
In-State Tuition
$5,620
Cost of Attendance
18,136
9. University of Puerto Rico - Mayaguez
Mayaguez, PR • Private
In-State Tuition
$4,094
Cost of Attendance
14,302
10. Florida International University
Miami, FL • Private
In-State Tuition
$6,556
Cost of Attendance
19,434
Top 10 hardest universities to get into for hedge fund managers
The hardest universities for hedge fund managers to get into are Northwestern University, University of Pennsylvania, and Vanderbilt University.
Some great schools for hedge fund 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 hedge fund 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
2. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
Admissions Rate
8%
SAT Average
1,492
3. Vanderbilt University
Nashville, TN • Private
Admissions Rate
10%
SAT Average
1,514
4. University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA • Private
Admissions Rate
13%
SAT Average
1,445
5. New York University
New York, NY • Private
Admissions Rate
20%
SAT Average
1,419
6. Boston University
Boston, MA • Private
Admissions Rate
22%
SAT Average
1,420
7. Villanova University
Villanova, PA • Private
Admissions Rate
29%
SAT Average
1,407
8. Carnegie Mellon University
Pittsburgh, PA • Private
Admissions Rate
17%
SAT Average
1,507
9. Washington University in St Louis
Saint Louis, MO • Private
Admissions Rate
15%
SAT Average
1,506
10. Boston College
Chestnut Hill, MA • Private
Admissions Rate
28%
SAT Average
1,429
Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for hedge fund managers
The easiest schools for hedge fund managers to get into are Oklahoma Wesleyan University, notre dame college, and holy names university.
Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a hedge fund 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 hedge fund managers.
1. Oklahoma Wesleyan University
Bartlesville, OK • Private
Admissions Rate
68%
SAT Average
964
2. Notre Dame College
Cleveland, OH • Private
Admissions Rate
90%
SAT Average
994
3. Holy Names University
Oakland, CA • Private
Admissions Rate
70%
SAT Average
849
4. Kean University
Union, NJ • Private
Admissions Rate
86%
SAT Average
991
5. Barry University
Miami, FL • Private
Admissions Rate
91%
SAT Average
1,006
6. William Paterson University of New Jersey
Wayne, NJ • Private
Admissions Rate
93%
SAT Average
994
7. Iona College
New Rochelle, NY • Private
Admissions Rate
88%
SAT Average
1,089
8. Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey - Camden
Camden, NJ • Private
Admissions Rate
71%
SAT Average
1,086
9. Midwestern State University
Wichita Falls, TX • Private
Admissions Rate
71%
SAT Average
1,033
10. Rosemont College
Rosemont, PA • Private
Admissions Rate
89%
SAT Average
1,026
Average hedge fund manager salary by education level
| Hedge Fund Manager education level | Hedge Fund Manager salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $190,269 |
| High School Diploma or Less | $105,883 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $157,387 |
| Doctorate Degree | $208,890 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $114,956 |
Hedge Fund Manager Education FAQs
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Updated April 5, 2024
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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