Nonprofit Management Degree Guide

Nonprofits provide communities access to vital opportunities and resources, offering support through education, healthcare, job training, and more. So, if you’re passionate about social change and helping others, a nonprofit management degree can equip you with the knowledge to turn that passion into action.

This degree can prepare you to manage nonprofit organizations, as well as fundraise, develop social programs, and engage with communities. Read on to learn how to get a bachelor’s in nonprofit management and discover if the field is right for you.

A nonprofit management degree is designed to prepare you to lead and manage nonprofits effectively. It typically covers subjects such as financial management, fundraising, grant writing, social program development, and leadership within the nonprofit context.

This bachelor’s degree usually takes around four years to complete. Some schools offer it as a stand-alone degree or as a concentration within another program, such as business management or public administration. However, if you study another subject with a concentration in nonprofit management, your degree may take longer to complete.

This degree can be great for humanitarian, business-minded students as this career path will prepare you to manage and support nonprofit organizations focused on helping communities.

Nonprofit management is often offered as a concentration under bachelor of business administration (BBA) or bachelor of public administration (BPA) programs. Whether you study nonprofit management as a concentration or as a stand-alone degree, these are some of the courses you should expect to take:

Below are the steps or factors you should keep in mind before enrolling in a nonprofit management degree program:

A nonprofit management degree typically takes four years to complete and requires 120 credits. However, some colleges and universities have accelerated programs that could help you complete your degree faster — especially if it’s an online accelerated program.

Once you decide where to study your degree or concentration in nonprofit management, you will need to complete an online application, most likely through the school’s website.

Your application may require:

You might be able to apply to some colleges through Common App, a free platform that lets you apply for multiple colleges or universities at the same time.

The cost of a nonprofit management bachelor’s degree can range anywhere from $15,000 to $90,000.

However, how much you’ll pay ultimately depends on what institution you enroll in, whether you go for a traditional or an accelerated program, and the scholarships and financial aid you receive.

For example, with financial aid, you could end up paying closer to $10,000-$22,000.

With a bachelor’s in nonprofit management, you can pursue several career paths, and they don’t necessarily have to be in the nonprofit sector.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), jobs in this field are experiencing higher-than-average job growth, with 8% projected between 2023 and 2033. That’s 4% more compared to the average 4% growth rate for all occupations.

Here are some of the career paths you could pursue with this degree:

With a nonprofit management degree, you can work in public relations, fundraising, community service management, social services, or human resources. Some popular nonprofit jobs include fundraising manager, marketing manager, and human services assistant.

According to the BLS, you can earn between $45,120 and $159,660 in jobs related to the nonprofit management sector. However, keep in mind that how much you earn will depend on your work experience, education, and specific career path.

After you earn your bachelor’s degree in nonprofit management, there are more education opportunities you can pursue. These include master’s degrees, graduate certifications, and professional certifications.

A master’s degree in nonprofit management can improve your earning potential and make you eligible for more advanced positions. However, it can take 2-3 years to complete and can be quite expensive. A quicker, less expensive option would be an online certification, which can take just a year to complete.

If you want to continue studying beyond a bachelor’s, take the time to consider what will best serve your career journey. For example, research what credentials your ideal job requires and what qualifications people doing that job usually have.

Regardless of your choice, gaining education experience can improve your job prospects.