by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 35 U.S. colleges awarded 805 degrees and certificates in Purchasing, Procurement/Acquisitions and Contracts Management. Master’s degrees are the most popular award, at 83% of graduates. College Factual ranks 13 schools in its 2027 Best Purchasing, Procurement/Acquisitions and Contracts Management Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $63,256 one year after completing, rising to $79,232 after four years.
A degree in Purchasing, Procurement/Acquisitions and Contracts Management involves the study of Purchasing, Procurement/acquisitions And Contracts Management. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Manage And/or Administer The Processes By Which A Firm Or Organization Contracts For Goods And Services To Support Its Operations, As Well As Contracts It To Sell To Other Firms Or Organizations. Includes Instruction In Contract Law, Negotiations, Buying Procedures, Government Contracting, Cost And Price Analysis, Vendor Relations, Contract Administration, Auditing And Inspection, Relations With Other Firm Departments, And Applications To Special Areas Such As High-Technology Systems, International Purchasing, And Construction. Examples: [Purchasing Management], [Contracts Management], [Acquisition/procurement Management].
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Nationwide, purchasing, procurement/acquisitions and contracts management is a popular field of study, with 805 degrees awarded annually. 35 colleges award purchasing, procurement/acquisitions and contracts management degrees, an average of 23 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 246.
By level, the 805 awards include 5 certificates, 59 associate degrees, 66 bachelor’s degrees, 672 master’s degrees and 3 doctorates.
Women earned 42% of purchasing, procurement/acquisitions and contracts management degrees and certificates in the latest year (339 of 805). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (412) and Black or African American (161), and international students earned 17.
College Factual ranks 13 schools in its 2027 Best Purchasing, Procurement/Acquisitions and Contracts Management Schools ranking, including 5 for associate degrees, 10 for bachelor’s degrees and 7 for master’s degrees. It also ranks purchasing, procurement/acquisitions and contracts management schools within 7 states. In all, 35 colleges offer purchasing, procurement/acquisitions and contracts management programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Purchasing, Procurement/Acquisitions and Contracts Management Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common purchasing, procurement/acquisitions and contracts management credential is the master’s degree: 672 of the 805 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to purchasing, procurement/acquisitions and contracts management call most for Reading Comprehension, Active Listening and Speaking, and for knowledge of Customer and Personal Service, English Language and Administration and Management, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Written Comprehension and Oral Comprehension.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long a purchasing, procurement/acquisitions and contracts management degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 5 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 59 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 66 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 672 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 3 |
Bachelor’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to purchasing, procurement/acquisitions and contracts management, at 43.2%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 43.2% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 15.9% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 14.5% |
| Master’s degree | 7.6% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 6.1% |
| Doctoral degree | 5.5% |
| Some college courses | 4.6% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 2.5% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 0.1% |
Source: O*NET Online.
7 occupations are related to Purchasing, Procurement/Acquisitions and Contracts Management, with an average median salary of $102,349; the strongest outlook belongs to Agents and Business Managers of Artists, Performers, and Athletes, at 10.8% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Purchasing Coordinator, Business Manager, Pulpwood Buyer and Procurement and Contracting Administrator (Procurement and Contracting Admin).
The occupation related to purchasing, procurement/acquisitions and contracts management with the most projected jobs is Purchasing Agents, Except Wholesale, Retail, and Farm Products, at 570,973.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Purchasing Agents, Except Wholesale, Retail, and Farm Products | 570,973 | 5.6% |
| Administrative Services Managers | 425,994 | 9.0% |
| Security Managers | 360,967 | 0.6% |
| Facilities Managers | 268,353 | -0.6% |
| Agents and Business Managers of Artists, Performers, and Athletes | 241,360 | 10.8% |
| Purchasing Managers | 239,953 | -3.4% |
| Business Teachers, Postsecondary | 181,317 | 10.6% |
Purchasing, Procurement/Acquisitions and Contracts Management graduates earn a median $63,256 one year after completing their program, $79,232 after four years and $73,412 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $63,256 |
| 4 years | $79,232 |
| 5 years | $73,412 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to purchasing, procurement/acquisitions and contracts management is Administrative Services Managers, with a median salary of $158,084.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Administrative Services Managers | $158,084 |
| Facilities Managers | $157,669 |
| Security Managers | $104,128 |
| Agents and Business Managers of Artists, Performers, and Athletes | $96,762 |
| Business Teachers, Postsecondary | $80,576 |
| Purchasing Managers | $74,176 |
| Purchasing Agents, Except Wholesale, Retail, and Farm Products | $45,048 |
Purchasing, Procurement/Acquisitions and Contracts Management has 15 similar majors in the Business, Management & Marketing field, which together award 420,947 degrees a year; the largest are Business Administration and Management, General (352,768), Organizational Leadership (16,833) and Business Administration, Management and Operations, Other (12,704). Browse all Business, Management & Marketing majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Business Administration and Management, General | 352,768 |
| Organizational Leadership | 16,833 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations, Other | 12,704 |
| Operations Management and Supervision | 11,915 |
| Logistics, Materials, and Supply Chain Management | 11,775 |
| Project Management | 6,038 |
| Office Management and Supervision | 2,975 |
| Non-Profit/Public/Organizational Management | 2,443 |
| Retail Management | 1,363 |
| Transportation/Mobility Management | 506 |
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