by our College Data Analytics TeamA 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]. Continue reading for the essential details every purchasing, procurement/acquisitions and contracts management student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering purchasing, procurement/acquisitions and contracts management programs.
Nationwide, purchasing, procurement/acquisitions and contracts management is a popular field of study, with 1,230 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Purchasing, Procurement/Acquisitions and Contracts Management Schools ranking analyzes these 43 schools to determine the best overall colleges for purchasing, procurement/acquisitions and contracts management students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of purchasing, procurement/acquisitions and contracts management programs later in this article.
Studies in Purchasing, Procurement/Acquisitions and Contracts Management build a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations purchasing, procurement/acquisitions and contracts management graduates commonly enter.
Skills developed in a purchasing, procurement/acquisitions and contracts management program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
According to O*NET, a purchasing, procurement/acquisitions and contracts management major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several purchasing, procurement/acquisitions and contracts management degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 32 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 94 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 457 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 643 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 4 |
People currently working in careers related to purchasing, procurement/acquisitions and contracts management tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| 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% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in purchasing, procurement/acquisitions and contracts management careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
A degree in purchasing, procurement/acquisitions and contracts management opens doors to numerous career paths. Below are some of the most common occupations related to purchasing, procurement/acquisitions and contracts management.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to purchasing, procurement/acquisitions and contracts management.
| 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% |
College Scorecard reports median earnings of purchasing, procurement/acquisitions and contracts management graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Earnings tend to climb as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $62,537 |
| 4 years | $63,883 |
| 5 years | $71,749 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for purchasing, procurement/acquisitions and contracts management graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers purchasing, procurement/acquisitions and contracts management grads often go into.
| 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 |
With 43 different purchasing, procurement/acquisitions and contracts management programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased purchasing, procurement/acquisitions and contracts management school rankings to help you.
Those considering purchasing, procurement/acquisitions and contracts management, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Business Administration and Management, General | 336,590 |
| Organizational Leadership | 15,674 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations, Other | 12,497 |
| Operations Management and Supervision | 12,273 |
| Logistics, Materials, and Supply Chain Management | 10,865 |
| Project Management | 4,784 |
| Office Management and Supervision | 3,126 |
| Non-Profit/Public/Organizational Management | 2,454 |
| Retail Management | 1,434 |
| Transportation/Mobility Management | 579 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
