by our College Data Analytics TeamStudying Supply Chain Management covers Logistics, Materials, And Supply Chain Management. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Manage And Coordinate All Logistical Functions In An Enterprise, Ranging From Acquisitions To Receiving And Handling, Through Internal Allocation Of Resources To Operations Units, To The Handling And Delivery Of Output. Includes Instruction In Acquisitions And Purchasing, Inventory Control, Storage And Handling, Just-In-Time Manufacturing, Logistics Planning, Shipping And Delivery Management, Transportation, Quality Control, Resource Estimation And Allocation, And Budgeting. Examples: [Logistics Management], [Materials Management], [Acquisition Logistics], [Supply Management]. Continue reading for the important information every supply chain management major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering supply chain management programs.
Nationwide, supply chain management is a popular field of study, with 10,865 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Supply Chain Management Schools ranking analyzes these 359 schools to determine the best overall colleges for supply chain management students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of supply chain management programs later in this article.
Programs in Supply Chain Management emphasize a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations supply chain management graduates commonly enter.
Skills built by a supply chain management program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Based on O*NET data, a supply chain management major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several supply chain 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 | 292 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 797 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 6,724 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 3,040 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 4 |
People currently working in careers related to supply chain management tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 54.7% |
| Some college courses | 11.3% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 9.5% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 6.4% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 5.6% |
| Master’s degree | 4.4% |
| Doctoral degree | 3.2% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 2.3% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 1.5% |
| Post-doctoral training | 0.7% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 0.3% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in supply chain management careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
A degree in supply chain management opens doors to a variety of career paths. These are some of the most common occupations related to supply chain management.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to supply chain management.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Logistics Analysts | 688,094 | 1.5% |
| Logistics Engineers | 687,152 | 13.4% |
| Geothermal Production Managers | 503,620 | 1.9% |
| Biomass Power Plant Managers | 450,707 | 4.2% |
| Supply Chain Managers | 421,849 | 12.7% |
| Quality Control Systems Managers | 241,551 | -3.1% |
| Logisticians | 232,093 | 5.8% |
| Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers | 227,314 | 11.6% |
The U.S. Department of Education tracks median earnings of supply chain management graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. These numbers tend to grow 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 supply chain management graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers supply chain management grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Biofuels Production Managers | $164,096 |
| Geothermal Production Managers | $160,381 |
| Biomass Power Plant Managers | $146,025 |
| Supply Chain Managers | $138,103 |
| Industrial Production Managers | $126,666 |
| Quality Control Systems Managers | $108,531 |
| Hydroelectric Production Managers | $91,208 |
| Logisticians | $82,238 |
With 359 different supply chain management programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased supply chain management school rankings to help you.
Students interested in supply chain 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 |
| Project Management | 4,784 |
| Office Management and Supervision | 3,126 |
| Non-Profit/Public/Organizational Management | 2,454 |
| Retail Management | 1,434 |
| Purchasing, Procurement/Acquisitions and Contracts Management | 1,230 |
| Transportation/Mobility Management | 579 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
