Nonprofit and Organizational Management: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
Designed for professionals aiming to lead and sustain mission-driven organizations, this program equips learners with advanced competencies in managing the operational, financial, and strategic dimensions of nonprofit entities and public sector institutions. Students develop a rigorous understanding of governance, resource allocation, and ethical leadership within complex regulatory environments.
- Business Management in the Nonprofit Sector: Explores leadership frameworks, strategic planning, and organizational effectiveness tailored to mission-centered institutions, emphasizing sustainability and impact over profit.
- Public Administration Principles: Examines the structure, function, and policy implementation within public agencies, focusing on accountability, transparency, and service delivery in governmental and civic contexts.
- Accounting and Financial Management: Provides in-depth training in financial reporting, budgeting, grant management, and fund accounting specific to nonprofit entities and public institutions.
- Human Resources Management: Covers recruitment, retention, performance evaluation, and labor relations in nonprofit and public sector environments, with attention to equity and workforce development.
- Nonprofit Taxation and Compliance: Investigates federal and state tax regulations, including IRS rules on tax-exempt status, donor restrictions, and reporting obligations for 501(c)(3) organizations.
- Business Law and Governance: Analyzes legal frameworks governing nonprofit operations, including board responsibilities, fiduciary duties, contract law, and compliance with regulatory standards.
Nonprofit and Organizational Management Graduate Trends (2010-2024)
Nonprofit and Organizational Management Career Pathways & Salary Outlook
The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Nonprofit and Organizational Management degrees, including Chief Executives, Managers, All Other and Fundraising Managers. These career paths represent common employment outcomes but are not guaranteed for all graduates. Salary ranges vary by location, employer, experience level, and specific role requirements. Nationally, these occupations employ approximately 5,488,060 professionals.
National Average Salaries
| Occupation | Median Salary | Salary Range | Total Employment | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chief Executives 11-1011 | $206,420 | $73,710 - $239,200 | 211,850 | $99.24 |
| Managers, All Other 11-9199 | $136,550 | $68,860 - $227,590 | 630,980 | $65.65 |
| Fundraising Managers 11-2033 | $123,480 | $73,700 - $216,660 | 36,920 | $59.36 |
| Medical and Health Services Managers 11-9111 | $117,960 | $69,680 - $219,080 | 565,840 | $56.71 |
| General and Operations Managers 11-1021 | $102,950 | $47,420 - $239,200 | 3,584,420 | $49.50 |
| Business Teachers, Postsecondary 25-1011 | $97,270 | $46,460 - $210,530 | 81,780 | N/A |
| Education Administrators, All Other 11-9039 | $89,040 | $49,490 - $158,050 | 53,330 | $42.81 |
| Financial Specialists, All Other 13-2099 | $80,190 | $46,420 - $151,780 | 127,450 | $38.55 |
| Social and Community Service Managers 11-9151 | $78,240 | $50,020 - $129,820 | 195,490 | $37.61 |
Nonprofit and Organizational Management Salary Map by State
Geographic location significantly impacts earning potential for these careers. Average salaries range from $73,223 in Arkansas to $151,612 in District of Columbia—a 107% difference. The highest-paying states include District of Columbia, New York, and New Jersey. Nationwide, these occupations employ over 5,488,060 professionals across all states. Explore the interactive map below to compare regional compensation and identify optimal markets for your career goals.
Average Salary Range:
Top Universities for Nonprofit and Organizational Management by Graduate Enrollment
Below are the top 100 institutions offering Nonprofit and Organizational Management programs for the 2023-2024 academic year (the most recent data reported as of 2025), ranked by the number of graduates. The highest graduate enrollment in Nonprofit and Organizational Management is found at Purdue University Global (211 graduates), University of Denver (DU) (130 graduates), Indian River State College (IRSC) (95 graduates), DeVry University, Illinois (87 graduates), and University of Notre Dame (ND) (72 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 2,262 graduates across all degree levels. Program availability varies by award level, including Associate, Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral degrees at participating universities and schools.
| College Name | Award Levels | Graduates | Location | Control | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Purdue University Global |
Bachelor's
|
211 | West Lafayette, Indiana | Public | purdueglobal.edu |
| University of Denver (DU) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
130 | Denver, Colorado | Private | du.edu |
| Indian River State College (IRSC) |
Bachelor's
|
95 | Fort Pierce, Florida | Public | irsc.edu |
| DeVry University |
Master's
|
87 | Lisle, Illinois | Private | devry.edu |
| University of Notre Dame (ND) |
Master's
|
72 | Notre Dame, Indiana | Private | nd.edu |
| Fairleigh Dickinson University (FDU Metro) |
Master's
|
69 | Teaneck, New Jersey | Private | fdu.edu |
| University of Georgia (UGA) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Other Award
|
65 | Athens, Georgia | Public | uga.edu |
| University of Central Florida (UCF) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
62 | Orlando, Florida | Public | ucf.edu |
| Boston University (BU) |
Master's
|
56 | Boston, Massachusetts | Private | bu.edu |
| Brandeis University |
Master's
|
52 | Waltham, Massachusetts | Private | brandeis.edu |
| Arizona State University |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
52 | Scottsdale, Arizona | Public | asu.edu |
| Northeastern University Professional Programs |
Master's
|
50 | Boston, Massachusetts | Private | northeastern.edu |
| Columbia University in the City of New York |
Master's
|
48 | New York, New York | Private | columbia.edu |
| University of Southern California (USC) |
Master's
Post-Master's
|
45 | Los Angeles, California | Private | usc.edu |
| University of Pennsylvania (Penn) |
Master's
|
45 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Private | upenn.edu |
| Rhode Island College (RIC) |
Postbac Cert.
Other Award
|
42 | Providence, Rhode Island | Public | ric.edu |
| University of South Carolina (USC) |
Bachelor's
|
42 | Columbia, South Carolina | Public | sc.edu |
| Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
39 | Daytona Beach, Florida | Private | worldwide.erau.edu |
| Texas A & M University |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
|
31 | College Station, Texas | Public | tamu.edu |
| Alvernia University |
Master's
|
29 | Reading, Pennsylvania | Private | alvernia.edu |
| Liberty University |
Master's
|
29 | Lynchburg, Virginia | Private | liberty.edu |
| University of Connecticut (UConn) |
Postbac Cert.
|
28 | Storrs, Connecticut | Public | uconn.edu |
| Arizona State University Campus Immersion (ASU) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Other Award
|
27 | Tempe, Arizona | Public | asu.edu |
| University of Chicago (UChicago) |
Master's
|
27 | Chicago, Illinois | Private | uchicago.edu |
| University of West Florida (UWF) |
Master's
|
26 | Pensacola, Florida | Public | uwf.edu |
| Harvard University |
Postbac Cert.
|
25 | Cambridge, Massachusetts | Private | harvard.edu |
| Colorado State University (CSU) |
Postbac Cert.
|
24 | Fort Collins, Colorado | Public | colostate.edu |
| University of Iowa |
Postbac Cert.
|
23 | Iowa City, Iowa | Public | uiowa.edu |
| University of Oregon (UO) |
Master's
Post-Master's
|
22 | Eugene, Oregon | Public | uoregon.edu |
| Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College (SMWC) |
Master's
|
21 | Saint Mary of the Woods, Indiana | Private | smwc.edu |
| Metropolitan State University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
21 | Saint Paul, Minnesota | Public | metrostate.edu |
| Grace College and Theological Seminary |
Master's
|
20 | Winona Lake, Indiana | Private | grace.edu |
| University of Houston (UHD) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
19 | Houston, Texas | Public | uhd.edu |
| University of San Francisco (USF) |
Master's
|
18 | San Francisco, California | Private | usfca.edu |
| Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion (HUC‑JIR) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
18 | New York, New York | Private | huc.edu |
| Indiana Wesleyan University |
Master's
|
18 | Marion, Indiana | Private | indwes.edu |
| George Washington University (GW) |
Postbac Cert.
|
17 | Washington, District of Columbia | Private | gwu.edu |
| University of Northern Iowa (UNI) |
Master's
|
17 | Cedar Falls, Iowa | Public | uni.edu |
| Johns Hopkins University (JHU) |
Master's
|
17 | Baltimore, Maryland | Private | jhu.edu |
| Case Western Reserve University (CWRU) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
17 | Cleveland, Ohio | Private | case.edu |
| Regis University |
Master's
|
16 | Denver, Colorado | Private | regis.edu |
| Colorado Christian University (CCU) |
Associate's
Bachelor's
Other Award
|
15 | Lakewood, Colorado | Private | ccu.edu |
| Drexel University |
Bachelor's
|
15 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Private | drexel.edu |
| Charleston Southern University (CSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
15 | Charleston, South Carolina | Private | charlestonsouthern.edu |
| Boise State University (BBU) |
Postbac Cert.
Other Award
|
14 | Boise, Idaho | Public | boisestate.edu |
| Hamline University |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
14 | Saint Paul, Minnesota | Private | hamline.edu |
| Cleveland State University (CSU) |
Bachelor's
|
14 | Cleveland, Ohio | Public | csuohio.edu |
| Gallaudet University |
Master's
|
13 | Washington, District of Columbia | Private | gallaudet.edu |
| Florida Atlantic University (FAU) |
Master's
|
13 | Boca Raton, Florida | Public | fau.edu |
| Florida Institute of Technology (Florida Tech) |
Master's
|
13 | Melbourne, Florida | Private | fit.edu |
| City Vision University (TechMission) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Other Award
|
13 | Kansas City, Missouri | Private | cityvision.edu |
| Our Lady of the Lake University (OLLU) |
Master's
|
12 | San Antonio, Texas | Private | ollusa.edu |
| University of Kentucky (UK) |
Postbac Cert.
|
11 | Lexington, Kentucky | Public | uky.edu |
| Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
|
11 | Manchester, New Hampshire | Private | snhu.edu |
| Marymount Manhattan College (MMC) |
Bachelor's
|
11 | New York, New York | Private | mmm.edu |
| Wiley University |
Bachelor's
|
11 | Marshall, Texas | Private | wileyc.edu |
| Bay Path University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
10 | Longmeadow, Massachusetts | Private | baypath.edu |
| North Park University |
Master's
|
9 | Chicago, Illinois | Private | northpark.edu |
| Cornerstone University (CU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
9 | Grand Rapids, Michigan | Private | cornerstone.edu |
| University of New Hampshire College of Professional Studies |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
|
9 | Manchester, New Hampshire | Public | cps.unh.edu |
| John Carroll University (JCU) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
9 | University Heights, Ohio | Private | jcu.edu |
| The Evergreen State College |
Other Award
|
9 | Olympia, Washington | Public | evergreen.edu |
| Springfield College |
Master's
|
9 | Springfield, Massachusetts | Private | springfield.edu |
| Northern Arizona University (NAU) |
Other Award
|
8 | Flagstaff, Arizona | Public | nau.edu |
| Red Rocks Community College (RRCC) |
Other Award
|
8 | Lakewood, Colorado | Public | rrcc.edu |
| Northern Kentucky University (NKU) |
Postbac Cert.
|
8 | Highland Heights, Kentucky | Public | nku.edu |
| The University of Tampa (UTampa) |
Postbac Cert.
|
7 | Tampa, Florida | Private | ut.edu |
| Georgia College & State University |
Postbac Cert.
Other Award
|
7 | Milledgeville, Georgia | Public | gcsu.edu |
| Andrews University |
Master's
|
7 | Berrien Springs, Michigan | Private | andrews.edu |
| Minnesota State University |
Postbac Cert.
Other Award
|
7 | Mankato, Minnesota | Public | mnsu.edu |
| University of Minnesota (UMN) |
Bachelor's
|
7 | Minneapolis, Minnesota | Public | twin-cities.umn.edu |
| Empire State University |
Postbac Cert.
|
7 | Saratoga Springs, New York | Public | sunyempire.edu |
| Youngstown State University (YSU) |
Other Award
|
7 | Youngstown, Ohio | Public | ysu.edu |
| Cairn University |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
7 | Langhorne, Pennsylvania | Private | cairn.edu |
| East Tennessee State University (ETSU) |
Master's
|
7 | Johnson City, Tennessee | Public | etsu.edu |
| Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) |
Postbac Cert.
|
7 | Richmond, Virginia | Public | vcu.edu |
| Seattle University (Seattle U) |
Master's
|
7 | Seattle, Washington | Private | seattleu.edu |
| Johnson & Wales University (JWU) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
7 | Providence, Rhode Island | Private | online.jwu.edu |
| Nova Southeastern University (NSU) |
Master's
|
6 | Fort Lauderdale, Florida | Private | nova.edu |
| Indiana University (IU Indianapolis) |
Postbac Cert.
Other Award
|
6 | Indianapolis, Indiana | Public | indianapolis.iu.edu |
| Louisiana State University (LSUS) |
Post-Master's
|
6 | Shreveport, Louisiana | Public | lsus.edu |
| Worcester State University (WSU) |
Master's
|
6 | Worcester, Massachusetts | Public | worcester.edu |
| Central Michigan University (CMU) |
Master's
|
6 | Mount Pleasant, Michigan | Public | cmich.edu |
| Lindenwood University |
Master's
|
6 | Saint Charles, Missouri | Private | lindenwood.edu |
| University of Missouri (Mizzou) |
Postbac Cert.
|
6 | Columbia, Missouri | Public | missouri.edu |
| SUNY Buffalo State University |
Master's
|
6 | Buffalo, New York | Public | suny.buffalostate.edu |
| Saint Augustine's University (SAU) |
Bachelor's
|
6 | Raleigh, North Carolina | Private | st-aug.edu |
| University of Toledo (UToledo) |
Postbac Cert.
|
6 | Toledo, Ohio | Public | utoledo.edu |
| Pacific University |
Master's
|
6 | Forest Grove, Oregon | Private | pacificu.edu |
| Temple University |
Postbac Cert.
|
6 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Public | temple.edu |
| Augusta University (AU) |
Postbac Cert.
|
6 | Augusta, Georgia | Public | augusta.edu |
| Wilmington University (WilmU) |
Master's
|
5 | New Castle, Delaware | Private | wilmu.edu |
| Georgia State University |
Postbac Cert.
|
5 | Atlanta, Georgia | Public | gsu.edu |
| Western Kentucky University (WKU) |
Postbac Cert.
|
5 | Bowling Green, Kentucky | Public | wku.edu |
| Western Michigan University (WMU) |
Bachelor's
|
5 | Kalamazoo, Michigan | Public | wmich.edu |
| Missouri Valley College (MVC) |
Bachelor's
|
5 | Marshall, Missouri | Private | moval.edu |
| Pace University |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
5 | New York, New York | Private | pace.edu |
| Gratz College |
Master's
|
5 | Melrose Park, Pennsylvania | Private | gratz.edu |
| South Dakota State University (SDSU) |
Bachelor's
|
5 | Brookings, South Dakota | Public | sdstate.edu |
| University of Memphis (UofM) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
5 | Memphis, Tennessee | Public | memphis.edu |
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about Nonprofit and Organizational Management programs
How much can I earn with a Nonprofit and Organizational Management degree?
Salaries for Nonprofit and Organizational Management graduates vary by role and location. Chief Executives earn a median of $206,420 annually, while Managers, All Other earn around $136,550. Geographic location significantly impacts earnings—professionals in District of Columbia average $151,612 compared to $73,223 in Arkansas. Approximately 5,488,060 professionals work in related occupations nationwide.
Salary data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS program, May 2024. Earnings vary by experience, employer, and market conditions.
Which universities have the largest Nonprofit and Organizational Management programs?
Currently 185 accredited institutions offer Nonprofit and Organizational Management degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include Purdue University Global (211 graduates), University of Denver (DU) (130 graduates), and Indian River State College (IRSC) (95 graduates).
Program size doesn't necessarily indicate quality—consider factors like faculty expertise, production opportunities, location, and available degree levels when choosing a school.
Data based on IPEDS program completions for 2023-2024 academic year. Numbers reflect programs where students graduated.
Is enrollment in Nonprofit and Organizational Management growing or declining?
Graduate numbers have decreased over the past decade, rising from 2,555 in 2010 to a peak of 2,923 in 2020, before declining slightly to 2,454 in 2023-24. This represents a 4% decrease overall from 2010.
The field remains specialized with consistent demand, though opportunities are most concentrated in major metropolitan areas with active arts scenes like New York, California, and Illinois.
Graduate enrollment data from IPEDS, 2010-2024 academic years. Trends reflect reported completions at participating institutions.
What career paths are available with a Nonprofit and Organizational Management degree?
This degree prepares you for roles such as Chief Executives, Managers, All Other, and Fundraising Managers. Related occupations employ approximately 5,488,060 professionals nationwide.
Skills in project management, creative leadership, and collaboration also transfer to event planning, arts administration, marketing, and corporate training roles. Many professionals work freelance or on a project basis across theatre, film, and live events.
Career pathways mapped using CIP-SOC crosswalk from the National Center for Education Statistics. Employment data from BLS OEWS May 2024.
Related Business Programs
Explore similar degree programs within the Business field. These programs share the same academic discipline and may offer complementary skills and career pathways.
Purchasing 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...
Logistics 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...
Office Management and Supervision
A program that prepares individuals to supervise and manage the operations and personnel of business offices and management-level divisions. Includes instruction in employee...
Operations Management and Supervision
A program that prepares individuals to manage and direct the physical and/or technical functions of a firm or organization, particularly those relating to...
Customer Service Management
A program that prepares individuals to supervise and monitor customer service performance and manage frontline customer support services, call centers/help desks, and customer...
E-Commerce
A program that prepares individuals to plan, manage, supervise, and market electronic business operations, products, and services provided online via the Internet. Includes...