What do Six Sigma belts mean?–

Mastery of the Six Sigma methodology is denoted by belt colors, a structure similar to the belt system in martial arts. Yellow belt holders have fundamental knowledge of Six Sigma. Green belt certification holders are qualified to apply Six Sigma procedures, such as DMAIC (define, measure, analyze, improve, and control), as team members and managers of larger projects often led by Six Sigma black belts. Those projects are often led by Six Sigma black belts. Black belts have a complete understanding of Six Sigma and Lean Six Sigma, and can deploy advanced strategies to help green belts complete projects.

Best Online Six Sigma Certification

By Dr. James Barham

Published: Oct 1, 2021
Updated: Nov 22, 2023

The best online Six Sigma certification programs will help you advance your career and sharpen your business acumen by teaching you how to solve business problems, eliminate waste, and run more efficiently.

Table of Contents

Top 10 Online Six Sigma Certificate Programs

University of Arkansas
University of California, Irvine
Rochester Institute of Technology
Southern New Hampshire University
Western Kentucky University
University of La Verne
Point University
College of Central Florida
Waubonsee Community College
Gordon State College

University of California, Irvine
University of Arkansas
Rochester Institute of Technology
Western Kentucky University
Southern New Hampshire University
University of La Verne
Waubonsee Community College
College of Central Florida
Point University
Gordon State College

Western Kentucky University 97%
Southern New Hampshire University 96%
Gordon State College 93%
University of Arkansas 79%
University of La Verne 74%
Rochester Institute of Technology 67%
Point University 24%
University of California, Irvine 21%

Southern New Hampshire University 22 to 1
Gordon State College 21 to 1
University of Arkansas 20 to 1
Waubonsee Community College 20 to 1
Western Kentucky University 18 to 1
University of California, Irvine 18 to 1
College of Central Florida 17 to 1
Central Community College 15 to 1
Rochester Institute of Technology 13 to 1
Point University 13 to 1

Rochester Institute of Technology $54,518
University of La Verne $47,000
Point University $22,300
Southern New Hampshire University $15,380
University of California, Irvine $11,564
Western Kentucky University $11,112
Waubonsee Community College $10,434
University of Arkansas $7,666
Central Community College $2,820
Gordon State College $2,563

Rochester Institute of Technology $54,176
Southern New Hampshire University $18,900
University of La Verne $14,796
Point University $13,014
Western Kentucky University $12,140
University of California, Irvine $11,700
University of Arkansas $7,875

Coastal Pines Technical College
Central Community College
Gordon State College
Waubonsee Community College
College of Central Florida
Point University
University of La Verne
Western Kentucky University
Southern New Hampshire University
Rochester Institute of Technology

Central Community College
Coastal Pines Technical College
Gordon State College
Point University
College of Central Florida
Waubonsee Community College
University of La Verne
Southern New Hampshire University
Western Kentucky University
Rochester Institute of Technology

University of California, Irvine 21%
Point University 24%
Rochester Institute of Technology 67%
University of La Verne 74%
University of Arkansas 79%
Gordon State College 93%
Southern New Hampshire University 96%
Western Kentucky University 97%

University of La Verne 11 to 1
Rochester Institute of Technology 13 to 1
Point University 13 to 1
Coastal Pines Technical College 13 to 1
Central Community College 15 to 1
College of Central Florida 17 to 1
Western Kentucky University 18 to 1
University of California, Irvine 18 to 1
University of Arkansas 20 to 1
Waubonsee Community College 20 to 1

College of Central Florida $1,987
Coastal Pines Technical College $2,147
Gordon State College $2,563
Central Community College $2,820
University of Arkansas $7,666
Waubonsee Community College $10,434
Western Kentucky University $11,112
University of California, Irvine $11,564
Southern New Hampshire University $15,380
Point University $22,300

University of Arkansas $7,875
University of California, Irvine $11,700
Western Kentucky University $12,140
Point University $13,014
University of La Verne $14,796
Southern New Hampshire University $18,900
Rochester Institute of Technology $54,176

Featured Programs

Frequently Asked Questions About Six Sigma Certification

Business professionals can raise their profile by earning a Six Sigma certification. Six Sigma is a methodology of using statistics and data to identify and solve problems in businesses. Lean Six Sigma aims to maintain value by applying the traditional methods of defect prevention as well as the elimination of waste.

Certification for Six Sigma can be acquired online, and while some programs combine the approaches, many distinguish the two. Six Sigma certification demonstrates to employers that the holder has achieved specific levels of expertise in business-related problem-solving. If you’re interested in pursuing Six Sigma certification, be sure you do so through a fully accredited college or university.

Mastery of the Six Sigma methodology is denoted by belt colors, a structure similar to the belt system in martial arts.

Yellow belt holders have fundamental knowledge of Six Sigma.
Green belt certification holders are qualified to apply Six Sigma procedures, such as DMAIC (define, measure, analyze, improve, and control), as team members and managers of larger projects often led by Six Sigma black belts.
Those projects are often led by Six Sigma black belts. Black belts have a complete understanding of Six Sigma and Lean Six Sigma, and can deploy advanced strategies to help green belts complete projects.

How do we determine the best online six sigma certification programs?

Methodology

Pursuing your degree online doesn’t mean you need to settle for an inferior school. Today, most universities and colleges offer online degrees, and many respected schools are seeing significant growth in their numbers of online students.

The people affiliated with a school are ultimately what make it great. This is why influence — i.e., the academic impact of faculty and alumni associated with a school — gets at the heart of what is truly best in education. The combined influence score of a college or university’s top academic influencers is the best indicator of academic excellence. For our online degree rankings, we focus on the academic influence of faculty and alumni in the specific disciplines we’re ranking.

If you are serious about finding the best online colleges, you should be asking where the most influential professors are teaching, and whether their graduates themselves are advancing the school’s reputation for academic excellence. Most ranking sites rely on an opaque combination of reputation surveys and arbitrary performance metrics. Influence, as measured by our InfluenceRanking engine, provides a ranking that is free from bias, insulated from manipulation, and reflective of real-world educational outcomes.

Best Online Six Sigma Certificates

Career Outlook for Students with Six Sigma Degree

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Operations Management And Supervision

Degree Level: Bachelor's

Location: The U.S. (Private Schools)
Avg. Cost of Degree*: $9,870
Avg. Expenses*: $15,581
Avg. Starting Salary*: $43,579
Avg. Salary after 4 Years*: $55,619
Avg. Cost Recoup Time**: 10 years
Job Growth: 6.02%
Number of Jobs: 2,978,800
* denotes ‘annually’
** denotes ‘at 15% of annual salary’

Career Salaries

Career	Job Growth	Avg. Salary
Chief Executives	-8.21%	$161,191
Computer and Information Systems Managers	15.41%	$134,192
Compensation and Benefits Managers	1.71%	$124,492
Purchasing Managers	4.39%	$118,521
Sales Managers	4.06%	$117,002
Human Resources Managers	5.22%	$115,604
Training and Development Managers	6.54%	$111,455
Industrial Production Managers	1.62%	$106,425
Managers, All Other	3.35%	$106,040
Fundraising Managers	5.04%	$103,968

Average Career Salaries

Bottom 10%	Median	Top 10%
$55,563	$92,094	$148,349

Promising Job Markets

State	Cost of Living	Avg. Salary
#2 New York	5% higher than average	$116,372
#3 Virginia	5% higher than average	$104,589
#4 Michigan	15% higher than average	$90,047
#5 Georgia	13% higher than average	$90,306
#6 Illinois	7% higher than average	$96,596
#7 Delaware	2% higher than average	$106,159
#8 Ohio	14% higher than average	$88,985
#9 New Jersey	13% higher than average	$116,786
#10 Alabama	13% higher than average	$89,100
#11 Missouri	16% higher than average	$86,291
#12 Texas	10% higher than average	$91,909
#13 Colorado	3% higher than average	$105,194
#14 Tennessee	14% higher than average	$86,864
#15 Minnesota	4% higher than average	$95,799
#16 Wisconsin	7% higher than average	$92,681
#17 Washington	7% higher than average	$105,360
#18 North Carolina	11% higher than average	$87,235
#19 Kansas	9% higher than average	$88,261
#20 Kentucky	14% higher than average	$82,807
#21 Indiana	11% higher than average	$85,766
#22 Pennsylvania	5% higher than average	$90,464
#23 South Carolina	8% higher than average	$87,188
#24 Louisiana	9% higher than average	$85,590
#25 Utah	4% higher than average	$90,368
#26 Oklahoma	13% higher than average	$81,069
#27 West Virginia	11% higher than average	$82,432
#28 Florida	6% higher than average	$87,100
#29 Nebraska	6% higher than average	$86,635
#30 Arizona	5% higher than average	$87,855
#31 New Mexico	7% higher than average	$84,955
#32 Arkansas	16% higher than average	$76,800
#33 Iowa	9% higher than average	$82,805
#34 South Dakota	7% higher than average	$84,133
#35 Rhode Island	20% higher than average	$108,149
#36 Connecticut	18% higher than average	$105,095
#37 Mississippi	18% higher than average	$72,688
#38 New Hampshire	13% higher than average	$98,866
#39 Maryland	18% higher than average	$102,544
#40 Massachusetts	24% higher than average	$106,805
#41 Wyoming	2% higher than average	$84,203
#42 California	26% higher than average	$107,572
#43 Montana	3% higher than average	$82,439
#44 North Dakota	average	$84,322
#45 Oregon	11% higher than average	$92,032
#46 Idaho	7% higher than average	$76,051
#47 District of Columbia	49% higher than average	$120,672
#48 Maine	9% higher than average	$85,124
#49 Alaska	23% higher than average	$95,250
#50 Vermont	13% higher than average	$87,431
#51 Nevada	5% higher than average	$79,841
#52 Hawaii	40% higher than average	$90,634

Top Industries

Industry	Avg. Salary
Chief Executives	$161,191
Computer and Information Systems Managers	$134,192
Compensation and Benefits Managers	$124,492
Purchasing Managers	$118,521
Sales Managers	$117,002
Human Resources Managers	$115,604
Training and Development Managers	$111,455
Industrial Production Managers	$106,425
Managers, All Other	$106,040
Fundraising Managers	$103,968

Data from The Bureau of Labor Statistics, The Department of Education College Scorecard, The Department of Education NCES, and The Council for Community and Economic Research.

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Best Online Six Sigma Certification

Top 10 Online Six Sigma Certificate Programs

Featured Programs

Frequently Asked Questions About Six Sigma Certification

What is Lean Six Sigma

How to get Six Sigma certification?

What do Six Sigma belts mean?

Best Online Six Sigma Certificates

Career Outlook for Six Sigma degree at University of Arkansas

Online Degrees

Career Outlook for Six Sigma degree at University of California, Irvine

Online Degrees

Concentrations

Career Outlook for Six Sigma degree at Rochester Institute of Technology

Online Degrees

Career Outlook for Six Sigma degree at Southern New Hampshire University

Online Degrees

Career Outlook for Six Sigma degree at Western Kentucky University

Online Degrees

Concentrations

Career Outlook for Six Sigma degree at University of La Verne

Online Degrees

Concentrations

Career Outlook for Six Sigma degree at Point University

Online Degrees

Concentrations

Career Outlook for Six Sigma degree at College of Central Florida

Online Degrees

Concentrations

Career Outlook for Six Sigma degree at Waubonsee Community College

Online Degrees

Career Outlook for Six Sigma degree at Gordon State College

Online Degrees

Concentrations

Career Outlook for Six Sigma degree at Central Community College

Online Degrees

Career Outlook for Six Sigma degree at Coastal Pines Technical College

Online Degrees

Career Outlook for Students with Six Sigma Degree

Operations Management And Supervision

Degree Level: Bachelor's

Career Salaries

Average Career Salaries

Promising Job Markets

Top Industries

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