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Coach Education Requirements
Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
There are several educational requirements to become a coach. Coaches usually study business, psychology, or kinesiology. 62% of coaches hold a bachelor's degree, and 12% hold an associate degree. We analyzed 75,892 real coach resumes to see exactly what coach education sections show.
The most common colleges for coaches are the University of Phoenix and the University of Phoenix.
There are also many online coach courses to help get the education required to be a coach.
There are certain coach certifications that you should consider. These coach certifications include Certified Personal Trainer and First Aid, CPR and AED Instructor.
What education do you need to become a coach?
What degree do you need to be a coach?
- Bachelor's, 62%
- Associate, 12%
- Master's, 12%
- High School Diploma, 9%
- Other Degrees, 5%
What should I major in to become a coach?
- Business, 17%
- Psychology, 12%
- Kinesiology, 11%
- Education, 6%
- Other Majors, 54%
Most common colleges for coaches
Coach Common College  | Percentages |
|---|---|
| University of Phoenix | 15.10% |
| Arizona State University | 6.98% |
| Florida State University | 5.81% |
| Pennsylvania State University | 5.81% |
| California State University - San Bernardino | 5.59% |
Best majors for coaches
| Rank | Major | Percentages |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Business | 16.9% |
| 2 | Psychology | 11.5% |
| 3 | Kinesiology | 10.5% |
| 4 | Education | 6.0% |
| 5 | Communication | 5.5% |
Best colleges for coaches
The best colleges for coaches are Northwestern University, University of Southern California, and University of Pennsylvania.
A coach with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for coaches. We based this list on several metrics: admissions rate, retention rate, mean earnings of graduates, the ratio of working vs. non-working students ten years after admission, the average cost of attendance, and median debt for graduates who become coaches.
1. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
In-State Tuition
$54,568
Enrollment
8,451
2. University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA • Private
In-State Tuition
$56,225
Enrollment
19,548
3. California State University - Bakersfield
Bakersfield, CA • Private
In-State Tuition
$7,309
Enrollment
9,142
4. San Diego State University
San Diego, CA • Private
In-State Tuition
$7,488
Enrollment
30,018
5. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
In-State Tuition
$55,584
Enrollment
10,764
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Top 10 most affordable universities for coaches
The most affordable schools for coaches are California State University - Bakersfield, suny farmingdale, and baruch college of the city university of new york.
If the best universities for coaches are out of your price range, check out these affordable schools. After factoring in in-state tuition and fees, the average cost of attendance, admissions rate, average net price, and mean earnings after six years, we found that these are the most affordable schools for coaches.
1. California State University - Bakersfield
Bakersfield, CA • Private
In-State Tuition
$7,309
Cost of Attendance
16,714
2. SUNY Farmingdale
Farmingdale, NY • Private
In-State Tuition
$8,306
Cost of Attendance
16,091
3. Baruch College of the City University of New York
New York, NY • Private
In-State Tuition
$7,262
Cost of Attendance
14,046
4. University of Florida
Gainesville, FL • Private
In-State Tuition
$6,381
Cost of Attendance
21,034
5. Brooklyn College of the City University of New York
Brooklyn, NY • Private
In-State Tuition
$7,240
Cost of Attendance
13,991
Top 10 hardest universities to get into for coaches
The hardest universities for coaches to get into are Northwestern University, University of Southern California, and University of Pennsylvania.
Some great schools for coaches are hard to get into, but they also set your career up for greater success. The list below shows the most challenging universities to get into for coaches based on an institution's admissions rates, average SAT scores accepted, median ACT scores accepted, and mean earnings of students six years after admission.
1. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
Admissions Rate
8%
SAT Average
1,508
2. University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA • Private
Admissions Rate
13%
SAT Average
1,445
3. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
Admissions Rate
8%
SAT Average
1,492
4. George Washington University, The
Washington, DC • Private
Admissions Rate
42%
SAT Average
1,380
5. Boston University
Boston, MA • Private
Admissions Rate
22%
SAT Average
1,420
Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for coaches
The easiest schools for coaches to get into are Wayland Baptist University, barry university, and felician university.
Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a coach without much hassle, check out the list of schools where you will be accepted in no time. We compiled admissions rates, average SAT scores, average ACT scores, and average salary of students six years after graduation to uncover which were the easiest schools to get into for coaches.
1. Wayland Baptist University
Plainview, TX • Private
Admissions Rate
98%
SAT Average
1,003
2. Barry University
Miami, FL • Private
Admissions Rate
91%
SAT Average
1,006
3. Felician University
Lodi, NJ • Private
Admissions Rate
81%
SAT Average
999
4. Holy Names University
Oakland, CA • Private
Admissions Rate
70%
SAT Average
849
5. Oklahoma Wesleyan University
Bartlesville, OK • Private
Admissions Rate
68%
SAT Average
964
Average coach salary by education level
| Coach education level | Coach salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $46,103 |
| High School Diploma or Less | $39,456 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $46,352 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $41,300 |
Coach Education FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025
Updated January 8, 2025