Trade Specialist Education Requirements

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read

There are several educational requirements to become a trade specialist. Trade specialists usually study business, finance, or accounting. 61% of trade specialists hold a bachelor's degree, and 13% hold an associate degree. We analyzed 1,998 real trade specialist resumes to see exactly what trade specialist education sections show.

The most common colleges for trade specialists are the University of Phoenix and the University of Phoenix.

There are also many online trade specialist courses to help get the education required to be a trade specialist.

What education do you need to become a trade specialist?

What degree do you need to be a trade specialist?

The most common degree for trade specialists is bachelor's degree, with 61% of trade specialists earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are associate degree degree at 13% and associate degree degree at 12%.
  • Bachelor's, 61%
  • Associate, 13%
  • High School Diploma, 12%
  • Master's, 8%
  • Other Degrees, 6%

What should I major in to become a trade specialist?

You should major in business to become a trade specialist. 33% of trade specialists major in business. Other common majors for a trade specialist include finance and accounting.

Most common colleges for trade specialists

Trade specialists often get their degrees at University of Phoenix, University of Pittsburgh, and Robert Morris University. Here are the most common colleges for trade specialists in the US based on their resumes.
Trade Specialist Common College
ascdesc
Percentages
ascdesc
University of Phoenix11.85%
University of Pittsburgh7.41%
Robert Morris University7.41%
New York University6.67%
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey5.93%

Best majors for trade specialists

Rank
ascdesc
Major
ascdesc
Percentages
ascdesc
1Business32.9%
2Finance13.5%
3Accounting6.9%
4Economics6.0%
5Marketing4.5%

Best colleges for trade specialists

The best colleges for trade specialists are Northwestern University, University of Pennsylvania, and Stanford University.

A trade specialist with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for trade specialists. 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 trade specialists.

1. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

In-State Tuition

$55,584

Enrollment

10,764

Website

www.upenn.edu

Address

1 College Hall, Room 100, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6303

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $91,200 per year

Net Price: $25,033 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 8.41%
SAT Average - 1492
ACT Average - 34
Most Popular Majors
Finance
Business
Economics
Political Science
Computer Science

2. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

In-State Tuition

$54,568

Enrollment

8,451

Website

www.northwestern.edu

Address

633 Clark St, Evanston, IL 60208

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $71,900 per year

Net Price: $24,840 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 8.47%
SAT Average - 1508
ACT Average - 34
Most Popular Majors
Business
Economics
Communication
Psychology
Computer Science

3. University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA • Private

In-State Tuition

$56,225

Enrollment

19,548

Website

www.usc.edu/

Address

University Park, Los Angeles, CA 90089-0012

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $61,400 per year

Net Price: $30,453 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 12.96%
SAT Average - 1445
ACT Average - 32
Most Popular Majors
Business
Computer Science
Communication
Accounting
Economics

4. SUNY at Binghamton

Vestal, NY • Private

In-State Tuition

$9,808

Enrollment

13,990

Website

www.binghamton.edu

Address

P.O. Box 6000, Binghamton, NY 13902-6000

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $47,700 per year

Net Price: $18,958 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 39.81%
SAT Average - 1376
ACT Average - 30
Most Popular Majors
Economics
Accounting
Psychology
Computer Science
Business

5. Villanova University

Villanova, PA • Private

In-State Tuition

$53,308

Enrollment

6,819

Website

www.villanova.edu

Address

800 Lancaster Avenue, Villanova, PA 19085-1699

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $64,700 per year

Net Price: $40,134 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 29.22%
SAT Average - 1407
ACT Average - 32
Most Popular Majors
Business
Finance
Communication
Accounting
Marketing

20 best online courses for trade specialists

Advertising Disclosure

1. ADVANCED Swing Trading Strategy- Forex Trading/Stock Trading

udemy
4.8
(2,733)

Learn Swing Trading - A Technical Analysis Based Highly PROFITABLE Forex Trading & Stock Trading Strategy That Works!...

2. Day Trading Ninja: 12 Hours DIY Day Trading Strategy

udemy
4.4
(634)

Professional Day Trading & Technical Analysis Strategic System For Intraday Trading Stocks, Forex & Financial Trading...

3. Swing Trading Ninja: 12 Hour Complete Swing Trading Strategy

udemy
4.6
(433)

Profitable Swing Trading Strategy that can be Applied to Forex Trading, Stock Trading and any other Financial Markets...

4. Advanced Forex Trading - Ichimoku Trading Strategy Explained

udemy
4.6
(2,453)

Ichimoku Trading - A Complete Strategy that You Can Apply to Forex Trading, Stock Trading and other Financial Markets!...

5. Forex Trading Course: Trade the 12 Forex Robots I Trade Live

udemy
4.5
(414)

Automate your Forex Trading with Expert Advisors: Get my Best 12 Forex Robots with this Forex Trading Course!...

6. Options Trading for Rookies: Make & Manage Profitable Trades

udemy
4.7
(1,163)

Part 3: Learn to make and manage profitable trades, find stocks to trade, use correct position sizing, liquidity & more...

7. Forex Trading Price Action: Advanced Swing Trading Strategy

udemy
4.5
(1,939)

Profitable Swing Trading Strategy that can be Applied to Forex Trading, Stock Trading and other Financial Markets...

8. Learn how to double your Forex Trading Account in one trade

udemy
4.8
(1,853)

Learn that it is not that difficult to double your Forex account in one Forex trade manually using very low or no risk...

9. Day Trading and Swing Trading Futures with Price Action.

udemy
4.6
(713)

Reduce risk day trading futures, swing trading futures or any financial trading using price action...

10. Price Action Trading: Master Forex Trading with a Pro Trader

udemy
4
(342)

Learn Price Action Forex Trading with Practical Indicators: Live Price Action Trading Examples + Results...

Top 10 most affordable universities for trade specialists

The most affordable schools for trade specialists are Baruch College of the City University of New York, suny farmingdale, and usf sarasota-manatee.

If the best universities for trade specialists 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 trade specialists.

1. Baruch College of the City University of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-State Tuition

$7,262

Cost of Attendance

14,046

Website

www.baruch.cuny.edu

Address

One Bernard Baruch Way, New York, NY 10010

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $47,500 per year

Net Price: $2,981 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 39.29%
SAT Average - 1305
Most Popular Majors
Finance
Accounting
Business
Psychology
Economics

2. SUNY Farmingdale

Farmingdale, NY • Private

In-State Tuition

$8,306

Cost of Attendance

16,091

Website

www.farmingdale.edu/

Address

2350 Broadhollow Road, Farmingdale, NY 11735-1021

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $44,800 per year

Net Price: $9,268 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 46.07%
SAT Average - 1091
ACT Average - 22
Most Popular Majors
Business
Liberal Arts
Criminal Justice
Psychology
Electrical Engineering
U

3. USF Sarasota-Manatee

Sarasota, FL • Private

In-State Tuition

$5,587

Cost of Attendance

13,043

Website

usfsm.edu/

Address

8350 N. Tamiani Trail, Sarasota, FL 34243

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $39,400 per year

Net Price: $4,595 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 32.43%
SAT Average - 1225
ACT Average - 26
Most Popular Majors
Psychology
Liberal Arts
Education
Business
Accounting

4. Brooklyn College of the City University of New York

Brooklyn, NY • Private

In-State Tuition

$7,240

Cost of Attendance

13,991

Website

www.brooklyn.cuny.edu

Address

2900 Bedford Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11210-2889

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $36,900 per year

Net Price: $3,000 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 44.26%
SAT Average - 1150
Most Popular Majors
Education
Business
Psychology
Accounting
Finance

5. California State University - Dominguez Hills

Carson, CA • Private

In-State Tuition

$6,942

Cost of Attendance

14,469

Website

https://www.csudh.edu

Address

1000 E Victoria St, Carson, CA 90747

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $38,300 per year

Net Price: $3,891 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 63.94%
Most Popular Majors
Business
Education
Psychology
Liberal Arts
Criminal Justice

Top 10 hardest universities to get into for trade specialists

The hardest universities for trade specialists to get into are Northwestern University, University of Pennsylvania, and Stanford University.

Some great schools for trade specialists 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 trade specialists 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

Website

www.northwestern.edu

Address

633 Clark St, Evanston, IL 60208

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $71,900 per year

Net Price: $24,840 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 8.47%
SAT Average - 1508
ACT Average - 34
Most Popular Majors
Business
Economics
Communication
Psychology
Computer Science

2. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

Admissions Rate

8%

SAT Average

1,492

Website

www.upenn.edu

Address

1 College Hall, Room 100, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6303

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $91,200 per year

Net Price: $25,033 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 8.41%
SAT Average - 1492
ACT Average - 34
Most Popular Majors
Finance
Business
Economics
Political Science
Computer Science

3. Stanford University

Stanford, CA • Private

Admissions Rate

4%

SAT Average

1,497

Website

www.stanford.edu/

Address

450 Serra Mall, Stanford, CA 94305-2061

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $92,800 per year

Net Price: $12,265 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 4.36%
SAT Average - 1497
ACT Average - 34
Most Popular Majors
Computer Science
Business
Education
Electrical Engineering
Economics

4. University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA • Private

Admissions Rate

13%

SAT Average

1,445

Website

www.usc.edu/

Address

University Park, Los Angeles, CA 90089-0012

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $61,400 per year

Net Price: $30,453 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 12.96%
SAT Average - 1445
ACT Average - 32
Most Popular Majors
Business
Computer Science
Communication
Accounting
Economics

5. Boston University

Boston, MA • Private

Admissions Rate

22%

SAT Average

1,420

Website

www.bu.edu

Address

One Silber Way, 8th Floor, Boston, MA 02215

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $52,800 per year

Net Price: $30,729 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 22.09%
SAT Average - 1420
ACT Average - 32
Most Popular Majors
Business
Communication
Economics
Computer Science
Psychology

Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for trade specialists

The easiest schools for trade specialists to get into are Oklahoma Wesleyan University, holy names university, and barry university.

Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a trade specialist 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 trade specialists.

1. Oklahoma Wesleyan University

Bartlesville, OK • Private

Admissions Rate

68%

SAT Average

964

Website

www.okwu.edu

Address

2201 Silver Lake Rd, Bartlesville, OK 74006-6299

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $50,500 per year

Net Price: $26,279 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 67.73%
SAT Average - 964
ACT Average - 19
Most Popular Majors
Liberal Arts
Education
Psychology
Marketing
Accounting

2. Holy Names University

Oakland, CA • Private

Admissions Rate

70%

SAT Average

849

Website

www.hnu.edu

Address

3500 Mountain Blvd, Oakland, CA 94619-1699

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $49,000 per year

Net Price: $23,175 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 70.04%
SAT Average - 849
ACT Average - 20
Most Popular Majors
Education
Business
Psychology
Communication
Marketing

3. Barry University

Miami, FL • Private

Admissions Rate

91%

SAT Average

1,006

Website

www.barry.edu

Address

11300 NE 2nd Ave, Miami Shores, FL 33161-6695

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $43,700 per year

Net Price: $17,937 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 91.25%
SAT Average - 1006
ACT Average - 20
Most Popular Majors
Business
Education
Psychology
Accounting
Finance

4. Notre Dame College

Cleveland, OH • Private

Admissions Rate

90%

SAT Average

994

Website

www.notredamecollege.edu

Address

4545 College Rd, Cleveland, OH 44121-4293

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $37,000 per year

Net Price: $21,651 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 89.65%
SAT Average - 994
ACT Average - 19
Most Popular Majors
Business
Psychology
Criminal Justice
Communication
Accounting

5. University of North Texas at Dallas

Dallas, TX • Private

Admissions Rate

83%

SAT Average

992

Website

untdallas.edu

Address

7300 University Hills Blvd, Dallas, TX 75241

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $39,300 per year

Net Price: $7,400 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 83.11%
SAT Average - 992
ACT Average - 18
Most Popular Majors
Criminal Justice
Psychology
Business
Accounting
Education

Average trade specialist salary by education level

Trade specialists with a Master's degree earn more than those without, at $41,596 annually. With a Doctorate degree, trade specialists earn a median annual income of $39,292 compared to $36,667 for trade specialists with an Bachelor's degree.
Trade Specialist education level
ascdesc
Trade Specialist salary
ascdesc
Master's Degree$41,596
Bachelor's Degree$36,667
Doctorate Degree$39,292

Trade Specialist Education FAQs

Search for trade specialist jobs

Loading...
Loading...

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.