Trainee Education Requirements

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read

There are several educational requirements to become a trainee. Trainees usually study business, psychology, or electrical engineering. 56% of trainees hold a bachelor's degree, and 13% hold an master's degree. We analyzed 48,158 real trainee resumes to see exactly what trainee education sections show.

The most common colleges for trainees are the California State University - San Bernardino and the California State University - San Bernardino.

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

There are certain trainee certifications that you should consider. These trainee certifications include OSHA Safety Certificate and EPA Amusement Operators Safety Certification (EPA).

What education do you need to become a trainee?

What degree do you need to be a trainee?

The most common degree for trainees is bachelor's degree, with 56% of trainees earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are master's degree degree at 13% and master's degree degree at 13%.
  • Bachelor's, 56%
  • Master's, 13%
  • High School Diploma, 13%
  • Associate, 8%
  • Other Degrees, 10%

What should I major in to become a trainee?

You should major in business to become a trainee. 16% of trainees major in business. Other common majors for a trainee include psychology and electrical engineering.

Most common colleges for trainees

Trainees often get their degrees at California State University - San Bernardino, University of Phoenix, and University of California - Davis. Here are the most common colleges for trainees in the US based on their resumes.
Trainee Common College
ascdesc
Percentages
ascdesc
California State University - San Bernardino11.24%
University of Phoenix10.85%
University of California - Davis9.90%
University of California, Santa Barbara9.23%
San Francisco State University4.92%

Best majors for trainees

Rank
ascdesc
Major
ascdesc
Percentages
ascdesc
1Business16.4%
2Psychology15.9%
3Electrical Engineering7.0%
4Computer Science6.9%
5Accounting5.8%

Best colleges for trainees

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

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

1. Stanford University

Stanford, CA • Private

In-State Tuition

$51,354

Enrollment

7,083

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
Biology
Education
Mechanical Engineering

2. 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
Education
Biology
Finance
Business
Nursing

3. 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
Biology
Business
Economics
Liberal Arts
Communication

4. Maine Maritime Academy

Castine, ME • Private

In-State Tuition

$13,478

Enrollment

979

Website

https://mainemaritime.edu

Address

Pleasant Street, Castine, ME 04420-0001

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $82,000 per year

Net Price: $22,764 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 55.02%
SAT Average - 1104
ACT Average - 24
Most Popular Majors
Business
Biology

5. 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
Education
Electrical Engineering
Communication

20 best online courses for trainees

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Top 10 most affordable universities for trainees

The most affordable schools for trainees are SUNY Farmingdale, california state university - bakersfield, and baruch college of the city university of new york.

If the best universities for trainees 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 trainees.

1. 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
Biology
Nursing

2. California State University - Bakersfield

Bakersfield, CA • Private

In-State Tuition

$7,309

Cost of Attendance

16,714

Website

www.csub.edu

Address

9001 Stockdale Hwy, Bakersfield, CA 93311-1022

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $39,100 per year

Net Price: $5,687 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 23.02%
Most Popular Majors
Liberal Arts
Business
Education
Biology
Psychology

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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
Biology

Top 10 hardest universities to get into for trainees

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

Some great schools for trainees 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 trainees 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. 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
Biology
Education
Mechanical Engineering

2. 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
Biology
Business
Economics
Liberal Arts
Communication

3. 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
Education
Biology
Finance
Business
Nursing

4. 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
Biology
Education
Communication
Economics

5. New York University

New York, NY • Private

Admissions Rate

20%

SAT Average

1,419

Website

www.nyu.edu

Address

70 Washington Square South, New York, NY 10012-1091

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $55,900 per year

Net Price: $42,397 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 19.99%
SAT Average - 1419
ACT Average - 32
Most Popular Majors
Liberal Arts
Business
Biology
Education
Nursing

Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for trainees

The easiest schools for trainees to get into are Oklahoma Wesleyan University, notre dame de namur university, and holy names university.

Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a trainee 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 trainees.

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
Nursing
Liberal Arts
Education
Psychology
Biology

2. Notre Dame de Namur University

Belmont, CA • Private

Admissions Rate

82%

SAT Average

983

Website

www.ndnu.edu

Address

1500 Ralston Ave, Belmont, CA 94002-1908

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

Net Price: $25,610 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 81.52%
SAT Average - 983
ACT Average - 19
Most Popular Majors
Business
Education
Biology
Psychology
Liberal Arts

3. 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
Nursing
Psychology
Liberal Arts

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
Education
Nursing
Business
Psychology
Criminal Justice

5. LIM College

New York, NY • Private

Admissions Rate

83%

SAT Average

1,061

Website

www.limcollege.edu

Address

12 East 53rd St, New York, NY 10022-5268

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $42,300 per year

Net Price: $36,799 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 83.46%
SAT Average - 1061
ACT Average - 21
Most Popular Majors
Marketing
Business

Average trainee salary by education level

Trainees with a Master's degree earn more than those without, at $44,489 annually. With a Bachelor's degree, trainees earn a median annual income of $42,801 compared to $38,425 for trainees with an Associate degree.
Trainee education level
ascdesc
Trainee salary
ascdesc
Master's Degree$44,489
High School Diploma or Less$37,892
Bachelor's Degree$42,801
Some College/ Associate Degree$38,425

Trainee Education FAQs

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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.

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