Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
College football coach education requirements
Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
There are several educational requirements to become a college football coach. College football coaches usually study business, kinesiology, or history. 74% of college football coaches hold a bachelor's degree, and 11% hold an master's degree. We analyzed 91 real college football coach resumes to see exactly what college football coach education sections show.
The most common colleges for college football coaches are the James Madison University and the James Madison University.
There are also many online college football coach courses to help get the education required to be a college football coach.
What education do you need to become a college football coach?
What degree do you need to be a college football coach?
- Bachelor's, 74%
- Master's, 11%
- Associate, 10%
- High School Diploma, 4%
- Other Degrees, 1%
What should I major in to become a college football coach?
- Business, 19%
- Kinesiology, 19%
- History, 8%
- Criminal Justice, 6%
- Other Majors, 48%
Most common colleges for college football coaches
| College football coach common college | Percentages |
|---|---|
| James Madison University | 11.54% |
| Missouri Valley College | 7.69% |
| University of New Mexico | 7.69% |
| University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | 7.69% |
| Iowa Wesleyan University | 7.69% |
Best majors for college football coaches
| Rank | Major | Percentages |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Business | 19.0% |
| 2 | Kinesiology | 19.0% |
| 3 | History | 7.9% |
| 4 | Criminal Justice | 6.3% |
| 5 | Communication | 6.3% |
Best colleges for college football coaches
The best colleges for college football coaches are Northwestern University, Columbia University in the City of New York, and University of Pennsylvania.
A college football 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 college football 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 college football coaches.
1. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
In-state tuition
$54,568
Enrollment
8,451
2. Columbia University in the City of New York
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$59,430
Enrollment
8,216
3. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
In-state tuition
$55,584
Enrollment
10,764
4. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC • Private
In-state tuition
$8,987
Enrollment
18,946
5. University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$56,225
Enrollment
19,548
6. San Diego State University
San Diego, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$7,488
Enrollment
30,018
7. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Champaign, IL • Private
In-state tuition
$15,094
Enrollment
32,974
8. Harvard University
Cambridge, MA • Private
In-state tuition
$50,420
Enrollment
7,582
9. California State University - Long Beach
Long Beach, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,798
Enrollment
31,503
10. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
Minneapolis, MN • Private
In-state tuition
$14,760
Enrollment
31,451
20 best online courses for college football coaches
Advertising disclosure
1. Football: More than a Game
Explore the world of football (soccer), the money, the rivalries, the trends, the past, the present, the men’s game, the women's game and the real issues. Whether you love it, hate it or try to ignore it – join us as we go behind the scenes to examine why football is more than just a game. From street soccer to multi-million dollar transfers, from the men’s game to the women’s, from the global to the local, from the beaches of Brazil to the fight against poverty this online course looks beyond...
2. A Guide to Diversifying and Transforming Football Leadership
Football is a globally followed and revered sport. In recent years, concerns over diversity and discrimination in the beloved sport have made international headlines. This has put a spotlight on the lack of representation both on and off the football pitch. The disparity in football leadership representation is even more apparent when gender, race and ethnicity comes into play. This MOOC aims to understand, explore and ultimately address the exclusion of women and people of ethnic minority...
3. Become a Professional Football (Soccer) Coach
The Complete Guide on how to become a Professional Football (Soccer) Coach...
4. Financial Planning Coaching Certification Holistic Coaching
Financial Planning Coaching Practitioner Course Graduates Prepared Professionals in Holistic Financial Planning Coaching...
5. Coaching Business Plan How to Start a Life Coaching Business
Coaching Business Plan for Life Coaches with Coaching Vision Coaching Niche Coaching Clients Marketing Plan for Coaching...
6. Unity Android Game Development: Build 10 2D & 3D Games
Unity Game Development & Design, Learn Unity Android Game Development with C# & Unity ( Updated Unity 2023 )...
7. Unity Game Development Build 2D & 3D Games
Learn Unity game design & 2D & 3D game development & make your own C# games in Unity 3D...
8. Career Coaching Certification in Career Development Coaching
Career Coaching Practitioner Course Graduates Ready-To-Work Professionals in Holistic Career Development Career Coaching...
9. Introduction to Football (Soccer) Tactics
Gain a deeper understanding of the world of football with this guide to the basic principles of football tactics...
10. Complete Management Coaching Course - Executive Coaching
Management Coaching - Learn all Aspects of Coaching, Career Coaching and Executive Coaching - Master Coaching...
11. Life Coaching Certificate
Become a certified professional life coach; master coaching, psychology and adult learning theories...
12. The Complete Unity Game Development Course
Create Your Own First Person Shooter Zombie Game...
13. Unity C# Mobile Game Development: Make 3 Games From Scratch
Make and publish mobile games & apps for Android Play Store & i OS App Store using Unity and C#...
14. Life Coaching: Start Up Your Own Life Coaching Business
Life Coaching : Learn What It Takes To Start Up Your Own Life Coach Business or Life Coaching Practice...
15. Coaching Managers & Leaders for Continuous Improvement
Coaching for Lean Leadership, Continuous Improvement and Business Performance...
16. Self Defense Made Real Easy
The fastest to learn and most effective self defense system in the world!...
17. Intro to Game Development using Unity - Part I
A 2D game will be developed from scratch - perfect beginning course for middle and high school age students!...
18. Life Coach Certification Associate ACELC Life Coach Training
Life Coach Training Practitioner Course Graduating Prepared and Ready-To-Work ACELC Professionals in Life Coaching...
19. Unity Game Development: Make Professional 3D Games
Learn To Code In C# And How To Create Stunning 3D Games In Unity Game Engine...
20. Professional Life Coach Certification PCELC Coach Training
Life Coach Training Practitioner Course Graduating Prepared and Ready-To-Work PCELC Professionals in Life Coaching...
Top 10 most affordable universities for college football coaches
The most affordable schools for college football coaches are Baruch College of the City University of New York, california state university - long beach, and university of florida.
If the best universities for college football 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 college football coaches.
1. Baruch College of the City University of New York
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,262
Cost of attendance
14,046
2. California State University - Long Beach
Long Beach, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,798
Cost of attendance
18,306
3. University of Florida
Gainesville, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,381
Cost of attendance
21,034
4. California State University - Bakersfield
Bakersfield, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$7,309
Cost of attendance
16,714
5. Brooklyn College of the City University of New York
Brooklyn, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,240
Cost of attendance
13,991
6. California State University - Dominguez Hills
Carson, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,942
Cost of attendance
14,469
7. Brigham Young University
Provo, UT • Private
In-state tuition
$5,620
Cost of attendance
18,136
8. California State University - Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,749
Cost of attendance
14,823
9. University of South Florida
Tampa, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,410
Cost of attendance
20,456
10. California State University - Fresno
Fresno, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,587
Cost of attendance
16,915
Top 10 hardest universities to get into for college football coaches
The hardest universities for college football coaches to get into are Northwestern University, Columbia University in the City of New York, and University of Pennsylvania.
Some great schools for college football 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 college football 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. Columbia University in the City of New York
New York, NY • Private
Admissions rate
6%
SAT average
1,512
3. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
Admissions rate
8%
SAT average
1,492
4. University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA • Private
Admissions rate
13%
SAT average
1,445
5. New York University
New York, NY • Private
Admissions rate
20%
SAT average
1,419
6. Boston University
Boston, MA • Private
Admissions rate
22%
SAT average
1,420
7. Vanderbilt University
Nashville, TN • Private
Admissions rate
10%
SAT average
1,514
8. Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, MD • Private
Admissions rate
11%
SAT average
1,513
9. Harvard University
Cambridge, MA • Private
Admissions rate
5%
SAT average
1,520
10. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC • Private
Admissions rate
23%
SAT average
1,398
Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for college football coaches
The easiest schools for college football coaches to get into are Barry University, felician university, and holy names university.
Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a college football 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 college football coaches.
1. Barry University
Miami, FL • Private
Admissions rate
91%
SAT average
1,006
2. Felician University
Lodi, NJ • Private
Admissions rate
81%
SAT average
999
3. Holy Names University
Oakland, CA • Private
Admissions rate
70%
SAT average
849
4. University of the Incarnate Word
San Antonio, TX • Private
Admissions rate
88%
SAT average
1,044
5. Mount Saint Mary's University
Los Angeles, CA • Private
Admissions rate
84%
SAT average
1,031
6. Oklahoma Wesleyan University
Bartlesville, OK • Private
Admissions rate
68%
SAT average
964
7. Gwynedd Mercy University
Gwynedd Valley, PA • Private
Admissions rate
92%
SAT average
1,031
8. Ottawa University
Ottawa, KS • Private
Admissions rate
78%
SAT average
1,024
9. Fresno Pacific University
Fresno, CA • Private
Admissions rate
85%
SAT average
1,053
10. Notre Dame College
Cleveland, OH • Private
Admissions rate
90%
SAT average
994
Average college football coach salary by education level
| College football coach education level | College football coach salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $54,241 |
| High School Diploma or Less | $45,679 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $54,565 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $48,040 |
College football coach education FAQs
Have more questions? See all answers to common arts, entertainment, sports, and media questions.
Search for college football coach jobs
Updated January 8, 2025
Updated January 8, 2025