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Head swim coach education requirements

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read

There are several educational requirements to become a head swim coach. Head swim coaches usually study kinesiology, psychology, or business. 78% of head swim coaches hold a bachelor's degree, and 10% hold an master's degree. We analyzed 2,365 real head swim coach resumes to see exactly what head swim coach education sections show.

The most common colleges for head swim coaches are the West Virginia University and the West Virginia University.

There are also many online head swim coach courses to help get the education required to be a head swim coach.

There are certain head swim coach certifications that you should consider. These head swim coach certifications include First Aid, CPR and AED Instructor and Lifeguard Certification.

What education do you need to become a head swim coach?

What degree do you need to be a head swim coach?

The most common degree for head swim coaches is bachelor's degree, with 78% of head swim coaches earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are master's degree degree at 10% and master's degree degree at 6%.
  • Bachelor's, 78%
  • Master's, 10%
  • Associate, 6%
  • High School Diploma, 4%
  • Other Degrees, 2%

What should I major in to become a head swim coach?

You should major in kinesiology to become a head swim coach. 12% of head swim coaches major in kinesiology. Other common majors for a head swim coach include psychology and business.

Most common colleges for head swim coaches

Head swim coaches often get their degrees at West Virginia University, University of Delaware, and California State University - San Bernardino. Here are the most common colleges for head swim coaches in the US based on their resumes.
Head swim coach common collegePercentages
West Virginia University7.34%
University of Delaware6.21%
California State University - San Bernardino5.65%
George Mason University5.65%
Eastern Michigan University5.08%

Best majors for head swim coaches

RankMajorPercentages
1Kinesiology12.1%
2Psychology10.8%
3Business10.5%
4Health Education8.6%
5Biology6.9%

Best colleges for head swim coaches

The best colleges for head swim coaches are Northwestern University, Columbia University in the City of New York, and University of Southern California.

A head swim 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 head swim 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 head swim 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. Howard University

Washington, DC • Private

In-state tuition

$26,756

Enrollment

6,166

4. University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$56,225

Enrollment

19,548

5. California State University - Bakersfield

Bakersfield, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$7,309

Enrollment

9,142

6. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

In-state tuition

$55,584

Enrollment

10,764

7. California State University - Long Beach

Long Beach, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,798

Enrollment

31,503

8. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Ann Arbor, MI • Private

In-state tuition

$15,262

Enrollment

30,079

9. SUNY at Binghamton

Vestal, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$9,808

Enrollment

13,990

10. San Diego State University

San Diego, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$7,488

Enrollment

30,018

20 best online courses for head swim coaches

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Top 10 most affordable universities for head swim coaches

The most affordable schools for head swim coaches are California State University - Bakersfield, california state university - long beach, and baruch college of the city university of new york.

If the best universities for head swim 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 head swim coaches.

1. California State University - Bakersfield

Bakersfield, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$7,309

Cost of attendance

16,714

2. California State University - Long Beach

Long Beach, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,798

Cost of attendance

18,306

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

6. California State University - Dominguez Hills

Carson, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,942

Cost of attendance

14,469

7. University of South Florida

Tampa, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,410

Cost of attendance

20,456

8. California State University - Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,749

Cost of attendance

14,823

9. Brigham Young University

Provo, UT • Private

In-state tuition

$5,620

Cost of attendance

18,136

10. Florida State University

Tallahassee, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$5,656

Cost of attendance

21,623

Top 10 hardest universities to get into for head swim coaches

The hardest universities for head swim coaches to get into are Northwestern University, Columbia University in the City of New York, and University of Southern California.

Some great schools for head swim 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 head swim 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 Southern California

Los Angeles, CA • Private

Admissions rate

13%

SAT average

1,445

4. Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore, MD • Private

Admissions rate

11%

SAT average

1,513

5. New York University

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

20%

SAT average

1,419

6. Washington University in St Louis

Saint Louis, MO • Private

Admissions rate

15%

SAT average

1,506

7. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

Admissions rate

8%

SAT average

1,492

8. Boston University

Boston, MA • Private

Admissions rate

22%

SAT average

1,420

9. George Washington University, The

Washington, DC • Private

Admissions rate

42%

SAT average

1,380

10. University of Virginia

Charlottesville, VA • Private

Admissions rate

26%

SAT average

1,427

Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for head swim coaches

The easiest schools for head swim 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 head swim 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 head swim 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. Life University

Marietta, GA • Private

Admissions rate

94%

SAT average

979

6. Oklahoma Wesleyan University

Bartlesville, OK • Private

Admissions rate

68%

SAT average

964

7. Kean University

Union, NJ • Private

Admissions rate

86%

SAT average

991

8. Bluefield College

Bluefield, VA • Private

Admissions rate

95%

SAT average

980

9. Ottawa University

Ottawa, KS • Private

Admissions rate

78%

SAT average

1,024

10. Holy Family University

Philadelphia, PA • Private

Admissions rate

72%

SAT average

1,017

Average head swim coach salary by education level

Head swim coaches with a Bachelor's degree earn more than those without, at $42,609 annually. With a Master's degree, head swim coaches earn a median annual income of $42,390 compared to $38,167 for head swim coaches with an Associate degree.
Head swim coach education levelHead swim coach salary
Master's Degree$42,390
High School Diploma or Less$36,539
Bachelor's Degree$42,609
Some College/ Associate Degree$38,167

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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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