Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
Life coach education requirements
Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
There are several educational requirements to become a life coach. Life coaches usually study psychology, business, or social work. 55% of life coaches hold a bachelor's degree, and 21% hold an master's degree. We analyzed 5,385 real life coach resumes to see exactly what life coach education sections show.
The most common colleges for life coaches are the University of Phoenix and the University of Phoenix.
There are also many online life coach courses to help get the education required to be a life coach.
There are certain life coach certifications that you should consider. These life coach certifications include Professional Certified Coach (PCC) and Master Certified Coach (MCC).
What education do you need to become a life coach?
What degree do you need to be a life coach?
- Bachelor's, 55%
- Master's, 21%
- Associate, 13%
- High School Diploma, 6%
- Other Degrees, 5%
What should I major in to become a life coach?
- Psychology, 24%
- Business, 12%
- Social Work, 7%
- Criminal Justice, 5%
- Other Majors, 52%
Most common colleges for life coaches
| Life coach common college | Percentages |
|---|---|
| University of Phoenix | 18.08% |
| Liberty University | 14.81% |
| Arizona State University | 6.32% |
| Capella University | 6.10% |
| Walden University | 5.23% |
Best majors for life coaches
| Rank | Major | Percentages |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Psychology | 24.3% |
| 2 | Business | 12.4% |
| 3 | Social Work | 6.9% |
| 4 | Criminal Justice | 5.1% |
| 5 | School Counseling | 4.7% |
Best colleges for life coaches
The best colleges for life coaches are Northwestern University, Columbia University in the City of New York, and University of Southern California.
A life 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 life 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 life 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 life coaches
Advertising disclosure
1. Personal Development Life Coach Certification1 Training
Personal Development Life Coach Training Course Graduates Prepared Professionals in Personal Development Life Coaching...
2. Complete Goal Setting Course - Become Your Own Life Coach
Goal Setting Mastery - Life Coaching - Become a Life Coach for Yourself or Others - Achieve Personal Success - Hit Goals...
3. Goal Setting to Success: Life Coach Certification Accredited
Learn Life Coaching industry best practices. Help clients be successful, achieve their goals, and reach their dreams!...
4. Life Coaching Certificate
Become a certified professional life coach; master coaching, psychology and adult learning theories...
5. Life Transformation Blueprint - Your Personal Growth Plan
Personal Growth Tips : Life Transformation Coach : Achieve Personal Goals : Personal Growth Plan : Life Transformation...
6. Advanced Certificate in Life Coaching (Skills and Practice)
An advanced life coaching training program that prepares you for extensive personal growth and professional advancement...
7. 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...
8. Certified Relationship Workshop Facilitator for Life Coaches
Empower others to create enlightened relationships by conducting group life coaching through relationship workshops...
9. Life Coach Certification Associate ACELC Life Coach Training
Life Coach Training Practitioner Course Graduating Prepared and Ready-To-Work ACELC Professionals in Life Coaching...
10. Health and Nutrition Life Coach Certification (Accredited)
Life Coaching: Create a Workout & Nutrition Plan Based on Your Clients' Fitness, Weight Loss, Dieting & Nutrition Goals...
11. Professional Life Coach Certification & Guide (Accredited)
Become a certified life coach & grow your life coaching business! Done-for-you forms, tools, processes & best practices...
12. Group Life Coaching Certification (Accredited)
Training for life coaches who want to grow their business through offering life coaching groups...
13. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) Life Coach Specialty
CBT Life Coaching: Emotional Intelligence - Tools for Overcoming Negative Emotions like Anxiety, Fear, Undue Stress...
14. Transformation Life Coach Certification (Accredited)
Life coach your clients to breakthrough, create lasting change, master transitions & be the hero of their life story...
15. Life Purpose Life Coach Certification (Accredited)
Become a Certified Life Purpose Coach! Learn powerful tools & strategies to help clients find their purpose & passion...
16. Life Coaching Certificate Course (Beginner to Intermediate)
A comprehensive online training that delivers in-depth understanding of the key elements of the Life Coaching profession...
17. Mindfulness Life Coach Certification & Mindfulness Blueprint
Mindfulness: Complete Life Coaching Blueprint with 50+ Mindfulness Exercise & 21 Day Mindfulness & Meditation Challenge...
18. Essential Life Coaching Skills Certification
Beginner to Advanced: Develop the skills to become a super-effective life coach...
19. Professional Life Coach Certification PCELC Coach Training
Life Coach Training Practitioner Course Graduating Prepared and Ready-To-Work PCELC Professionals in Life Coaching...
20. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy CBT Life Coaching Certification
CBT: Emotional intelligence transform your life - stop self-sabotage while earning your life coaching credentials...
Top 10 most affordable universities for life coaches
The most affordable schools for life 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 life 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 life 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 life coaches
The hardest universities for life coaches to get into are Northwestern University, Columbia University in the City of New York, and University of Southern California.
Some great schools for life 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 life 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 life coaches
The easiest schools for life 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 life 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 life 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 life coach salary by education level
| Life coach education level | Life coach salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $45,107 |
| High School Diploma or Less | $38,894 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $45,339 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $40,622 |
Life coach education FAQs
Have more questions? See all answers to common arts, entertainment, sports, and media questions.
Search for life coach jobs
Updated January 8, 2025
Updated January 8, 2025