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Outbound sales representative education requirements

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read

There are several educational requirements to become an outbound sales representative. Outbound sales representatives usually study business, communication, or general studies. 33% of outbound sales representatives hold a high school diploma, and 32% hold an bachelor's degree. We analyzed 5,378 real outbound sales representative resumes to see exactly what outbound sales representative education sections show.

The most common colleges for outbound sales representatives are the University of Phoenix and the University of Phoenix.

There are also many online outbound sales representative courses to help get the education required to be an outbound sales representative.

There are certain outbound sales representative certifications that you should consider. These outbound sales representative certifications include Certified Sales Professional (CSP) and Accredited Business Accountant/Advisor (ABA).

What education do you need to become an outbound sales representative?

What degree do you need to be an outbound sales representative?

The most common degree for outbound sales representatives is high school diploma, with 33% of outbound sales representatives earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are bachelor's degree degree at 32% and bachelor's degree degree at 19%.
  • High School Diploma, 33%
  • Bachelor's, 32%
  • Associate, 19%
  • Diploma, 9%
  • Other Degrees, 7%

What should I major in to become an outbound sales representative?

You should major in business to become an outbound sales representative. 29% of outbound sales representatives major in business. Other common majors for an outbound sales representative include communication and general studies.

Most common colleges for outbound sales representatives

Outbound sales representatives often get their degrees at University of Phoenix, Arizona State University, and Valencia College. Here are the most common colleges for outbound sales representatives in the US based on their resumes.
Outbound sales representative common collegePercentages
University of Phoenix21.40%
Arizona State University10.51%
Valencia College7.00%
Florida State College at Jacksonville6.23%
North Carolina Central University6.23%

Best majors for outbound sales representatives

RankMajorPercentages
1Business29.1%
2Communication7.1%
3General Studies6.3%
4Psychology6.2%
5Criminal Justice5.6%

Best colleges for outbound sales representatives

The best colleges for outbound sales representatives are University of Pennsylvania, Stanford University, and Northwestern University.

An outbound sales representative with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for outbound sales representatives. 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 outbound sales representatives.

1. SUNY College of Technology at Alfred

Alfred, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$8,570

Enrollment

3,721

2. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

In-state tuition

$55,584

Enrollment

10,764

3. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minneapolis, MN • Private

In-state tuition

$14,760

Enrollment

31,451

4. Stanford University

Stanford, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$51,354

Enrollment

7,083

5. California State University - Bakersfield

Bakersfield, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$7,309

Enrollment

9,142

6. Baylor University

Waco, TX • Private

In-state tuition

$45,542

Enrollment

14,159

7. Ball State University

Muncie, IN • Private

In-state tuition

$9,896

Enrollment

15,529

8. University of Wisconsin - Madison

Madison, WI • Private

In-state tuition

$10,555

Enrollment

30,360

9. SUNY College of Technology at Delhi

Delhi, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$8,360

Enrollment

3,142

10. Bentley University

Waltham, MA • Private

In-state tuition

$49,880

Enrollment

4,177

20 best online courses for outbound sales representatives

Advertising disclosure

1. HubSpot Sales Representative

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Whether you're completely new to sales and looking to start a new career, or you want to grow in your current sales role, this five-course career training program from the inbound sales experts at HubSpot can help you reach your career goals.\n\nYou’ll start by learning the basics of sales enablement and how sales and marketing teams can collaborate to create and keep relationships with their targeted buyers. You’ll develop data-driven sales goals and influential content to enable you to...

2. Salesforce Sales Development Representative

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If you’ve always wanted a rewarding career, the tech sales industry may be the path for you. If you’re an ambitious problem-solver who likes to win, you’ll find tech sales not only fulfilling, but lucrative as well. As the tech industry continuously introduces innovative services and products, tech sales roles have become more crucial than ever. SDRs are in the front lines of the tech biz, connecting with customers and clients, and coming up with the smartest solutions for their problems. Sales...

3. The Complete B2B Sales Masterclass: 6 Courses in 1

udemy
4
(413)

1. Generate Leads, 2. Pitch, 3. Close & Handle Any Objection: Get Certified in Cutting Edge, Non-Pushy B2B Sales System...

4. Sales Prospecting Fundamentals: A Complete Guide to Success

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4.3
(298)

Master effective prospecting by leveraging your sales superpower to increase your income!...

5. Cold Calling for B2B Sales: How to Prospect over the Phone

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4.5
(2,576)

B2B Sales Skill: How to Cold Call over the Phone with Purpose, Navigate through Gatekeepers and Set Client Meetings...

6. Create B2B Sales Cold Calling Scripts & Value Propositions

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4.6
(1,592)

B2B Sales Skill: Create Personalized Talk Tracks for Sales Reps that Win more Prospects and Close more Deals...

7. B2B Sales Skills: LinkedIn Lead Generation, Cold Email Sales

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4.5
(327)

High-ticket B2B sales and marketing. Generate leads, sell to big companies, and win large deals. Learn sales skills!...

8. Sales Skills: 9 Sales Training Courses In 1

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4.4
(994)

Develop Extraordinary Sales Skills With The Ultimate Sales Training (Taught By 5 Top Sales Experts)...

9. Sales Training: How To Close More Sales

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4.5
(1,734)

Closing Sales: Sales Training Course: Sales Skills; Selling Techniques; Sales Strategies for B2B, B2C Direct Sales...

10. Sales Fire: B2B Sales & Business Development for Startups

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4.6
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The Ultimate Sales Methodology for Business Development & B2B Sales to Learn Sales Strategy, Sales Skills & Deal Closing...

11. Sales Training Pro: The Complete Sales Presentation Course

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4.6
(346)

Practical, Hands-on Sales Techniques and Tools to Effortlessly Engage your Customers In Your Sales Presentations...

12. Sales Training: Practical Sales Techniques

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4.6
(23,968)

Sales Hacking: Essential sales skills, sales strategies and sales techniques to sell just about anything!...

13. Sales Machine: The Sales Training B2B Master Course

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4.6
(4,040)

Learn Sales Strategies & Sales Techniques to Sell ANYTHING for Entrepreneurs, Startup, B2B Sales, & Business Development...

14. Sales Fundamentals

udemy
5
(791)

Learn how to sell with core, proven techniques that have generated millions in sales revenue...

15. Cold Calling Mastery

udemy
4.8
(350)

Become fantastic at Cold Calling - making cold calls for lead generation, sales, & business development...

16. Sales Skills Mastery 1: Sales Training For Beginners

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4.4
(817)

Selling Techniques and Sales Strategy that Every Salesperson Ought to Know - Sales Training For the Modern World...

17. B2B Sales Objections Simplified

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4.6
(1,641)

B2B Sales Skill: Learn How to Handle the Most Common Sales Objections, Over the Phone and in Person!...

18. CRUSH IT!!! - Sales Strategies

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4.6
(710)

Discover a step by step sales process you can drop into your business to re-connect with lost prospects. Close Sales Now...

19. No Pressure Prospecting - Close More Sales

udemy
4.2
(259)

This sales training course will make prospecting easy, by teaching you how to find prospects that want what you sell...

20. Sales Training: Become A Sales Superstar

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4.7
(262)

Develop Advanced Sales Skills To Sell Anything Like A Champ (Taught By A World-class Salesman)...

Top 10 most affordable universities for outbound sales representatives

The most affordable schools for outbound sales representatives are Baruch College of the City University of New York, suny farmingdale, and california state university - bakersfield.

If the best universities for outbound sales representatives 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 outbound sales representatives.

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. SUNY Farmingdale

Farmingdale, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$8,306

Cost of attendance

16,091

3. California State University - Bakersfield

Bakersfield, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$7,309

Cost of attendance

16,714

4. Fashion Institute of Technology

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$5,740

Cost of attendance

17,864

5. University of Florida

Gainesville, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,381

Cost of attendance

21,034

6. Brigham Young University

Provo, UT • Private

In-state tuition

$5,620

Cost of attendance

18,136

7. California State University - Fresno

Fresno, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,587

Cost of attendance

16,915

8. University of Puerto Rico - Mayaguez

Mayaguez, PR • Private

In-state tuition

$4,094

Cost of attendance

14,302

9. Purdue University

West Lafayette, IN • Private

In-state tuition

$9,992

Cost of attendance

22,430

10. California State University - Dominguez Hills

Carson, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,942

Cost of attendance

14,469

Top 10 hardest universities to get into for outbound sales representatives

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

Some great schools for outbound sales representatives 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 outbound sales representatives 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. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

Admissions rate

8%

SAT average

1,492

2. Stanford University

Stanford, CA • Private

Admissions rate

4%

SAT average

1,497

3. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

Admissions rate

8%

SAT average

1,508

4. New York University

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

20%

SAT average

1,419

5. Bentley University

Waltham, MA • Private

Admissions rate

43%

SAT average

1,338

6. Washington University in St Louis

Saint Louis, MO • Private

Admissions rate

15%

SAT average

1,506

7. Boston University

Boston, MA • Private

Admissions rate

22%

SAT average

1,420

8. Fordham University

Bronx, NY • Private

Admissions rate

46%

SAT average

1,354

9. University of Maryland - College Park

College Park, MD • Private

Admissions rate

47%

SAT average

1,390

10. Clemson University

Clemson, SC • Private

Admissions rate

47%

SAT average

1,337

Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for outbound sales representatives

The easiest schools for outbound sales representatives to get into are Barry University, oklahoma wesleyan university, and lim college.

Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as an outbound sales representative 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 outbound sales representatives.

1. Barry University

Miami, FL • Private

Admissions rate

91%

SAT average

1,006

2. Oklahoma Wesleyan University

Bartlesville, OK • Private

Admissions rate

68%

SAT average

964

3. LIM College

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

83%

SAT average

1,061

4. University of the Incarnate Word

San Antonio, TX • Private

Admissions rate

88%

SAT average

1,044

5. Notre Dame College

Cleveland, OH • Private

Admissions rate

90%

SAT average

994

6. Notre Dame de Namur University

Belmont, CA • Private

Admissions rate

82%

SAT average

983

7. Holy Names University

Oakland, CA • Private

Admissions rate

70%

SAT average

849

8. Ursuline College

Pepper Pike, OH • Private

Admissions rate

90%

SAT average

1,102

9. William Paterson University of New Jersey

Wayne, NJ • Private

Admissions rate

93%

SAT average

994

10. Cleary University

Howell, MI • Private

Admissions rate

58%

SAT average

1,039

Average outbound sales representative salary by education level

According to our data, outbound sales representatives with a Master's degree earn the highest average salary, at $64,357 annually. Outbound sales representatives with a Doctorate degree earn an average annual salary of $60,434.
Outbound sales representative education levelOutbound sales representative salary
Master's Degree$64,357
High School Diploma or Less$35,374
Bachelor's Degree$54,340
Doctorate Degree$60,434
Some College/ Associate Degree$37,512

Outbound sales representative 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.