Sales Consultant Education Requirements

Updated April 5, 2024

4 min read

Quoted Expert

Director Dave Payne M.S.

The educational requirements for a sales consultant typically include a high school diploma, although an associate's or bachelor's degree in business, marketing, communication, psychology, or criminal justice can be beneficial. According to Director Dave Payne M.S., Associate Professor of Practice/Sales at the University of Akron, "Skills are king. creating a new system for sales practice, AI feedback and repetition will be the game changer." In addition, certifications such as Certified Sales Professional, Commercial Driver License, and Certified Professional, Life and Health Insurance Program can also enhance a sales consultant's qualifications.

What education do you need to become a sales consultant?

What degree do you need to be a sales consultant?

The most common degree for sales consultants is bachelor's degree, with 56% of sales consultants earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are associate degree degree at 18% and associate degree degree at 15%.

Bachelor's, 56%

Associate, 18%

High School Diploma, 15%

Master's, 5%

Other Degrees, 6%

What should I major in to become a sales consultant?

According to the education requirements, the best college majors for a sales consultant are business, marketing, and communication. A high school diploma may be sufficient for many positions, but representatives selling scientific and technical products usually need a bachelor's degree related to the product sold. Many sales representatives also attend seminars or courses in marketing, economics, or communication to improve their sales abilities.

Business, 34%

Marketing, 8%

Communication, 7%

Psychology, 6%

Other Majors, 45%

Most common colleges for sales consultants

Sales consultants often get their degrees at University of Phoenix, Pennsylvania State University, and Florida State University. Here are the most common colleges for sales consultants in the US based on their resumes.

Sales Consultant Common College	Percentages
University of Phoenix	17.36%
Pennsylvania State University	5.92%
Florida State University	5.70%
Ohio State University	5.10%
Michigan State University	4.86%

Show more common sales consultant colleges

Best majors for sales consultants

Rank	Major	Percentages
1	Business	33.5%
2	Marketing	8.0%
3	Communication	6.7%
4	Psychology	5.8%
5	Criminal Justice	4.5%

Show more common sales consultant majors

Best colleges for sales consultants

The best colleges for sales consultants, such as SUNY College of Technology at Alfred, University of Pennsylvania, and University of Minnesota - Twin Cities, offer benefits beyond a degree. They provide a supportive learning environment, as seen in their high retention rates. Additionally, graduates from these institutions enjoy higher earning potential and lower student debt. This combination of factors makes these colleges top choices for aspiring sales consultants.

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 sales consultants

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Top 10 most affordable universities for sales consultants

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

If the best universities for sales consultants 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 sales consultants.

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 sales consultants

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

Some great schools for sales consultants 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 sales consultants 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

SAT Average

1,492

2. Stanford University

Stanford, CA • Private

Admissions Rate

SAT Average

1,497

3. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

Admissions Rate

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 sales consultants

The easiest schools for sales consultants 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 a sales consultant 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 sales consultants.

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 sales consultant salary by education level

Sales consultants with a Master's degree earn more than those without, at $78,639 annually. With a Doctorate degree, sales consultants earn a median annual income of $74,851 compared to $68,862 for sales consultants with an Bachelor's degree.

Sales Consultant education level	Sales Consultant salary
Master's Degree	$78,639
High School Diploma or Less	$49,166
Bachelor's Degree	$68,862
Doctorate Degree	$74,851
Some College/ Associate Degree	$51,484

Sales Consultant Education FAQs

What is the best college for Sales Consultants?

Have more questions? See all answers to common sales questions.

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Updated April 5, 2024

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.

Updated April 5, 2024

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