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Solution sales representative education requirements

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read

There are several educational requirements to become a solution sales representative. Solution sales representatives usually study business, marketing, or communication. 68% of solution sales representatives hold a bachelor's degree, and 14% hold an associate degree. We analyzed 711 real solution sales representative resumes to see exactly what solution sales representative education sections show.

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

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

What education do you need to become a solution sales representative?

What degree do you need to be a solution sales representative?

The most common degree for solution sales representatives is bachelor's degree, with 68% of solution sales representatives earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are associate degree degree at 14% and associate degree degree at 7%.
  • Bachelor's, 68%
  • Associate, 14%
  • Master's, 7%
  • High School Diploma, 7%
  • Other Degrees, 4%

What should I major in to become a solution sales representative?

You should major in business to become a solution sales representative. 33% of solution sales representatives major in business. Other common majors for a solution sales representative include marketing and communication.

Most common colleges for solution sales representatives

Solution sales representatives often get their degrees at University of Phoenix, Troy University, and University of Kentucky. Here are the most common colleges for solution sales representatives in the US based on their resumes.
Solution sales representative common collegePercentages
University of Phoenix12.66%
Troy University6.33%
University of Kentucky6.33%
Texas Tech University6.33%
Michigan State University6.33%

Best majors for solution sales representatives

RankMajorPercentages
1Business33.2%
2Marketing11.7%
3Communication7.3%
4Finance4.4%
5Liberal Arts4.4%

Best colleges for solution sales representatives

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

A solution 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 solution 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 solution sales representatives.

1. Stanford University

Stanford, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$51,354

Enrollment

7,083

2. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

In-state tuition

$55,584

Enrollment

10,764

3. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

In-state tuition

$54,568

Enrollment

8,451

4. Maine Maritime Academy

Castine, ME • Private

In-state tuition

$13,478

Enrollment

979

5. University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$56,225

Enrollment

19,548

6. California State University - Bakersfield

Bakersfield, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$7,309

Enrollment

9,142

7. SUNY at Binghamton

Vestal, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$9,808

Enrollment

13,990

8. Villanova University

Villanova, PA • Private

In-state tuition

$53,308

Enrollment

6,819

9. San Diego State University

San Diego, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$7,488

Enrollment

30,018

10. Bentley University

Waltham, MA • Private

In-state tuition

$49,880

Enrollment

4,177

20 best online courses for solution sales representatives

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

4. Sales Training: Practical Sales Techniques

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

5. Sales Machine: The Sales Training B2B Master Course

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

6. Sales Skills: 9 Sales Training Courses In 1

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

7. Business Development & B2B Sales for Startups- Sales Valley

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The Complete Startup Playbook for Business Development & B2B Sales to learn Lead Generation, Pitching, & Closing Deals...

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

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9. The Complete Sales Skills Master Class - Sales Marketing B2B

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10. Sales Training: Become A Sales Superstar

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

11. Sales Training: How To Close More Sales

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

12. Sales Funnels Masterclass: Increase Sales With Sales Funnels

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Learn to create highly converting sales, conduct professional email marketing & 10X your sales with sales funnel fast!...

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

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

14. Sales Skills Mastery 1: Sales Training For Beginners

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

15. Sales Methodologies: Best Practices for Enterprise Selling

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Apply sales methodology and sales process best practices to the modern enterprise selling organization...

16. CRUSH IT!!! - Sales Strategies

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17. B2B Sales Objections Simplified

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

19. Create B2B Sales Cold Calling Scripts & Value Propositions

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

20. LinkedIn Sales Navigator: LinkedIn's tool for B2B Sales

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Linked In Sales Navigator best remote practices for the Linked In premium service for business development and B2B sales...

Top 10 most affordable universities for solution sales representatives

The most affordable schools for solution sales representatives are SUNY Farmingdale, california state university - bakersfield, and baruch college of the city university of new york.

If the best universities for solution 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 solution sales representatives.

1. SUNY Farmingdale

Farmingdale, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$8,306

Cost of attendance

16,091

2. California State University - Bakersfield

Bakersfield, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$7,309

Cost of attendance

16,714

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. California State University - Dominguez Hills

Carson, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,942

Cost of attendance

14,469

5. Brooklyn College of the City University of New York

Brooklyn, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,240

Cost of attendance

13,991

6. Brigham Young University

Provo, UT • Private

In-state tuition

$5,620

Cost of attendance

18,136

7. SUNY Polytechnic Institute

Utica, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$8,238

Cost of attendance

21,567

8. USF Sarasota-Manatee

Sarasota, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$5,587

Cost of attendance

13,043

9. San Diego State University

San Diego, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$7,488

Cost of attendance

22,990

10. Clayton State University

Morrow, GA • Private

In-state tuition

$5,419

Cost of attendance

17,697

Top 10 hardest universities to get into for solution sales representatives

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

Some great schools for solution 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 solution 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. Stanford University

Stanford, CA • Private

Admissions rate

4%

SAT average

1,497

2. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

Admissions rate

8%

SAT average

1,508

3. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

Admissions rate

8%

SAT average

1,492

4. Boston University

Boston, MA • Private

Admissions rate

22%

SAT average

1,420

5. New York University

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

20%

SAT average

1,419

6. University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA • Private

Admissions rate

13%

SAT average

1,445

7. Villanova University

Villanova, PA • Private

Admissions rate

29%

SAT average

1,407

8. Bentley University

Waltham, MA • Private

Admissions rate

43%

SAT average

1,338

9. SUNY at Binghamton

Vestal, NY • Private

Admissions rate

40%

SAT average

1,376

10. Brandeis University

Waltham, MA • Private

Admissions rate

31%

SAT average

1,398

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

The easiest schools for solution sales representatives to get into are Oklahoma Wesleyan University, notre dame de namur university, and holy names university.

Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a solution 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 solution sales representatives.

1. Oklahoma Wesleyan University

Bartlesville, OK • Private

Admissions rate

68%

SAT average

964

2. Notre Dame de Namur University

Belmont, CA • Private

Admissions rate

82%

SAT average

983

3. Holy Names University

Oakland, CA • Private

Admissions rate

70%

SAT average

849

4. Notre Dame College

Cleveland, OH • Private

Admissions rate

90%

SAT average

994

5. LIM College

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

83%

SAT average

1,061

6. Nyack College

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

98%

SAT average

999

7. Life University

Marietta, GA • Private

Admissions rate

94%

SAT average

979

8. D'Youville College

Buffalo, NY • Private

Admissions rate

100%

SAT average

1,072

9. Presentation College

Aberdeen, SD • Private

Admissions rate

97%

SAT average

1,050

10. Oregon Institute of Technology

Klamath Falls, OR • Private

Admissions rate

96%

SAT average

1,139

Average solution sales representative salary by education level

Solution sales representatives with a Master's degree earn more than those without, at $99,672 annually. With a Doctorate degree, solution sales representatives earn a median annual income of $95,379 compared to $88,542 for solution sales representatives with an Bachelor's degree.
Solution sales representative education levelSolution sales representative salary
Master's Degree$99,672
High School Diploma or Less$65,563
Bachelor's Degree$88,542
Doctorate Degree$95,379
Some College/ Associate Degree$68,313

Solution 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.