Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
Strength and conditioning coach education requirements
Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
There are several educational requirements to become a strength and conditioning coach. Strength and conditioning coaches usually study kinesiology, health education, or business. 76% of strength and conditioning coaches hold a bachelor's degree, and 14% hold an master's degree. We analyzed 6,508 real strength and conditioning coach resumes to see exactly what strength and conditioning coach education sections show.
The most common colleges for strength and conditioning coaches are the California University of Pennsylvania and the California University of Pennsylvania.
There are also many online strength and conditioning coach courses to help get the education required to be a strength and conditioning coach.
There are certain strength and conditioning coach certifications that you should consider. These strength and conditioning coach certifications include Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) and Certified Personal Trainer.
What education do you need to become a strength and conditioning coach?
What degree do you need to be a strength and conditioning coach?
- Bachelor's, 76%
- Master's, 14%
- Associate, 6%
- High School Diploma, 2%
- Other Degrees, 2%
What should I major in to become a strength and conditioning coach?
- Kinesiology, 54%
- Health Education, 8%
- Business, 5%
- Other Majors, 29%
Most common colleges for strength and conditioning coaches
| Strength and conditioning coach common college | Percentages |
|---|---|
| California University of Pennsylvania | 8.63% |
| Springfield College | 8.43% |
| University of Wisconsin Colleges | 6.83% |
| Florida State University | 5.82% |
| Pennsylvania State University | 5.42% |
Best majors for strength and conditioning coaches
| Rank | Major | Percentages |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kinesiology | 54.4% |
| 2 | Health Education | 8.4% |
| 3 | Business | 5.1% |
| 4 | Exercise Physiology | 4.3% |
| 5 | Psychology | 3.4% |
Best colleges for strength and conditioning coaches
The best colleges for strength and conditioning coaches are Northwestern University, University of Virginia, and Columbia University in the City of New York.
A strength and conditioning 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 strength and conditioning 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 strength and conditioning coaches.
1. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC • Private
In-state tuition
$8,987
Enrollment
18,946
2. University of Virginia
Charlottesville, VA • Private
In-state tuition
$17,653
Enrollment
16,405
3. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
In-state tuition
$54,568
Enrollment
8,451
4. Columbia University in the City of New York
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$59,430
Enrollment
8,216
5. University of Texas at Austin
Austin, TX • Private
In-state tuition
$10,610
Enrollment
40,329
6. University of Florida
Gainesville, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,381
Enrollment
34,564
7. University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$56,225
Enrollment
19,548
8. California State University - Bakersfield
Bakersfield, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$7,309
Enrollment
9,142
9. California State University - Long Beach
Long Beach, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,798
Enrollment
31,503
10. San Diego State University
San Diego, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$7,488
Enrollment
30,018
20 best online courses for strength and conditioning coaches
Advertising disclosure
1. Yoga At Home - Flexibility, Fitness, Strength & Weight Loss
Yoga for Weight Loss : Yoga Workout at Home : Yoga for Fitness Strength & Flexibility : Yoga for Losing Weight & Health...
2. HIIT & Body Weight Training: A 4-week Home Workout Program
Be your own Personal Trainer: Bodyweight Workouts that boosts testosterone, help with muscle building and/or weight loss...
3. Personal Development Life Coach Certification1 Training
Personal Development Life Coach Training Course Graduates Prepared Professionals in Personal Development Life Coaching...
4. Weight-Loss Coaching - ACCREDITED CERTIFICATE
Work from home: Online marketing, Life coaching, Build Online Business, psychology of eating disorders, food addiction...
5. Life Coach Certification Associate ACELC Life Coach Training
Life Coach Training Practitioner Course Graduating Prepared and Ready-To-Work ACELC Professionals in Life Coaching...
6. Internationally Accredited Diploma in Weight Loss
Learn the science, habits, strategies to lose weight in a healthy manner and keep it off permanently...
7. Professional Life Coach Certification PCELC Coach Training
Life Coach Training Practitioner Course Graduating Prepared and Ready-To-Work PCELC Professionals in Life Coaching...
8. Health and Nutrition Life Coach Certification (Accredited)
Life Coaching: Create a Workout & Nutrition Plan Based on Your Clients' Fitness, Weight Loss, Dieting & Nutrition Goals...
9. 15 Minutes x 15 Days Yoga Strength Challenge
Increase strength and stability in your upper body, core and lower body in 15-minute daily yoga sessions...
10. Weight Loss And Nutrition: Lose Fat & Get Your Dream Body
Learn The Truth About Dieting For Weight Loss, Healthy Eating, Meal Planning, Fat Loss, Weight Loss Motivation...
11. Self-Esteem Life Coach Certification2 Training
Self-Esteem Life Coach Training Practitioner Course Graduating Prepared Professionals in Self-Esteem Life Coaching...
12. Become a Professional Football (Soccer) Coach
The Complete Guide on how to become a Professional Football (Soccer) Coach...
13. Personalized Bodyweight Workouts: Science-Based Home Fitness
Step-by-Step Instruction From Ex-Military Officer: Build Home Bodyweight Workouts: Strength, Muscle, Lose Fat, Fitness...
14. 15 Minute Hell: The Ultimate Bodyweight Workout For Warriors
The astonishing accidental bodyweight workout discovery to getting strong, lean, and mean as fast as humanly possible!...
15. NLP Coaching Certification (Coaching Skills Mastery)
Beginner to Advanced. The Complete NLP Coaching Programme...
16. Sports Nutrition for Athletes and Fitness Enthusiasts
Learn all about sports nutrition with 7 hours of online video content and start training SMARTER instead of HARDER...
17. Advanced Certificate in Life Coaching (Skills and Practice)
An advanced life coaching training program that prepares you for extensive personal growth and professional advancement...
18. Intermittent Fasting: Fast Weight Loss That Lasts
The Complete Guide to Using Intermittent Fasting to Lose Fat, Build Muscle, and Keep the Weight Off Forever...
19. NLP Practitioner & NLP Life Coach Certification (Accredited)
NLP Certification & Ultimate Guide. Become a Certified NLP (Neuro Linguistic Programming) Practitioner & NLP Life Coach...
20. Weight Loss Coach Certification (Accredited): All Levels
Become A Weight Loss Coach Online: Create Fat Loss Meal Plans, Build A Fitness Diet Business & Be A Health Expert...
Top 10 most affordable universities for strength and conditioning coaches
The most affordable schools for strength and conditioning coaches are University of Florida, brooklyn college of the city university of new york, and baruch college of the city university of new york.
If the best universities for strength and conditioning 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 strength and conditioning coaches.
1. University of Florida
Gainesville, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,381
Cost of attendance
21,034
2. Brooklyn College of the City University of New York
Brooklyn, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,240
Cost of attendance
13,991
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 - Bakersfield
Bakersfield, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$7,309
Cost of attendance
16,714
5. California State University - Long Beach
Long Beach, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,798
Cost of attendance
18,306
6. Queens College of the City University of New York
Queens, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,338
Cost of attendance
14,281
7. Brigham Young University
Provo, UT • Private
In-state tuition
$5,620
Cost of attendance
18,136
8. Florida State University
Tallahassee, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$5,656
Cost of attendance
21,623
9. California State University - Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,749
Cost of attendance
14,823
10. Minot State University
Minot, ND • Private
In-state tuition
$7,064
Cost of attendance
15,576
Top 10 hardest universities to get into for strength and conditioning coaches
The hardest universities for strength and conditioning coaches to get into are Northwestern University, University of Virginia, and Columbia University in the City of New York.
Some great schools for strength and conditioning 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 strength and conditioning 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. University of Virginia
Charlottesville, VA • Private
Admissions rate
26%
SAT average
1,427
3. Columbia University in the City of New York
New York, NY • Private
Admissions rate
6%
SAT average
1,512
4. University of Tulsa
Tulsa, OK • Private
Admissions rate
41%
SAT average
1,321
5. Southern Methodist University
Dallas, TX • Private
Admissions rate
51%
SAT average
1,395
6. University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA • Private
Admissions rate
13%
SAT average
1,445
7. Pepperdine University
Malibu, CA • Private
Admissions rate
36%
SAT average
1,330
8. Clemson University
Clemson, SC • Private
Admissions rate
47%
SAT average
1,337
9. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC • Private
Admissions rate
23%
SAT average
1,398
10. University of Miami
Coral Gables, FL • Private
Admissions rate
32%
SAT average
1,365
Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for strength and conditioning coaches
The easiest schools for strength and conditioning 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 strength and conditioning 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 strength and conditioning 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. Life University
Marietta, GA • Private
Admissions rate
94%
SAT average
979
5. Ottawa University
Ottawa, KS • Private
Admissions rate
78%
SAT average
1,024
6. University of the Incarnate Word
San Antonio, TX • Private
Admissions rate
88%
SAT average
1,044
7. Kean University
Union, NJ • Private
Admissions rate
86%
SAT average
991
8. Holy Names University
Oakland, CA • Private
Admissions rate
70%
SAT average
849
9. Cardinal Stritch University
Milwaukee, WI • Private
Admissions rate
71%
SAT average
1,035
10. Our Lady of the Lake University
San Antonio, TX • Private
Admissions rate
93%
SAT average
1,002
Average strength and conditioning coach salary by education level
| Strength and conditioning coach education level | Strength and conditioning coach salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $53,830 |
| High School Diploma or Less | $45,144 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $54,159 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $47,535 |
Strength and conditioning coach education FAQs
Have more questions? See all answers to common arts, entertainment, sports, and media questions.
Search for strength and conditioning coach jobs
Updated January 8, 2025
Updated January 8, 2025