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Student advocate education requirements

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read

There are several educational requirements to become a student advocate. Student advocates usually study psychology, political science, or law. 69% of student advocates hold a bachelor's degree, and 10% hold an master's degree. We analyzed 2,312 real student advocate resumes to see exactly what student advocate education sections show.

The most common colleges for student advocates are the Roger Williams University and the Roger Williams University.

There are also many online student advocate courses to help get the education required to be a student advocate.

There are certain student advocate certifications that you should consider. These student advocate certifications include Certified in Public Health (CPH) and First Aid, CPR and AED Instructor.

What education do you need to become a student advocate?

What degree do you need to be a student advocate?

The most common degree for student advocates is bachelor's degree, with 69% of student advocates earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are master's degree degree at 10% and master's degree degree at 9%.
  • Bachelor's, 69%
  • Master's, 10%
  • Associate, 9%
  • Doctorate, 6%
  • Other Degrees, 6%

What should I major in to become a student advocate?

You should major in psychology to become a student advocate. 16% of student advocates major in psychology. Other common majors for a student advocate include political science and law.

Most common colleges for student advocates

Student advocates often get their degrees at Roger Williams University, University of California - Davis, and Hofstra University. Here are the most common colleges for student advocates in the US based on their resumes.
Student advocate common collegePercentages
Roger Williams University8.33%
University of California - Davis7.02%
Hofstra University6.58%
New York University6.14%
University of Phoenix6.14%

Best majors for student advocates

RankMajorPercentages
1Psychology16.0%
2Political Science10.4%
3Law10.3%
4Business9.4%
5Communication6.7%

Best colleges for student advocates

The best colleges for student advocates are University of Pennsylvania, Northwestern University, and Washington University in St Louis.

A student advocate with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for student advocates. 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 student advocates.

1. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

In-state tuition

$55,584

Enrollment

10,764

2. New York University

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$51,828

Enrollment

26,339

3. University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$56,225

Enrollment

19,548

4. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill, NC • Private

In-state tuition

$8,987

Enrollment

18,946

5. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

In-state tuition

$54,568

Enrollment

8,451

6. Harvard University

Cambridge, MA • Private

In-state tuition

$50,420

Enrollment

7,582

7. Boston University

Boston, MA • Private

In-state tuition

$53,948

Enrollment

17,238

8. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Ann Arbor, MI • Private

In-state tuition

$15,262

Enrollment

30,079

9. Washington University in St Louis

Saint Louis, MO • Private

In-state tuition

$53,399

Enrollment

7,356

10. Pennsylvania State University

University Park, PA • Private

In-state tuition

$18,454

Enrollment

40,108

20 best online courses for student advocates

Advertising disclosure

1. A Law Student's Toolkit

coursera

Whether you are an advanced law student looking to review the basics, or an aspiring law student looking for head start, this course will help you build the foundation you will need to succeed in law school and beyond. This course will introduce you to terminology, concepts, and tools lawyers and legal academics use to make their arguments. It will help you follow these arguments—and make arguments of your own. This course consists of a series of short lectures and assignments. A reading list...

2. Student Self-Assessment with Microsoft Word

coursera

By the end of this project, you will have created a self-report card and a behaviour reflection form for student self-reflection. You will also be equipped with suggestions for how to use these documents with students. Encouraging our students to reflect on their learning is one of many goals we have as teachers. One valuable way to do this is by allowing our students to share their perspective on the school year. What areas are going well for them? What areas do they see where they could grow?...

3. Public Relations: Media Crisis Communications

udemy
4.6
(2,248)

Public Relations: You Can Shape and Control Your Media Messages at The Worst Possible Times...

4. Crisis Intervention Seminar

udemy
4.4
(634)

The emphasis is on the development of fundamental clinical skills in the area of crisis intervention...

5. Engage and Assess Students with Quizizz

coursera

By the end of this project, you will be ready to use Quizizz with your students to create gamified quizzes, polls, and lessons. Whether you are teaching online or in the classroom, Quizizz allows you to gather valuable assessment data while your students are actively engaged in a friendly competitive game. Throughout each task, we will set up your Quizizz account and learn how to create your own quizzes as well as use the reporting feature to see how your students are progressing. Engage your...

6. Preparing for Graduate Study in the U.S.: A course for international students

coursera

Preparing for graduate school in the United States can be nerve-wracking. Many international students have questions about what the programs are like and what resources they can use to excel in their studies. This course allows potential and incoming international students to practice their communication skills, identify tools that support academic success, and gain confidence as they prepare for their advanced degrees. Alongside advancing your English skills, get the chance to hear from...

7. Law: A Comprehensive Summary for LLB Students

udemy
4.2
(253)

An essential 24 hours of Video Lectures, Spider Graphs and Case Summaries made to guide LLB students preparing for exams...

8. Effective Legal Office Administration

udemy
4.5
(1,067)

Effective Legal Office Administration...

9. Enhance Student Learning through Kahoot

coursera

By the end of this project, you will have created a Kahoot collection that will engage your students during virtual learning or as a more engaging way to encourage practice and review at home or in the classroom. Teaching is constantly evolving. As we learn more about our students, we uncover new ways to ensure that they are not just learning - they are thriving. When we can connect our tech-savvy students to tech-connected learning, our students are more likely to enjoy learning. We can also...

10. Creating a Student Profile in Google Docs

coursera

By the end of this project, you will have created a Student Profile in Google Docs that will allow you identify student needs and differentiate instruction. We will work together to learn how to use Google Docs as we create a Student Profile template and complete it for a particular student you have in mind. You will be provided with additional resources that will help improve your teaching practice through identification of students needs and ensuring that the appropriate accommodations are...

11. Winning Communication Skills for Telephone, Conference Calls

udemy
4.3
(2,677)

Improve Communication Skills - Use the Telephone Effectively! Avoid Phone Etiquette Blunders that Annoy...

12. Communication Skills Masterclass - Your Communication Guide

udemy
4.5
(961)

Communication Skill For Business Communication & Effective Communication In Workplace & Relationships...

13. Foundations of Teaching for Learning: Introduction to Student Assessment

coursera

The Foundations of Teaching for Learning programme is for anyone who is teaching, or who would like to teach, in any subject and any context - be it at school, at home or in the workplace. With dynamic lessons taught by established and respected professionals from across the Commonwealth, this eight course programme will see you develop and strengthen your skills in teaching, professionalism, assessment, and more. As you carry on through the programme, you will find yourself strengthening not...

14. Unleash Student Creativity with Buncee

coursera

By the end of this project, you will be able to use Buncee to unleash your students’ creativity. Buncee is “a creation and communication tool… to create interactive content, allowing those of all ages to visualize concepts and communicate creatively.” With Buncee, learning becomes more personalized as students are able to share through engaging multimedia projects using Buncee’s templates, stickers, and animations. Throughout this project, we will work together to ensure that you are confident...

15. Business English Course for ESL Students

udemy
4.6
(9,199)

Learn essential Business English vocabulary for presentations, meetings, negotiations, phone calls, e-mails, and more!...

16. Business Communication Skills: Handling Clients & Customers

udemy
4.4
(1,161)

Soft Skills Training Social Skills Business Etiquette Business English Customer Service Training...

17. Encouraging Student Collaboration with Padlet

coursera

By the end of this project, you be able to use Padlet to create a collaborative classroom fostering interactive student engagements, creating virtual lessons, and more. With Padlet, teachers and students can collaborate in real time on lessons, projects, and anything else you can imagine. Together, we will learn how to use Padlet to connect with students during virtual learning, for in class collaboration, and discover ways to improve our ability to differentiate instruction using Padlet. The...

18. Using Google Forms for Student Success

coursera

By the end of this project, you have used Google Forms to create several tools to use with your students and parents in order to ensure a successful school year. With volunteer sign-up forms, you can simplify your volunteer process within your classroom and across the school. Through exit tickets and assessments, you will be able to check your student’s understanding of the content taught that day or during a unit so that you can adjust instruction to address misunderstandings or gather...

19. Public Speaking for College Students: Become a Great Speaker

udemy
4.2
(262)

Public speaking may be the single most important skill for long-term success and you are unlikely to learn it in college...

20. Crisis Communications

coursera

Crisis Communications is designed to empower professionals with the knowledge and skills to effectively navigate and respond to crisis situations through interviews...

Top 10 most affordable universities for student advocates

The most affordable schools for student advocates are Baruch College of the City University of New York, california state university - long beach, and california state university - bakersfield.

If the best universities for student advocates 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 student advocates.

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. California State University - Long Beach

Long Beach, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,798

Cost of attendance

18,306

3. California State University - Bakersfield

Bakersfield, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$7,309

Cost of attendance

16,714

4. Hunter College of the City University of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,182

Cost of attendance

13,998

5. University of Florida

Gainesville, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,381

Cost of attendance

21,034

6. Florida International University

Miami, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,556

Cost of attendance

19,434

7. Brigham Young University

Provo, UT • Private

In-state tuition

$5,620

Cost of attendance

18,136

8. California State University - Dominguez Hills

Carson, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,942

Cost of attendance

14,469

9. Florida State University

Tallahassee, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$5,656

Cost of attendance

21,623

10. California State University - Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,749

Cost of attendance

14,823

Top 10 hardest universities to get into for student advocates

The hardest universities for student advocates to get into are University of Pennsylvania, Northwestern University, and Washington University in St Louis.

Some great schools for student advocates 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 student advocates 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. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

Admissions rate

8%

SAT average

1,508

3. Washington University in St Louis

Saint Louis, MO • Private

Admissions rate

15%

SAT average

1,506

4. University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA • Private

Admissions rate

13%

SAT average

1,445

5. Harvard University

Cambridge, MA • Private

Admissions rate

5%

SAT average

1,520

6. Vanderbilt University

Nashville, TN • Private

Admissions rate

10%

SAT average

1,514

7. Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore, MD • Private

Admissions rate

11%

SAT average

1,513

8. Boston College

Chestnut Hill, MA • Private

Admissions rate

28%

SAT average

1,429

9. New York University

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

20%

SAT average

1,419

10. Columbia University in the City of New York

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

6%

SAT average

1,512

Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for student advocates

The easiest schools for student advocates to get into are Barry University, university of north texas at dallas, and mount saint mary's university.

Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a student advocate 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 student advocates.

1. Barry University

Miami, FL • Private

Admissions rate

91%

SAT average

1,006

2. University of North Texas at Dallas

Dallas, TX • Private

Admissions rate

83%

SAT average

992

3. Mount Saint Mary's University

Los Angeles, CA • Private

Admissions rate

84%

SAT average

1,031

4. Kean University

Union, NJ • Private

Admissions rate

86%

SAT average

991

5. Gwynedd Mercy University

Gwynedd Valley, PA • Private

Admissions rate

92%

SAT average

1,031

6. Holy Family University

Philadelphia, PA • Private

Admissions rate

72%

SAT average

1,017

7. Texas Woman's University

Denton, TX • Private

Admissions rate

87%

SAT average

1,059

8. Our Lady of the Lake University

San Antonio, TX • Private

Admissions rate

93%

SAT average

1,002

9. Ottawa University

Ottawa, KS • Private

Admissions rate

78%

SAT average

1,024

10. Holy Names University

Oakland, CA • Private

Admissions rate

70%

SAT average

849

Average student advocate salary by education level

Student advocates with a Doctorate degree earn more than those without, at $32,415 annually. With a Master's degree, student advocates earn a median annual income of $31,943 compared to $28,365 for student advocates with an Bachelor's degree.
Student advocate education levelStudent advocate salary
Master's Degree$31,943
Bachelor's Degree$28,365
Doctorate Degree$32,415

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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.

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