Best Online Master’s in Coaching Programs
An online master’s in coaching can lead to coaching careers in various professional settings. While these degrees are not common or prevalent, many students feel significant passion for the field.
While graduate school is a significant investment, some people feel called to the one-on-one connections and team-building inherent to coaching.
You can find a job coaching semi-pro teams, working with secondary students, and helping businesses and corporations thrive. Completion times vary, but most programs take 1-3 years to complete, depending on whether you enroll full time or part time.
Read on to learn more about these in-demand programs.
Best Online Master’s in Online Coaching Programs
University of South Florida
Tampa, FL- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$4,559
- Out-of-state$15,473
- In-State$8,350
- Out-of-state$19,048
- Retention Rate90%
- Acceptance Rate44%
- Students Enrolled49,600
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment67%
- AccreditationYes
Michigan State University
- East Lansing, MI
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$15,966
- Out-of-state$41,778
- In-State$20,202
- Out-of-state$39,696
- Retention Rate89%
- Acceptance Rate88%
- Students Enrolled50,023
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment52%
- AccreditationYes
West Virginia University
- Morgantown, WV
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$9,360
- Out-of-state$26,568
- In-State$10,602
- Out-of-state$27,450
- Retention Rate79%
- Acceptance Rate88%
- Students Enrolled24,741
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment53%
- AccreditationYes
Ball State University
- Muncie, IN
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$8,434
- Out-of-state$25,918
- In-State$9,884
- Out-of-state$21,222
- Retention Rate73%
- Acceptance Rate69%
- Students Enrolled19,770
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment59%
- AccreditationYes
University of Arkansas
- Fayetteville, AR
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$7,666
- Out-of-state$25,420
- In-State$7,875
- Out-of-state$21,420
- Retention Rate86%
- Acceptance Rate79%
- Students Enrolled30,936
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment36%
- AccreditationYes
East Carolina University
- Greenville, NC
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$4,452
- Out-of-state$20,729
- In-State$4,749
- Out-of-state$17,898
- Retention Rate80%
- Acceptance Rate92%
- Students Enrolled27,151
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment72%
- AccreditationYes
Xavier University
- Cincinnati, OH
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$44,770
- Out-of-state$44,770
- In-State$12,060
- Out-of-state$12,060
- Retention Rate84%
- Acceptance Rate85%
- Students Enrolled6,114
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment42%
- AccreditationYes
Emporia State University
- Emporia, KS
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$5,278
- Out-of-state$13,195
- In-State$6,547
- Out-of-state$16,368
- Retention Rate72%
- Acceptance Rate96%
- Students Enrolled5,324
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment74%
- AccreditationYes
SUNY Brockport
- Brockport, NY
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$7,070
- Out-of-state$16,980
- In-State$11,310
- Out-of-state$23,100
- Retention Rate66%
- Acceptance Rate68%
- Students Enrolled6,424
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment48%
- AccreditationYes
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We use datasets from trusted sources like the National Center for Education Statistics to inform the data for these schools and our methodologies. This ranking is from 2022. To learn more, check out our full ranking methodologies.
What Courses Will I Take in an Online Master’s in Coaching Program?
Safety and Injury Control
In this course, you learn best practices for protecting the health of your future players. Possible topics include injury prevention, concussion symptoms, and injury care and management.
Sociocultural Issues for Sports Practitioners
This course delves into the intersection between sports and prevalent social concerns. Topics can include institutional structures, interpersonal dynamics, and the role of sports in various cultures.
Ethics in Coaching
At times, coaching can feel fraught with ethical dilemmas. This course prepares you to navigate these issues. Topics may include moral obligations of coaches and decision-making frameworks when faced with a dilemma.
Legal Aspects of Sports
This course delves into multiple legal issues as they relate to sports. Topics can include foundational legal concepts, potential legal issues in amateur athletics, and injury prevention.
Stages of Athlete Development
In this course, you learn how young athletes develop across young adulthood, adolescence, and childhood. This course blends aspects of biology, kinesiology, and psychology.
What Can I Do With an Online Master’s in Coaching Degree?
A master’s degree in coaching prepares you for very specific careers. You can pursue coaching roles within semi-pro athletics, secondary education, and corporations and business, among other environments.
In general, coaching is only a lucrative profession at the highest levels. Program graduates can pursue careers as athletic trainers, who earned a median annual salary of $57,930, as of May 2023, according to the BLS. Coaches and scouts earned a median annual salary of $45,910, as of May 2023.
| Job | Median Annual Salary (2023) |
|---|---|
| Atheltic Trainer | $57,930 |
| Coach | $45,910 |
| Scout | $45,910 |
| High School Teacher | $65,220 |
| Fitness Trainer | $46,480 |
Frequently Asked Questions About Coaching Degrees Online
The value of any degree is subjective. For some students, a master’s in coaching can lead to the exact career they seek in schools, professional athletics, or corporations.
However, you can qualify for many coaching careers without a master’s degree. So make sure this degree is an investment that you really need to make.
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