Students who enroll in an online Master's in Coaching degree are generally passionate about coaching, sports science, and physical fitness. With many schools and organizations around the country seeking these individuals in droves, it makes sense that they would want to enhance their career with an online program. And while traditional programs are high-quality, so too are online programs, which are beginning to surpass their traditional counterparts in terms of affordability and program choice.
Online programs enable professionals to continue in their career with minimal interruption while pursuing an online degree in a field that they love. With asynchronous and synchronous courses available, a variety of term schedule formats, and the ability to choose between non-thesis and thesis options, it's no wonder that students are flocking to online programs.
This ranking, which was inspired by the fact that coaching professionals are demanding affordable online programs, was created with the help of the National Center for Education Statistics. An initial pool of 50 schools was created by looking for online programs in the field. The final 10 schools were chosen based on in-state graduate tuition rate and are listed in descending order.
Most Affordable Master's in Coaching Online
[rankings-toc gid =2PACX-1vT0t2RCjRc1Q-ID2HCVHyTM_nXEMZmtC3EhAGc9E3RDQzwN2aY1d1ZsubKR3zkeabGdDuvob3kv4JNa]Explore these promoted online degree programs.
These top, accredited schools offer a variety of online graduate degree programs. Figuring out where to apply? Consider one of these online Master's or PhD programs.
Ranking Low-cost Coaching Master's
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the Career Options for an Online Master's in Coaching Degree?
The most common career option for a professional with a graduate degree in coaching is that of a coach. This can be in a variety of different sports and at all levels of that sport, including professional teams.
Because coaching can be a competitive industry in terms of employment, many professionals may be interested to learn that there are other options that are available to them. Keep in mind that many of these options may require additional schooling, certification, and in some cases, licensure. They include:
Sports Manager
Personal Trainer
Sports Coach
Sports Administration
Sports Facility Manager
Summer Camp Manager
Athletic Counselor
Sports Therapist
Exercise Physiologist
Fitness Center Manager
Physical Education Teacher
Physical Education Instructor in the Corrections System
Another career option is to head into doctoral studies. While this is uncommon, many professionals mover straight into doctoral studies right after finishing their degree, enabling them to move towards a terminal degree in the field.
Additionally, many coaching graduates move into freelance work, which can include sports broadcasting, writing, and consulting. The possibilities are endless and only requires a professional's imagination to find a career that fits their needs.
How Much Can You Earn in this Field?
Professionals in the coaching field can make as little as $20,000 to $6 million a year. This drastic range reflects coaches at various levels of the field, current salaries, region, and work experience. It also accounts for head coaches in professional sports leagues, which is often the dream of those who enter the field.
Most professionals, however, can stand to make between $70,000 to $85,000 when coaching a major sport. This can be coaching at a college or university or a smaller professional sports team. These positions are quite competitive but also lucrative as salaries go up with the amount of games and championships a coach and their team wins during the season.
What are the Various Disciplines of Coaching?
Coaching is an interdisciplinary field that focuses on medicine, sports, psychology, sociology, kinesiology, and physical education. The combination of the fields provides all professionals with a firm understanding of performance psychology and athletic performance, two key aspects of coaching that can make all the difference in a game. Professionals will find that most programs will focus on all of these disciplines in one form or another.
An important note to add is that the disciplines that affect coaching depends on the level at which a coach is working in. High school coaches focus both on sports and education because they are often responsible for physical education courses at their school. Those that work at the professional level, or even the university level, work with biomechanics and performance psychology to ensure their athletes are in top shape. There are more examples, but it's crucial to encourage students to take a hard look at curriculum plans prior to entering a program; the dream school may not provide the education they require.
Is a Teaching License Necessary for an Online Master's in Coaching?
Yes, many coaching graduate degrees do require licensure. These are often degrees with a specialization in coaching that fall under the umbrella of graduate education programs. There are some degrees that do not require licensure; these often fall under sports science, kinesiology, and sports management.
Coaching professionals who wish to teach as well as coach must have a valid teaching license in their state of residence prior to applying for most of the programs on this ranking. This is because they combine educational concepts with coaching skills; many also require practicums that must take place on a school campus, something that is not possible without such a license.
For professionals who wish to work in other areas of the field, teaching licensure is not necessary. Practicums will also be required for these programs, but often will take place in community or healthcare settings. These vary from school to school, so interested students should consult with that school's graduate admissions office.
What Kind of Jobs Can a Professional Expect From an Online Coaching Program?
Jobs vary quite a lot in graduate coaching programs. This is because coaching can be done in different settings, including in schools and in the professional sports world. The placements also represent whatever concentrations that a school might have, enabling students to take on placements that make sense for their career path.
For instance, a professional who wishes to coach at a high school will take a work placement in that setting, working with teen athletes and sports managers. Professionals who wish to work in community and nonprofit recreational programs will be paired with organizations that deliver physical education and coaching to people of all ages. Even professionals wishing to coach at the professional level will be paired with adequate placements, enabling every student to experience their career prior to graduation.
Is Accreditation of an Online Program Necessary for Employment Purposes?
It depends on a student's chosen career goal. Many coaching professionals want to coach in schools, at universities, or for professional teams while others may want to design and implement recreation programs for communities. It's even possible to use this degree to move onto postgraduate education. All of these goals have different needs for accreditation.
Regional accreditation is always necessary for any type of degree that a person earns. Unaccredited degrees are not as welcome as accredited degrees, especially when it comes to regional distinction because so many online programs have proven themselves worthy. Accreditation also leads to licensure, which for many coaches who work in schools, may be a requirement.
Special accreditation, such as that which is conferred by the National Association of Sports and Physical Education, can be difficult to find for online programs, but not impossible. In fact, several schools on this list have such an accreditation or are currently in the application process to receive accreditation. This type of accreditation is critical for professionals who wish to coach at the high school or postsecondary levels.
Other professionals, such as those who work in big league sports, will find that their accreditation requirements actually take place after completing a graduate degree. This means that a specially accredited online program is not necessary. All students should consider their chosen career path and conduct research to see if accreditation at any level will be required.
Coaching, whether at a high school or for a major sports team, is a great passion for many professionals. They love the game and want to participate, which is why they chose the profession of coaching. These professionals can continue their career with the knowledge that they will be able to advance in their profession and meet their goals with an online Master's in Coaching.
GSH StaffJuly 2018
