by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 9 U.S. colleges awarded 93 degrees and certificates in Executive/Career Coaching. Master’s degrees are the most popular award, at 75% of graduates. College Factual ranks 4 schools in its 2027 Best Executive/Career Coaching Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $57,370 one year after completing, rising to $73,112 after four years.
A degree in Executive/Career Coaching involves the study of A Program Of Study That Focuses On Assisting Individuals Achieve Career Goals Or Assisting Business Leaders Achieve Organizational Change. Includes Instruction In Executive Coaching, Group Dynamics, Leadership, Management, Organizational Behavior, Organizational Communication, And Team Building.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
In the U.S., executive/career coaching is a widely-pursued major, with 93 degrees awarded annually. 9 colleges award executive/career coaching degrees, an average of 10 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 23.
By level, the 93 awards include 70 master’s degrees and 23 doctorates.
Women earned 59% of executive/career coaching degrees and certificates in the latest year (55 of 93). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (49) and Black or African American (16), and international students earned 1.
College Factual ranks 4 schools in its 2027 Best Executive/Career Coaching Schools ranking, including 2 for master’s degrees. It also ranks executive/career coaching schools within 1 state. In all, 9 colleges offer executive/career coaching programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Executive/Career Coaching Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common executive/career coaching credential is the master’s degree: 70 of the 93 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to executive/career coaching call most for Speaking, Active Listening and Reading Comprehension, and for knowledge of Education and Training, English Language and Personnel and Human Resources, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Oral Comprehension and Written Comprehension.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long an executive/career coaching degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 70 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 23 |
Bachelor’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to executive/career coaching, at 69.5%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 69.5% |
| Master’s degree | 14.1% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 5.1% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 4.1% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 3.8% |
| Some college courses | 2.2% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 1.2% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.1% |
Source: O*NET Online.
6 occupations are related to Executive/Career Coaching, with an average median salary of $93,124; the strongest outlook belongs to Human Resources Specialists, at 11.8% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Development Associate, HR Trainer (Human Resources Trainer), Training Supervisor and Development Coordinator.
The occupation related to executive/career coaching with the most projected jobs is Training and Development Specialists, at 622,945.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Training and Development Specialists | 622,945 | 11.3% |
| Human Resources Specialists | 405,890 | 11.8% |
| Human Resources Managers | 404,262 | -3.6% |
| Training and Development Managers | 394,938 | -0.4% |
| Counselors, All Other | 229,390 | 4.5% |
| Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors | 204,799 | 5.9% |
Executive/Career Coaching graduates earn a median $57,370 one year after completing their program, $73,112 after four years and $68,120 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $57,370 |
| 4 years | $73,112 |
| 5 years | $68,120 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to executive/career coaching is Training and Development Managers, with a median salary of $139,524.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Training and Development Managers | $139,524 |
| Human Resources Managers | $95,702 |
| Human Resources Specialists | $90,840 |
| Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors | $87,699 |
| Counselors, All Other | $81,766 |
| Training and Development Specialists | $63,210 |
Executive/Career Coaching has 6 similar majors in the Business, Management & Marketing field, which together award 27,729 degrees a year; the largest are Human Resources Management/Personnel Administration, General (18,294), Human Resources Development (3,511) and Organizational Behavior Studies (3,450). Browse all Business, Management & Marketing majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Human Resources Management/Personnel Administration, General | 18,294 |
| Human Resources Development | 3,511 |
| Organizational Behavior Studies | 3,450 |
| Labor and Industrial Relations | 1,407 |
| Human Resources Management and Services, Other | 920 |
| Labor Studies | 147 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
