Should I be a student success coach?

Have you ever helped a friend ace their exam or helped them through a challenge at school?

You can turn that passion into a job as a student success coach!

Being a student success coach is about more than just helping with school — it also involves supporting personal growth and overall well-being.

A student success coach:

• Supports students with their academic success

• Explores career and academic goals

• Helps students build personalized success plans

• Provides encouragement and accountability

• Introduces and refers students to campus resources

High Schools and Middle Schools

Coaches can be in schools, working with teachers and students to help and guide them.

Nonprofit Organizations

Education nonprofits often hire student success coaches to run programs that help students do better in school.

Colleges and Universities

In colleges, student success coaches help students with school challenges and adjusting to college life.

Online Education Platforms

Because more people are learning online, some student success coaches help students through the internet instead of being in the same place.

You’ve got to be able to make authentic connections. Being able to meet a new person and build a relationship with them is one of the most important parts of the job:

Have good active listening skills. Coaches should listen as much as they speak.

Be a great communicator. Communication skills help you to understand and support students in overcoming challenges and achieving their goals.

Student success coaches analyze data to understand how students are doing in school. This helps them make smart decisions to support each student better.

Depending on the school you will need at least a Bachelor's degree. A Master's degree in Education, Counseling, Psychology, or a related field may be required depending on the position. A coaching certification (like life coaching) could help you stand out in the applicant pool.

Also, having experience in education or working with young people. This could be from internships, volunteering, or entry-level jobs where you help students or contribute to their development.

According to Glassdoor, student success coach salaries in the USA range from $46K - $68K and $46K - $67K in Canada.

1. You like helping others do well.

2. You enjoy talking and listening.

3. Seeing people grow makes you happy.

1. You don't like talking to people.

2. Helping others succeed doesn't make you happy.

3. You dislike learning about personal challenges.

Ready to become a student success coach?

You can start your journey to becoming a student success coach by talking to professionals to learn more about their job. Also, check out ways to become a leader at your school to build your skills and help your friends succeed.