Student Success Coaching Certificate for Student Retention, Engagement, and Success
This self-paced online student success coaching certificate course helps student success coaches, advisors, and student services professionals improve student retention, strengthen coaching conversations, and apply proven coaching frameworks in real-world settings.
Self-paced, 25-hour online success coaching certificate program
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Built for student success coaches by student success coaches
Practical coaching tools you can use in your next student meeting
What You’ll Gain from This Student Success Coaching Certificate
Proven coaching frameworks (GROW, Motivational Interviewing, etc.)
Practical strategies to improve student retention, engagement, and sense of belonging
Confidence using coaching tools, frameworks, and theory in everyday practice
Stronger coaching conversations that build trust, motivation, and student connections
Your Learning Journey: 8 Modules Built for Real-World Success Coaching
1
Foundations & Student Success Psychology
(Modules 1–2)
Build a strong foundation in student success coaching, including core coaching principles, student development theory, motivation, and resilience.
2
Advising Skills & Communication
(Modules 3–4)
Learn proven student retention strategies, sense of belonging frameworks, and apply coaching models like GROW, appreciative advising, and motivational interviewing.
3
Applied Coaching Strategies & Professional Practice
(Modules 5–8)
Develop coaching skills for real student situations, strengthen rapport, and grow professionally through reflection, goal setting, and continuous improvement.
A Fully Interactive Learning Experience
Short, engaging video lessons & examples
Team discussion guides for group learning
Case studies, challenges, & self-reflections
Access to the
"Ask the Network" community
Downloadable worksheets and coaching tools
Live Workbook That's Downloadable Upon Completion
Discussion boards for reflection and idea sharing
Knowledge Check Quizzes
Throughout
Course Description:
Certificate in Student Success Coaching
Course Description: This student success coaching certificate course equips student success coaches, retention specialists, and student services professionals with the knowledge and strategies needed to improve student retention, completion, and overall student success. Grounded in proven theories of student development, motivation, and retention, this course focuses on practical, actionable coaching techniques that can be applied immediately in real student interactions.
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Participants will learn how to build student belonging, identify and address common barriers to persistence, and guide students toward clear academic and career goals using proven coaching frameworks. Throughout the course, learners complete an interactive coaching workbook designed to turn concepts into real-world strategies they can use with students right away. Enrollment also includes a free Student Success Worksheet Bundle, providing additional tools to support ongoing practice.
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Cost: $495 per person. Contact us for group pricing and institutional discounts.
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​​Length: 25 hours total learning time. ​​Prerequisite: None. Format: 100% online, asynchronous self-paced course with flexible start and completion.​
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Skills You'll Build: You will develop the core student success coaching skills needed to improve student retention, engagement, and completion. You’ll learn how to build more trust through active listening and effective communication, guide students from uncertainty to action through coaching and goal setting, and support a wide range of learners, including undecided, at-risk, adult, and online students. The course also equips you to apply proven retention and belonging strategies in real student interactions, navigate challenging conversations with confidence, and help students stay on track toward their goals while maximizing your impact in the time you have.
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Who Is This Course For? This student success coaching certificate course is designed for both new and experienced success coaches, academic advisors, and higher education professionals across community colleges, universities, and technical colleges. It is ideal for anyone focused on improving student retention, engagement, and success. Whether you are new to coaching or bring years of experience, this course provides practical strategies you can apply immediately.
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What Is A Student Success Coach Training Certificate? A success coaching training course is a professional development program that equips higher education professionals with the coaching skills, strategies, and frameworks needed to improve retention, strengthen student relationships, and support student success across the student lifecycle.
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Instructional Materials: All required materials are included in the course and are available instantly upon enrollment. Participants can access the training using a computer, tablet, or smartphone with an internet connection and a standard web browser. No additional software or downloads are required.
Accessibility Features: This course is designed to support a wide range of learners, with built-in accessibility features such as alternative text for images, screen reader compatibility, full keyboard navigation, mobile-responsive design, and high color contrast for readability. The course also includes clear, intuitive navigation to ensure a seamless and user-friendly learning experience for all participants.
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Other Courses: Did you know we have professional development courses for your colleagues in other departments, too? Explore our Academic Advisor Course, Community College Academic Advising Training, Career Coaching Certificate, TRIO Success Coaching Certificate, Financial Coaching Certificate, Director of Advisor Training Cohort, and more.
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Testimonials: What Higher Ed Professionals Are Saying
Trusted by 200+ Colleges and Universities for Employee Training
Colleges and universities across the United States use our academic advising training, success coaching training, and more to strengthen practices, improve student retention, and support student success. From community colleges to large public and private institutions, higher education and student affairs professionals rely on our accredited online certifications for practical, evidence-based professional development and training that can be applied immediately in student interactions.
Frequently Asked Questions About The Student Success Coaching Certification
What is a student success coaching certificate?
A student success coaching certificate is a professional development credential that demonstrates training in coaching strategies, student retention, engagement, and relationship-building in higher education. This course equips student success coaches, advisors, and student services professionals with practical, evidence-based coaching tools they can apply immediately in student interactions.
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What does a student success coach training course teach?
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This student success coaching course teaches the core skills and strategies needed to improve student retention, engagement, and success. Participants learn how to lead effective coaching conversations, apply proven frameworks, and build meaningful relationships that increase student motivation and persistence. The course also covers student psychology, sense of belonging, communication strategies, and practical approaches for supporting diverse student populations in real-world settings.​
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What’s the difference between the Student Success Coaching Certificate and the Academic Advising Certificate?
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Both courses share a strong foundation in student success, retention strategies, coaching frameworks, and communication skills. However, they are designed for slightly different roles and approaches.
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The Academic Advising Certificate focuses more on the advising role, including advising models, course planning support, and structured advising conversations within institutional processes.
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The Student Success Coaching Certificate places greater emphasis on coaching techniques, student motivation, goal-setting, and holistic student support. It includes a deeper focus on coaching frameworks such as motivational interviewing, student mindset and resilience, and on helping students move from intention to action across academic, personal, and career goals.
If your role is exclusively or almost exclusively enrollment-focused and more strongly tied to academic planning, advising may be the better fit. If your role focuses on ongoing support, behavior change, and student development, the coaching course is likely the stronger choice. One person should not take both courses, but pick just one.​
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Is this course a good fit for academic coaches?
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Yes. This course is an excellent fit for academic coaches. It is specifically designed to strengthen coaching conversations, build student motivation, and support behavior change, which are core responsibilities of academic coaching roles. The course provides practical tools, coaching frameworks, and real-world strategies that academic coaches can use immediately to improve student engagement, persistence, and outcomes.
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Is this a self-paced success coaching course?
Yes. This is a fully online, self-paced success coaching training course. Participants can start anytime and complete the course on their own schedule, making it ideal for busy academic advisors and teams.
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How long does it take to complete the success coaching training?
Most participants complete the course in approximately 20-25 hours total. Because the course is self-paced, you can complete it faster or spread it out, depending on your schedule. This success coach certificate course combines short video lessons, practical tools, and applied exercises designed for real-world student scenarios.
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Who should take this academic advising professional development course?
This course is designed for student success coaches, advisors, retention specialists, and student services staff across community colleges, universities, and technical colleges. It is valuable for both new professionals building foundational skills and experienced staff looking to strengthen their coaching approach and improve student outcomes. This course is part of a broader set of professional development programs designed for academic advisors, student success coaches, and higher education professionals.
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​Do I receive a certificate after completing the success coach training?
Yes. Upon successful completion, you will receive a certificate that can be shared with supervisors, included on your resume, or used for professional development documentation. The certificate demonstrates your commitment to improving student success.
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How can I pay for the course?
We accept a variety of payment options from individuals and institutions, including credit card, ACH/bank transfer, and paper check. Organizations can also request an invoice or purchase order (PO) to support institutional payment processes.
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Can I purchase this professional development course as tax-exempt?
Yes. If your institution is tax-exempt, you can request a tax-exempt invoice.
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Is this student success coaching course accredited?
Yes. This course is offered by an International Association for Continuing Education and Training (IACET) accredited provider, ensuring it meets recognized standards for continuing education and professional development for higher education employees.
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What level of experience is this training designed for?
This student success coaching training is designed for all experience levels, including new and experienced professionals looking to strengthen their coaching skills and improve student outcomes.
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Is this course suitable for individuals or teams?
Both. Individuals can enroll at any time, and institutions can enroll teams of advisors or coaches. Group pricing and coordinated enrollment options are available for colleges and universities. Many institutions enroll teams across multiple courses to build a shared approach to student success across advising, career services, and student support.
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I want to get into college advising or success coaching. Will this course help me get a job as an academic advisor or success coach?
Yes. Many participants take this course to build advising and coaching knowledge and strengthen their resumes as they pursue roles in higher education. The certificate demonstrates practical advising and coaching skills, as well as a commitment to student success that employers value.
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