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Circuit court judge education requirements
Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
There are several educational requirements to become a circuit court judge. Circuit court judges usually study law, political science, or business. 50% of circuit court judges hold a bachelor's degree, and 35% hold an doctoral degree. We analyzed 107 real circuit court judge resumes to see exactly what circuit court judge education sections show.
The most common colleges for circuit court judges are the Auburn University Main Campus and the Auburn University Main Campus.
There are also many online circuit court judge courses to help get the education required to be a circuit court judge.
What education do you need to become a circuit court judge?
What degree do you need to be a circuit court judge?
- Bachelor's, 50%
- Doctorate, 35%
- Associate, 12%
- Master's, 2%
- Other Degrees, 1%
What should I major in to become a circuit court judge?
- Law, 35%
- Political Science, 11%
- Business, 9%
- Other Majors, 38%
Most common colleges for circuit court judges
| Circuit court judge common college | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Auburn University Main Campus | 8.11% |
| Florida International University | 8.11% |
| University of Florida | 5.41% |
| Michigan State University | 5.41% |
| Florida State University | 5.41% |
Best majors for circuit court judges
| Rank | Major | Percentages |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Law | 35.4% |
| 2 | Political Science | 11.0% |
| 3 | Business | 8.5% |
| 4 | Legal Support Services | 7.3% |
| 5 | Criminal Justice | 6.1% |
Best colleges for circuit court judges
The best colleges for circuit court judges are Boston University, University of Richmond, and George Washington University, The.
A circuit court judge with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for circuit court judges. We based this list on several metrics: admissions rate, retention rate, mean earnings of graduates, the ratio of working vs. non-working students ten years after admission, the average cost of attendance, and median debt for graduates who become circuit court judges.
1. University of Richmond
University of Richmond, VA • Private
In-state tuition
$52,610
Enrollment
3,215
2. Boston University
Boston, MA • Private
In-state tuition
$53,948
Enrollment
17,238
3. Mississippi College
Clinton, MS • Private
In-state tuition
$18,026
Enrollment
3,036
4. George Washington University, The
Washington, DC • Private
In-state tuition
$55,230
Enrollment
12,161
5. Texas Wesleyan University
Fort Worth, TX • Private
In-state tuition
$30,300
Enrollment
1,445
6. University of San Diego
San Diego, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$49,358
Enrollment
5,760
7. Southern Illinois University Carbondale
Carbondale, IL • Private
In-state tuition
$14,704
Enrollment
9,447
8. University of Cincinnati
Cincinnati, OH • Private
In-state tuition
$11,000
Enrollment
25,973
9. University of Louisville
Louisville, KY • Private
In-state tuition
$11,656
Enrollment
14,488
10. Hamline University
Saint Paul, MN • Private
In-state tuition
$41,290
Enrollment
2,077
20 best online courses for circuit court judges
Advertising disclosure
1. International Law in Action: A Guide to the International Courts and Tribunals in The Hague
International Law in Action explains the functions of each international court and tribunal present in The Hague, and it looks at how these institutions address contemporary problems. On the basis of selected cases, and through interviews with judges and lawyers, you will explore the role of these courts and tribunals and their potential to contribute to global justice. The first module of the course will investigate how judicial settlement is different from other more political forms of...
2. Introduction to International Criminal Law
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3. Criminal Law in 120 Minutes: A Fast Track Course
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4. Effective Legal Office Administration
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5. International Law In Action: Investigating and Prosecuting International Crimes
‘Investigating and Prosecuting International Crimes’ is the second course in Leiden University’s new series on International Law in Action. The first course covered international courts and tribunals in The Hague in general. This second course provides an insider perspective into the work of international criminal courts and tribunals. You will learn about the investigation and prosecution of international crimes in The Hague. Atrocities produce unspeakable forms of violence. We will explore...
6. ERPO: A Civil Approach to Gun Violence Prevention Teach-Out
Evidence shows that 1 life is saved for every 10-20 Extreme Risk Protection Orders (ERPOs) issued. ERPOs are legally issued civil orders that allow people on the front lines to ask a court to prevent a person at imminent risk of harm to themselves or others from purchasing or possessing firearms during a critical period of risk. As of October 2020, ERPO laws have been enacted by nineteen states and the District of Columbia and while some aspects differ by state, the general process for applying...
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8. English for Business and Law - Contract Law
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9. An Introduction to American Law
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10. European Business Law: Understanding the Fundamentals
The European Union is one of the world’s largest and most important economies. This six week course is the first in a series of three that will provide students with an insight into European Business Law. The series ranges from considering the basic structures and principles of the European Union to focusing on various specialized areas of law. Each course will give the students an understanding of the laws and policies that regulate the internal market of European Union, as well as relevant...
11. Legal English
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12. Company Law: A Comprehensive Summary
An in-depth summary of Company Law, targeting all common law LL.B examinations...
13. Legal Tech and the Digital Transformation of Law
The digital revolution changed the way we communicate and trade. Now, it is coming into the world of law. This program will give you a broad overview of the main trends that are affecting the legal industry: - The birth of the legal tech market and the application of technology in law. - The role of artificial intelligence in the automation of the work of lawyers. - Blockchain technology and its impact on the way we sign and execute contracts. - Initiatives to ensure access to justice through...
14. Cross-border road transport in EU law context
Have you ever wondered which legal rules are applicable to cross-border EU road transport? Are you interested in the issues revolving around EU employment law in the international road transport sector? Then, on behalf of the University of Antwerp, Erasmus University Rotterdam, University of Gdańsk, University of Luxembourg and Tilburg University, we would like to welcome you to this MOOC on Cross-border Road Transport in EU law context. This MOOC is a part of the Erasmus + Project funded by...
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16. Law of Contracts in 60 Minutes: A Fast Track Course
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17. American Contract Law II
Course description: Contracts I & II provides a comprehensive overview of contract law in the United States. The course covers most of the key concepts found in a first year law school class. Each lecture is based on one or more common-law cases, integrating legal doctrines with policy discussions. The course also covers key sections from the Uniform Commercial Code (UCC), which governs the sale of goods. By the end of the course, the learner should be able to understand: Formation defenses:...
18. A Law Student's Toolkit
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20. Introduction to Nonprofit Law
The nonprofit sector in America is made up of over 1.9 million tax exempt organizations and accounts for nearly 6% of the nation's gross domestic product. This course will introduce the major legal rules that govern nonprofit organizations, beginning with the historical context that has shaped the modern nonprofit sector. We will explore the different forms of nonprofit organizations and their associated legal obligations, and we will examine the rules that govern nonprofit activities such as...
Top 10 most affordable universities for circuit court judges
The most affordable schools for circuit court judges are Brigham Young University, florida international university, and florida state university.
If the best universities for circuit court judges are out of your price range, check out these affordable schools. After factoring in in-state tuition and fees, the average cost of attendance, admissions rate, average net price, and mean earnings after six years, we found that these are the most affordable schools for circuit court judges.
1. Brigham Young University
Provo, UT • Private
In-state tuition
$5,620
Cost of attendance
18,136
2. Florida International University
Miami, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,556
Cost of attendance
19,434
3. Florida State University
Tallahassee, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$5,656
Cost of attendance
21,623
4. SUNY Farmingdale
Farmingdale, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$8,306
Cost of attendance
16,091
5. Clayton State University
Morrow, GA • Private
In-state tuition
$5,419
Cost of attendance
17,697
6. USF Sarasota-Manatee
Sarasota, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$5,587
Cost of attendance
13,043
7. University of Central Florida
Orlando, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,368
Cost of attendance
21,034
8. The University of West Florida
Pensacola, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,360
Cost of attendance
16,595
9. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC • Private
In-state tuition
$8,987
Cost of attendance
25,527
10. University of Missouri - Kansas City
Kansas City, MO • Private
In-state tuition
$8,178
Cost of attendance
20,934
Top 10 hardest universities to get into for circuit court judges
The hardest universities for circuit court judges to get into are Boston University, University of Richmond, and George Washington University, The.
Some great schools for circuit court judges are hard to get into, but they also set your career up for greater success. The list below shows the most challenging universities to get into for circuit court judges based on an institution's admissions rates, average SAT scores accepted, median ACT scores accepted, and mean earnings of students six years after admission.
1. Boston University
Boston, MA • Private
Admissions rate
22%
SAT average
1,420
2. University of Richmond
University of Richmond, VA • Private
Admissions rate
30%
SAT average
1,401
3. George Washington University, The
Washington, DC • Private
Admissions rate
42%
SAT average
1,380
4. Boston College
Chestnut Hill, MA • Private
Admissions rate
28%
SAT average
1,429
5. Tulane University
New Orleans, LA • Private
Admissions rate
17%
SAT average
1,428
6. Northeastern University
Boston, MA • Private
Admissions rate
19%
SAT average
1,466
7. University of Tulsa
Tulsa, OK • Private
Admissions rate
41%
SAT average
1,321
8. Georgetown University
Washington, DC • Private
Admissions rate
15%
SAT average
1,456
9. University of Chicago
Chicago, IL • Private
Admissions rate
7%
SAT average
1,520
10. American University
Washington, DC • Private
Admissions rate
32%
SAT average
1,320
Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for circuit court judges
The easiest schools for circuit court judges to get into are University of North Texas at Dallas, marymount university, and grand view university.
Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a circuit court judge without much hassle, check out the list of schools where you will be accepted in no time. We compiled admissions rates, average SAT scores, average ACT scores, and average salary of students six years after graduation to uncover which were the easiest schools to get into for circuit court judges.
1. University of North Texas at Dallas
Dallas, TX • Private
Admissions rate
83%
SAT average
992
2. Marymount University
Arlington, VA • Private
Admissions rate
91%
SAT average
1,065
3. Grand View University
Des Moines, IA • Private
Admissions rate
92%
SAT average
1,060
4. Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey - Camden
Camden, NJ • Private
Admissions rate
71%
SAT average
1,086
5. Nyack College
New York, NY • Private
Admissions rate
98%
SAT average
999
6. Gwynedd Mercy University
Gwynedd Valley, PA • Private
Admissions rate
92%
SAT average
1,031
7. Texas Woman's University
Denton, TX • Private
Admissions rate
87%
SAT average
1,059
8. San Francisco State University
San Francisco, CA • Private
Admissions rate
72%
SAT average
1,054
9. Saint Thomas University
Miami Gardens, FL • Private
Admissions rate
52%
SAT average
1,031
10. Manor College
Jenkintown, PA • Private
Admissions rate
94%
SAT average
898
Average circuit court judge salary by education level
| Circuit court judge education level | Circuit court judge salary |
|---|---|
| Doctorate Degree | $59,514 |
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Updated January 8, 2025
Updated January 8, 2025