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Court of appeals judge education requirements
Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
There are several educational requirements to become a court of appeals judge. Courts of appeals judge usually study law, political science, or criminal justice. 56% of courts of appeals judge hold a bachelor's degree, and 22% hold an doctoral degree. We analyzed 208 real court of appeals judge resumes to see exactly what court of appeals judge education sections show.
The most common colleges for courts of appeals judge are the Temple University and the Temple University.
There are also many online court of appeals judge courses to help get the education required to be a court of appeals judge.
What education do you need to become a court of appeals judge?
What degree do you need to be a court of appeals judge?
- Bachelor's, 56%
- Doctorate, 22%
- Master's, 11%
- Associate, 4%
- Other Degrees, 7%
What should I major in to become a court of appeals judge?
- Law, 33%
- Political Science, 16%
- Criminal Justice, 10%
- Psychology, 6%
- Other Majors, 35%
Most common colleges for courts of appeals judge
| Court of appeals judge common college | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Temple University | 11.43% |
| Syracuse University | 5.71% |
| University of Florida | 5.71% |
| Monmouth University | 5.71% |
| National University | 5.71% |
Best majors for courts of appeals judge
| Rank | Major | Percentages |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Law | 33.1% |
| 2 | Political Science | 15.6% |
| 3 | Criminal Justice | 9.7% |
| 4 | Psychology | 6.5% |
| 5 | Business | 5.2% |
Best colleges for courts of appeals judge
The best colleges for courts of appeals judge are Stanford University, Northwestern University, and University of Pennsylvania.
A court of appeals 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 courts of appeals judge. 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 courts of appeals judge.
1. Stanford University
Stanford, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$51,354
Enrollment
7,083
2. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
In-state tuition
$55,584
Enrollment
10,764
3. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC • Private
In-state tuition
$8,987
Enrollment
18,946
4. Boston University
Boston, MA • Private
In-state tuition
$53,948
Enrollment
17,238
5. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
In-state tuition
$54,568
Enrollment
8,451
6. University of Chicago
Chicago, IL • Private
In-state tuition
$58,230
Enrollment
6,600
7. Howard University
Washington, DC • Private
In-state tuition
$26,756
Enrollment
6,166
8. University of Texas at Austin
Austin, TX • Private
In-state tuition
$10,610
Enrollment
40,329
9. Duke University
Durham, NC • Private
In-state tuition
$55,695
Enrollment
6,596
10. Harvard University
Cambridge, MA • Private
In-state tuition
$50,420
Enrollment
7,582
20 best online courses for courts of appeals judge
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
-- About the Course -- From the Nuremberg trial to the case against Saddam Hussein, from the prosecution of Al-Qaeda terrorists to the trial of Somali pirates – no area of law is as important to world peace and security as international criminal law. Taught by one of the world’s leading experts in the field, this course will educate students about the fundamentals of international criminal law and policy. We will explore the contours of international crimes such as genocide, war crimes,...
3. Criminal Law in 120 Minutes: A Fast Track Course
A 2 hour fast track summary of Criminal Law, targeting all common law LL.B examinations!...
4. Employment Law Compliance Made Easy
A comprehensive course for management to understand key employment law issues in the workplace...
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. 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...
7. Company Law: A Comprehensive Summary
An in-depth summary of Company Law, targeting all common law LL.B examinations...
8. Law of Contracts in 60 Minutes: A Fast Track Course
A 60 minute fast track summary of the Law of Contracts, targeting all common law LL.B examinations!...
9. An Introduction to American Law
This course will give you a glimpse into six different areas of American law: Tort Law, Contract Law, Property, Constitutional Law, Criminal Law, and Civil Procedure. You will gain insight into the complexities and dilemmas that arise from the application of law in different settings, and what is distinctive about American approaches...
10. 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...
11. Effective Legal Office Administration
Effective Legal Office Administration...
12. English for Business and Law - Contract Law
An English language course for business and law...
13. A Law Student's Toolkit
Whether you are an advanced law student looking to review the basics, or an aspiring law student looking for head start, this course will help you build the foundation you will need to succeed in law school and beyond. This course will introduce you to terminology, concepts, and tools lawyers and legal academics use to make their arguments. It will help you follow these arguments—and make arguments of your own. This course consists of a series of short lectures and assignments. A reading list...
14. 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...
15. Law: A Comprehensive Summary for LLB Students
An essential 24 hours of Video Lectures, Spider Graphs and Case Summaries made to guide LLB students preparing for exams...
16. Law of Attraction: Law of Attraction and your Perfect Life
Take control - Law of Attraction - NLP coach teaches the Mastery of the LOA in one of the top law of attraction courses...
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. Introduction to Key Constitutional Concepts and Supreme Court Cases
This course offers an introduction to the U.S. Constitution and landmark Supreme Court cases interpreting it. It explores the Constitution’s origins, its amendment over the years, and methods of constitutional interpretation. Topics include the nature and structure of the federal government, the powers of the federal government, and individual rights...
19. Legal English
Legal language and communication skills...
20. Law of Attraction Coach Practitioner Cert (ACCREDITED)
Uncover the Law of Attraction & use it to help you & your clients benefit from all that the law of attraction offers us...
Top 10 most affordable universities for courts of appeals judge
The most affordable schools for courts of appeals judge are University of Florida, california state university - bakersfield, and suny farmingdale.
If the best universities for courts of appeals judge 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 courts of appeals judge.
1. University of Florida
Gainesville, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,381
Cost of attendance
21,034
2. California State University - Bakersfield
Bakersfield, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$7,309
Cost of attendance
16,714
3. SUNY Farmingdale
Farmingdale, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$8,306
Cost of attendance
16,091
4. Florida State University
Tallahassee, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$5,656
Cost of attendance
21,623
5. Florida International University
Miami, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,556
Cost of attendance
19,434
6. Brigham Young University
Provo, UT • Private
In-state tuition
$5,620
Cost of attendance
18,136
7. Baruch College of the City University of New York
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,262
Cost of attendance
14,046
8. California State University - Dominguez Hills
Carson, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,942
Cost of attendance
14,469
9. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC • Private
In-state tuition
$8,987
Cost of attendance
25,527
10. California State University - Long Beach
Long Beach, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,798
Cost of attendance
18,306
Top 10 hardest universities to get into for courts of appeals judge
The hardest universities for courts of appeals judge to get into are Stanford University, Northwestern University, and University of Pennsylvania.
Some great schools for courts of appeals judge 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 courts of appeals judge 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. Stanford University
Stanford, CA • Private
Admissions rate
4%
SAT average
1,497
2. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
Admissions rate
8%
SAT average
1,508
3. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
Admissions rate
8%
SAT average
1,492
4. University of Chicago
Chicago, IL • Private
Admissions rate
7%
SAT average
1,520
5. Harvard University
Cambridge, MA • Private
Admissions rate
5%
SAT average
1,520
6. Vanderbilt University
Nashville, TN • Private
Admissions rate
10%
SAT average
1,514
7. Duke University
Durham, NC • Private
Admissions rate
9%
SAT average
1,516
8. Yale University
New Haven, CT • Private
Admissions rate
6%
SAT average
1,517
9. Northeastern University
Boston, MA • Private
Admissions rate
19%
SAT average
1,466
10. University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA • Private
Admissions rate
13%
SAT average
1,445
Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for courts of appeals judge
The easiest schools for courts of appeals judge to get into are Wayland Baptist University, university of north texas at dallas, and barry university.
Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a court of appeals 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 courts of appeals judge.
1. Wayland Baptist University
Plainview, TX • Private
Admissions rate
98%
SAT average
1,003
2. University of North Texas at Dallas
Dallas, TX • Private
Admissions rate
83%
SAT average
992
3. Barry University
Miami, FL • Private
Admissions rate
91%
SAT average
1,006
4. Notre Dame College
Cleveland, OH • Private
Admissions rate
90%
SAT average
994
5. University of Baltimore
Baltimore, MD • Private
Admissions rate
78%
SAT average
1,020
6. La Roche College
Pittsburgh, PA • Private
Admissions rate
99%
SAT average
1,008
7. Holy Family University
Philadelphia, PA • Private
Admissions rate
72%
SAT average
1,017
8. Saint Joseph's College of Maine
Standish, ME • Private
Admissions rate
84%
SAT average
1,069
9. Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey - Camden
Camden, NJ • Private
Admissions rate
71%
SAT average
1,086
10. University of the Incarnate Word
San Antonio, TX • Private
Admissions rate
88%
SAT average
1,044
Average court of appeals judge salary by education level
| Court of appeals judge education level | Court of appeals judge salary |
|---|---|
| Doctorate Degree | $58,526 |
Court of appeals judge education FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025
Updated January 8, 2025