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Crime prevention worker education requirements

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read

There are several educational requirements to become a crime prevention worker. Crime prevention workers usually study psychology, social work, or criminal justice. 64% of crime prevention workers hold a bachelor's degree, and 20% hold an master's degree. We analyzed 89 real crime prevention worker resumes to see exactly what crime prevention worker education sections show.

The most common colleges for crime prevention workers are the Adelphi University and the Adelphi University.

There are also many online crime prevention worker courses to help get the education required to be a crime prevention worker.

What education do you need to become a crime prevention worker?

What degree do you need to be a crime prevention worker?

The most common degree for crime prevention workers is bachelor's degree, with 64% of crime prevention workers earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are master's degree degree at 20% and master's degree degree at 8%.
  • Bachelor's, 64%
  • Master's, 20%
  • High School Diploma, 8%
  • Associate, 8%
  • Other Degrees, 0%

What should I major in to become a crime prevention worker?

You should major in psychology to become a crime prevention worker. 17% of crime prevention workers major in psychology. Other common majors for a crime prevention worker include social work and criminal justice.

Most common colleges for crime prevention workers

Crime prevention workers often get their degrees at Adelphi University, Northern Michigan University, and University of Central Oklahoma. Here are the most common colleges for crime prevention workers in the US based on their resumes.
Crime prevention worker common collegePercentages
Adelphi University8.00%
Northern Michigan University8.00%
University of Central Oklahoma8.00%
Freed-Hardeman University8.00%
Bay Path University8.00%

Best majors for crime prevention workers

RankMajorPercentages
1Psychology16.9%
2Social Work16.9%
3Criminal Justice13.6%
4Sociology13.6%
5Counseling Psychology5.1%

Best colleges for crime prevention workers

The best colleges for crime prevention workers are Boston University, SUNY at Binghamton, and Boston College.

A crime prevention worker with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for crime prevention workers. 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 crime prevention workers.

1. California State University - Fullerton

Fullerton, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,886

Enrollment

34,637

2. Boston University

Boston, MA • Private

In-state tuition

$53,948

Enrollment

17,238

3. Minnesota State University - Mankato

Mankato, MN • Private

In-state tuition

$8,184

Enrollment

11,675

4. California State University - San Bernardino

San Bernardino, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,922

Enrollment

17,704

5. University of Texas at Austin

Austin, TX • Private

In-state tuition

$10,610

Enrollment

40,329

6. California State University - Bakersfield

Bakersfield, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$7,309

Enrollment

9,142

7. California State University - Dominguez Hills

Carson, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,942

Enrollment

13,871

8. California State University - Long Beach

Long Beach, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,798

Enrollment

31,503

9. Inter American University of Puerto Rico Aguadilla

Aguadilla, PR • Private

In-state tuition

$5,902

Enrollment

3,622

10. Syracuse University

Syracuse, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$51,853

Enrollment

14,759

20 best online courses for crime prevention workers

Advertising disclosure

1. ERPO: A Civil Approach to Gun Violence Prevention Teach-Out

coursera

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...

2. Helping Families Avoid Negative Court Involvement Teach-Out

coursera

This course will teach learners how to understand when issues can become legal issues, encourage learners to recognize legal problems early, identify possible “legal soft spots” in their own situations, and act when issues are identified to avoid them escalating. This course will also teach and encourage learners to think preventatively and provide some tools to use with an eye toward preventing future legal issues. Finally, this Teach-out seeks to expand the idea of legal health checks to a...

3. Cryptocurrency Financial Crime Compliance Bootcamp

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4.4
(484)

Blockchain/Crypto Financial Crime Money Laundering Terrorist Financing AML & CTF Regulation Compliance Tools...

4. Addiction & Mental Health - Chemically Speaking Two (2hrs)

udemy
4.7
(311)

Substance Abuse & Mental Health Interventions - Understand Drug & Alcohol Addiction & Mental Health. How to help people...

5. Social Policy for Social Services & Health Practitioners

coursera

In the U.S., social policy accounts for two-thirds of government spending. Knowing how policies are constructed, what values underlie them, and how they succeed or fail makes everyone more effective at work or in their civic role. This specialization includes an HONORS track in which learners will complete a professional social policy analysis.\n\nTeachers, health care workers, police, and social workers interact with policy daily, but all of us should care about the impact and effectiveness of...

6. Strategies for Senior Housing Communities during COVID-19

coursera

SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, poses a high risk for senior housing communities and the people who live and work there. The COVID-19 response has largely focused on nursing homes, leaving independent living communities serving older adults in the United States with fragmented guidance on how to respond to COVID-19 challenges. This course provides comprehensive instruction and resources for property owners and managers, senior housing staff, service coordinators and providers,...

7. Conflict Resolution for Co-Workers

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4.4
(266)

You'll learn diagnosis and resolution techniques for tense, sensitive conflicts with your co-workers, manager or peers...

8. Introduction to Criminology: Explaining Crime

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4.5
(2,043)

Learn to Speak About Criminal Psychology and the Sociology of Crime Like an Expert...

9. Infection Prevention in Nursing Homes

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Learn about the role of environment in disease transmission and how to implement standard and transmission-based precautions to prevent the spread of antibiotic resistant bacteria and other infections in your facility...

10. Addiction & Mental Health (Dual Diagnosis) Integrative 12hrs

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4.7
(1,529)

Substance Abuse & Mental Health Interventions: Drug & Alcohol Addiction & Mental Health - Integrative Holistic Approach...

11. Cyber Crime Analyst Part 1

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4
(250)

Types of Cyber Crime...

12. Prevention of Sexual Harassment Act, India 2013

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4.5
(827)

A complete guide to prevent, prohibit and redress sexual harassment at workplaces in India. Detailed overview on Sexual...

13. Fire Safety and Prevention Planning

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4.4
(1,467)

Become an expert in understanding Fire Safety and Prevention Planning for your workplaces and organizations...

14. Crisis Intervention Seminar

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4.4
(634)

The emphasis is on the development of fundamental clinical skills in the area of crisis intervention...

15. Preventing Workplace Harassment 101

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4.6
(5,746)

Avoid inappropriate or questionable conduct and respond properly to harassment situations...

16. Preventing and Surviving an Active Shooter Incident

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4.5
(4,367)

Active Shooter/Violent Intruder Prevention and Response...

17. Financial Crime: Processes & Technology - Masterclass

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4.6
(251)

Develop practitioner level skills in AML, CTF, KYC, PEP, Identity, Sanctions and Fraud processes and technology...

18. Fraud Risk Analytics (Excel & AI based tools) and Prevention

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4.4
(820)

Detect & Prevent Fraud Smartly Assess your company's maturity to manage fraud...

19. Cat Behavior Rectification & Cat Health Care: 2 courses in 1

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4.2
(330)

1. Common Cat Behavior Issues and training methods to rectify them 2. Tips for better healthcare of your cat...

20. Treatment & Prevention of Dog Aggression: Biting & Fighting

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4.7
(1,122)

Learn new concepts that can significantly accelerate the training of dogs with aggression and reactivity issues...

Top 10 most affordable universities for crime prevention workers

The most affordable schools for crime prevention workers are California State University - Bakersfield, california state university - long beach, and hunter college of the city university of new york.

If the best universities for crime prevention workers 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 crime prevention workers.

1. California State University - Bakersfield

Bakersfield, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$7,309

Cost of attendance

16,714

2. California State University - Long Beach

Long Beach, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,798

Cost of attendance

18,306

3. Hunter College of the City University of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,182

Cost of attendance

13,998

4. California State University - Fullerton

Fullerton, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,886

Cost of attendance

17,645

5. Brigham Young University

Provo, UT • Private

In-state tuition

$5,620

Cost of attendance

18,136

6. California State University - Dominguez Hills

Carson, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,942

Cost of attendance

14,469

7. Florida State University

Tallahassee, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$5,656

Cost of attendance

21,623

8. University of South Florida

Tampa, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,410

Cost of attendance

20,456

9. California State University - San Bernardino

San Bernardino, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,922

Cost of attendance

18,522

10. California State University - Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,749

Cost of attendance

14,823

Top 10 hardest universities to get into for crime prevention workers

The hardest universities for crime prevention workers to get into are Boston University, SUNY at Binghamton, and Boston College.

Some great schools for crime prevention workers 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 crime prevention workers 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. SUNY at Binghamton

Vestal, NY • Private

Admissions rate

40%

SAT average

1,376

3. Boston College

Chestnut Hill, MA • Private

Admissions rate

28%

SAT average

1,429

4. University of Texas at Austin

Austin, TX • Private

Admissions rate

39%

SAT average

1,367

5. Northeastern University

Boston, MA • Private

Admissions rate

19%

SAT average

1,466

6. Syracuse University

Syracuse, NY • Private

Admissions rate

50%

SAT average

1,284

7. University of Washington

Seattle, WA • Private

Admissions rate

49%

SAT average

1,347

8. University of Chicago

Chicago, IL • Private

Admissions rate

7%

SAT average

1,520

9. University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA • Private

Admissions rate

13%

SAT average

1,445

10. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

Admissions rate

8%

SAT average

1,508

Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for crime prevention workers

The easiest schools for crime prevention workers to get into are Mount Saint Mary's University, wayland baptist university, and university of north texas at dallas.

Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a crime prevention worker 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 crime prevention workers.

1. Mount Saint Mary's University

Los Angeles, CA • Private

Admissions rate

84%

SAT average

1,031

2. Wayland Baptist University

Plainview, TX • Private

Admissions rate

98%

SAT average

1,003

3. University of North Texas at Dallas

Dallas, TX • Private

Admissions rate

83%

SAT average

992

4. University of Houston - Downtown

Houston, TX • Private

Admissions rate

83%

SAT average

1,012

5. Ottawa University

Ottawa, KS • Private

Admissions rate

78%

SAT average

1,024

6. Notre Dame de Namur University

Belmont, CA • Private

Admissions rate

82%

SAT average

983

7. Texas Woman's University

Denton, TX • Private

Admissions rate

87%

SAT average

1,059

8. The University of Texas Permian Basin

Odessa, TX • Private

Admissions rate

91%

SAT average

1,046

9. University of the Incarnate Word

San Antonio, TX • Private

Admissions rate

88%

SAT average

1,044

10. Texas A&M University - Kingsville

Kingsville, TX • Private

Admissions rate

89%

SAT average

1,035

Average crime prevention worker salary by education level

Crime prevention workers with a Master's degree earn more than those without, at $49,013 annually. With a Bachelor's degree, crime prevention workers earn a median annual income of $42,919 compared to $36,210 for crime prevention workers with an Associate degree.
Crime prevention worker education levelCrime prevention worker salary
Master's Degree$49,013
High School Diploma or Less$35,857
Bachelor's Degree$42,919
Some College/ Associate Degree$36,210

Crime prevention worker education FAQs

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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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