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Criminal intelligence specialist education requirements

Updated January 8, 2025
3 min read

There are several educational requirements to become a criminal intelligence specialist. Criminal intelligence specialists usually study criminal justice, liberal arts, or management. 69% of criminal intelligence specialists hold a bachelor's degree, and 13% hold an associate degree. We analyzed 27 real criminal intelligence specialist resumes to see exactly what criminal intelligence specialist education sections show.

The most common colleges for criminal intelligence specialists are the California State University - San Bernardino and the California State University - San Bernardino.

There are also many online criminal intelligence specialist courses to help get the education required to be a criminal intelligence specialist.

What education do you need to become a criminal intelligence specialist?

What degree do you need to be a criminal intelligence specialist?

The most common degree for criminal intelligence specialists is bachelor's degree, with 69% of criminal intelligence specialists earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are associate degree degree at 13% and associate degree degree at 6%.
  • Bachelor's, 69%
  • Associate, 13%
  • Doctorate, 6%
  • Master's, 6%
  • Other Degrees, 6%

What should I major in to become a criminal intelligence specialist?

You should major in criminal justice to become a criminal intelligence specialist. 24% of criminal intelligence specialists major in criminal justice. Other common majors for a criminal intelligence specialist include liberal arts and management.

Most common colleges for criminal intelligence specialists

Criminal intelligence specialists often get their degrees at California State University - San Bernardino, California State University - Sacramento, and University of San Francisco. Here are the most common colleges for criminal intelligence specialists in the US based on their resumes.
Criminal intelligence specialist common collegePercentages
California State University - San Bernardino18.75%
California State University - Sacramento12.50%
University of San Francisco6.25%
University of St. Francis6.25%
Mercyhurst University6.25%

Best majors for criminal intelligence specialists

Best colleges for criminal intelligence specialists

The best colleges for criminal intelligence specialists are University of Pennsylvania, Northwestern University, and University of Southern California.

A criminal intelligence specialist with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for criminal intelligence specialists. 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 criminal intelligence specialists.

1. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

In-state tuition

$55,584

Enrollment

10,764

2. Boston University

Boston, MA • Private

In-state tuition

$53,948

Enrollment

17,238

3. University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$56,225

Enrollment

19,548

4. Stanford University

Stanford, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$51,354

Enrollment

7,083

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 - Long Beach

Long Beach, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,798

Enrollment

31,503

8. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill, NC • Private

In-state tuition

$8,987

Enrollment

18,946

9. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

In-state tuition

$54,568

Enrollment

8,451

10. Harvard University

Cambridge, MA • Private

In-state tuition

$50,420

Enrollment

7,582

20 best online courses for criminal intelligence specialists

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Top 10 most affordable universities for criminal intelligence specialists

The most affordable schools for criminal intelligence specialists 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 criminal intelligence specialists 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 criminal intelligence specialists.

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. Florida State University

Tallahassee, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$5,656

Cost of attendance

21,623

5. Brigham Young University

Provo, UT • Private

In-state tuition

$5,620

Cost of attendance

18,136

6. Florida International University

Miami, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,556

Cost of attendance

19,434

7. SUNY Farmingdale

Farmingdale, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$8,306

Cost of attendance

16,091

8. California State University - Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,749

Cost of attendance

14,823

9. University of Florida

Gainesville, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,381

Cost of attendance

21,034

10. University of South Florida

Tampa, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,410

Cost of attendance

20,456

Top 10 hardest universities to get into for criminal intelligence specialists

The hardest universities for criminal intelligence specialists to get into are University of Pennsylvania, Northwestern University, and University of Southern California.

Some great schools for criminal intelligence specialists 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 criminal intelligence specialists 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. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

Admissions rate

8%

SAT average

1,492

2. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

Admissions rate

8%

SAT average

1,508

3. University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA • Private

Admissions rate

13%

SAT average

1,445

4. Columbia University in the City of New York

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

6%

SAT average

1,512

5. University of Chicago

Chicago, IL • Private

Admissions rate

7%

SAT average

1,520

6. Stanford University

Stanford, CA • Private

Admissions rate

4%

SAT average

1,497

7. Boston University

Boston, MA • Private

Admissions rate

22%

SAT average

1,420

8. New York University

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

20%

SAT average

1,419

9. Northeastern University

Boston, MA • Private

Admissions rate

19%

SAT average

1,466

10. Boston College

Chestnut Hill, MA • Private

Admissions rate

28%

SAT average

1,429

Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for criminal intelligence specialists

The easiest schools for criminal intelligence specialists to get into are Barry University, wayland baptist university, and mount saint mary's university.

Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a criminal intelligence specialist 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 criminal intelligence specialists.

1. Barry University

Miami, FL • Private

Admissions rate

91%

SAT average

1,006

2. Wayland Baptist University

Plainview, TX • Private

Admissions rate

98%

SAT average

1,003

3. Mount Saint Mary's University

Los Angeles, CA • Private

Admissions rate

84%

SAT average

1,031

4. Felician University

Lodi, NJ • Private

Admissions rate

81%

SAT average

999

5. Kean University

Union, NJ • Private

Admissions rate

86%

SAT average

991

6. University of the Incarnate Word

San Antonio, TX • Private

Admissions rate

88%

SAT average

1,044

7. Fresno Pacific University

Fresno, CA • Private

Admissions rate

85%

SAT average

1,053

8. Notre Dame de Namur University

Belmont, CA • Private

Admissions rate

82%

SAT average

983

9. Notre Dame College

Cleveland, OH • Private

Admissions rate

90%

SAT average

994

10. Centenary University

Hackettstown, NJ • Private

Admissions rate

67%

SAT average

987

Average criminal intelligence specialist salary by education level

According to our data, criminal intelligence specialists with a Master's degree earn the highest average salary, at $85,966 annually. Criminal intelligence specialists with a Bachelor's degree earn an average annual salary of $82,481.
Criminal intelligence specialist education levelCriminal intelligence specialist salary
Master's Degree$85,966
High School Diploma or Less$66,204
Bachelor's Degree$82,481
Some College/ Associate Degree$70,711

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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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