Post job

Criminal investigator education requirements

Updated January 8, 2025
2 min read
Usually, criminal investigators don't need a college education. The most common degree for criminal investigators is bachelor's degree with 59% graduates, with only 21% criminal investigator graduates earning associate degree. Criminal investigators who decided to graduate from college often finish University of Maryland - College Park or University of Phoenix. Some good skills to have in this position include investigative reports, resourcefulness and firearms.

Popular criminal investigator certifications include Certified Criminal Investigator, Certified Criminal Justice Specialist (CCJS), or Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE). To improve criminal investigator qualification and skills, we prepared some online courses to help in criminal investigator education paths.

What education do you need to become a criminal investigator?

What degree do you need to be a criminal investigator?

The most common degree for criminal investigators is bachelor's degree, with 59% of criminal investigators earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are associate degree degree at 21% and associate degree degree at 11%.
  • Bachelor's, 59%
  • Associate, 21%
  • Master's, 11%
  • High School Diploma, 4%
  • Other Degrees, 5%

What should I major in to become a criminal investigator?

You should major in criminal justice to become a criminal investigator. 50% of criminal investigators major in criminal justice. Other common majors for a criminal investigator include business and law enforcement.

Best majors for criminal investigators

RankMajorPercentages
1Criminal Justice50.0%
2Business10.2%
3Law Enforcement5.5%
4Law5.0%
5Political Science3.2%

20 best online courses for criminal investigators

Advertising disclosure

1. International Law In Action: Investigating and Prosecuting International Crimes

coursera

‘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...

2. Introduction to International Criminal Law

coursera

-- 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. Criminology and Criminal Psychology Certified CSI+ Course

udemy
4.2
(339)

Learn Criminal Law and Start your career with certification of Criminal Law and Criminal Psychology, Learn Criminology...

4. Introduction to Criminal Psychology

udemy
4.3
(846)

Understand the Forensic Psychology of the Criminal Mind...

5. Hot Topics in Criminal Justice

coursera

The American criminal justice system is in need of reform. We incarcerate too many people. We pay insufficient attention to scientific advances that can help separate out the most and least culpable and dangerous. We grant the police far too much power to use force and technological surveillance. As a way of thinking about dealing with these problems, this course examines two over-arching issues: What should we do with people who have committed crime, and how should we identify who they are? On...

6. Criminal Law in 120 Minutes: A Fast Track Course

udemy
4.6
(414)

A 2 hour fast track summary of Criminal Law, targeting all common law LL.B examinations!...

7. Psychology of Criminal Behaviour & Criminology - ACCREDITED

udemy
4.4
(516)

Personality Disorders, Violence, Sex Offence, Murder, and other types of crime...

8. Forensic Psychology: Criminal Profiling Certificate

udemy
4.4
(980)

Criminology Crash Course...

9. Forensic Psychology - ACCREDITED CERTIFICATE

udemy
4.6
(3,931)

Become a specialist in criminal investigations and forensic profiling, start your career and add certificate to resume!...

10. Introduction to Criminology: Explaining Crime

udemy
4.5
(2,043)

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

11. Cyber Crime Analyst Part 1

udemy
4
(250)

Types of Cyber Crime...

12. IFCI Expert Cybercrime Investigator's Course

udemy
4.6
(649)

Protect your network - Put cybercriminals in jail. Learn computer forensics, malware analysis and hacker investigations...

13. Digital Forensics Masterclass: Forensic Science 2023 DFMC+

udemy
4.1
(943)

Learn digital forensics and be computer forensics investigator / Certificate after completing course / DFMC+ / DFIR 2023...

14. Digital Forensics and Cyber-Crime Investigation

udemy
4.2
(255)

Computer Forensics...

15. Sexual Harassment Training for Managers

udemy
4.5
(1,111)

Learn how to create a safe, secure, and inclusive work environment...

16. CYBER CRIME & CYBER LAW - DR. PAVAN DUGGAL - CYBERLAW UNIV.

udemy
4
(262)

The most crucial paradigms in our digital lives today...

17. Investigative Journalism

udemy
4.4
(379)

How to find hidden sources. How to look for documents and people...

18. AML Case Investigation Skills

udemy
4.5
(1,289)

A guide to conducting AML case investigations, writing quality case narratives and the submission of STRs (STR filing)...

19. Forensic accounting, fraud investigation and fraud analytics

udemy
4.3
(657)

The 14 hour course(50casestudies) helps to understand fraud examination, forensic audit,financial crime, data analytics...

20. The Complete Computer Forensics Course for 2023 PRO: CFCT+

udemy
4.2
(328)

Start Computer Forensics Career now and see your Growth step by step and Unlock your potential. Digital Forensics Police...

Average criminal investigator salary by education level

According to our data, criminal investigators with a Master's degree earn the highest average salary, at $62,924 annually. Criminal investigators with a Bachelor's degree earn an average annual salary of $60,323.
Criminal investigator education levelCriminal investigator salary
Master's Degree$62,924
High School Diploma or Less$46,889
Bachelor's Degree$60,323
Some College/ Associate Degree$50,789

Criminal investigator education FAQs

Search for criminal investigator jobs

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.

Browse protective service jobs