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Criminal research specialist education requirements

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read

There are several educational requirements to become a criminal research specialist. Criminal research specialists usually study criminal justice, business, or psychology. 55% of criminal research specialists hold a bachelor's degree, and 17% hold an associate degree. We analyzed 359 real criminal research specialist resumes to see exactly what criminal research specialist education sections show.

The most common colleges for criminal research specialists are the University of Phoenix and the University of Phoenix.

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

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

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

The most common degree for criminal research specialists is bachelor's degree, with 55% of criminal research specialists earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are associate degree degree at 17% and associate degree degree at 17%.
  • Bachelor's, 55%
  • Associate, 17%
  • High School Diploma, 17%
  • Diploma, 4%
  • Other Degrees, 7%

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

You should major in criminal justice to become a criminal research specialist. 42% of criminal research specialists major in criminal justice. Other common majors for a criminal research specialist include business and psychology.

Most common colleges for criminal research specialists

Criminal research specialists often get their degrees at University of Phoenix, Marshall University, and Bowie State University. Here are the most common colleges for criminal research specialists in the US based on their resumes.
Criminal research specialist common collegePercentages
University of Phoenix8.70%
Marshall University6.52%
Bowie State University6.52%
Santa Ana College6.52%
California State University - San Bernardino6.52%

Best majors for criminal research specialists

RankMajorPercentages
1Criminal Justice41.6%
2Business13.7%
3Psychology8.1%
4Political Science5.0%
5English3.7%

Best colleges for criminal research specialists

The best colleges for criminal research specialists are Northwestern University, Stanford University, and Boston University.

A criminal research 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 research 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 research specialists.

1. SUNY at Binghamton

Vestal, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$9,808

Enrollment

13,990

2. Howard University

Washington, DC • Private

In-state tuition

$26,756

Enrollment

6,166

3. SUNY at Albany

Albany, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$10,011

Enrollment

13,434

4. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

In-state tuition

$54,568

Enrollment

8,451

5. SUNY College at Oswego

Oswego, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$8,440

Enrollment

7,039

6. Pennsylvania State University

University Park, PA • Private

In-state tuition

$18,454

Enrollment

40,108

7. California State University - Bakersfield

Bakersfield, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$7,309

Enrollment

9,142

8. California State University - Dominguez Hills

Carson, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,942

Enrollment

13,871

9. Stanford University

Stanford, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$51,354

Enrollment

7,083

10. California State University - Long Beach

Long Beach, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,798

Enrollment

31,503

20 best online courses for criminal research specialists

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1. Introduction to International Criminal Law

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-- 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,...

2. Hot Topics in Criminal Justice

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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...

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

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‘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. Being a researcher (in Information Science and Technology)

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The course provides a broad view of how to become and progress as a researcher. It spans over a wide range of topics, from the historical development of scientific thought to research methodology, to the pragmatics of publication, research funding, evaluation, and promotion in a researcher’s career. It also stresses the ethical aspects of research. Although the course speaks about scientific research in general, it especially focuses on the field on Information and Communication Science and...

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

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

8. Psychology of Criminal Behaviour & Criminology - ACCREDITED

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

9. An Introduction to American Law

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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. Forensic Psychology: Criminal Profiling Certificate

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Criminology Crash Course...

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12. Information Security Fundamentals

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The very basics of Info Sec...

13. Information Security Fundamentals - Cyber Security Bootcamp

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A Beginners Awareness Guide on Information Security & Cyber Security to Keep Online and Offline Devices Safe!...

14. Forensic Psychology - ACCREDITED CERTIFICATE

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

15. Information Security Basics for IT Support Technicians

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Learn the basics of information security and what you need to know to be compliant with data protection regulations...

16. ISO/IEC 27002:2022. Information security controls

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Learn about the comprehensive set of information security controls proposed by ISO/IEC 27002:2022...

17. Information Systems Security for Professionals: CISSP

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Making Next Gen Information Security Leaders...

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

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

19. ISACA CISM Certified Information Security Manager

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20. Certified Information Systems Security Officer (CISSO)

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Certified Information Systems Security Officer (CISSO) Certification Exam Prep Course...

Top 10 most affordable universities for criminal research specialists

The most affordable schools for criminal research specialists are California State University - Bakersfield, california state university - long beach, and suny farmingdale.

If the best universities for criminal research 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 research 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. SUNY Farmingdale

Farmingdale, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$8,306

Cost of attendance

16,091

4. USF Sarasota-Manatee

Sarasota, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$5,587

Cost of attendance

13,043

5. California State University - Dominguez Hills

Carson, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,942

Cost of attendance

14,469

6. University of South Florida

Tampa, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,410

Cost of attendance

20,456

7. Brigham Young University

Provo, UT • Private

In-state tuition

$5,620

Cost of attendance

18,136

8. Baruch College of the City University of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,262

Cost of attendance

14,046

9. Florida International University

Miami, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,556

Cost of attendance

19,434

10. Florida State University

Tallahassee, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$5,656

Cost of attendance

21,623

Top 10 hardest universities to get into for criminal research specialists

The hardest universities for criminal research specialists to get into are Northwestern University, Stanford University, and Boston University.

Some great schools for criminal research 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 research 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. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

Admissions rate

8%

SAT average

1,508

2. Stanford University

Stanford, CA • Private

Admissions rate

4%

SAT average

1,497

3. Boston University

Boston, MA • Private

Admissions rate

22%

SAT average

1,420

4. New York University

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

20%

SAT average

1,419

5. Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore, MD • Private

Admissions rate

11%

SAT average

1,513

6. SUNY at Binghamton

Vestal, NY • Private

Admissions rate

40%

SAT average

1,376

7. George Washington University, The

Washington, DC • Private

Admissions rate

42%

SAT average

1,380

8. Fordham University

Bronx, NY • Private

Admissions rate

46%

SAT average

1,354

9. Carnegie Mellon University

Pittsburgh, PA • Private

Admissions rate

17%

SAT average

1,507

10. Boston College

Chestnut Hill, MA • Private

Admissions rate

28%

SAT average

1,429

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

The easiest schools for criminal research specialists to get into are Bluefield College, gwynedd mercy university, and wayland baptist university.

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

1. Bluefield College

Bluefield, VA • Private

Admissions rate

95%

SAT average

980

2. Gwynedd Mercy University

Gwynedd Valley, PA • Private

Admissions rate

92%

SAT average

1,031

3. Wayland Baptist University

Plainview, TX • Private

Admissions rate

98%

SAT average

1,003

4. Curry College

Milton, MA • Private

Admissions rate

93%

SAT average

1,026

5. Felician University

Lodi, NJ • Private

Admissions rate

81%

SAT average

999

6. Nyack College

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

98%

SAT average

999

7. Notre Dame College

Cleveland, OH • Private

Admissions rate

90%

SAT average

994

8. Kean University

Union, NJ • Private

Admissions rate

86%

SAT average

991

9. University of North Texas at Dallas

Dallas, TX • Private

Admissions rate

83%

SAT average

992

10. Holy Family University

Philadelphia, PA • Private

Admissions rate

72%

SAT average

1,017

Average criminal research specialist salary by education level

According to our data, criminal research specialists with a Master's degree earn the highest average salary, at $58,883 annually. Criminal research specialists with a Bachelor's degree earn an average annual salary of $55,764.
Criminal research specialist education levelCriminal research specialist salary
Master's Degree$58,883
High School Diploma or Less$41,762
Bachelor's Degree$55,764
Some College/ Associate Degree$45,541

Criminal research specialist 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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