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Deputy sheriff/investigator education requirements

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read

There are several educational requirements to become a deputy sheriff/investigator. Deputy sheriff/investigators usually study criminal justice, law enforcement, or law. 43% of deputy sheriff/investigators hold a bachelor's degree, and 33% hold an associate degree. We analyzed 334 real deputy sheriff/investigator resumes to see exactly what deputy sheriff/investigator education sections show.

The most common colleges for deputy sheriff/investigators are the University of Memphis and the University of Memphis.

There are also many online deputy sheriff/investigator courses to help get the education required to be a deputy sheriff/investigator.

What education do you need to become a deputy sheriff/investigator?

What degree do you need to be a deputy sheriff/investigator?

The most common degree for deputy sheriff/investigators is bachelor's degree, with 43% of deputy sheriff/investigators earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are associate degree degree at 33% and associate degree degree at 9%.
  • Bachelor's, 43%
  • Associate, 33%
  • High School Diploma, 9%
  • Master's, 6%
  • Other Degrees, 9%

What should I major in to become a deputy sheriff/investigator?

You should major in criminal justice to become a deputy sheriff/investigator. 46% of deputy sheriff/investigators major in criminal justice. Other common majors for a deputy sheriff/investigator include law enforcement and law.

Most common colleges for deputy sheriff/investigators

Deputy sheriff/investigators often get their degrees at University of Memphis, University of Phoenix, and The University of Alabama. Here are the most common colleges for deputy sheriff/investigators in the US based on their resumes.
Deputy sheriff/investigator common collegePercentages
University of Memphis8.57%
University of Phoenix8.57%
The University of Alabama5.71%
University of South Alabama5.71%
California State University - Fullerton5.71%

Best majors for deputy sheriff/investigators

RankMajorPercentages
1Criminal Justice46.3%
2Law Enforcement14.4%
3Law5.9%
4Business5.3%
5Education4.8%

Best colleges for deputy sheriff/investigators

The best colleges for deputy sheriff/investigators are Northeastern University, University of Tulsa, and Syracuse University.

A deputy sheriff/investigator with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for deputy sheriff/investigators. 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 deputy sheriff/investigators.

1. California State University - Long Beach

Long Beach, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,798

Enrollment

31,503

2. Northeastern University

Boston, MA • Private

In-state tuition

$51,522

Enrollment

13,760

3. Savannah State University

Savannah, GA • Private

In-state tuition

$5,743

Enrollment

3,742

4. Hampton University

Hampton, VA • Private

In-state tuition

$26,702

Enrollment

3,661

5. Pennsylvania State University

University Park, PA • Private

In-state tuition

$18,454

Enrollment

40,108

6. Florida Atlantic University

Boca Raton, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$4,831

Enrollment

23,265

7. Lewis University

Romeoville, IL • Private

In-state tuition

$32,450

Enrollment

4,217

8. Western Illinois University

Macomb, IL • Private

In-state tuition

$12,951

Enrollment

6,754

9. Syracuse University

Syracuse, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$51,853

Enrollment

14,759

10. Marian University

Fond Du Lac, WI • Private

In-state tuition

$27,400

Enrollment

1,417

20 best online courses for deputy sheriff/investigators

Advertising disclosure

1. 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...

2. 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,...

3. Criminology and Criminal Psychology Certified CSI+ Course

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4. Investigative Journalism

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

5. Threat Investigation

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If you are an associate-level cybersecurity analyst who is working in security operation centers, this course will help you understand how threat-centric SOC must prepare for analyzing new and emerging threats by implementing robust security investigation procedures • By the end of the course, you will be able to: • Understand cyber-threat hunting concepts • Describe the five hunting maturity levels (HM0–HM4) • Describe the hunting cycle four-stage loop• Describe the use of the Common...

6. 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...

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

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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...

10. Investigating Epidemics like COVID-19: An Analyst's Guide

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Do you want to learn how to detect, identify the cause, and decrease the morbidity and mortality from outbreaks or pandemics like COVID-19? Are you considering a career in public health practice, but aren’t sure how health departments collect and use outbreak data? Are you working in public health, but interested in moving into analytical and/or technical roles or curious how health departments investigate outbreaks? If so, this course is for you. After taking this course you be able to define...

11. IFCI Expert Cybercrime Investigator's Course

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12. Introduction to Criminal Psychology

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Understand the Forensic Psychology of the Criminal Mind...

13. International Law in Action: A Guide to the International Courts and Tribunals in The Hague

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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...

14. Digital Forensics Masterclass: Forensic Science 2023 DFMC+

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

15. Digital Forensics and Cyber-Crime Investigation

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Computer Forensics...

16. Forensic Psychology - ACCREDITED CERTIFICATE

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17. AML Case Investigation Skills

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

18. Forensic accounting, fraud investigation and fraud analytics

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

19. Forensic Psychology: Criminal Profiling Certificate

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Criminology Crash Course...

20. Cyber Crime Analyst Part 1

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Types of Cyber Crime...

Top 10 most affordable universities for deputy sheriff/investigators

The most affordable schools for deputy sheriff/investigators are California State University - Long Beach, suny farmingdale, and florida atlantic university.

If the best universities for deputy sheriff/investigators 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 deputy sheriff/investigators.

1. California State University - Long Beach

Long Beach, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,798

Cost of attendance

18,306

2. SUNY Farmingdale

Farmingdale, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$8,306

Cost of attendance

16,091

3. Florida Atlantic University

Boca Raton, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$4,831

Cost of attendance

19,559

4. USF Sarasota-Manatee

Sarasota, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$5,587

Cost of attendance

13,043

5. Brigham Young University

Provo, UT • Private

In-state tuition

$5,620

Cost of attendance

18,136

6. Clayton State University

Morrow, GA • Private

In-state tuition

$5,419

Cost of attendance

17,697

7. John Jay College of Criminal Justice of the City University of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,270

Cost of attendance

14,177

8. Northwestern Oklahoma State University

Alva, OK • Private

In-state tuition

$7,471

Cost of attendance

15,616

9. Minot State University

Minot, ND • Private

In-state tuition

$7,064

Cost of attendance

15,576

10. Florida International University

Miami, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,556

Cost of attendance

19,434

Top 10 hardest universities to get into for deputy sheriff/investigators

The hardest universities for deputy sheriff/investigators to get into are Northeastern University, University of Tulsa, and Syracuse University.

Some great schools for deputy sheriff/investigators 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 deputy sheriff/investigators 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. Northeastern University

Boston, MA • Private

Admissions rate

19%

SAT average

1,466

2. University of Tulsa

Tulsa, OK • Private

Admissions rate

41%

SAT average

1,321

3. Syracuse University

Syracuse, NY • Private

Admissions rate

50%

SAT average

1,284

4. SUNY at Binghamton

Vestal, NY • Private

Admissions rate

40%

SAT average

1,376

5. Saint Louis University

Saint Louis, MO • Private

Admissions rate

58%

SAT average

1,304

6. Tulane University

New Orleans, LA • Private

Admissions rate

17%

SAT average

1,428

7. University of Denver

Denver, CO • Private

Admissions rate

56%

SAT average

1,300

8. Boston University

Boston, MA • Private

Admissions rate

22%

SAT average

1,420

9. American University

Washington, DC • Private

Admissions rate

32%

SAT average

1,320

10. University of Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh, PA • Private

Admissions rate

59%

SAT average

1,367

Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for deputy sheriff/investigators

The easiest schools for deputy sheriff/investigators to get into are Nyack College, university of north texas at dallas, and la roche college.

Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a deputy sheriff/investigator 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 deputy sheriff/investigators.

1. Nyack College

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

98%

SAT average

999

2. University of North Texas at Dallas

Dallas, TX • Private

Admissions rate

83%

SAT average

992

3. La Roche College

Pittsburgh, PA • Private

Admissions rate

99%

SAT average

1,008

4. Gwynedd Mercy University

Gwynedd Valley, PA • Private

Admissions rate

92%

SAT average

1,031

5. Saint Joseph's College of Maine

Standish, ME • Private

Admissions rate

84%

SAT average

1,069

6. Saint Martin's University

Lacey, WA • Private

Admissions rate

96%

SAT average

1,111

7. Wayland Baptist University

Plainview, TX • Private

Admissions rate

98%

SAT average

1,003

8. Albertus Magnus College

New Haven, CT • Private

Admissions rate

58%

SAT average

931

9. Kean University

Union, NJ • Private

Admissions rate

86%

SAT average

991

10. Notre Dame College

Cleveland, OH • Private

Admissions rate

90%

SAT average

994

Average deputy sheriff/investigator salary by education level

Deputy sheriff/investigators with a Master's degree earn more than those without, at $57,297 annually. With a Doctorate degree, deputy sheriff/investigators earn a median annual income of $55,877 compared to $52,986 for deputy sheriff/investigators with an Bachelor's degree.
Deputy sheriff/investigator education levelDeputy sheriff/investigator salary
Master's Degree$57,297
High School Diploma or Less$43,692
Bachelor's Degree$52,986
Doctorate Degree$55,877
Some College/ Associate Degree$49,266

Deputy sheriff/investigator 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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