Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
Expert witness education requirements
Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
There are several educational requirements to become an expert witness. Expert witnesses usually study nursing, business, or law. 48% of expert witnesses hold a bachelor's degree, and 21% hold an master's degree. We analyzed 902 real expert witness resumes to see exactly what expert witness education sections show.
The most common colleges for expert witnesses are the University of Florida and the University of Florida.
There are also many online expert witness courses to help get the education required to be an expert witness.
What education do you need to become an expert witness?
What degree do you need to be an expert witness?
- Bachelor's, 48%
- Master's, 21%
- Doctorate, 17%
- Associate, 10%
- Other Degrees, 4%
What should I major in to become an expert witness?
- Nursing, 20%
- Business, 10%
- Law, 10%
- Psychology, 8%
- Other Majors, 52%
Most common colleges for expert witnesses
| Expert witness common college | Percentages |
|---|---|
| University of Florida | 10.68% |
| Boston University | 7.77% |
| University of California, Santa Barbara | 7.77% |
| Michigan State University | 7.77% |
| Pennsylvania State University | 5.83% |
Best majors for expert witnesses
| Rank | Major | Percentages |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nursing | 19.8% |
| 2 | Business | 10.2% |
| 3 | Law | 9.9% |
| 4 | Psychology | 7.9% |
| 5 | Criminal Justice | 6.9% |
Best colleges for expert witnesses
The best colleges for expert witnesses are Northwestern University, University of Pennsylvania, and Johns Hopkins University.
An expert witness with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for expert witnesses. 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 expert witnesses.
1. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
In-state tuition
$55,584
Enrollment
10,764
2. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
In-state tuition
$54,568
Enrollment
8,451
3. New York University
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$51,828
Enrollment
26,339
4. University of Rochester
Rochester, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$53,909
Enrollment
6,348
5. University of Miami
Coral Gables, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$50,226
Enrollment
10,873
6. University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$56,225
Enrollment
19,548
7. George Washington University, The
Washington, DC • Private
In-state tuition
$55,230
Enrollment
12,161
8. Florida State University
Tallahassee, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$5,656
Enrollment
32,072
9. Pennsylvania State University
University Park, PA • Private
In-state tuition
$18,454
Enrollment
40,108
10. University of Connecticut
Storrs, CT • Private
In-state tuition
$15,730
Enrollment
18,830
20 best online courses for expert witnesses
Advertising disclosure
1. Data Analysis Immersive (Full-time)
Learn to problem solve, and effectively communicate, like an analyst. This course teaches you to use industry-standard tools to make ethical, data-driven decisions. Experience hands-on training to master SQL, Excel, Tableau, PowerBI, and Python – tools listed in virtually every data analytics job posting across industries...
2. Data Analytics (Part Time)
Harness Excel, SQL, and Tableau to drive powerful analysis and insights. Build confidence and credibility to apply this versatile skill set to countless jobs. This course is offered in person and live online, in a remote classroom setting...
3. Data Analyst
Use Python, SQL and Statistics to advance your programming skills and refine your ability to work with messy, complex datasets...
4. Data Structures and Algorithms
Get hands-on practice with over 80 data structures and algorithm exercises and guidance from a dedicated mentor to help prepare you for interviews and on-the-job scenarios...
5. Privacy Law and HIPAA
What does it take to comply with privacy laws? In this course, we’ll look at the practical aspects of navigating the complex landscape of privacy requirements. Better understanding privacy laws and data protection will enable you to protect your organization and the constituents that depend on your organization to safeguard their personal information. First, we will examine the historical context that drove the creation of laws, best practices, and other standards for protecting personal...
6. Privacy Law and Data Protection
What does it take to comply with privacy laws? In this course, we’ll look at the practical aspects of navigating the complex landscape of privacy requirements. Better understanding privacy laws and data protection will enable you to protect your organization and the constituents that depend on your organization to safeguard their personal information. First, we will examine the historical context that drove the creation of laws, best practices, and other standards for protecting personal...
7. Effective Legal Office Administration
Effective Legal Office Administration...
8. Employment Law Compliance Made Easy
A comprehensive course for management to understand key employment law issues in the workplace...
9. Intro to Data Analytics
Discover if data is a career fit for you Regardless of your industry or role, fluency in the language of data analytics will allow you to contribute to data driven decision making. In this free, two-hour livestream, you’ll learn to understand, analyze, and interpret data so you too can join the data conversation. We’ll cover how to ask the right questions of your data and basic analytic functionality. Then you’ll apply your new found data analytic skills to a real-world dataset, allowing you...
10. Data Visualization
You will start by building data visualizations and dashboards, considering your audiences to be as effective as possible. Then, you’ll move into drafting presentations using storytelling techniques, visualizations, and animations to provide data-driven recommendations...
11. Intro to Data Analysis
Start your data science journey right with this hands-on introduction to the discipline of data analysis. In this course you'll learn the 5 key stages of the data analysis process and apply them to real data sets using Python libraries NumPy, pandas, and Matplotlib...
12. European Business Law: Understanding the Fundamentals
The European Union is one of the world’s largest and most important economies. This six week course is the first in a series of three that will provide students with an insight into European Business Law. The series ranges from considering the basic structures and principles of the European Union to focusing on various specialized areas of law. Each course will give the students an understanding of the laws and policies that regulate the internal market of European Union, as well as relevant...
13. Introduction to International Criminal Law
-- 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,...
14. Company Law: A Comprehensive Summary
An in-depth summary of Company Law, targeting all common law LL.B examinations...
15. Diploma Course in Labour Laws and Statutory Compliances
Every HR and Entrepreneur should know - with FAQs...
16. Data Visualization
Discover how data visualization can communicate insights far more effectively than text or tables. In this course, you’ll learn how to build data visualizations programmatically using Python, and how you can use visualization to both discover and convey trends in your data...
17. Experimental Design & Recommendations
Learn two of the most in-demand skills in the entire field of data science! By the end of this course, you’ll know how to generate personalized recommendations based on user data, as well as run statistically valid tests that produce clean, interpretable results...
18. ERPO: A Civil Approach to Gun Violence Prevention Teach-Out
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...
19. An Introduction to American Law
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...
20. Addiction & Mental Health - Chemically Speaking Two (2hrs)
Substance Abuse & Mental Health Interventions - Understand Drug & Alcohol Addiction & Mental Health. How to help people...
Top 10 most affordable universities for expert witnesses
The most affordable schools for expert witnesses are Baruch College of the City University of New York, university of florida, and florida state university.
If the best universities for expert witnesses 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 expert witnesses.
1. Baruch College of the City University of New York
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,262
Cost of attendance
14,046
2. University of Florida
Gainesville, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,381
Cost of attendance
21,034
3. Florida State University
Tallahassee, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$5,656
Cost of attendance
21,623
4. Brigham Young University
Provo, UT • Private
In-state tuition
$5,620
Cost of attendance
18,136
5. California State University - Long Beach
Long Beach, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,798
Cost of attendance
18,306
6. SUNY Farmingdale
Farmingdale, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$8,306
Cost of attendance
16,091
7. University of South Florida
Tampa, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,410
Cost of attendance
20,456
8. University of Houston - Victoria
Victoria, TX • Private
In-state tuition
$6,491
Cost of attendance
19,075
9. California State University - Fullerton
Fullerton, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,886
Cost of attendance
17,645
10. University of Central Florida
Orlando, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,368
Cost of attendance
21,034
Top 10 hardest universities to get into for expert witnesses
The hardest universities for expert witnesses to get into are Northwestern University, University of Pennsylvania, and Johns Hopkins University.
Some great schools for expert witnesses 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 expert witnesses 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. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
Admissions rate
8%
SAT average
1,492
3. Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, MD • Private
Admissions rate
11%
SAT average
1,513
4. University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA • Private
Admissions rate
13%
SAT average
1,445
5. New York University
New York, NY • Private
Admissions rate
20%
SAT average
1,419
6. Boston College
Chestnut Hill, MA • Private
Admissions rate
28%
SAT average
1,429
7. Northeastern University
Boston, MA • Private
Admissions rate
19%
SAT average
1,466
8. University of Rochester
Rochester, NY • Private
Admissions rate
29%
SAT average
1,422
9. University of Miami
Coral Gables, FL • Private
Admissions rate
32%
SAT average
1,365
10. Harvard University
Cambridge, MA • Private
Admissions rate
5%
SAT average
1,520
Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for expert witnesses
The easiest schools for expert witnesses to get into are Mount Saint Mary's University, wayland baptist university, and felician university.
Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as an expert witness 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 expert witnesses.
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. Felician University
Lodi, NJ • Private
Admissions rate
81%
SAT average
999
4. Notre Dame de Namur University
Belmont, CA • Private
Admissions rate
82%
SAT average
983
5. University of the Incarnate Word
San Antonio, TX • Private
Admissions rate
88%
SAT average
1,044
6. Oklahoma Wesleyan University
Bartlesville, OK • Private
Admissions rate
68%
SAT average
964
7. Gwynedd Mercy University
Gwynedd Valley, PA • Private
Admissions rate
92%
SAT average
1,031
8. Holy Names University
Oakland, CA • Private
Admissions rate
70%
SAT average
849
9. Ottawa University
Ottawa, KS • Private
Admissions rate
78%
SAT average
1,024
10. Barry University
Miami, FL • Private
Admissions rate
91%
SAT average
1,006
Average expert witness salary by education level
| Expert witness education level | Expert witness salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $73,338 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $66,535 |
| Doctorate Degree | $77,416 |
Expert witness education FAQs
Have more questions? See all answers to common business and financial questions.
Search for expert witness jobs
Updated January 8, 2025
Updated January 8, 2025