Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
Investigations director education requirements
Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
There are several educational requirements to become an investigations director. Investigations directors usually study criminal justice, business, or political science. 61% of investigations directors hold a bachelor's degree, and 16% hold an master's degree. We analyzed 295 real investigations director resumes to see exactly what investigations director education sections show.
The most common colleges for investigations directors are the Florida State University and the Florida State University.
There are also many online investigations director courses to help get the education required to be an investigations director.
There are certain investigations director certifications that you should consider. These investigations director certifications include Certified Criminal Investigator and Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE).
What education do you need to become an investigations director?
What degree do you need to be an investigations director?
- Bachelor's, 61%
- Master's, 16%
- Associate, 8%
- Doctorate, 8%
- Other Degrees, 7%
What should I major in to become an investigations director?
- Criminal Justice, 36%
- Business, 13%
- Law, 6%
- Other Majors, 38%
Most common colleges for investigations directors
| Investigations director common college | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Florida State University | 7.55% |
| Norwich University | 5.66% |
| Grand Valley State University | 5.66% |
| New York University | 5.66% |
| Texas State University | 5.66% |
Best majors for investigations directors
| Rank | Major | Percentages |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Criminal Justice | 36.3% |
| 2 | Business | 13.4% |
| 3 | Political Science | 7.3% |
| 4 | Law | 6.1% |
| 5 | Law Enforcement | 5.6% |
Best colleges for investigations directors
The best colleges for investigations directors are Stanford University, Northwestern University, and University of Pennsylvania.
An investigations director with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for investigations directors. 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 investigations directors.
1. Stanford University
Stanford, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$51,354
Enrollment
7,083
2. Boston University
Boston, MA • Private
In-state tuition
$53,948
Enrollment
17,238
3. Howard University
Washington, DC • Private
In-state tuition
$26,756
Enrollment
6,166
4. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
In-state tuition
$55,584
Enrollment
10,764
5. George Washington University, The
Washington, DC • Private
In-state tuition
$55,230
Enrollment
12,161
6. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC • Private
In-state tuition
$8,987
Enrollment
18,946
7. Pennsylvania State University
University Park, PA • Private
In-state tuition
$18,454
Enrollment
40,108
8. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
In-state tuition
$54,568
Enrollment
8,451
9. Texas Wesleyan University
Fort Worth, TX • Private
In-state tuition
$30,300
Enrollment
1,445
10. University of Chicago
Chicago, IL • Private
In-state tuition
$58,230
Enrollment
6,600
20 best online courses for investigations directors
Advertising disclosure
1. International Law In Action: Investigating and Prosecuting International Crimes
‘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. Threat Investigation
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...
3. Investigative Journalism
How to find hidden sources. How to look for documents and people...
4. IFCI Expert Cybercrime Investigator's Course
Protect your network - Put cybercriminals in jail. Learn computer forensics, malware analysis and hacker investigations...
5. Investigating Epidemics like COVID-19: An Analyst's Guide
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...
6. Introducing Security: Aligning Asset and Risk Management
Course 1 - Introducing Security and Aligning Asset Management to Risk Management In this course, we're going to start by discussing the security concepts, identifying corporate assets, and discussing the risk management process. Course 1 Learning Objectives After completing this course, the participant will be able to: L1.1 - Classify information security and security concepts. L1.2 - Summarize components of the asset management lifecycle. L1.3 - Identify common risks and vulnerabilities. L1.4...
7. Forensic accounting, fraud investigation and fraud analytics
The 14 hour course(50casestudies) helps to understand fraud examination, forensic audit,financial crime, data analytics...
8. Build Powerful Compliance Programs & Prevent Corporate Fraud
Learn everything you need to know to build an effective and powerful compliance culture and prevent corporate fraud...
9. Hot Topics in Criminal Justice
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...
10. AML Case Investigation Skills
A guide to conducting AML case investigations, writing quality case narratives and the submission of STRs (STR filing)...
11. Introduction to Compliance Risk Management CRM
Compliance risk management CRM for Compliance, Risk Management, Internal Audit and IS Security Professionals...
12. Forensic Accounting: Fraud Investigation! (Course 1 of 4)
Fraud Examination, Fraud Prevention, Fraud Detection, and Fraud Correction...
13. Digital Forensics and Cyber-Crime Investigation
Computer Forensics...
14. Forensic Psychology - ACCREDITED CERTIFICATE
Become a specialist in criminal investigations and forensic profiling, start your career and add certificate to resume!...
15. Digital Forensics Masterclass: Forensic Science 2023 DFMC+
Learn digital forensics and be computer forensics investigator / Certificate after completing course / DFMC+ / DFIR 2023...
16. Fraud Risk Analytics (Excel & AI based tools) and Prevention
Detect & Prevent Fraud Smartly Assess your company's maturity to manage fraud...
17. Operational Risks Management ORM
Operational Risks Management ORM Case Studies for Risk Management, Compliance, Audit, IS Security, Banking Professionals...
18. Chief Financial Officer Leadership Program
An ever expanding program of courses helping financial professionals aspire to the top levels of financial leadership...
19. Financial Risk Management (FRM): Foundational FRM Principles
Minimize Financial Risks While Maximizing Financial Reward. + Financial Risk Management (FRM) Process Implementation...
20. Operations Management: Facilities Planning and Management
Operations Management Training Program (Course 8 of 8)...
Top 10 most affordable universities for investigations directors
The most affordable schools for investigations directors are SUNY Farmingdale, california state university - bakersfield, and brigham young university.
If the best universities for investigations directors 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 investigations directors.
1. SUNY Farmingdale
Farmingdale, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$8,306
Cost of attendance
16,091
2. California State University - Bakersfield
Bakersfield, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$7,309
Cost of attendance
16,714
3. Brigham Young University
Provo, UT • Private
In-state tuition
$5,620
Cost of attendance
18,136
4. Florida International University
Miami, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,556
Cost of attendance
19,434
5. Florida State University
Tallahassee, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$5,656
Cost of attendance
21,623
6. USF Sarasota-Manatee
Sarasota, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$5,587
Cost of attendance
13,043
7. California State University - Dominguez Hills
Carson, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,942
Cost of attendance
14,469
8. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC • Private
In-state tuition
$8,987
Cost of attendance
25,527
9. SUNY Polytechnic Institute
Utica, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$8,238
Cost of attendance
21,567
10. Minot State University
Minot, ND • Private
In-state tuition
$7,064
Cost of attendance
15,576
Top 10 hardest universities to get into for investigations directors
The hardest universities for investigations directors to get into are Stanford University, Northwestern University, and University of Pennsylvania.
Some great schools for investigations directors 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 investigations directors 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. Stanford University
Stanford, CA • Private
Admissions rate
4%
SAT average
1,497
2. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
Admissions rate
8%
SAT average
1,508
3. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
Admissions rate
8%
SAT average
1,492
4. Boston University
Boston, MA • Private
Admissions rate
22%
SAT average
1,420
5. Boston College
Chestnut Hill, MA • Private
Admissions rate
28%
SAT average
1,429
6. University of Chicago
Chicago, IL • Private
Admissions rate
7%
SAT average
1,520
7. Northeastern University
Boston, MA • Private
Admissions rate
19%
SAT average
1,466
8. George Washington University, The
Washington, DC • Private
Admissions rate
42%
SAT average
1,380
9. New York University
New York, NY • Private
Admissions rate
20%
SAT average
1,419
10. University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA • Private
Admissions rate
13%
SAT average
1,445
Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for investigations directors
The easiest schools for investigations directors to get into are University of North Texas at Dallas, notre dame college, and nyack college.
Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as an investigations director 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 investigations directors.
1. University of North Texas at Dallas
Dallas, TX • Private
Admissions rate
83%
SAT average
992
2. Notre Dame College
Cleveland, OH • Private
Admissions rate
90%
SAT average
994
3. Nyack College
New York, NY • Private
Admissions rate
98%
SAT average
999
4. Gwynedd Mercy University
Gwynedd Valley, PA • Private
Admissions rate
92%
SAT average
1,031
5. Wayland Baptist University
Plainview, TX • Private
Admissions rate
98%
SAT average
1,003
6. Curry College
Milton, MA • Private
Admissions rate
93%
SAT average
1,026
7. University of Baltimore
Baltimore, MD • Private
Admissions rate
78%
SAT average
1,020
8. Felician University
Lodi, NJ • Private
Admissions rate
81%
SAT average
999
9. Barry University
Miami, FL • Private
Admissions rate
91%
SAT average
1,006
10. Presentation College
Aberdeen, SD • Private
Admissions rate
97%
SAT average
1,050
Average investigations director salary by education level
| Investigations director education level | Investigations director salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $98,476 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $91,183 |
Investigations director education FAQs
Have more questions? See all answers to common arts, entertainment, sports, and media questions.
Search for investigations director jobs
Updated January 8, 2025
Updated January 8, 2025