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Magistrate education requirements
Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
There are several educational requirements to become a magistrate. Magistrates usually study law, political science, or criminal justice. 54% of magistrates hold a bachelor's degree, and 28% hold an doctoral degree. We analyzed 738 real magistrate resumes to see exactly what magistrate education sections show.
The most common colleges for magistrates are the College of William and Mary and the College of William and Mary.
There are also many online magistrate courses to help get the education required to be a magistrate.
What education do you need to become a magistrate?
What degree do you need to be a magistrate?
- Bachelor's, 54%
- Doctorate, 28%
- Master's, 7%
- Associate, 5%
- Other Degrees, 6%
What should I major in to become a magistrate?
- Law, 30%
- Political Science, 14%
- Criminal Justice, 13%
- Business, 10%
- Other Majors, 33%
Most common colleges for magistrates
| Magistrate common college | Percentages |
|---|---|
| College of William and Mary | 7.41% |
| Appalachian School of Law | 6.48% |
| University of Florida | 6.48% |
| Regent University | 6.48% |
| University of Michigan - Ann Arbor | 5.56% |
Best majors for magistrates
| Rank | Major | Percentages |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Law | 30.3% |
| 2 | Political Science | 14.3% |
| 3 | Criminal Justice | 13.5% |
| 4 | Business | 10.1% |
| 5 | English | 4.6% |
Best colleges for magistrates
The best colleges for magistrates are Stanford University, Northwestern University, and University of Pennsylvania.
A magistrate with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for magistrates. 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 magistrates.
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 magistrates
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5. International Law In Action: Investigating and Prosecuting International Crimes
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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...
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10. Introduction to Key Constitutional Concepts and Supreme Court Cases
This course offers an introduction to the U.S. Constitution and landmark Supreme Court cases interpreting it. It explores the Constitution’s origins, its amendment over the years, and methods of constitutional interpretation. Topics include the nature and structure of the federal government, the powers of the federal government, and individual rights...
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Effective Legal Office Administration...
12. Essentials of Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs)
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13. Child Care as a Business
This course is targeted toward individuals wishing to run a home-based child care center. It covers topics such as the fundamentals of an in-home childcare setting as a business; the importance of financial management of a child care center; the creation of a child care contract; and an exploration of how to set tuition rates. Since a Family Policy Handbook is essential for anyone operating a family day care center, this course includes the development of one of three imperative sections of the...
14. 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...
15. Legal English
Legal language and communication skills...
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17. The Legal Implications of Social Media in the Workplace
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Top 10 most affordable universities for magistrates
The most affordable schools for magistrates are SUNY Farmingdale, california state university - bakersfield, and brigham young university.
If the best universities for magistrates 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 magistrates.
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 magistrates
The hardest universities for magistrates to get into are Stanford University, Northwestern University, and University of Pennsylvania.
Some great schools for magistrates 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 magistrates 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 magistrates
The easiest schools for magistrates 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 a magistrate 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 magistrates.
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 magistrate salary by education level
| Magistrate education level | Magistrate salary |
|---|---|
| Doctorate Degree | $217,505 |
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Updated January 8, 2025
Updated January 8, 2025