Non-Commissioned Officer Education Requirements And Courses

Non-commissioned officer education requirements

Updated January 8, 2025

2 min read

Usually, non-commissioned officers don't need a college education. The most common degree for non-commissioned officers is bachelor's degree with 44% graduates, with only 33% non-commissioned officer graduates earning associate degree. Non-commissioned officers who decided to graduate from college often finish University of Phoenix or American University. Some good skills to have in this position include combat, logistical support and nco.

Popular non-commissioned officer certifications include Medical Assistant, Certified Planning Engineer (CPE), or Certified Law Enforcement Analysts (CLEA). To improve non-commissioned officer qualification and skills, we prepared some online courses to help in non-commissioned officer education paths.

What education do you need to become a non-commissioned officer?

What degree do you need to be a non-commissioned officer?

The most common degree for non-commissioned officers is bachelor's degree, with 44% of non-commissioned officers earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are associate degree degree at 33% and associate degree degree at 12%.

Bachelor's, 44%

Associate, 33%

High School Diploma, 12%

Master's, 6%

Other Degrees, 5%

What should I major in to become a non-commissioned officer?

You should major in business to become a non-commissioned officer. 25% of non-commissioned officers major in business. Other common majors for a non-commissioned officer include criminal justice and general studies.

Business, 25%

Criminal Justice, 14%

General Studies, 9%

Management, 6%

Other Majors, 46%

Best majors for non-commissioned officers

Rank	Major	Percentages
1	Business	24.9%
2	Criminal Justice	14.1%
3	General Studies	9.1%
4	Management	5.7%
5	Psychology	4.3%

Show more common non-commissioned officer majors

20 best online courses for non-commissioned officers

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Average non-commissioned officer salary by education level

Non-commissioned officers with a Master's degree earn more than those without, at $124,857 annually. With a Bachelor's degree, non-commissioned officers earn a median annual income of $113,898 compared to $106,183 for non-commissioned officers with an Associate degree.

Non-commissioned officer education level	Non-commissioned officer salary
Master's Degree	$124,857
High School Diploma or Less	$101,798
Bachelor's Degree	$113,898
Some College/ Associate Degree	$106,183