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Official court reporter education requirements

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read

There are several educational requirements to become an official court reporter. Official court reporters usually study legal support services, business, or education. 48% of official court reporters hold a associate degree, and 30% hold an bachelor's degree. We analyzed 349 real official court reporter resumes to see exactly what official court reporter education sections show.

The most common colleges for official court reporters are the Green River Community College and the Green River Community College.

There are also many online official court reporter courses to help get the education required to be an official court reporter.

There are certain official court reporter certifications that you should consider. These official court reporter certifications include Registered Professional Reporter (RPR) and Master of Court Security Certification.

What education do you need to become an official court reporter?

What degree do you need to be an official court reporter?

The most common degree for official court reporters is associate degree, with 48% of official court reporters earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are bachelor's degree degree at 30% and bachelor's degree degree at 7%.
  • Associate, 48%
  • Bachelor's, 30%
  • High School Diploma, 7%
  • Diploma, 5%
  • Other Degrees, 10%

What should I major in to become an official court reporter?

You should major in legal support services to become an official court reporter. 46% of official court reporters major in legal support services. Other common majors for an official court reporter include business and education.

Most common colleges for official court reporters

Official court reporters often get their degrees at Green River Community College, Ferris State University, and Central State University. Here are the most common colleges for official court reporters in the US based on their resumes.
Official court reporter common collegePercentages
Green River Community College11.54%
Ferris State University7.69%
Central State University7.69%
Temple University7.69%
Oklahoma Baptist University7.69%

Best majors for official court reporters

RankMajorPercentages
1Legal Support Services45.8%
2Business11.1%
3Education4.9%
4Communication3.5%
5Accounting3.5%

Best colleges for official court reporters

The best colleges for official court reporters are Stanford University, Northwestern University, and Boston University.

An official court reporter with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for official court reporters. 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 official court reporters.

1. Bentley University

Waltham, MA • Private

In-state tuition

$49,880

Enrollment

4,177

2. Boston University

Boston, MA • Private

In-state tuition

$53,948

Enrollment

17,238

3. Maria College of Albany

Albany, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$15,140

Enrollment

876

4. George Washington University, The

Washington, DC • Private

In-state tuition

$55,230

Enrollment

12,161

5. Stanford University

Stanford, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$51,354

Enrollment

7,083

6. Daemen College

Amherst, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$28,580

Enrollment

1,712

7. SUNY College of Technology at Alfred

Alfred, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$8,570

Enrollment

3,721

8. Texas Wesleyan University

Fort Worth, TX • Private

In-state tuition

$30,300

Enrollment

1,445

9. Ball State University

Muncie, IN • Private

In-state tuition

$9,896

Enrollment

15,529

10. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

In-state tuition

$55,584

Enrollment

10,764

20 best online courses for official court reporters

Advertising disclosure

1. 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...

2. Speech to Text Transcription with the Cloud Speech API

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This is a self-paced lab that takes place in the Google Cloud console. The Cloud Speech API lets you do speech to text transcription from audio files in over 80 languages. In this hands-on lab you’ll record your own audio file and send it to the Speech API for transcription...

3. Learn Online Transcription from Scratch

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4. Transcription Skills - Learn Beginning to Advanced Skills

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Master the Skills Needed to Professionally Transcribe Any Audio File Accurately and in Less Time...

5. Introduction to Key Constitutional Concepts and Supreme Court Cases

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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...

6. Create official appointments using Calendly

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Welcome to this project on how to Create official appointments using Calendly. By the end of this project, you will be able to create appointments for people to join you for a professional meeting...

7. Upwork Transcription and Captioning Course: 2 Courses In 1

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Created/Taught by a 20-Year Active Transcriptionist - Beginner, More Advanced, Learn Skills to Become a Transcriptionist...

9. Helping Families Avoid Negative Court Involvement Teach-Out

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This course will teach learners how to understand when issues can become legal issues, encourage learners to recognize legal problems early, identify possible “legal soft spots” in their own situations, and act when issues are identified to avoid them escalating. This course will also teach and encourage learners to think preventatively and provide some tools to use with an eye toward preventing future legal issues. Finally, this Teach-out seeks to expand the idea of legal health checks to a...

10. Clinical Trials Operations

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This specialization is designed for individuals and teams that will be running or interacting with clinical trials. In four courses, learners will develop insights and build the skills they need to design, manage, and monitor clinical trials as well as analyze, document, and communicate the results. Learners will also learn best practices regarding ethics, safety, participant recruitment, regulatory compliance, and reporting standards. The core principles and skills of the specialization will...

11. How to Become a Medical Transcriptionist

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Master Medical Transcription & Work From Home: Skills/Supplies Needed, Practice Files, Job Opportunities & More!...

12. How to Become a Transcriptionist

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A blueprint for building your work-from-home transcription career...

13. Legal Tech and the Digital Transformation of Law

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The digital revolution changed the way we communicate and trade. Now, it is coming into the world of law. This program will give you a broad overview of the main trends that are affecting the legal industry: - The birth of the legal tech market and the application of technology in law. - The role of artificial intelligence in the automation of the work of lawyers. - Blockchain technology and its impact on the way we sign and execute contracts. - Initiatives to ensure access to justice through...

14. 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...

15. SAP Crystal Reports 2020 (and earlier versions)

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16. Effective Legal Office Administration

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Effective Legal Office Administration...

17. Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS): 2022 edition

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Build reports in MS SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS): Implement report layouts, add interactivity...

18. Advanced Crystal Reports 2011 Training Video

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19. SQL Server Reporting Services Part 2 (SSRS)

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SQL Server Reporting Services Part 2 (SSRS): Deployment, Security, Report Builder, Mobile Report Publisher...

20. COBIT® 2019 Foundation - official, accredited

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Prepare for your COBIT 2019® Foundation certificate and manage your IT with confidence...

Top 10 most affordable universities for official court reporters

The most affordable schools for official court reporters are SUNY Farmingdale, california state university - bakersfield, and baruch college of the city university of new york.

If the best universities for official court reporters 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 official court reporters.

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. Baruch College of the City University of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,262

Cost of attendance

14,046

4. Clayton State University

Morrow, GA • Private

In-state tuition

$5,419

Cost of attendance

17,697

5. California State University - Dominguez Hills

Carson, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,942

Cost of attendance

14,469

6. Trident University International

Cypress, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$9,240

Cost of attendance

17,912

7. Brooklyn College of the City University of New York

Brooklyn, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,240

Cost of attendance

13,991

8. SUNY Polytechnic Institute

Utica, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$8,238

Cost of attendance

21,567

9. University of Central Florida

Orlando, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,368

Cost of attendance

21,034

10. USF Sarasota-Manatee

Sarasota, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$5,587

Cost of attendance

13,043

Top 10 hardest universities to get into for official court reporters

The hardest universities for official court reporters to get into are Stanford University, Northwestern University, and Boston University.

Some great schools for official court reporters 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 official court reporters 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. Boston University

Boston, MA • Private

Admissions rate

22%

SAT average

1,420

4. George Washington University, The

Washington, DC • Private

Admissions rate

42%

SAT average

1,380

5. Bentley University

Waltham, MA • Private

Admissions rate

43%

SAT average

1,338

6. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

Admissions rate

8%

SAT average

1,492

7. Tulane University

New Orleans, LA • Private

Admissions rate

17%

SAT average

1,428

8. Georgetown University

Washington, DC • Private

Admissions rate

15%

SAT average

1,456

9. SUNY at Binghamton

Vestal, NY • Private

Admissions rate

40%

SAT average

1,376

10. New York University

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

20%

SAT average

1,419

Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for official court reporters

The easiest schools for official court reporters to get into are Oklahoma Wesleyan University, manor college, and lim college.

Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as an official court reporter 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 official court reporters.

1. Oklahoma Wesleyan University

Bartlesville, OK • Private

Admissions rate

68%

SAT average

964

2. Manor College

Jenkintown, PA • Private

Admissions rate

94%

SAT average

898

3. LIM College

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

83%

SAT average

1,061

4. Notre Dame College

Cleveland, OH • Private

Admissions rate

90%

SAT average

994

5. Notre Dame de Namur University

Belmont, CA • Private

Admissions rate

82%

SAT average

983

6. Holy Names University

Oakland, CA • Private

Admissions rate

70%

SAT average

849

7. Ursuline College

Pepper Pike, OH • Private

Admissions rate

90%

SAT average

1,102

8. Oregon Institute of Technology

Klamath Falls, OR • Private

Admissions rate

96%

SAT average

1,139

9. Lewis-Clark State College

Lewiston, ID • Private

Admissions rate

100%

SAT average

1,009

10. Presentation College

Aberdeen, SD • Private

Admissions rate

97%

SAT average

1,050

Average official court reporter salary by education level

Official court reporters with a Doctorate degree earn more than those without, at $109,855 annually. With a Master's degree, official court reporters earn a median annual income of $99,828 compared to $82,190 for official court reporters with an Bachelor's degree.
Official court reporter education levelOfficial court reporter salary
Master's Degree$99,828
High School Diploma or Less$67,658
Bachelor's Degree$82,190
Doctorate Degree$109,855
Some College/ Associate Degree$75,645

Official court reporter 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.