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Police officer education requirements
Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
There are several educational requirements to become a police officer. Police officers usually study criminal justice, law enforcement, or business. 49% of police officers hold a bachelor's degree, and 26% hold an associate degree. We analyzed 56,794 real police officer resumes to see exactly what police officer education sections show.
The most common colleges for police officers are the University of Phoenix and the University of Phoenix.
There are also many online police officer courses to help get the education required to be a police officer.
There are certain police officer certifications that you should consider. These police officer certifications include Communications Training Officer (CTO) and OSHA Safety Certificate .
What education do you need to become a police officer?
What degree do you need to be a police officer?
- Bachelor's, 49%
- Associate, 26%
- High School Diploma, 11%
- Master's, 6%
- Other Degrees, 8%
What should I major in to become a police officer?
- Criminal Justice, 52%
- Law Enforcement, 9%
- Business, 9%
- Law, 4%
- Other Majors, 26%
Most common colleges for police officers
| Police officer common college | Percentages |
|---|---|
| University of Phoenix | 18.35% |
| American University | 7.76% |
| John Jay College of Criminal Justice of the City University of New York | 7.48% |
| Columbia Southern University | 5.53% |
| Saint Leo University | 5.41% |
Best majors for police officers
| Rank | Major | Percentages |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Criminal Justice | 51.6% |
| 2 | Law Enforcement | 9.4% |
| 3 | Business | 8.7% |
| 4 | Law | 3.9% |
| 5 | General Studies | 3.6% |
Best colleges for police officers
The best colleges for police officers are Northeastern University, Syracuse University, and University of Maryland - College Park.
A police officer with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for police officers. 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 police officers.
1. Pennsylvania State University
University Park, PA • Private
In-state tuition
$18,454
Enrollment
40,108
2. Michigan State University
East Lansing, MI • Private
In-state tuition
$14,460
Enrollment
39,208
3. California State University - Bakersfield
Bakersfield, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$7,309
Enrollment
9,142
4. University of New Haven
West Haven, CT • Private
In-state tuition
$39,270
Enrollment
5,041
5. California State University - Long Beach
Long Beach, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,798
Enrollment
31,503
6. Northeastern University
Boston, MA • Private
In-state tuition
$51,522
Enrollment
13,760
7. University of Maryland - College Park
College Park, MD • Private
In-state tuition
$10,595
Enrollment
30,184
8. North Carolina State University
Raleigh, NC • Private
In-state tuition
$9,101
Enrollment
23,708
9. University of Connecticut
Storrs, CT • Private
In-state tuition
$15,730
Enrollment
18,830
10. University of Washington
Seattle, WA • Private
In-state tuition
$11,207
Enrollment
30,905
20 best online courses for police officers
Advertising disclosure
1. 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,...
2. 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...
3. Criminal Law in 120 Minutes: A Fast Track Course
A 2 hour fast track summary of Criminal Law, targeting all common law LL.B examinations!...
4. Criminology and Criminal Psychology Certified CSI+ Course
Learn Criminal Law and Start your career with certification of Criminal Law and Criminal Psychology, Learn Criminology...
5. 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...
6. 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...
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8. Employment Law Compliance Made Easy
A comprehensive course for management to understand key employment law issues in the workplace...
9. 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...
10. International Law in Action: A Guide to the International Courts and Tribunals in The Hague
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...
11. Introduction to Criminal Psychology
Understand the Forensic Psychology of the Criminal Mind...
12. Psychology of Criminal Behaviour & Criminology - ACCREDITED
Personality Disorders, Violence, Sex Offence, Murder, and other types of crime...
13. 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...
14. 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...
15. Diploma Course in Labour Laws and Statutory Compliances
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16. English for Business and Law - Contract Law
An English language course for business and law...
17. American Contract Law II
Course description: Contracts I & II provides a comprehensive overview of contract law in the United States. The course covers most of the key concepts found in a first year law school class. Each lecture is based on one or more common-law cases, integrating legal doctrines with policy discussions. The course also covers key sections from the Uniform Commercial Code (UCC), which governs the sale of goods. By the end of the course, the learner should be able to understand: Formation defenses:...
18. What is Corruption: Anti-Corruption and Compliance
Have you ever paid someone for doing you a favor? You may be accustomed to tipping wait staff or other service providers, but what if you paid a police officer for NOT issuing a parking ticket? Or if you gave a “gift” to a government official for signing a contract with your company? Tipping might be okay, but paying a bribe is a violation of the law. Bribery is widespread and exists almost everywhere and in many forms. Compliance programs address this and other forms of corruption. In this...
19. Company Law: A Comprehensive Summary
An in-depth summary of Company Law, targeting all common law LL.B examinations...
20. CYBER CRIME & CYBER LAW - DR. PAVAN DUGGAL - CYBERLAW UNIV.
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Top 10 most affordable universities for police officers
The most affordable schools for police officers are California State University - Bakersfield, california state university - long beach, and suny farmingdale.
If the best universities for police officers 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 police officers.
1. California State University - Bakersfield
Bakersfield, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$7,309
Cost of attendance
16,714
2. California State University - Long Beach
Long Beach, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,798
Cost of attendance
18,306
3. SUNY Farmingdale
Farmingdale, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$8,306
Cost of attendance
16,091
4. Florida International University
Miami, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,556
Cost of attendance
19,434
5. Florida Atlantic University
Boca Raton, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$4,831
Cost of attendance
19,559
6. USF Sarasota-Manatee
Sarasota, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$5,587
Cost of attendance
13,043
7. Brigham Young University
Provo, UT • Private
In-state tuition
$5,620
Cost of attendance
18,136
8. University of Missouri - Kansas City
Kansas City, MO • Private
In-state tuition
$8,178
Cost of attendance
20,934
9. Clayton State University
Morrow, GA • Private
In-state tuition
$5,419
Cost of attendance
17,697
10. Northwestern Oklahoma State University
Alva, OK • Private
In-state tuition
$7,471
Cost of attendance
15,616
Top 10 hardest universities to get into for police officers
The hardest universities for police officers to get into are Northeastern University, Syracuse University, and University of Maryland - College Park.
Some great schools for police officers 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 police officers 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. Northeastern University
Boston, MA • Private
Admissions rate
19%
SAT average
1,466
2. Syracuse University
Syracuse, NY • Private
Admissions rate
50%
SAT average
1,284
3. University of Maryland - College Park
College Park, MD • Private
Admissions rate
47%
SAT average
1,390
4. University of Tulsa
Tulsa, OK • Private
Admissions rate
41%
SAT average
1,321
5. University of Washington
Seattle, WA • Private
Admissions rate
49%
SAT average
1,347
6. University of Denver
Denver, CO • Private
Admissions rate
56%
SAT average
1,300
7. University of Connecticut
Storrs, CT • Private
Admissions rate
49%
SAT average
1,318
8. Texas Christian University
Fort Worth, TX • Private
Admissions rate
41%
SAT average
1,287
9. North Carolina State University
Raleigh, NC • Private
Admissions rate
47%
SAT average
1,336
10. University of Georgia
Athens, GA • Private
Admissions rate
49%
SAT average
1,345
Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for police officers
The easiest schools for police officers to get into are Nyack College, university of north texas at dallas, and gwynedd mercy university.
Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a police officer 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 police officers.
1. Nyack College
New York, NY • Private
Admissions rate
98%
SAT average
999
2. University of North Texas at Dallas
Dallas, TX • Private
Admissions rate
83%
SAT average
992
3. Gwynedd Mercy University
Gwynedd Valley, PA • Private
Admissions rate
92%
SAT average
1,031
4. La Roche College
Pittsburgh, PA • Private
Admissions rate
99%
SAT average
1,008
5. Saint Joseph's College of Maine
Standish, ME • Private
Admissions rate
84%
SAT average
1,069
6. Wayland Baptist University
Plainview, TX • Private
Admissions rate
98%
SAT average
1,003
7. Saint Martin's University
Lacey, WA • Private
Admissions rate
96%
SAT average
1,111
8. Curry College
Milton, MA • Private
Admissions rate
93%
SAT average
1,026
9. Felician University
Lodi, NJ • Private
Admissions rate
81%
SAT average
999
10. Albertus Magnus College
New Haven, CT • Private
Admissions rate
58%
SAT average
931
Average police officer salary by education level
| Police officer education level | Police officer salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $60,863 |
| High School Diploma or Less | $49,513 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $57,344 |
| Doctorate Degree | $59,712 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $54,252 |
Police officer education FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025
Updated January 8, 2025