Police supervisor education requirements

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

There are several educational requirements to become a police supervisor. Police supervisors usually study criminal justice, business, or general studies. 46% of police supervisors hold a bachelor's degree, and 28% hold an associate degree. We analyzed 340 real police supervisor resumes to see exactly what police supervisor education sections show.

The most common colleges for police supervisors are the American University and the American University.

There are also many online police supervisor courses to help get the education required to be a police supervisor.

What education do you need to become a police supervisor?

What degree do you need to be a police supervisor?

The most common degree for police supervisors is bachelor's degree, with 46% of police supervisors earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are associate degree degree at 28% and associate degree degree at 13%.

Bachelor's, 46%

Associate, 28%

Master's, 13%

High School Diploma, 9%

Other Degrees, 4%

What should I major in to become a police supervisor?

You should major in criminal justice to become a police supervisor. 37% of police supervisors major in criminal justice. Other common majors for a police supervisor include business and general studies.

Criminal Justice, 37%

Business, 15%

General Studies, 9%

Law Enforcement, 8%

Other Majors, 31%

Most common colleges for police supervisors

Police supervisors often get their degrees at American University, Troy University, and Liberty University. Here are the most common colleges for police supervisors in the US based on their resumes.

Police supervisor common college	Percentages
American University	13.95%
Troy University	6.98%
Liberty University	6.98%
Park University	6.98%
Vincennes University	4.65%

Show more common police supervisor colleges

Best majors for police supervisors

Rank	Major	Percentages
1	Criminal Justice	36.5%
2	Business	14.8%
3	General Studies	9.0%
4	Law Enforcement	7.9%
5	Law	4.8%

Show more common police supervisor majors

Best colleges for police supervisors

The best colleges for police supervisors are Northeastern University, Boston University, and George Washington University, The.

A police supervisor 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 supervisors. 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 supervisors.

1. Pennsylvania State University

University Park, PA • Private

In-state tuition

$18,454

Enrollment

40,108

2. California State University - Bakersfield

Bakersfield, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$7,309

Enrollment

9,142

3. SUNY at Binghamton

Vestal, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$9,808

Enrollment

13,990

4. University of Georgia

Athens, GA • Private

In-state tuition

$11,830

Enrollment

29,474

5. SUNY at Albany

Albany, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$10,011

Enrollment

13,434

6. Western Carolina University

Cullowhee, NC • Private

In-state tuition

$3,926

Enrollment

9,835

7. Mercyhurst University

Erie, PA • Private

In-state tuition

$37,170

Enrollment

2,374

8. University of Arizona

Tucson, AZ • Private

In-state tuition

$12,467

Enrollment

33,509

9. Florida International University

Miami, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,556

Enrollment

41,777

10. George Washington University, The

Washington, DC • Private

In-state tuition

$55,230

Enrollment

12,161

20 best online courses for police supervisors

Advertising disclosure

1. 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...

2. 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,...

3. Criminology and Criminal Psychology Certified CSI+ Course

4.2

(339)

Learn Criminal Law and Start your career with certification of Criminal Law and Criminal Psychology, Learn Criminology...

4. Criminal Law in 120 Minutes: A Fast Track Course

4.6

(414)

A 2 hour fast track summary of Criminal Law, targeting all common law LL.B examinations!...

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...

7. Introduction to Criminal Psychology

4.3

(846)

Understand the Forensic Psychology of the Criminal Mind...

8. Psychology of Criminal Behaviour & Criminology - ACCREDITED

4.4

(516)

Personality Disorders, Violence, Sex Offence, Murder, and other types of crime...

9. Forensic Psychology: Criminal Profiling Certificate

4.4

(980)

Criminology Crash Course...

10. Food Safety for Managers and Supervisors

4.3

(489)

The Highfield Food Safety Level 3 syllabus presented in two hours of video tutorials. Boost your food safety knowledge...

11. IFCI Expert Cybercrime Investigator's Course

4.6

(649)

Protect your network - Put cybercriminals in jail. Learn computer forensics, malware analysis and hacker investigations...

12. CYBER CRIME & CYBER LAW - DR. PAVAN DUGGAL - CYBERLAW UNIV.

(262)

The most crucial paradigms in our digital lives today...

13. High Voltage Electric Vehicle Safety

4.4

(302)

Electric Vehicle Safety Battery Pack Fire Safety Electric Shock Safety Accidental Safety High Voltage Components...

14. Forensic Psychology - ACCREDITED CERTIFICATE

4.6

(3,931)

Become a specialist in criminal investigations and forensic profiling, start your career and add certificate to resume!...

15. Introduction to Criminology: Explaining Crime

4.5

(2,043)

Learn to Speak About Criminal Psychology and the Sociology of Crime Like an Expert...

16. Cyber Crime Analyst Part 1

(250)

Types of Cyber Crime...

17. Digital Forensics Masterclass: Forensic Science 2023 DFMC+

4.1

(943)

Learn digital forensics and be computer forensics investigator / Certificate after completing course / DFMC+ / DFIR 2023...

18. Supervisor Leadership Skills for a Safe Workplace

4.5

(2,008)

Learn safety communication skills to foster safety accountability, responsibility and correct safety behaviours...

19. Basic Certificate in Health Safety & Environment-HSE Level 2

4.4

(355)

A comprehensive course for Safety Officers, Supervisors, Managers and Aspiring Safety Professionals...

20. The Complete Computer Forensics Course for 2023 PRO: CFCT+

4.2

(328)

Start Computer Forensics Career now and see your Growth step by step and Unlock your potential. Digital Forensics Police...

Top 10 most affordable universities for police supervisors

The most affordable schools for police supervisors are California State University - Bakersfield, suny farmingdale, and florida international university.

If the best universities for police supervisors 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 supervisors.

1. California State University - Bakersfield

Bakersfield, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$7,309

Cost of attendance

16,714

2. SUNY Farmingdale

Farmingdale, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$8,306

Cost of attendance

16,091

3. Florida International University

Miami, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,556

Cost of attendance

19,434

4. USF Sarasota-Manatee

Sarasota, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$5,587

Cost of attendance

13,043

5. California State University - Dominguez Hills

Carson, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,942

Cost of attendance

14,469

6. University of South Florida

Tampa, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,410

Cost of attendance

20,456

7. Brigham Young University

Provo, UT • Private

In-state tuition

$5,620

Cost of attendance

18,136

8. SUNY Polytechnic Institute

Utica, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$8,238

Cost of attendance

21,567

9. John Jay College of Criminal Justice of the City University of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,270

Cost of attendance

14,177

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 police supervisors

The hardest universities for police supervisors to get into are Northeastern University, Boston University, and George Washington University, The.

Some great schools for police supervisors 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 supervisors 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. Boston University

Boston, MA • Private

Admissions rate

22%

SAT average

1,420

3. George Washington University, The

Washington, DC • Private

Admissions rate

42%

SAT average

1,380

4. SUNY at Binghamton

Vestal, NY • Private

Admissions rate

40%

SAT average

1,376

5. University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA • Private

Admissions rate

13%

SAT average

1,445

6. Stanford University

Stanford, CA • Private

Admissions rate

SAT average

1,497

7. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

Admissions rate

SAT average

1,508

8. American University

Washington, DC • Private

Admissions rate

32%

SAT average

1,320

9. Syracuse University

Syracuse, NY • Private

Admissions rate

50%

SAT average

1,284

10. University of Georgia

Athens, GA • Private

Admissions rate

49%

SAT average

1,345

Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for police supervisors

The easiest schools for police supervisors to get into are Notre Dame College, nyack college, and gwynedd mercy university.

Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a police supervisor 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 supervisors.

1. Notre Dame College

Cleveland, OH • Private

Admissions rate

90%

SAT average

994

2. Nyack College

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

98%

SAT average

999

3. Gwynedd Mercy University

Gwynedd Valley, PA • Private

Admissions rate

92%

SAT average

1,031

4. Wayland Baptist University

Plainview, TX • Private

Admissions rate

98%

SAT average

1,003

5. Presentation College

Aberdeen, SD • Private

Admissions rate

97%

SAT average

1,050

6. Curry College

Milton, MA • Private

Admissions rate

93%

SAT average

1,026

7. University of North Texas at Dallas

Dallas, TX • Private

Admissions rate

83%

SAT average

992

8. Barry University

Miami, FL • Private

Admissions rate

91%

SAT average

1,006

9. Felician University

Lodi, NJ • Private

Admissions rate

81%

SAT average

999

10. Fresno Pacific University

Fresno, CA • Private

Admissions rate

85%

SAT average

1,053

Average police supervisor salary by education level

According to our data, police supervisors with a Master's degree earn the highest average salary, at $71,717 annually. Police supervisors with a Bachelor's degree earn an average annual salary of $67,337.

Police supervisor education level	Police supervisor salary
Master's Degree	$71,717
High School Diploma or Less	$54,030
Bachelor's Degree	$67,337
Some College/ Associate Degree	$56,836

Police supervisor education FAQs

What is the best college for Police Supervisors?

Have more questions? See all answers to common protective service questions.

Search for police supervisor jobs

Updated January 8, 2025

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.

Updated January 8, 2025

Browse protective service jobs