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Polygraph examiner education requirements

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read

There are several educational requirements to become a polygraph examiner. Polygraph examiners usually study criminal justice, psychology, or business. 62% of polygraph examiners hold a bachelor's degree, and 18% hold an associate degree. We analyzed 190 real polygraph examiner resumes to see exactly what polygraph examiner education sections show.

The most common colleges for polygraph examiners are the Florida State University and the Florida State University.

There are also many online polygraph examiner courses to help get the education required to be a polygraph examiner.

What education do you need to become a polygraph examiner?

What degree do you need to be a polygraph examiner?

The most common degree for polygraph examiners is bachelor's degree, with 62% of polygraph examiners earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are associate degree degree at 18% and associate degree degree at 15%.
  • Bachelor's, 62%
  • Associate, 18%
  • Master's, 15%
  • Diploma, 3%
  • Other Degrees, 2%

What should I major in to become a polygraph examiner?

You should major in criminal justice to become a polygraph examiner. 46% of polygraph examiners major in criminal justice. Other common majors for a polygraph examiner include psychology and business.

Most common colleges for polygraph examiners

Polygraph examiners often get their degrees at Florida State University, California State University - San Bernardino, and Georgia State University. Here are the most common colleges for polygraph examiners in the US based on their resumes.
Polygraph examiner common collegePercentages
Florida State University12.50%
California State University - San Bernardino12.50%
Georgia State University9.38%
American International College6.25%
American University6.25%

Best majors for polygraph examiners

RankMajorPercentages
1Criminal Justice46.0%
2Psychology9.0%
3Business7.0%
4Public Administration5.0%
5Criminology5.0%

Best colleges for polygraph examiners

The best colleges for polygraph examiners are Northwestern University, Columbia University in the City of New York, and Carnegie Mellon University.

A polygraph examiner with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for polygraph examiners. 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 polygraph examiners.

1. SUNY at Albany

Albany, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$10,011

Enrollment

13,434

2. Pennsylvania State University

University Park, PA • Private

In-state tuition

$18,454

Enrollment

40,108

3. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

In-state tuition

$54,568

Enrollment

8,451

4. North Carolina State University

Raleigh, NC • Private

In-state tuition

$9,101

Enrollment

23,708

5. Columbia University in the City of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$59,430

Enrollment

8,216

6. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Ann Arbor, MI • Private

In-state tuition

$15,262

Enrollment

30,079

7. Florida State University

Tallahassee, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$5,656

Enrollment

32,072

8. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill, NC • Private

In-state tuition

$8,987

Enrollment

18,946

9. University of Maryland - College Park

College Park, MD • Private

In-state tuition

$10,595

Enrollment

30,184

10. University of Washington

Seattle, WA • Private

In-state tuition

$11,207

Enrollment

30,905

20 best online courses for polygraph examiners

Advertising disclosure

1. Hot Topics in Criminal Justice

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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

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

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

4. Criminology and Criminal Psychology Certified CSI+ Course

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

5. Artificial Intelligence and legal issues

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The purpose of the course is to help students understand the legal implications related to the design and use of artificial intelligence systems, providing an overview of the risks and legal protections that can be envisaged and giving an overview of the legislation and legal principles currently applicable on the subject. In particular, the profiles of civil and criminal liability, protection in terms of intellectual property and the impacts of AI on the fundamental rights of the individual -...

6. 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...

7. Introduction to Criminal Psychology

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Understand the Forensic Psychology of the Criminal Mind...

8. Forensic Psychology: Criminal Profiling Certificate

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Criminology Crash Course...

9. Psychology of Criminal Behaviour & Criminology - ACCREDITED

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

10. Consulting Case Interviews & Guesstimates (CV tips included)

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Crack management consulting case interviews at Mc Kinsey, Bain, BCG, Deloitte, Accenture. Course includes solved examples...

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13. Management Consulting Cases for Job Interview

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A practical guide on how to prepare for a case interview and how to get into consulting firms Mc Kinsey, Bain, BCG, Pw C,...

14. AML Case Investigation Skills

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A guide to conducting AML case investigations, writing quality case narratives and the submission of STRs (STR filing)...

15. Company Law: A Comprehensive Summary

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An in-depth summary of Company Law, targeting all common law LL.B examinations...

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

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

17. Law of Contracts in 60 Minutes: A Fast Track Course

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19. The Legal Implications of Social Media in the Workplace

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Regulatory and Case Law Considerations for Employers' Social Media Policy Development...

20. Effective Legal Office Administration

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Effective Legal Office Administration...

Top 10 most affordable universities for polygraph examiners

The most affordable schools for polygraph examiners are USF Sarasota-Manatee, california state university - long beach, and hunter college of the city university of new york.

If the best universities for polygraph examiners 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 polygraph examiners.

1. USF Sarasota-Manatee

Sarasota, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$5,587

Cost of attendance

13,043

2. California State University - Long Beach

Long Beach, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,798

Cost of attendance

18,306

3. Hunter College of the City University of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,182

Cost of attendance

13,998

4. Baruch College of the City University of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,262

Cost of attendance

14,046

5. Florida State University

Tallahassee, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$5,656

Cost of attendance

21,623

6. University of South Florida

Tampa, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,410

Cost of attendance

20,456

7. California State University - Bakersfield

Bakersfield, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$7,309

Cost of attendance

16,714

8. California State University - Dominguez Hills

Carson, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,942

Cost of attendance

14,469

9. Brigham Young University

Provo, UT • Private

In-state tuition

$5,620

Cost of attendance

18,136

10. California State University - Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,749

Cost of attendance

14,823

Top 10 hardest universities to get into for polygraph examiners

The hardest universities for polygraph examiners to get into are Northwestern University, Columbia University in the City of New York, and Carnegie Mellon University.

Some great schools for polygraph examiners 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 polygraph examiners 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. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

Admissions rate

8%

SAT average

1,508

2. Columbia University in the City of New York

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

6%

SAT average

1,512

3. Carnegie Mellon University

Pittsburgh, PA • Private

Admissions rate

17%

SAT average

1,507

4. New York University

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

20%

SAT average

1,419

5. Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore, MD • Private

Admissions rate

11%

SAT average

1,513

6. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Ann Arbor, MI • Private

Admissions rate

23%

SAT average

1,434

7. Duke University

Durham, NC • Private

Admissions rate

9%

SAT average

1,516

8. Washington University in St Louis

Saint Louis, MO • Private

Admissions rate

15%

SAT average

1,506

9. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill, NC • Private

Admissions rate

23%

SAT average

1,398

10. University of Miami

Coral Gables, FL • Private

Admissions rate

32%

SAT average

1,365

Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for polygraph examiners

The easiest schools for polygraph examiners to get into are Wayland Baptist University, the university of texas permian basin, and barry university.

Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a polygraph examiner 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 polygraph examiners.

1. Wayland Baptist University

Plainview, TX • Private

Admissions rate

98%

SAT average

1,003

2. The University of Texas Permian Basin

Odessa, TX • Private

Admissions rate

91%

SAT average

1,046

3. Barry University

Miami, FL • Private

Admissions rate

91%

SAT average

1,006

4. Kean University

Union, NJ • Private

Admissions rate

86%

SAT average

991

5. University of North Texas at Dallas

Dallas, TX • Private

Admissions rate

83%

SAT average

992

6. Notre Dame de Namur University

Belmont, CA • Private

Admissions rate

82%

SAT average

983

7. Bluefield College

Bluefield, VA • Private

Admissions rate

95%

SAT average

980

8. Ottawa University

Ottawa, KS • Private

Admissions rate

78%

SAT average

1,024

9. University of the Incarnate Word

San Antonio, TX • Private

Admissions rate

88%

SAT average

1,044

10. Notre Dame College

Cleveland, OH • Private

Admissions rate

90%

SAT average

994

Average polygraph examiner salary by education level

According to our data, polygraph examiners with a Master's degree earn the highest average salary, at $90,224 annually. Polygraph examiners with a Associate degree earn an average annual salary of $79,825.
Polygraph examiner education levelPolygraph examiner salary
Master's Degree$90,224
High School Diploma or Less$72,246
Bachelor's Degree$75,895
Some College/ Associate Degree$79,825

Polygraph examiner 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.

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