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Presiding judge education requirements
Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
There are several educational requirements to become a presiding judge. Presiding judges usually study law, business, or history. 58% of presiding judges hold a bachelor's degree, and 21% hold an doctoral degree. We analyzed 150 real presiding judge resumes to see exactly what presiding judge education sections show.
The most common colleges for presiding judges are the Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey and the Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey.
There are also many online presiding judge courses to help get the education required to be a presiding judge.
What education do you need to become a presiding judge?
What degree do you need to be a presiding judge?
- Bachelor's, 58%
- Doctorate, 21%
- Associate, 8%
- High School Diploma, 6%
- Other Degrees, 7%
What should I major in to become a presiding judge?
- Law, 27%
- Business, 10%
- History, 9%
- Criminal Justice, 8%
- Other Majors, 46%
Most common colleges for presiding judges
| Presiding judge common college | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey | 8.82% |
| Ohio State University | 8.82% |
| Seton Hall University | 8.82% |
| University of Houston | 5.88% |
| University of Florida | 5.88% |
Best majors for presiding judges
| Rank | Major | Percentages |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Law | 27.4% |
| 2 | Business | 10.4% |
| 3 | History | 9.4% |
| 4 | Criminal Justice | 8.5% |
| 5 | Political Science | 7.5% |
Best colleges for presiding judges
The best colleges for presiding judges are University of Pennsylvania, Stanford University, and Northwestern University.
A presiding judge with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for presiding judges. 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 presiding judges.
1. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
In-state tuition
$55,584
Enrollment
10,764
2. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC • Private
In-state tuition
$8,987
Enrollment
18,946
3. Howard University
Washington, DC • Private
In-state tuition
$26,756
Enrollment
6,166
4. Stanford University
Stanford, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$51,354
Enrollment
7,083
5. University of Texas at Austin
Austin, TX • Private
In-state tuition
$10,610
Enrollment
40,329
6. Duke University
Durham, NC • Private
In-state tuition
$55,695
Enrollment
6,596
7. University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$56,225
Enrollment
19,548
8. George Washington University, The
Washington, DC • Private
In-state tuition
$55,230
Enrollment
12,161
9. Northeastern University
Boston, MA • Private
In-state tuition
$51,522
Enrollment
13,760
10. Pennsylvania State University
University Park, PA • Private
In-state tuition
$18,454
Enrollment
40,108
20 best online courses for presiding judges
Advertising disclosure
1. 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...
2. Forecasting US Presidential Elections with Mixed Models
In this project-based course, you will learn how to forecast US Presidential Elections. We will use mixed effects models in the R programming language to build a forecasting model for the 2020 election. The project will review how the US selects Presidents in the Electoral College, stylized facts about voting trends, the basics of mixed effects models, and how to use them in forecasting...
3. Effective Legal Office Administration
Effective Legal Office Administration...
4. 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!...
5. ERPO: A Civil Approach to Gun Violence Prevention Teach-Out
Evidence shows that 1 life is saved for every 10-20 Extreme Risk Protection Orders (ERPOs) issued. ERPOs are legally issued civil orders that allow people on the front lines to ask a court to prevent a person at imminent risk of harm to themselves or others from purchasing or possessing firearms during a critical period of risk. As of October 2020, ERPO laws have been enacted by nineteen states and the District of Columbia and while some aspects differ by state, the general process for applying...
6. Legal Tech and the Digital Transformation of Law
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...
7. Law of Contracts in 60 Minutes: A Fast Track Course
A 60 minute fast track summary of the Law of Contracts, targeting all common law LL.B examinations!...
8. Legal English
Legal language and communication skills...
9. 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,...
10. 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...
11. Psychology of Criminal Behaviour & Criminology - ACCREDITED
Personality Disorders, Violence, Sex Offence, Murder, and other types of crime...
12. Legal Writing Master Class
Learn with lawyers by learning the correct use of prepositions and articles, drafting contracts and writing letters...
13. 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:...
14. How Technology is Shaping Democracy and the 2020 Election
Democracy can only thrive with the participation of well-informed citizens. The 2020 U.S. presidential election will be historic for many reasons and all parties are leveraging the power of technology to both influence and mobilize voters. More than ever, digital tools and platforms are shaping the opinions and behaviors of voters who will determine the future of the governance of the United States. This new course examines the unprecedented influence of technology and technology policy on...
15. Criminology and Criminal Psychology Certified CSI+ Course
Learn Criminal Law and Start your career with certification of Criminal Law and Criminal Psychology, Learn Criminology...
16. English for Business and Law - Contract Law
An English language course for business and law...
17. 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...
18. Employment Law Compliance Made Easy
A comprehensive course for management to understand key employment law issues in the workplace...
19. Construction Claims Management - (9 PDUs)
Construction Claims Management ... Step-by-step from Definition to Submital...
20. Construction: Pricing Extension of Time Claims: Vol 1 of 2
This course provides professional training on the preparation of Quantum calculations for Extension of Time claims...
Top 10 most affordable universities for presiding judges
The most affordable schools for presiding judges are University of Florida, suny farmingdale, and california state university - bakersfield.
If the best universities for presiding judges 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 presiding judges.
1. University of Florida
Gainesville, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,381
Cost of attendance
21,034
2. SUNY Farmingdale
Farmingdale, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$8,306
Cost of attendance
16,091
3. California State University - Bakersfield
Bakersfield, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$7,309
Cost of attendance
16,714
4. Florida State University
Tallahassee, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$5,656
Cost of attendance
21,623
5. Florida International University
Miami, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,556
Cost of attendance
19,434
6. Brigham Young University
Provo, UT • Private
In-state tuition
$5,620
Cost of attendance
18,136
7. California State University - Dominguez Hills
Carson, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,942
Cost of attendance
14,469
8. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC • Private
In-state tuition
$8,987
Cost of attendance
25,527
9. California State University - Long Beach
Long Beach, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,798
Cost of attendance
18,306
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 presiding judges
The hardest universities for presiding judges to get into are University of Pennsylvania, Stanford University, and Northwestern University.
Some great schools for presiding judges 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 presiding judges 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. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
Admissions rate
8%
SAT average
1,492
2. Stanford University
Stanford, CA • Private
Admissions rate
4%
SAT average
1,497
3. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
Admissions rate
8%
SAT average
1,508
4. Duke University
Durham, NC • Private
Admissions rate
9%
SAT average
1,516
5. Vanderbilt University
Nashville, TN • Private
Admissions rate
10%
SAT average
1,514
6. Northeastern University
Boston, MA • Private
Admissions rate
19%
SAT average
1,466
7. Yale University
New Haven, CT • Private
Admissions rate
6%
SAT average
1,517
8. Columbia University in the City of New York
New York, NY • Private
Admissions rate
6%
SAT average
1,512
9. University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA • Private
Admissions rate
13%
SAT average
1,445
10. University of Chicago
Chicago, IL • Private
Admissions rate
7%
SAT average
1,520
Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for presiding judges
The easiest schools for presiding judges to get into are Gwynedd Mercy University, wayland baptist university, and curry college.
Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a presiding judge 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 presiding judges.
1. Gwynedd Mercy University
Gwynedd Valley, PA • Private
Admissions rate
92%
SAT average
1,031
2. Wayland Baptist University
Plainview, TX • Private
Admissions rate
98%
SAT average
1,003
3. Curry College
Milton, MA • Private
Admissions rate
93%
SAT average
1,026
4. Felician University
Lodi, NJ • Private
Admissions rate
81%
SAT average
999
5. Nyack College
New York, NY • Private
Admissions rate
98%
SAT average
999
6. Barry University
Miami, FL • Private
Admissions rate
91%
SAT average
1,006
7. Notre Dame College
Cleveland, OH • Private
Admissions rate
90%
SAT average
994
8. University of North Texas at Dallas
Dallas, TX • Private
Admissions rate
83%
SAT average
992
9. Oklahoma Wesleyan University
Bartlesville, OK • Private
Admissions rate
68%
SAT average
964
10. Presentation College
Aberdeen, SD • Private
Admissions rate
97%
SAT average
1,050
Average presiding judge salary by education level
| Presiding judge education level | Presiding judge salary |
|---|---|
| Doctorate Degree | $60,244 |
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Updated January 8, 2025
Updated January 8, 2025