Expert Witness Education Requirements

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read

There are several educational requirements to become an expert witness. Expert witnesses usually study nursing, business, or law. 48% of expert witnesses hold a bachelor's degree, and 21% hold an master's degree. We analyzed 902 real expert witness resumes to see exactly what expert witness education sections show.

The most common colleges for expert witnesses are the University of Florida and the University of Florida.

There are also many online expert witness courses to help get the education required to be an expert witness.

What education do you need to become an expert witness?

What degree do you need to be an expert witness?

The most common degree for expert witnesses is bachelor's degree, with 48% of expert witnesses earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are master's degree degree at 21% and master's degree degree at 17%.
  • Bachelor's, 48%
  • Master's, 21%
  • Doctorate, 17%
  • Associate, 10%
  • Other Degrees, 4%

What should I major in to become an expert witness?

You should major in nursing to become an expert witness. 20% of expert witnesses major in nursing. Other common majors for an expert witness include business and law.

Most common colleges for expert witnesses

Expert witnesses often get their degrees at University of Florida, Boston University, and University of California, Santa Barbara. Here are the most common colleges for expert witnesses in the US based on their resumes.
Expert Witness Common College
ascdesc
Percentages
ascdesc
University of Florida10.68%
Boston University7.77%
University of California, Santa Barbara7.77%
Michigan State University7.77%
Pennsylvania State University5.83%

Best majors for expert witnesses

Rank
ascdesc
Major
ascdesc
Percentages
ascdesc
1Nursing19.8%
2Business10.2%
3Law9.9%
4Psychology7.9%
5Criminal Justice6.9%

Best colleges for expert witnesses

The best colleges for expert witnesses are Northwestern University, University of Pennsylvania, and Johns Hopkins University.

An expert witness with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for expert witnesses. 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 expert witnesses.

1. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

In-State Tuition

$55,584

Enrollment

10,764

Website

www.upenn.edu

Address

1 College Hall, Room 100, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6303

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $91,200 per year

Net Price: $25,033 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 8.41%
SAT Average - 1492
ACT Average - 34
Most Popular Majors
Education
Biology
Business
Nursing
Law

2. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

In-State Tuition

$54,568

Enrollment

8,451

Website

www.northwestern.edu

Address

633 Clark St, Evanston, IL 60208

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $71,900 per year

Net Price: $24,840 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 8.47%
SAT Average - 1508
ACT Average - 34
Most Popular Majors
Biology
Business
Law
Psychology
Education

3. New York University

New York, NY • Private

In-State Tuition

$51,828

Enrollment

26,339

Website

www.nyu.edu

Address

70 Washington Square South, New York, NY 10012-1091

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $55,900 per year

Net Price: $42,397 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 19.99%
SAT Average - 1419
ACT Average - 32
Most Popular Majors
Business
Biology
Education
Nursing
Law

4. University of Rochester

Rochester, NY • Private

In-State Tuition

$53,909

Enrollment

6,348

Website

https://www.rochester.edu

Address

Wallis Hall, Rochester, NY 14627

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $49,300 per year

Net Price: $29,373 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 29.42%
SAT Average - 1422
ACT Average - 32
Most Popular Majors
Biology
Nursing
Business
Education
Computer Science

5. University of Miami

Coral Gables, FL • Private

In-State Tuition

$50,226

Enrollment

10,873

Website

www.miami.edu/

Address

1252 Memorial Drive, 230 Ashe Bldg., Coral Gables, FL 33124-4600

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $54,500 per year

Net Price: $30,841 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 32.15%
SAT Average - 1365
ACT Average - 31
Most Popular Majors
Biology
Nursing
Business
Law
Psychology

20 best online courses for expert witnesses

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Top 10 most affordable universities for expert witnesses

The most affordable schools for expert witnesses are Baruch College of the City University of New York, university of florida, and florida state university.

If the best universities for expert witnesses 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 expert witnesses.

1. Baruch College of the City University of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-State Tuition

$7,262

Cost of Attendance

14,046

Website

www.baruch.cuny.edu

Address

One Bernard Baruch Way, New York, NY 10010

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $47,500 per year

Net Price: $2,981 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 39.29%
SAT Average - 1305
Most Popular Majors
Accounting
Business
Psychology
Economics
Political Science

2. University of Florida

Gainesville, FL • Private

In-State Tuition

$6,381

Cost of Attendance

21,034

Website

www.ufl.edu/

Address

300 SW 13th Street, Gainesville, FL 32611

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $47,700 per year

Net Price: $8,057 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 38.75%
SAT Average - 1362
ACT Average - 30
Most Popular Majors
Biology
Business
Education
Psychology
Political Science

3. Florida State University

Tallahassee, FL • Private

In-State Tuition

$5,656

Cost of Attendance

21,623

Website

www.fsu.edu

Address

222 South Copeland Street, Tallahassee, FL 32306-1470

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $39,700 per year

Net Price: $10,744 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 36.78%
SAT Average - 1289
ACT Average - 28
Most Popular Majors
Biology
Psychology
Criminal Justice
Education
Political Science

4. Brigham Young University

Provo, UT • Private

In-State Tuition

$5,620

Cost of Attendance

18,136

Website

www.byu.edu

Address

Main Campus, Provo, UT 84602

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $46,600 per year

Net Price: $13,181 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 64.47%
SAT Average - 1324
ACT Average - 29
Most Popular Majors
Biology
Education
Business
Psychology
Computer Science

5. California State University - Long Beach

Long Beach, CA • Private

In-State Tuition

$6,798

Cost of Attendance

18,306

Website

www.csulb.edu

Address

1250 Bellflower Blvd, Long Beach, CA 90840-0115

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $40,000 per year

Net Price: $8,982 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 31.21%
SAT Average - 1146
ACT Average - 23
Most Popular Majors
Business
Psychology
Biology
Education
Nursing

Top 10 hardest universities to get into for expert witnesses

The hardest universities for expert witnesses to get into are Northwestern University, University of Pennsylvania, and Johns Hopkins University.

Some great schools for expert witnesses 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 expert witnesses 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

Website

www.northwestern.edu

Address

633 Clark St, Evanston, IL 60208

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $71,900 per year

Net Price: $24,840 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 8.47%
SAT Average - 1508
ACT Average - 34
Most Popular Majors
Biology
Business
Law
Psychology
Education

2. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

Admissions Rate

8%

SAT Average

1,492

Website

www.upenn.edu

Address

1 College Hall, Room 100, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6303

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $91,200 per year

Net Price: $25,033 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 8.41%
SAT Average - 1492
ACT Average - 34
Most Popular Majors
Education
Biology
Business
Nursing
Law

3. Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore, MD • Private

Admissions Rate

11%

SAT Average

1,513

Website

www.jhu.edu

Address

3400 N Charles St, Baltimore, MD 21218-2688

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $68,000 per year

Net Price: $30,701 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 11.48%
SAT Average - 1513
ACT Average - 34
Most Popular Majors
Education
Biology
Nursing
Economics
Electrical Engineering

4. University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA • Private

Admissions Rate

13%

SAT Average

1,445

Website

www.usc.edu/

Address

University Park, Los Angeles, CA 90089-0012

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $61,400 per year

Net Price: $30,453 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 12.96%
SAT Average - 1445
ACT Average - 32
Most Popular Majors
Business
Computer Science
Education
Biology
Law

5. New York University

New York, NY • Private

Admissions Rate

20%

SAT Average

1,419

Website

www.nyu.edu

Address

70 Washington Square South, New York, NY 10012-1091

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $55,900 per year

Net Price: $42,397 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 19.99%
SAT Average - 1419
ACT Average - 32
Most Popular Majors
Business
Biology
Education
Nursing
Law

Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for expert witnesses

The easiest schools for expert witnesses to get into are Mount Saint Mary's University, wayland baptist university, and felician university.

Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as an expert witness 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 expert witnesses.

1. Mount Saint Mary's University

Los Angeles, CA • Private

Admissions Rate

84%

SAT Average

1,031

Website

https://www.msmu.edu

Address

12001 Chalon Road, Los Angeles, CA 90049

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $57,700 per year

Net Price: $29,267 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 83.82%
SAT Average - 1031
ACT Average - 20
Most Popular Majors
Nursing
Education
Liberal Arts
Business
Biology

2. Wayland Baptist University

Plainview, TX • Private

Admissions Rate

98%

SAT Average

1,003

Website

www.wbu.edu

Address

1900 W 7th St., Plainview, TX 79072

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $41,300 per year

Net Price: $21,855 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 98.04%
SAT Average - 1003
ACT Average - 19
Most Popular Majors
Liberal Arts
Business
Education
Criminal Justice
Nursing

3. Felician University

Lodi, NJ • Private

Admissions Rate

81%

SAT Average

999

Website

www.felician.edu

Address

262 S Main St, Lodi, NJ 07644

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $47,800 per year

Net Price: $17,362 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 80.55%
SAT Average - 999
ACT Average - 19
Most Popular Majors
Nursing
Business
Biology
Education
Criminal Justice

4. Notre Dame de Namur University

Belmont, CA • Private

Admissions Rate

82%

SAT Average

983

Website

www.ndnu.edu

Address

1500 Ralston Ave, Belmont, CA 94002-1908

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $49,000 per year

Net Price: $25,610 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 81.52%
SAT Average - 983
ACT Average - 19
Most Popular Majors
Business
Education
Biology
Psychology
Liberal Arts

5. University of the Incarnate Word

San Antonio, TX • Private

Admissions Rate

88%

SAT Average

1,044

Website

www.uiw.edu

Address

4301 Broadway, San Antonio, TX 78209

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $41,000 per year

Net Price: $23,441 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 87.94%
SAT Average - 1044
ACT Average - 20
Most Popular Majors
Business
Biology
Education
Nursing
Accounting

Average expert witness salary by education level

According to our data, expert witnesses with a Doctorate degree earn the highest average salary, at $77,416 annually. Expert witnesses with a Master's degree earn an average annual salary of $73,338.
Expert Witness education level
ascdesc
Expert Witness salary
ascdesc
Master's Degree$73,338
Bachelor's Degree$66,535
Doctorate Degree$77,416

Expert Witness 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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