Ranger Education Requirements

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read

There are several educational requirements to become a ranger. Rangers usually study criminal justice, business, or environmental science. 58% of rangers hold a bachelor's degree, and 19% hold an associate degree. We analyzed 2,190 real ranger resumes to see exactly what ranger education sections show.

The most common colleges for rangers are the Western Washington University and the Western Washington University.

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

There are certain ranger certifications that you should consider. These ranger certifications include OSHA Safety Certificate and First Aid, CPR and AED Instructor.

What education do you need to become a ranger?

What degree do you need to be a ranger?

The most common degree for rangers is bachelor's degree, with 58% of rangers earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are associate degree degree at 19% and associate degree degree at 13%.
  • Bachelor's, 58%
  • Associate, 19%
  • High School Diploma, 13%
  • Master's, 4%
  • Other Degrees, 6%

What should I major in to become a ranger?

You should major in criminal justice to become a ranger. 14% of rangers major in criminal justice. Other common majors for a ranger include business and environmental science.

Most common colleges for rangers

Rangers often get their degrees at Western Washington University, University of Phoenix, and Humboldt State University. Here are the most common colleges for rangers in the US based on their resumes.
Ranger Common College
ascdesc
Percentages
ascdesc
Western Washington University9.46%
University of Phoenix7.43%
Humboldt State University6.08%
American University6.08%
Radford University5.41%

Best majors for rangers

Rank
ascdesc
Major
ascdesc
Percentages
ascdesc
1Criminal Justice13.8%
2Business12.7%
3Environmental Science12.0%
4Biology6.7%
5General Studies6.5%

Best colleges for rangers

The best colleges for rangers are Boston University, Stanford University, and Northwestern University.

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

1. California State University - Bakersfield

Bakersfield, CA • Private

In-State Tuition

$7,309

Enrollment

9,142

Website

www.csub.edu

Address

9001 Stockdale Hwy, Bakersfield, CA 93311-1022

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $39,100 per year

Net Price: $5,687 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 23.02%
Most Popular Majors
Liberal Arts
Business
Biology
Psychology
Law Enforcement

2. SUNY at Binghamton

Vestal, NY • Private

In-State Tuition

$9,808

Enrollment

13,990

Website

www.binghamton.edu

Address

P.O. Box 6000, Binghamton, NY 13902-6000

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

Net Price: $18,958 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 39.81%
SAT Average - 1376
ACT Average - 30
Most Popular Majors
Biology
Accounting
Psychology
Business
Political Science

3. San Diego State University

San Diego, CA • Private

In-State Tuition

$7,488

Enrollment

30,018

Website

www.sdsu.edu

Address

5500 Campanile Dr, San Diego, CA 92182-8000

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $41,600 per year

Net Price: $15,287 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 34.58%
SAT Average - 1213
ACT Average - 25
Most Popular Majors
Business
Biology
Psychology
Liberal Arts
Law Enforcement

4. SUNY Farmingdale

Farmingdale, NY • Private

In-State Tuition

$8,306

Enrollment

9,394

Website

www.farmingdale.edu/

Address

2350 Broadhollow Road, Farmingdale, NY 11735-1021

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $44,800 per year

Net Price: $9,268 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 46.07%
SAT Average - 1091
ACT Average - 22
Most Popular Majors
Business
Liberal Arts
Law Enforcement
Criminal Justice
Biology

5. Boston University

Boston, MA • Private

In-State Tuition

$53,948

Enrollment

17,238

Website

www.bu.edu

Address

One Silber Way, 8th Floor, Boston, MA 02215

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $52,800 per year

Net Price: $30,729 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 22.09%
SAT Average - 1420
ACT Average - 32
Most Popular Majors
Business
Biology
Communication
Psychology
Ecology, Population Biology, And Epidemiology

20 best online courses for rangers

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Top 10 most affordable universities for rangers

The most affordable schools for rangers are SUNY Farmingdale, california state university - bakersfield, and usf sarasota-manatee.

If the best universities for rangers 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 rangers.

1. SUNY Farmingdale

Farmingdale, NY • Private

In-State Tuition

$8,306

Cost of Attendance

16,091

Website

www.farmingdale.edu/

Address

2350 Broadhollow Road, Farmingdale, NY 11735-1021

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $44,800 per year

Net Price: $9,268 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 46.07%
SAT Average - 1091
ACT Average - 22
Most Popular Majors
Business
Liberal Arts
Law Enforcement
Criminal Justice
Biology

2. California State University - Bakersfield

Bakersfield, CA • Private

In-State Tuition

$7,309

Cost of Attendance

16,714

Website

www.csub.edu

Address

9001 Stockdale Hwy, Bakersfield, CA 93311-1022

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $39,100 per year

Net Price: $5,687 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 23.02%
Most Popular Majors
Liberal Arts
Business
Biology
Psychology
Law Enforcement
U

3. USF Sarasota-Manatee

Sarasota, FL • Private

In-State Tuition

$5,587

Cost of Attendance

13,043

Website

usfsm.edu/

Address

8350 N. Tamiani Trail, Sarasota, FL 34243

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $39,400 per year

Net Price: $4,595 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 32.43%
SAT Average - 1225
ACT Average - 26
Most Popular Majors
Biology
Education
Psychology
Liberal Arts
Business

4. California State University - Dominguez Hills

Carson, CA • Private

In-State Tuition

$6,942

Cost of Attendance

14,469

Website

https://www.csudh.edu

Address

1000 E Victoria St, Carson, CA 90747

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $38,300 per year

Net Price: $3,891 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 63.94%
Most Popular Majors
Business
Psychology
Liberal Arts
Law Enforcement
Criminal Justice

5. 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
Business
Psychology
Political Science
Ecology, Population Biology, And Epidemiology

Top 10 hardest universities to get into for rangers

The hardest universities for rangers to get into are Boston University, Stanford University, and Northwestern University.

Some great schools for rangers 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 rangers 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. Boston University

Boston, MA • Private

Admissions Rate

22%

SAT Average

1,420

Website

www.bu.edu

Address

One Silber Way, 8th Floor, Boston, MA 02215

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $52,800 per year

Net Price: $30,729 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 22.09%
SAT Average - 1420
ACT Average - 32
Most Popular Majors
Business
Biology
Communication
Psychology
Ecology, Population Biology, And Epidemiology

2. Stanford University

Stanford, CA • Private

Admissions Rate

4%

SAT Average

1,497

Website

www.stanford.edu/

Address

450 Serra Mall, Stanford, CA 94305-2061

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $92,800 per year

Net Price: $12,265 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 4.36%
SAT Average - 1497
ACT Average - 34
Most Popular Majors
Business
Biology
Education
Political Science
Environmental Science

3. 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
Liberal Arts
Communication
Psychology

4. George Washington University, The

Washington, DC • Private

Admissions Rate

42%

SAT Average

1,380

Website

https://www.gwu.edu

Address

1918 F Street NW, Washington, DC 20052

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $58,600 per year

Net Price: $33,734 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 41.87%
SAT Average - 1380
ACT Average - 31
Most Popular Majors
Biology
Political Science
Business
Law Enforcement
Criminal Justice

5. SUNY at Binghamton

Vestal, NY • Private

Admissions Rate

40%

SAT Average

1,376

Website

www.binghamton.edu

Address

P.O. Box 6000, Binghamton, NY 13902-6000

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

Net Price: $18,958 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 39.81%
SAT Average - 1376
ACT Average - 30
Most Popular Majors
Biology
Accounting
Psychology
Business
Political Science

Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for rangers

The easiest schools for rangers to get into are Nyack College, notre dame college, and gwynedd mercy university.

Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a ranger 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 rangers.

1. Nyack College

New York, NY • Private

Admissions Rate

98%

SAT Average

999

Website

www.nyack.edu/consumerinfo

Address

1 South Boulevard, Nyack, NY 10960-3698

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $38,500 per year

Net Price: $20,151 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 98.25%
SAT Average - 999
ACT Average - 20
Most Popular Majors
Liberal Arts
Business
Education
Psychology
Law Enforcement

2. Notre Dame College

Cleveland, OH • Private

Admissions Rate

90%

SAT Average

994

Website

www.notredamecollege.edu

Address

4545 College Rd, Cleveland, OH 44121-4293

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $37,000 per year

Net Price: $21,651 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 89.65%
SAT Average - 994
ACT Average - 19
Most Popular Majors
Education
Business
Psychology
Law Enforcement
Criminal Justice

3. Gwynedd Mercy University

Gwynedd Valley, PA • Private

Admissions Rate

92%

SAT Average

1,031

Website

https://www.gmercyu.edu/

Address

1325 Sumneytown Pike, P. O. Box 901, Gwynedd Valley, PA 19437-0901

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $48,000 per year

Net Price: $23,213 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 92.00%
SAT Average - 1031
ACT Average - 21
Most Popular Majors
Education
Business
Law Enforcement
Criminal Justice
Psychology

4. 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
Law Enforcement
Criminal Justice
Biology

5. University of North Texas at Dallas

Dallas, TX • Private

Admissions Rate

83%

SAT Average

992

Website

untdallas.edu

Address

7300 University Hills Blvd, Dallas, TX 75241

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $39,300 per year

Net Price: $7,400 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 83.11%
SAT Average - 992
ACT Average - 18
Most Popular Majors
Law Enforcement
Criminal Justice
Psychology
Business
Accounting

Average ranger salary by education level

According to our data, rangers with a Master's degree earn the highest average salary, at $37,457 annually. Rangers with a Doctorate degree earn an average annual salary of $36,661.
Ranger education level
ascdesc
Ranger salary
ascdesc
Master's Degree$37,457
High School Diploma or Less$30,096
Bachelor's Degree$35,172
Doctorate Degree$36,661
Some College/ Associate Degree$33,162

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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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