Sergeant Education Requirements

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read

There are several educational requirements to become a sergeant. Sergeants usually study criminal justice, business, or general studies. 44% of sergeants hold a bachelor's degree, and 25% hold an associate degree. We analyzed 35,029 real sergeant resumes to see exactly what sergeant education sections show.

The most common colleges for sergeants are the University of Phoenix and the University of Phoenix.

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

There are certain sergeant certifications that you should consider. These sergeant certifications include Certified Law Enforcement Analysts (CLEA) and OSHA Safety Certificate .

What education do you need to become a sergeant?

What degree do you need to be a sergeant?

The most common degree for sergeants is bachelor's degree, with 44% of sergeants earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are associate degree degree at 25% and associate degree degree at 18%.
  • Bachelor's, 44%
  • Associate, 25%
  • High School Diploma, 18%
  • Master's, 6%
  • Other Degrees, 7%

What should I major in to become a sergeant?

You should major in criminal justice to become a sergeant. 29% of sergeants major in criminal justice. Other common majors for a sergeant include business and general studies.

Most common colleges for sergeants

Sergeants often get their degrees at University of Phoenix, American University, and Texas A&M; University - Central Texas. Here are the most common colleges for sergeants in the US based on their resumes.
Sergeant Common College
ascdesc
Percentages
ascdesc
University of Phoenix19.88%
American University10.69%
Texas A&M University - Central Texas9.99%
University of Maryland - College Park5.82%
Columbia Southern University5.57%

Best majors for sergeants

Rank
ascdesc
Major
ascdesc
Percentages
ascdesc
1Criminal Justice29.5%
2Business19.9%
3General Studies8.8%
4Psychology3.9%
5Law Enforcement3.9%

Best colleges for sergeants

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

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

1. Pennsylvania State University

University Park, PA ā€¢ Private

In-State Tuition

$18,454

Enrollment

40,108

Website

www.psu.edu/

Address

201 Old Main Building, University Park, PA 16802-1589

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $43,600 per year

Net Price: $30,996 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 56.49%
SAT Average - 1269
ACT Average - 28
Most Popular Majors
Education
Accounting
Psychology
Computer Information Systems
Electrical Engineering

2. California State University - Bakersfield

Bakersfield, CA ā€¢ 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
Education
Psychology
Law Enforcement

3. SUNY at Binghamton

Vestal, NY ā€¢ 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
Accounting
Psychology
Nursing
Computer Science
Business

4. University of Georgia

Athens, GA ā€¢ Private

In-State Tuition

$11,830

Enrollment

29,474

Website

www.uga.edu

Address

456 East Broad Street, Athens, GA 30602

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $45,200 per year

Net Price: $13,971 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 48.63%
SAT Average - 1345
ACT Average - 30
Most Popular Majors
Education
Business
Psychology
Accounting
Computer Science

5. SUNY at Albany

Albany, NY ā€¢ Private

In-State Tuition

$10,011

Enrollment

13,434

Website

www.albany.edu

Address

1400 Washington Avenue, Albany, NY 12222

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

Net Price: $17,298 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 52.08%
SAT Average - 1185
ACT Average - 25
Most Popular Majors
Education
Business
Law Enforcement
Psychology
Communication

20 best online courses for sergeants

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Top 10 most affordable universities for sergeants

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

If the best universities for sergeants 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 sergeants.

1. California State University - Bakersfield

Bakersfield, CA ā€¢ 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
Education
Psychology
Law Enforcement

2. SUNY Farmingdale

Farmingdale, NY ā€¢ 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
Nursing

3. Florida International University

Miami, FL ā€¢ Private

In-State Tuition

$6,556

Cost of Attendance

19,434

Website

www.fiu.edu

Address

11200 SW 8th Street, Miami, FL 33199

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $41,500 per year

Net Price: $8,311 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 58.56%
SAT Average - 1185
ACT Average - 25
Most Popular Majors
Psychology
Business
Communication
Liberal Arts
Education
U

4. USF Sarasota-Manatee

Sarasota, FL ā€¢ 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
Psychology
Education
Liberal Arts
Business
Accounting

5. California State University - Dominguez Hills

Carson, CA ā€¢ 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
Education
Psychology
Liberal Arts
Law Enforcement

Top 10 hardest universities to get into for sergeants

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

Some great schools for sergeants 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 sergeants 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 ā€¢ Private

Admissions Rate

19%

SAT Average

1,466

Website

www.northeastern.edu

Address

360 Huntington Ave, 110CH, Boston, MA 02115

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $57,800 per year

Net Price: $31,855 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 19.34%
SAT Average - 1466
ACT Average - 33
Most Popular Majors
Electrical Engineering
Nursing
Law
Communication
Political Science

2. Boston University

Boston, MA ā€¢ 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
Education
Communication
Computer Science
Law

3. George Washington University, The

Washington, DC ā€¢ 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
Education
Nursing
Law
Political Science
Business

4. SUNY at Binghamton

Vestal, NY ā€¢ 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
Accounting
Psychology
Nursing
Computer Science
Business

5. University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA ā€¢ 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
Electrical Engineering
Communication

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

The easiest schools for sergeants 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 sergeant 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 sergeants.

1. Notre Dame College

Cleveland, OH ā€¢ 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
Nursing
Business
Psychology
Law Enforcement

2. Nyack College

New York, NY ā€¢ 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
Human Resources Management
Education
Nursing

3. Gwynedd Mercy University

Gwynedd Valley, PA ā€¢ 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
Nursing
Education
Business
Law Enforcement
Criminal Justice

4. Wayland Baptist University

Plainview, TX ā€¢ 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
Law Enforcement
Criminal Justice

5. Presentation College

Aberdeen, SD ā€¢ Private

Admissions Rate

97%

SAT Average

1,050

Website

www.presentation.edu

Address

1500 N Main, Aberdeen, SD 57401

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $38,600 per year

Net Price: $20,699 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 96.56%
SAT Average - 1050
ACT Average - 21
Most Popular Majors
Nursing
Communication
Law Enforcement
Criminal Justice
Psychology

Average sergeant salary by education level

According to our data, sergeants with a Master's degree earn the highest average salary, at $58,607 annually. Sergeants with a Bachelor's degree earn an average annual salary of $55,245.
Sergeant education level
ascdesc
Sergeant salary
ascdesc
Master's Degree$58,607
High School Diploma or Less$44,944
Bachelor's Degree$55,245
Some College/ Associate Degree$47,128

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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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