Questions Frequently Asked About Online Programs That Meet FBI Degree Requirements

The FBI is one of the best-known yet least understood law enforcement organizations in the world. The movies don’t even come close to capturing the day-to-day reality of how the agency operates or how its agents are recruited and trained.

Qualifying for a special agent assignment with the FBI comes with strict requirements and a vetting process that will uncover things about you even your mother doesn’t know. But there is no secrecy when it comes to the degree needed for FBI special agent roles.

We’ve got straightforward answers to the questions people most frequently ask when earning an online degree to qualify for a position with one of the most elite national security organizations on the planet.

QUICK FACTS: FBI Education Requirements
✓ Minimum: Bachelor’s degree from an accredited U.S. institution
✓ Online degree programs fully accepted
✓ 2 years work experience (1 year with master’s)
✓ Best FBI majors: Criminal Justice, Accounting, Computer Science, Psychology
✓ FBI training program: 5 months at Quantico after hiring

What are the Requirements for a Role in the Bureau?

The instructions for getting into the FBI are no mystery: the Bureau is always hiring and is completely straightforward about what they are looking for. Any role with the Bureau starts with meeting basic eligibility requirements:

• Be a United States citizen
• Have no felony convictions on your record
• Must not be involved with organizations designed to overthrow the U.S. government
• Comply with the FBI pre-screening drug policy
• All tax payments, child support payments, and student loan repayments must be in good standing
• Male candidates must be registered with the Selective Service system

Special agent candidates have some additional standards to meet:

• Hold a bachelor’s degree and two years of professional work experience

OR

• Hold an advanced degree (master’s or higher) and at least one year of professional work experience

AND

• Be at least 23 but no older than 36 (with some exceptions for vets or federal law enforcement officers)
• Hold a valid driver’s license
• Meet physical fitness standards
• Pass a background check for Top Secret/Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI) security clearance

You’ll need to pass a urinalysis and undergo a background investigation to verify your compliance.

If you are open to working in another law enforcement and intelligence capacity, you’ll find these requirements are very similar across the board for equivalent positions in other three-letter agencies.

What is the Degree Needed for FBI Special Agent Assignments?

The FBI is known for its high educational standards for agents, with the minimum requirement being a bachelor’s degree. The degree must be from an accredited college or university in the United States. This is one of the core FBI degree requirements for special agents that has remained unchanged for many years.

At one time, all FBI majors had to be in either law and criminal justice — or in accounting, which you might be surprised to hear.  But today, a broad range of majors are accepted to address the diverse range of crimes and security threats that the Bureau deals with. This expansion of acceptable FBI degree programs reflects the evolving nature of federal law enforcement.

What is The Best Degree Major For FBI Agents?

The Bureau no longer looks for any specific degree major from special agent candidates. However, the traditional Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice or Bachelor of Science in Accounting majors are still widely accepted. There has always been a debate over the best degree for FBI agent training.

Beyond those, however, just about any degree is a fit, so long as it teaches skills and knowledge that align generally with the core competencies that special agents are expected to have. When considering FBI majors, degree fields can include:

How Long Does it Take to Complete All FBI Agent Education and Training Requirements?

Qualifying for a special agent assignment with the FBI takes a significant time investment. The minimum amount of time you can expect to invest after graduating from high school is around six to seven years. That includes four years for the required bachelor’s degree plus two years of required professional experience, with another year or so in the recruiting and vetting process. FBI agent training at the Academy will take another five months.

Most don’t proceed directly from a degree to a respectable professional position and right into the Bureau, however. For the most part, special agents are hired after several years of progressively more responsible positions in their first career, developing the kind of maturity and expertise that the rigors of special agent work demand.

Do You Need a Master’s Degree to Qualify for a Special Agent Assignment with the FBI?

No, only a bachelor’s degree is required, but a master’s cuts your required work experience in half (from two years down to one) and significantly boosts your competitiveness.

It’s also clear that a graduate-level education is common among special agents advancing in the ranks to supervisory roles and other jobs that require specialized expertise. The additional training you may get in a Master of Criminal Justice Administration or Master of Arts in Criminal Justice Leadership will boost your leadership and management skills considerably, making you a better candidate for SAC (Special Agent in Charge) roles and more senior positions.

There are also several specialist functions within the Bureau you may unlock with the right master’s degree. A Master of Science in Law Enforcement Intelligence and Analysis, for example, can help you land a slot in the coveted Directorate of Intelligence or Counterintelligence Division. Many online FBI education training programs at the graduate level focus on these specialized areas.

Will an Online Degree Be Acceptable When Applying to the FBI?

The FBI accepts college degrees as long as they are awarded by an accredited, U.S.-based college or university. Picking an online school for FBI training doesn’t make any difference. The Bureau does not discriminate between degrees awarded through traditional, on-campus studies versus online study. In fact, it doesn’t even ask on the application which format you used to earn your degree.

This means online FBI degree programs carry the same weight as traditional classroom education. The best online degree for FBI agent careers is simply the one that best fits your schedule and career goals.

How Do Online FBI Training Classes Help Me Prepare to Fulfill the Duties of a Special Agent?

Online degrees are extremely useful for many individuals pursuing a career with the FBI due to the Bureau’s hiring requirements. Online FBI programs offer unique advantages for aspiring agents. Here’s why.

In addition to requiring a bachelor’s degree, candidates must have at least two years of professional work experience (or one year if they also hold a master’s degree). Since this means that you will need to be on the job already at some point before applying, the right online FBI training program allows you to complete your education and work experience simultaneously.

Most online programs use asynchronous course delivery and flexible scheduling, allowing you to complete your coursework at any time, from anywhere. Many are also available in a part-time format, which further reduces demands on your time, allowing you to keep up with both personal and professional obligations.

Online schools for FBI training often provide the same quality education as traditional institutions, with the added benefit of allowing you to build the required professional experience while earning your degree.

What Are the Odds of Being Accepted to the FBI – Even With the Right Degree?

A study from Tulane University indicated that the Bureau typically hires fewer than 20 percent of applicants, with an acceptance rate of under 5 percent for those seeking special agent roles. That level of competition means you need more than just a degree and have to meet more than just the minimum requirements to have a shot.

However, with the right major, the right grades, the right recommendations, and the right professional experience behind you, a special agent role is well within your grasp. Your choice of FBI degree programs and subsequent performance can significantly impact your chances.

How Can I Prepare to Take on Specialist Responsibilities in the FBI?

The FBI has taken on a broad range of national security and criminal justice responsibilities over the years. That opens up many different career paths that you can prepare for by choosing the appropriate college degree. Understanding how to get into the FBI means knowing which specialty aligns with your education and experience, and your natural talents.

Some of the most common tracks for special agents include:

Counterintelligence

The Bureau is the nation’s primary defense against foreign and industrial espionage. Special agents have protected the nation’s secrets since World War II, and investigated and helped prosecute various security breaches ranging from the theft of nuclear secrets to sabotage. A Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice with a Homeland Security concentration might help you land this type of role. Many online FBI agent training programs now offer specialized tracks in this area.

Counterterrorism

Similar to counterintelligence but focused on both foreign and domestic terror threats, counterterrorism became its own specialty after September 11. Agents collect intelligence on specific threats, as well as keep tabs on organizations that might pose a threat to individuals or infrastructure.

Criminal Investigations

Long the core mission of FBI agents, criminal investigators are the agents who track down bank robbers, kidnappers, and bust up organized crime rings. A Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice with a Law Enforcement specialization delivers exactly the kind of foundation needed for these roles, combining traditional investigative techniques with modern technology and tools.

Cyber Division

One of the latest paths for special agent new hires, this division deals mainly with the rapidly expanding areas of cybercrime and cyber defense. The Bureau has adjusted to the reality that the best defense is sometimes a good offense in this field, and works closely with outside agencies like the NSA, CIA, and DOD to coordinate investigations and responses to emerging cyber threats. Online FBI education training in cybersecurity is particularly valuable here.

Intelligence

Finally, the Bureau works proactively to monitor threats and develop a better understanding of how to detect and investigate criminal enterprises in the United States and worldwide. A degree such as a Master of Science in Law Enforcement Intelligence and Analysis offers preparation for this highly specialized career path.

What is The Best Online Degree for an FBI Agent?

As you can see from the list of different special agent roles, there’s really no single correct choice when you are looking at online schools for FBI training. The degree needed for FBI agents in any of those positions can be extremely different from one another. Additionally, your existing work experience and talents will play a role in your assignments and qualifications.

The Bureau is known for evaluating prospective hires as a sum of their talents and skills—all your experience, training, and education will be taken into account. The best online degree for your FBI agent career depends on your target specialty and existing background.

Are Online FBI Programs The Best Way to Get Into The Bureau Today?

Just as there is no perfect degree, there is no perfect format to ensure you get accepted as an FBI special agent. However, online degree programs relevant to working at the FBI open up options that many candidates may not otherwise have.

The range of degree options expands dramatically when you consider online schools located outside of commuting distance. The ability for working professionals to tap into the course content of online FBI training classes at any hour of the day or night is also a major benefit. So, even though an online degree isn’t necessarily better or worse from an educational standpoint, as a practical option that unlocks your college education, you could easily say online options are the better choice for working professionals.

Other Than Special Agent, Are There Roles I Can Qualify for with My College Degree?

Not everyone in the Bureau carries a badge and gun. The FBI has approximately 14,000 special agents on staff, but employs around 40,000 people overall. That makes for a wide range of positions that you may apply for that aren’t necessarily in the special agent category.

• Intelligence Analysts – Bachelor’s minimum, master’s preferred
• Forensic Accountants – CPA often required
• Computer Scientists – BS in CS or related field
• Linguists – Fluency + bachelor’s degree
• Evidence Response Teams – Forensic science background
• Victim Specialists – Psychology or social work degrees

These roles offer competitive salaries and the same mission focus without the physical demands of special agent work.

Do You Need Law Enforcement Experience To Qualify for a Special Agent Assignment with the FBI?

You need a degree to be considered for a special agent post, and you need some professional experience after earning it, but neither the degree or the experience needs to be in law enforcement.

Although the Bureau requires that applicants for special agent positions have two years of professional work experience (or one year if you have a master’s degree), that experience can be in virtually any professional field.

The FBI is often looking for professional expertise across a wide range of areas – everything from computer science to accounting to intelligence to the sciences and even journalism. It can set you apart to have a background that is interdisciplinary in nature. So if you do happen to have an undergraduate degree and professional experience in a field outside of law enforcement, then a Master of Science in Criminal Justice might give you the best combination of training to get the Bureau’s attention. This flexibility in experience requirements makes FBI training programs accessible to professionals from many backgrounds.

Common Paths to the FBI by Background