9781422274859

THE COLLEGE QUESTION Many people see college as the best, if not the only, way to find a stable, well- paying career. This is part of the reason that in 2018, nearly seven out of every ten students in the United States who graduated from high school went on to attend college, according to the U.S. Department of Labor (USDL). But unlike many occupations, you do not have to earn a college degree to be eligible to attend the police academy. Although some departments require that applicants have at least a two-year college degree, many only require a high school diploma.

Police officers patrol Times Square in New York City.

So should you earn a college diploma to better prepare yourself for a career in law enforcement? The answer varies for each person. A college diploma will be useful if you want to get promoted or work in a special unit, but you don’t need one to take advantage of these opportunities. Some people want to get to work as a police officer as soon as possible and don’t want to be saddled with a lot of college debt (money owed to a person, company, or organization).

The World of Law Enforcement

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