by our College Data Analytics TeamA degree in Law Enforcement Investigation & Interviewing covers Law Enforcement Investigation And Interviewing. A Program Focusing On The Principles, Procedures, Techniques, Legal Concerns, And Problems Associated With A Criminal Investigation. Includes Instruction In Administrative Law And Procedures, Courtroom Evidence Management And Preparation, Case Presentation And Court Testimony, Description And Identification, State And Federal Criminal Law And Procedures, Informant And Suspect Rights, Officer Liability, Informant And Witness Management, Victim Awareness, Tactical Interviewing, Psychology, Criminal Investigation Methods And Procedures, Report Writing And Documentation, Investigative Techniques, And Case Management. Continue reading for the essential details every law enforcement investigation & interviewing student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering law enforcement investigation & interviewing programs.
Across the country, law enforcement investigation & interviewing draws strong interest, with 300 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Law Enforcement Investigation & Interviewing Schools ranking analyzes these 15 schools to determine the best overall colleges for law enforcement investigation & interviewing students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of law enforcement investigation & interviewing programs later in this article.
Studies in Law Enforcement Investigation & Interviewing develop a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations law enforcement investigation & interviewing graduates commonly enter.
The skill set emphasized by a law enforcement investigation & interviewing program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
According to O*NET, a law enforcement investigation & interviewing major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several law enforcement investigation & interviewing degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 18 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 43 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 36 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 203 |
People currently working in careers related to law enforcement investigation & interviewing tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| High school diploma or equivalent | 30.7% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 23.4% |
| Some college courses | 16.9% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 13.1% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 10.9% |
| Master’s degree | 2.7% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 1.6% |
| Doctoral degree | 0.6% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.2% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in law enforcement investigation & interviewing careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
A degree in law enforcement investigation & interviewing opens doors to a variety of career paths. Here are some of the most common occupations related to law enforcement investigation & interviewing.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to law enforcement investigation & interviewing.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Police Identification and Records Officers | 532,882 | 7.1% |
| Detectives and Criminal Investigators | 469,816 | 14.5% |
| Police and Sheriff’s Patrol Officers | 449,456 | 2.0% |
| Customs and Border Protection Officers | 349,535 | -1.2% |
| Intelligence Analysts | 313,116 | 11.7% |
| Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Teachers, Postsecondary | 52,113 | 12.0% |
Federal data tracks median earnings of law enforcement investigation & interviewing graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. These numbers tend to grow as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $40,812 |
| 4 years | $44,073 |
| 5 years | $49,815 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for law enforcement investigation & interviewing graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers law enforcement investigation & interviewing grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Teachers, Postsecondary | $91,449 |
| Intelligence Analysts | $65,483 |
| Detectives and Criminal Investigators | $64,492 |
| Police Identification and Records Officers | $61,847 |
| Customs and Border Protection Officers | $50,191 |
| Police and Sheriff’s Patrol Officers | $49,631 |
With 15 different law enforcement investigation & interviewing programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased law enforcement investigation & interviewing school rankings to help you.
Those considering law enforcement investigation & interviewing, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Criminal Justice/Safety Studies | 41,895 |
| Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement Administration | 26,997 |
| Criminal Justice/Police Science | 20,474 |
| Corrections | 4,967 |
| Corrections and Criminal Justice, Other | 4,327 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | 2,175 |
| Securities Services Administration/Management | 662 |
| Security and Loss Prevention Services | 494 |
| Corrections Administration | 97 |
| Juvenile Corrections | 68 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
