Introduction to Criminology
Self-paced online Introduction to Criminology course (Criminology 150). NCCRS recommends 3 semester credits; each college decides how it applies them.
See the course →IllinoisPublic safety
How many college credits do you need to be a police officer in Illinois?
By the team. Checked 15 Nov 2026.
The short answer
The college credits to be a police officer in Illinois depend on the agency. The Illinois State Police asks for an associate degree or 60 college credit hours with a C average or better from an accredited institution, with waivers for qualifying veterans and experienced officers. Chicago and other local departments set their own rules, so read each posting and ask in writing.
The Illinois State Police answer: 60 hours
For trooper cadets, the Merit Board's eligibility list is clear: an associate degree or 60 college credit hours with a C average or better from an accredited institution. Sixty semester hours is roughly two years of full-time college, or twenty 3-credit courses.
Those hours also lower the minimum age. Applicants must be 21, or 20 if they already have an associate degree or at least 60 college credit hours.
Waivers
The education rule may be waived for qualifying military veterans and for active law enforcement officers with three or more years of service. The page does not list every detail of what qualifies, so ask an ISP recruiter in writing whether your service counts and what documents to bring. If you qualify, college hours can still help later with promotion and specialist roles.
Local departments set their own rules
City, county and campus departments hire under their own rules, and education requirements vary from a high school diploma to college hours or a degree. We could not confirm the current Chicago Police requirement at an official source, so we do not state a figure for Chicago here. Read the department's current posting and ask its recruiting office in writing.
- Read the current hiring posting, not an old article
- Note any credit-hour, degree or grade requirement
- Ask about waivers for military or prior service
- Get the answer in writing
Counting the hours you already have
Gather transcripts from every college you attended, including dual-credit courses from high school. Add up the credit hours and check your grade average, since the State Police asks for a C average or better. Quarter hours are usually converted to semester hours at two thirds, but ask the recruiter how they will count yours.
If you are close to 60, list exactly how many hours remain and which courses you plan to take, then send that list to a recruiter. A clear written plan gets a clearer answer than a general question about online credit.
Closing the gap
If you are short of 60, general courses fill the gap quickly. Criminology, psychology, sociology, English composition and ethics are useful for police work and fit most associate degree plans. Our courses are ACE-recommended or NCCRS-recommended and reach the Merit Board via a college transcript once a college posts them. UPI Study is not a college and is not accredited, so ask the college and a recruiter in writing first.
TESU, UoPeople and Newlane are partner colleges that consider ACE-recommended or NCCRS-recommended credit.
Plan around the class timeline
Each cadet class has its own deadlines, testing events and timeline, published on the current class page. Work back from the application deadline: finish courses early, allow time for the college to post credit, and order an official transcript so it is ready when you submit your documents.
What to ask in writing
Before you enrol
Ask an Illinois State Police recruiter, or the hiring office of your local department, in writing whether your planned college hours meet its education rule, and ask the college in writing which courses it will post, before you enrol.
UPI Study is not a college and is not accredited. ACE and NCCRS review our courses and recommend credit; a college decides whether to give that credit and records it on its own transcript.
ACE and NCCRS have over 2,100 cooperating colleges that will consider accepting credits; the final decision is with the universities.
Questions people ask
Is an associate degree required for the Illinois State Police?
Not on its own. The Merit Board asks for an associate degree or 60 college credit hours with a C average or better from an accredited institution, and it may waive the rule for qualifying veterans and experienced officers.
Do dual-credit hours from high school count?
They are college credit on a college transcript, so they usually add to your total. Ask an ISP recruiter in writing how your dual-credit hours will be counted before you rely on them.
What if my grade average is below C?
The State Police asks for a C average or better across the hours. Strong grades in new courses can raise your average; ask a recruiter in writing how the average is calculated for your transcripts.
Courses that fit
ACE-recommended or NCCRS-recommended courses, studied online at your own pace.
Introduction to Psychology
Self-paced online Introduction to Psychology course (Psychology 110). ACE and NCCRS recommend 3 semester credits; each college decides how it applies them.
See the course →
English Composition 1
Self-paced online English Composition 1 course (ENG 101). NCCRS recommends 3 semester credits; each college decides how it applies them.
See the course →Start when you have it in writing
Criminology, psychology, sociology and writing are on PRO. Ask the college and a recruiter in writing first.
Sources
- Illinois State Police Merit Board: Cadet applicant process (illinoistrooper.com, linked from isp.illinois.gov) (official)Education / Experience: Associate Degree or 60 college credit hours with a C average or better from an accredited institution; may be waived for qualifying military veterans or active law enforcement officers with three or more years of service. Age: 21, or 20 with an Associate Degree or at least 60 college credit hours. US citizen, no felony conviction, valid driver's license, accept assignment anywhere in Illinois. Process: application, PFIT and same-day online Recruitment Examination (70 or higher enters the eligibility pool), documents, background, interview, screening, 30-week Academy. Checked on 15 Nov 2026.