Public Safety Degree Programs in Youngstown, OH (2026)

Quick answer: The Youngstown metro employs about 750 police and sheriff’s patrol officers (BLS OEWS, May 2025), and licensing is set at the state level, through your state peace officer standards and training commission.

Licensing

Licensing is a state matter, not a city one. Sworn roles are certified by a state commission rather than by a degree: peace officers through a POST commission and an academy, firefighters through a fire academy and state certification. A degree satisfies the educational requirement many agencies attach to command rank and to federal hiring, and it is what makes the civilian side of this field reachable, but it certifies nobody.

See the Ohio licensing and pay overview for the statewide picture, and confirm current requirements with your state peace officer standards and training commission.

Schools Near You

Schools in our database near this area, ranked by BOC Score. The list favors schools with a related program on record, but program availability and delivery format change, so confirm directly with any school that it currently offers the program you want.

How we rank schools – graduation rate, graduate earnings, cost and retention. Advertising plays no part.

This page lists 10 schools within 44 miles, nearest first in 25-mile distance bands, then by BOC Score inside each band with the highest at the top. 10 of them carry a score.

Location / proximity to this page
Defines the local group
Graduation rate how often students finish
30%
Median earnings, 10 years after entry whether it paid off
25%
Average net price what students actually pay after aid; lower ranks higher
20%
Retention rate how many come back for year two
15%
Fully online availability whether you can study while working
10%

Scores come from IPEDS (2024) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings are for all graduates of a school, not one program, so treat them as a signal about the institution rather than about this subject. Sponsored listings are paid placements and are labelled as such; they are separate from this ranking and never change it. Read the full methodology.

#1

Youngstown State University

Youngstown, OH 0.4 miles away BOC Score 48.5
Tuition $11,113 in-state / $11,473 out-of-state
Contact
Key stats
  • Admission rate: 84.5%
  • Graduation rate: 50.5%
  • Programs offered: 27
  • Annual completions: 545
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $56,047 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#2

Kent State University at Trumbull

Warren, OH 15.8 miles away BOC Score 42.6
Tuition $7,492 in-state / $17,342 out-of-state
Contact
Key stats
  • Graduation rate: 32.2%
  • Programs offered: 14
  • Annual completions: 105
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $56,839 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

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#3

Walsh University

North Canton, OH 40.8 miles away BOC Score 60.4
Tuition $35,745
Contact
Key stats
  • Admission rate: 70.7%
  • Graduation rate: 58.5%
  • Programs offered: 13
  • Annual completions: 156
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $63,410 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#4

Kent State University at Kent

Kent, OH 36.4 miles away BOC Score 53.9
Tuition $13,232 in-state / $23,082 out-of-state
Contact
Key stats
  • Admission rate: 86.3%
  • Graduation rate: 63.7%
  • Programs offered: 30
  • Annual completions: 1002
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $56,839 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

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#5

University of Mount Union

Alliance, OH 27.7 miles away BOC Score 53.6
Tuition $36,600
Contact
Key stats
  • Admission rate: 78.2%
  • Graduation rate: 58.7%
  • Programs offered: 7
  • Annual completions: 85
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $57,955 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#6

Malone University

Canton, OH 42.6 miles away BOC Score 48.7
Tuition $37,160
Contact
Key stats
  • Admission rate: 75.9%
  • Graduation rate: 45.0%
  • Programs offered: 8
  • Annual completions: 51
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $51,485 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

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#7

Stark State College

North Canton, OH 44.3 miles away BOC Score 46.3
Tuition $4,790 in-state / $7,886 out-of-state
Contact
Key stats
  • Graduation rate: 23.0%
  • Programs offered: 62
  • Annual completions: 2012
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $49,440 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

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#9

Kent State University at East Liverpool

East Liverpool, OH 33.5 miles away BOC Score 35.9
Tuition $7,492 in-state / $17,342 out-of-state
Contact
Key stats
  • Graduation rate: 26.3%
  • Programs offered: 9
  • Annual completions: 15
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $56,839 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#10

Herzing University-Akron

Akron, OH 44.4 miles away BOC Score 34.4
Tuition $13,450
Contact
  • 1600 South Arlington Street, Suite 100 Akron, OH 44306-3931
  • (330) 724-1600
Key stats
  • Admission rate: 94.6%
  • Graduation rate: 18.9%
  • Programs offered: 10
  • Annual completions: 81
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $58,575 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

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What Police and Sheriff’s Patrol Officers Earn in Youngstown

Police and Sheriff’s Patrol Officers in the Youngstown area earn a median $59,310 per year, below the national median of $76,210 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

Public Safety Pay in Youngstown, OH

MetricYoungstown metroOhioNational
Median annual wage$59,310$77,020$76,210
10th percentile$46,820$51,110$47,510
25th percentile$51,390$62,700$59,290
75th percentile$64,880$90,390$97,600
90th percentile$79,180$103,210$115,120
Employment75023,430670,520
Location quotient1.09-1.00

Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. Metro figures cover the Youngstown-Warren, OH metropolitan statistical area.

What the Numbers Say About This Market

The Youngstown median of $59,310 is below the national median of $76,210, and below the Ohio statewide median of $77,020 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

The metro’s location quotient of 1.09 means police and sheriff’s patrol officers are more concentrated here than in the average U.S. labor market (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Higher concentration generally means more employers competing for the same people, and an easier job change later.

Public safety employment tracks the number and size of agencies in a metro, plus any state or federal offices based there.

Other Ohio Metro Areas

Metro areaMedian annual wageEmployment
Cleveland$80,2805,200
Columbus$100,8905,190
Cincinnati$80,4103,900
Akron$74,6501,610
Dayton$76,3101,440
Toledo$73,6501,230
Canton$64,340510
Sandusky$70,550320

Figures: BLS OEWS, May 2025.


Wage and employment figures describe the occupation as measured by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, not the graduates of any particular program, and individual outcomes may vary. Licensing rules change; confirm current requirements with the responsible state board before enrolling.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do police and sheriff's patrol officers make in Youngstown?

The median annual wage for police and sheriff's patrol officers in the Youngstown-Warren, OH metro area is $59,310, below the national median of $76,210 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

How many police and sheriff's patrol officers work in the Youngstown area?

The Youngstown-Warren, OH metro area employs about 750 police and sheriff's patrol officers (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

Do police and sheriff's patrol officers in Youngstown need a license?

Licensing is handled at state level rather than by city. Sworn roles are certified by a state commission rather than by a degree: peace officers through a POST commission and an academy, firefighters through a fire academy and state certification. A degree satisfies the educational requirement many agencies attach to command rank and to federal hiring, and it is what makes the civilian side of this field reachable, but it certifies nobody. Confirm current requirements with your state peace officer standards and training commission.

Can I study public safety online from Youngstown?

The academic portion of these programs is widely available online for working adults, while labs, clinical hours or supervised field work are completed in person. Check that the program's accreditation satisfies your state peace officer standards and training commission.

Is Youngstown a better market than the rest of Ohio?

The Youngstown metro median is $59,310 against a statewide median of $77,020 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Compare that gap with the difference in living costs before treating it as a raise.

Sources

  • U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 - Police and Sheriff’s Patrol Officers (SOC 33-3051), national, state and metropolitan estimates
  • U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2024-34
  • U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook - education and licensing requirements

About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.