The Dallas Police Department is changing its approach to address a growing staffing shortage. In fall 2024, voters passed a measure requiring the department to maintain at least 4,000 officers, far more than its current numbers. To attract more applicants, the department has removed its college credit requirement for recruits.
This move aligns Dallas with over 80% of U.S. law enforcement agencies, which only require a high school diploma, according to a 2017 national survey.
“In a perfect world, would you want police officers to be college-educated? Absolutely, but this is where policing is now,” said Chuck Wexler, executive director of the Police Executive Research Forum. “There simply is more demand for qualified police officers than there is a supply.”
Research suggests college-educated officers often use less force, face fewer complaints, and write better reports. However, experts note these findings aren’t conclusive, and education requirements can be a barrier, especially with rising tuition costs. “We have people with master’s degrees, bachelor’s degrees, and associate’s that fail out of our academy. It’s really about applying yourself,” said Dallas Police spokesperson Luis Mata.
Dallas joins other cities like Chicago, Memphis, and New Orleans in loosening requirements. The NYPD recently reduced its education mandate from 60 to 24 college credits, while California lawmakers are debating flexible options, including partial degree programs or military service in place of college.
Despite application spikes in cities that removed degree requirements, hiring challenges often persist. In Philadelphia, applications surged after dropping the college rule, but staffing levels barely improved. New Orleans saw a similar trend.
Still, Dallas officials believe lowering the barrier could open doors for capable candidates who might otherwise be excluded. “Somebody with a high school diploma should be able to access the occupation,” said Brian Marvel of the Peace Officers Research Association of California.
