How To Become a Police Officer for Free

American police departments saw employment decline sharply after 2020, but hiring has climbed steadily since 2021. Agencies surveyed by the Police Executive Research Forum reported staffing increases across departments of every size in 2025, bringing overall numbers back to where they stood in 2022. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects employment of law enforcement careers to grow 3% from 2024 to 2034 — about as fast as the average across all occupations — with roughly 62,200 openings each year over the decade.

People looking to become police officers have opportunities to start at little to no cost. Police academy training and two-year criminal justice degrees aren’t typically free on their own, but many departments cover academy costs entirely for recruits they hire, and you can reduce remaining expenses with scholarships, military service education benefits, or other types of financial aid.

Tips To Becoming a Police Officer With Little to No Cost

Most people can't become police officers without spending any money, but several options can at least reduce your total costs. Aspiring police officers can access free money programs (i.e., grants and scholarships) and training opportunities.

1. Join a Police Cadet Program

Police cadet programs offer paid, hands-on entry points into law enforcement for people who aren’t yet eligible or ready to enter an academy. Age requirements vary widely by agency — the NYPD Cadet Corps, for example, accepts applicants between 18 and 33. Police cadets receive basic training for skills essential to law enforcement officers, including gun safety, writing and filing reports, and ethics.

Generally, a cadet must have a high school diploma or GED, pass a background check, and have or be able to get a driver's license. These programs can help you network with your local police department and develop skills to make you a good police officer candidate.

Cadet programs typically combine physical fitness training, field experience, and other hands-on skill development that strengthens your application when you enter the hiring process. Some also carry direct financial benefits: NYPD cadets can receive up to $20,000 in tuition assistance, paid out across up to four semesters, which doesn’t have to be repaid after completing two years of service as a New York City police officer.

2. Enlist in the Military

Enlisting in the military has many advantages for aspiring police officers, including financial and training benefits. One of the biggest advantages is the military education programs, like Tuition Assistance and the GI Bill programs. These programs provide active-duty service members and veterans with financial assistance for qualifying higher education and training programs, like the police academy.

Additionally, there are military roles with a focus on law enforcement. Military law enforcement is different than civilian positions in some ways but the skills you learn in one of these positions can help prepare you to attend a police academy or cadet program with a solid foundation.

3. Discover Scholarship Opportunities

Paying for police academy training or a criminal justice degree isn't too different from paying for other degree programs or vocational training. There are multiple scholarship programs designed specifically for aspiring police officers.

POAT Scholarships

The Police Officer Assistance Trust (POAT) offers seven scholarships each year, including the Paul Janosky Criminal Justice Scholarship, a $2,000 award for students studying criminal justice. These awards are regionally restricted: applicants generally must be high school seniors or full-time college students in Miami-Dade, Broward, or Monroe County, and must be the son or daughter of a sworn officer serving a law enforcement agency in Miami-Dade County. A 2.5 minimum GPA applies. If you have a parent in South Florida law enforcement, these are worth a close look; if not, check whether your own state has a comparable police-family fund, as many do.

The WIFLE Scholarship Fund

Women in Federal Law Enforcement (WIFLE) offers two scholarship tracks each year to encourage women to enter the field, with a particular focus on federal law enforcement careers. The general WIFLE Scholarship is open to non-members; the WIFLE Members Scholarship is reserved for WIFLE members and member-sponsored applicants, and awards $1,500, followed by an automatic $1,500 the next year without reapplying.

Applicants must attend an accredited four-year college or university full-time — or a community college with a documented plan to transfer to a four-year program — and must have completed at least one full academic year. A 3.0 minimum GPA, a criminal justice or related major, and U.S. citizenship are all required. Students pursuing associate degrees alone aren’t eligible, but graduate and postgraduate students are.

4. Get Hired First, Then Let the Department Pay for Your Training

The most reliable way to attend a police academy for free is to be hired before you go. Many departments sponsor their recruits: the agency covers academy training costs and pays a full salary and benefits from the first day of class, in exchange for a commitment to serve after graduation.

The New York City Police Department, for instance, pays a starting salary of $58,580, and full salary and benefits are available on the first day of academy training. The Los Angeles Police Department advertises more than $70,000 a year while recruits are still in its academy. Pay scales differ enormously by region and cost of living, but the structure is common nationwide, including at smaller municipal and county agencies.

Sponsored academy training often comes with additional benefits worth factoring in. NYPD academy training is worth up to 36 college credits toward a degree, and some departments offer signing bonuses, housing or rent assistance, education incentive pay, or eligibility for federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness.

The tradeoff is that the hiring process comes first, and it is demanding — written exams, physical fitness testing, a background investigation, medical and psychological screening, and often an interview panel. The process can take six months to a year. The upside is that you aren’t paying tuition and waiting to be hired afterward; you’re earning a paycheck while you train.

Start by checking the recruitment page of the departments you’d actually want to work for. Agency websites are the only reliable source for current salary figures, hiring incentives, and whether that department sponsors recruits or expects you to arrive pre-certified. Requirements differ meaningfully from state to state.

5. Work for a Police Department as a Civilian

Police departments have more career opportunities than just police officers. These roles can help prepare you to work as a police officer while giving you a broader look at all the positions that make a department run.

Administrative Assistant

Many industries have roles for administrative assistants that have common responsibilities, but there are also industry-specific skills that will be needed. These positions will perform tasks like scheduling, document filing, and more.

Aspiring police officers can use this role to learn additional information about this career while receiving pay that can be used to attend a police academy program.

Records Clerk

Police work involves a lot of document writing and filing. Reports must be completed after different types of police action, and records clerks help file these reports and keep track of other records both physically and digitally. If you plan to become a police officer, this position will help you develop a better understanding of the various paperwork and records used.

Community Outreach Coordinator

Police departments often hire community outreach coordinators to help them connect with their communities. One of the biggest challenges to modern police departments is the changing public perception of the profession. Community outreach coordinators bridge the gaps between police departments and the people they serve and protect. This role helps aspiring police officers learn about the broader role of police officers beyond criminal justice and how they fit into their community.

6. Utilize GI Bill Benefits If You Are a Veteran

Veterans who meet minimum service requirements have access to several forms of the GI Bill. These benefits cover college tuition and supplies, and they can also apply to vocational training programs — including police academies — but only when the specific academy has been approved by the VA as a non-college degree program. Approval isn’t automatic, so confirm an academy’s status before enrolling. Note too that the Post-9/11 GI Bill covers tuition but not related costs like uniforms, gear, or ammunition. Veterans understand the value of public safety and will have many skills that help them transition to civilian law enforcement after their service ends.

7. Network With Law Enforcement Professionals

Reach out to your local police department and make networking connections with officers. Professionals in the field can give you insights into how they got their positions, including additional information you didn't know about. Try to meet with various officers as this will provide multiple perspectives on law enforcement and how to become an officer.

8. Consider Community College Programs

A community college program is a good way to earn or start a college degree due to affordable costs, some states even offer free community college to eligible students. Look into your state's programs to see if you can attend community college for free and if you can use those credits towards a criminal justice program or other relevant degree for law enforcement.

Find Free Educational Resources

Several pathways exist to allow civilians to enter the police force for free. Check out Learn.org to explore other resources on free education.