Public Safety & Government
Border Patrol / CBP Agent
Federal law enforcement at U.S. borders. Paid Academy, recruitment bonuses up to $20k, fast retirement (FLEO) at 50.
no-degree-requiredhigh-paypaid-trainingstable
Salary progression
What you'll earn over your career
$60k
$95k
$145k
Entry
Mid-career
Senior
10-yr outlook
+3%
+3% (Average)
Open positions
2,500
Estimated nationwide
Entry paths
How to get here
Multiple paths lead to this career. Compare time, cost, online vs in-person delivery, and program links.
Fastest ROI
Apprenticeship In Person
CBP Academy (paid, 6 months)
Time
6 months Academy (paid)
Cost
Paid / Free
Top programs
Up to $20k recruitment incentives. Spanish-speakers prioritized.
Affiliate disclosure: Some of the program links above may be affiliate partnerships. If you enroll, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. We only link to programs we have actually reviewed against our methodology. See our methodology for how we evaluate schools.
Attainability breakdown
What are the odds
you actually get there?
Six factors weighted to estimate the realistic probability a motivated person reaches this outcome. Higher = more attainable.
70
Composite
Attainability Score
Editorial estimate
Editorial estimate — based on best-available qualitative info. We're upgrading individual factors to published statistics where available.
- Educational difficultyHow hard the required schooling is to complete7520%
- Licensing & examsPass rates and difficulty of required exams7015%
- Entry-job competitionHow many applicants per open entry-level role7020%
- Career stay-rateInverse of early-career attrition / industry exit6015%
- Market demandOpenings vs available workforce8015%
- Alternative pathsHow many viable ways exist to enter the field6515%
Recommended schools
Schools known for this path
Verified high-ROI programs aligned with Border Patrol / CBP Agent. Direct, transparent links to each school's official program page. See the full ROI shortlist →
UF Online
Online, public research university
Tuition
$111.92 / credit (in-state)
Same UF diploma, online delivery. $129.18/cr with required fees.
Programs for Border Patrol / CBP Agent
Cost vs. Salary
Estimated cost
120 cr × $129/cr (in-state) ≈ $15.5K
Total cost
$18,000
Starting pay
$50,000
Police Officer
Break-even
14 mo
Time for surplus earnings (above $35,000 living costs) to pay tuition back.
10-yr net (median pay)
+$731,100
Salary data: BLS Occupational Outlook. Living-cost floor ($35K) is a national approximation. Your numbers will vary by state, employer, and aid.
Quick math
If you took the fastest path…
You'd train for
6 months Academy (paid)
You'd spend (avg)
Paid / Free
Starting salary
$60,000
Mid-career
$95,000
Read more
Articles & resources
Sources: BLS OOH 2024 · CBP