Best College Careers For Felons (Complete 2024 Guide)
While there are many different college careers for felons, you should think about what jobs will be available to you after you finish your degree.
The right college degree or technical training can greatly boost your chances of getting a high paying job if you have a felony.
For example, ex felons have a very hard time getting jobs in the medical field, such as doctors, nurses, physician’s assistants, etc.
Most jobs in the fields of psychiatry and psychology are also rarely available, with the exception of a substance abuse counselor.
Similarly jobs in education, finance, as well as law are generally not open to felons. The majority of licensing boards will not grant a license to a felon, even if you have the appropriate degree.
Top college degrees for felons
If you have a felony conviction and are considering pursuing a higher education so you can get a better paying job, choose your career carefully.
This guide will help you figure out what type of education you should pursue, colleges you can apply to, as well as possible career options that don’t require a degree or professional training.
First – answer the following questions:
– Did you steal money or property? If so, you can’t do accounting, or any other finance/banking related job.
– Did you drink an drive and kill someone? Well, here you have to rule out degrees that lead to jobs where you have to drive people around.
The main thing to remember is that most companies will want you to be a back-end employee. This means that you will most likely not be given responsibilities where you would have to deal directly with customers, sensitive information, or money.
Of course you should also think about your own talents, current skills and interests. For example, if you have limited mathematical abilities, you probably should not pursue high-tech jobs.
Computer science / programming
One of the best degrees you can get is computer science. There is a real shortage and a huge demand for quality developers and software engineers.
This is especially the case if you live on the East Coast (Boston, New York, DC, Maryland), on the West Coast (Seattle, San Francisco, Silicon Valley, Los Angeles, San Jose), or in any major metropolitan area around USA.
Software developers can get starting salaries at $60K or more, even with a degree from a 2nd tier school (most state colleges/universities and even community colleges). Overall, the IT sector offers the most high paying jobs for felons.
Given your criminal background, it may be possible to get a job by negotiating a slightly lower starting salary, if the employer “closes their eyes” on your conviction.
Mobile computing and app development
This is one of the most rapidly growing niches within the broad field of computer science. More and more people around the world have smart phones and tables, so there is an ever growing demand for programmers that deal with mobile data and services.
Developing new apps (including games) for both Android and Apple platforms is a particularly hot field.
Today, app developers easily earn salaries of $70,000-85,000 a year, or more.
Data base support and analysis
This is another highly lucrative degree with a very promising job outlook. More and more companies require dedicated data base analysts, cloud storage programmers and specialists. As governments, and corporations rely more and more on cloud-based data, there will be a growing demand for professionals who can provide support and run all related operations.
Salaries in this sector start at $45,000-55,000 a year , but senior data base analysts can earn as much as $130,000-160,000 a year.
Game design
You probably love playing video games on your phone or computer, right? Well, someone created and coded this game and got paid for it:) This is another very popular field in software development, and jobs will continue to increase in the coming years.
Starting salaries range from $65,000-80,000 per year.
Freelance work (no background checks, work from home)
The good news is that even if you can’t find a job at a company, having programming skills opens a ton of freelance job opportunities online. You can do contracting / outsourcing work on platforms like Upwork / Odesk / Elance, Guru.com and many other similar short term job market places.
Most “employers” on these websites PREFER American developers over Asian / Indian / Eastern European programmers. But Americans are often MUCH more expensive. So as a developer in the US, you can charge lower prices in the beginning, and then build up your resume/portfolio and raise your fees.
Best of all – there are NO background checks when you do outsource / freelancing work!
Here is Entrepreneur.com top 15 freelance websites list for you to see where you can find freelance jobs.
Missing from this list is Fiverr, but I would not recommend this, as it’s mostly commodity work with low payouts.
Note 1 – Upwork, Elance and Odesk is now the same company.
Note 2 – I’m not a fan of Freelancer.com – they are not very good in conflict resolution, and have some B/S recurring charges that can wipe out you earnings … so be aware of those if you want to give it a try. But I’d recommend to stay away.
See our full guide on how to become a freelancer:
Freelancing has NO BACKGROUND checks!
I’ve personally used Upwork/Elance and Freelancer to hire people to do work for me … I would strongly suggest Upwork, out of these two. But definitely also check out other sites on the list!
If you don’t have the skills, you can obviously take necessary college courses / certificate programs or learn the skills you need with very inexpensive video tutorials on Udemy.
Engineering
Both computer and mechanical engineering are very promising degrees for someone with a felony. You can eventually work in a factory, programming and building robots instead of operating them, making a decent income.
These jobs are currently in very high demand, and the more you learn, the more companies will want you to work for them.
Once again – you can do outsourced work as an engineer on the same websites as programmers use (Upwork / Odesk / etc).
Professional engineers get average pay of $65,000-90,000 per year to start, and usually earn over $110,000 after working for over five years.
Robotics and automation services
This is a growing sub-field in engineering, because in the 21st century the use of robots and automation is becoming a part of everyday life. Most companies use robots and smart machines to cut down on the costs of human labor and increase efficiency. Consequently, there is a huge demand for people who will design these machines, and provide technical support on the ground.
This field has a very large job pool, with salaries starting at $50,000 per year and all the way to $120,000 for high-end engineers.
Environmental conservation
If math and computers are not your cup of tea, you can consider a job in the booming environmental sector.
Since there is more awareness about the need to preserve our environment and work out protocols for conservation, companies are hiring professionals to spearhead these efforts. There are both private and government jobs available.
Average pay is $45,000-60,000 per year.
Architecture
Becoming an architect is a great option if you are interested in construction and design. There are tracks for commercial or residential architecture and many niches within this broad field. Starting salaries are $60,000-75,000 and the job outlook is very good, especially in large metropolitan areas.
Car / truck / equipment mechanic
A mechanic is more of a trade / specialized degree or training, but many community colleges offer these programs. Mechanic jobs pay anywhere from $15 to 30 per hour.
Since there is little to no customer interaction, many companies are willing to hire felons – especially privately owned garages and repair shops, as well as small manufacturers.
So this is an excellent line of work for felons, with “better” pay and many employment options!
The main thing to keep in mind is that you CAN get a degree, if you wish. Education or training will help you get further in life. Just make sure you have a clear plan for the type of work you want to pursue after you are done with your education.
Careers felons should avoid
While someone with a felony CAN get the following degrees, finding a job in one of these fields will be nearly impossible.
Also, keep in mind that if you take out a loan to pay for college, you will need to pay it back, and that will be very hard if you don’t get the job you were hoping for.
- Medical/Hospitals/Pharmacy
- Hospitality
- Education
- Sports training
- Law
- Finance/banking
- Massage / Therapy / etc
- Any line of work with customer/client interaction
Colleges accepting felons
Once you figure out what type of degree you want to get, the next step is which college you should attend. Many felons worry that their criminal background will prevent them from being accepted into an accredited college. The good news is that its not true and most colleges, technical and trade schools do accept people with felonies.
Some colleges ask about an applicant’s criminal background on the application, others avoid this question all together. If your college application has this question, you should be honest about your past. Most schools will not turn you down on the basis of previous convictions.
Admissions officers review each application as a whole and make a determination on a case by case basis. Many institutions of higher learning believe that felons deserve a second chance and are willing to enroll them into an appropriate program.
However, if your criminal history consists of serious violence, assault, sexual misdemeanors and drug sales you will not be admitted to an on-campus program at many colleges.
If you are worried about being turned down because of your felony, consider online college degrees and certificate programs. These are more lenient in terms of the candidates they accept.
In addition, online education offers more flexibility in class scheduling, you don’t have to be physically present on campus, and a lot of studying happens at your own pace.
Moreover, online degrees are often a lot cheaper than the same degree you would get from a college or university. If you plan to pursue a bachelor’s degree, expect to pay $12,000-18,000 per year for an accredited online program.
Top accredited online schools
SNHU (Southern New Hampshire University)
Strayer University
Ashford University
Walden University
Oregon Institute of Technology
Saint Leo University
LeTorneau University
Elmhurst College
King University
Alternative Work Options For Felons Without A College Degree
If the prospect of getting a professional degree does not excite you, there are many jobs an ex-felon can get without going to college.
Check out our list of over 200 companies that hire felons without prior experience or education. There is usually minimal on-the-job training provided, many part-time and full-time opportunities and you can start right away.
The best places to look for these jobs are: Craigslist, Indeed.com and Ziprecruiter.com. If you are wondering about how much a particular job pays, as well as its pros and cons, a good place to look for this information is on Glassdoor.com.
Also, its a good idea to sign up with local temp agencies, as they can also help felons find good jobs.
Out of prison, your goal should be to get into a job, whatever it may be. Once you start working and have a steady pay check coming in you will get a major self-esteem boost and worry a lot less about money (especially if you have a spouse and kids).
At that point, you can catch your breath and start setting long-term career goals for yourself. Even if you don’t want to go to college or get a professional degree today, this may change one or two years from now.
If this article has helped you out in anyway please share it on your social media, or email it to others who are struggling to get work. Together we can help felons find out what college degrees and jobs they should pursue.
About The Author
Joe Hunter
Joe is the founder of HireFelons.org. Having had friends and co-workers who have a felony conviction, Joe Hunter decided to use his expert knowledge in starting a successful business to launch HireFelons.org and teach as many former felons as possible how to earn a decent income, when finding a traditional job is simply not an option.
What about Veterinary Assistant degrees? Its felony theft from 2015.
That’s going to be a very hard field to get into at least I know it is with possession convictions. That’s what I wanted to do and was so let down when I found out I couldn’t
I’m a doctor with a record don’t be deceived or discouraged I’ve worked in hospitals for years and now I also own a successful practice
I needed this i have a felony prostitution after my mom passed i went mad but 5 yrs later im a cna only applied for 1 job but no go…now what inTexas
Well let me come work for you. MPA in Healthcare Adminstration and doors slammed in my face repeatedly. Nearly 10 years passed since…. It’s horrible
If you don’t mind me asking, what was your felony? I have a drug possession charge and before getting addicted to drugs I was studying biomedical engineering. I’ve been clean 3 years and have received treatment. I’m hoping to finish my degree. I’ve always wanted to work in that field or the medical field, but am feeling discouraged as I now have a felony.
So if I go to school will you hire me because I’m looking to attend school to do something in the medical
Just wondering! I hear people on here saying they had felonys 7 to 10 years plus long ? Have you all tried to apply for jobs and passed a background check because the company didn’t go back over 7 or 10 years ? Have anyone just applied anywhere and they didn’t go back that far ! It seems to be the right move for people with felonys over 7 years
I’ve been fired from 2 jobs in the past because when my background came back the felonies from 20 years ago still came up and weren’t acceptable because I would have access to client’s personal information. The background checks were only supposed to go back 7 years yet they still pulled up felonies from 1995 and before.
What about florist degrees
I just got out of prison in October 2019 for voluntary manslaughter. I’m 28 years old and have since been working full time and am now attending a university. Unfortunately, at the job I work at I was told that although I was the first choice to be made the new manager, that my criminal record precludes me from being promoted. I’m a little bummed out at the moment but I’m still going to complete my degree in business administration. Things will change for the better, and if they don’t we’ll adapt and succeed anyway. We just have to show society that we learned from our mistakes, are better for it, and will outwork anyone.
Some company will eventually take a shot on me because I will do everything possible to make it happen, and when they do they will never regret it. Sending positive energy to all of you guys. Don’t give up. We’re human. We fucked up, but let’s be honest. We all needed what we got and we are better for having gone through it.
God bless you guys. I’m out.
Thank you for that awesome msg! So proud of you and God bless!!
Which college did you go to? I want to get my bachelor’s in business I have 2 felonies and a ged. Idk what to do
I’m 44 now, I ve been on my own since 17, my first job data entry turned in accounting and office management. After 13 yrs company closes, My experience landed me temp jobs in accounting. Between jobs I chose a different path. Some may look at it as street hustle to me it was a job I was my own boss very successful for 10+ years. My kids had a good life at my expense…After a few jail terms, I’m back home dont know what to do with myself, kids grown up, off to college doing very well, if I did something right in life it’s my kids. Grateful for that. But now I have no motivation, Im scared to work in accounting again not only because I’m a felon, but honestly I was unhappy, board depressed. I didn’t choose that career it just happened. I cant seem to find anything of interest, I like to get my hands dirty under the hood of a car, usually troubleshooting turns it to me changing fuel pump, or something I like that, it became a hobby of mine for years… I feel I’m to old to go to school… yes I’m 44 BUT young at heart. And just lost at what direction I need to go… all these backgrounds checks I have never had to even think about, now it’s just getting to me… rags to riches back to rags is hard to digest
Anyone know of any CNAs with criminal record? Is it ever hard moving up. I’m going on 3 years of excellent behavior and can’t seem to get anywhere besides getting my GED done and all my court issues. What degrees are available for felons? What is possible.
As a felon we are pretty much screwed when it comes to making a good living, by enlarge most of us will never land a job making over 50k a year the day needs to come when we are ALL treated equally under the law and are not discriminated against we are literally the last and largest population that can legally be discriminated against when it comes to jobs hopefully someday soon that will change if not…lol eventually there will be more felons than there are law abiding citizens and the resulting outcome won’t be pretty
From one felon to another, don’t let the world bring you to your knees. I work 40 hrs a week as a short order cook. With tips I am earning 50k a year. I’m not getting rich, but I’m taking care of my family, staying sober, and raising my kids. You CAN find work, earn a degree, have your dream job. I believe in you! Start believing in yourself.
I don’t know anyone that wants a career in short order chef or waiting tables; maybe owning the restaurant or a chain of them…
I am a felon, have a BSN was a RN for 16 years prior to catching this felony (not drug related) and I will never be a nurse again. It’s so hard for me to put that into words- but it is true. Luckily I’m smart and tho I am almost 40 years old I will go back to school and get a degree in one of the many many fields that one can work with a felonious criminal history.
Engineering
Environment sciences
Sales rep- medical, pharma, big company devices
All of these pay at least 75k a year starting out.
Not to mention- what do most felons do?? START YOUR OWN BUSINESS!!
I know it’s not always easy and resources can be lacking; but it is doable- and profitable.
I am currently beginning online college classes I have felony theft charges but I am going to college for an accounting degree and I will once I graduate be getting a job in accounting I don’t care what anyone thinks they know or anything I’m bound and determined to live out my life long goal of gettting degree in accounting and put it to good use
Thats so awesome. I have a 10 year old theft frlony and I wsto do accounting. Have you gotten any information about your probability to get a job in accounting? Please any information would be greatly a
What online school accepted you
Ty for that comment.. At times when your a felon you get down on yourself seeing someone with a positive outlook helps so much. I too work 30/40 a week I make minimum wage but I am enticing school. I refuse to allow one bad choice define who I am and I encourage all those people out there who have also made a poor life decision to dust off your feet and stand strong! Only you can improve your life! Do not let anyone tell you no or discourage your dreams! Remember God is always with and behind you!! Look to him for strength and guidance and your life will change!! Mine has!
Ok so here is my situation. I have 2 Felony counts of identity theft and forgery on my record from 2013, in august, so just about exactly 7 years ago, as well as 2 misdemeanors from like a year prior to that.
I got out of jail, went to a rehab for 6 months, and have been working since then. Up until recently I have been working two jobs continuously, from being a janitor at the mall, a pizza joint, taking pictures of kids with Santa, and even was the mall Easter bunny at one point. For the last 4 years I’ve worked at a gas station, I’m putting in 55 hours a week, and making $17.25 an hour at the moment, which is GREAT for a gas station for sure. I know that I should be grateful but I’m ready for more, a career, somewhere that I can retire.
It’s been 7 years, isn’t that about the cut off time for long most employers look? What are my options? Can I get certified in anything? Anyone on here have any advise at all for me? I’m not afraid of working hard; I need something with better pay, retirement, health benefits. I need someone that will allow me to provide a better life for my 3 kids and I. Failure is not an option for me, and I know that I will figure it out, but any advice you may have for would be very highly appreciated!
I was released from prison December, 18th of 2019. My last conviction was in 2015 and now after serving the majority of my time I have been released on parole. I have been doing great keeping my head up even though I have faced many challenges. I am wanting to attend school and enjoy my profession. I read these comments and don’t know, what comments are true and honestly I feel discouraged by many. There Is one thing that I know for certain and that is that persistence pays off.
Jeremy the fact that you believe the last line in your comment give you the advantage over most. I am a convicted felon and I got my nursing license when EVERYONE said that it would be impossible for me to obtain it. Moreover; I also have no issues getting a job. Time, persistence, and a plan is your best friend. Make sure that you have professionals that will write letters of recommendation for you. Never give up.
Ms. Kimberly Smart thank you for sharing. I have wanted to get my nursing degree for some time now. I would love to here more about your story. If you have time jimenezmojica787 @gmail.com
That’s amazing, I lost mine hence the felony charges
I was arrested and charge with a felony battery and aggravated assault. The charges was dropped. I wanted to continue my nursing career and I’m afraid the nursing board won’t let me. I have no idea what to do.
Kimberly, would you please share where u obtained ur nursing degree and were you able to be licensed.?
I thought with a felony, you could not obtain a license. Also, in what capacity were you hired? What type of job. Thank you for your help
hey kimberly im a single mom of 3 and would love to know if you can share where you got your license for nursing please email me: smaria0229 @ gmail.com
What school did you go too and how were you able to Obtain your licencing
I had a conviction for theft felony level in Georgia but u had 1st offenders and now I have been accepted into graduate school to become a social worker.
I’m 40 with multiple felonies from burglary to drugs what is really available to me fed up
This country is over with suicide.
What do you mean?
Allow him to start out at a community college and complete his two years there and transfer to a four year college of his choice.
My young brother has serious mental illness and always refused treatment. He became very violent and got arrested yesterday. Because he is intelligent, I know that he will learn his lesson and realize that he needs help. I just hope that he can still go to college because that was what he wanted. 🙁
I’d recommend that some of you who are pursuing an education look into the Formerly Incarcerated College Graduate Network. I returned to school slightly dejected and found the group which consists of FI individuals who have gone on to earn their Ph.D.s, Ed.Ds, Ed.S, and J.D.s. Several are practicing attorneys in a plethora of states, college professors, clinical psychologist, a city mayor, and a congressional candidate.
I am actively applying to graduate programs, and several members have connected me with staff and professors at the schools I am interested in to assist in building a competitive application and attempt to secure a graduate research assistantship.
http://www.ficgn.org/
How do I apply? I would like to get my doctorate. I have 2 masters but next month will get a felony charge. Can you help me?
Some of this information is discouraging and simply false. Can’t work in banking, hospitality, or any job with client interaction? Absolutely untrue.
Dawn, you are wrong – read comments from others, to see that you CAN!
Thank you Dawn for feeling the need to come on this forum with your negativity. I’m assuming you don’t have an felony and that’s great. The individuals on this forum have done it and want to inspire others to do the same. You stated in your comment the information is discouraging and simply false, well i’m sorry but the only one being discouraging is you.
You are wrong. I am a 911 Dispatcher making $60k+ per year.
I am happy for you Leslie. I’m in Chicago and have been free from the justice system for 17 years now. I still struggle to get employment and can’t seem to get past $16.50 an hour with a Masters Degree. Yea I get real bummed at times cause I feel like at 53 I should be so much further career wise considering the degrees I have and skills. Any information and encouragement is needed and welcomed! God Bless!!
True. I have a felony record for Assault and was able to get licensed in Massage Therapy and work in it after the fact, with minimal effort. And have, at this point, for many years.
I have 1 felony which i was not incarcerated 4. Ive been turned down 10 jobs in the last 9 months. Even jobs that were “felon friendly” i cant go to school cuz i have to apply for financial aid. Which i cant get due to having a felony. This is BS. I am 21. I want to get my life together and do better but having to go through this day after day. Yeah right.
You can get financial aid as long as you weren’t enrolled in college and receiving financial aid when you were arrested for the felony.
I am a pharmacist in AK, HI, OK, OR and WA. Please hire me. Drschumatyahoodotcom. I live in Tulsa and am willing to relocate.
I’m highly interested in becoming a vet technician in PA. I’ve been told that you don’t have to be certified in PA to be one. I am a convicted felon, 2008 conspiracy to deliver heroin and most recently in 2015 non dui/dwi related homicide by vehicle. Any advice or insight on me pursuing this career path would be great. Would it be worth it?
I live in Washington state. I have one felony from 12 years ago, identity theft, and another one also 12 years old but it’s Federal wire fraud. Due to their age, would they ever prevent me from getting a law degree? That was my dream since 5th grade. Then I married someone right out of hs that was toxic, causing me to make very bad choices to provide for my family.
My husband did 23 years in prison for 1st degree murder and was released last year 2019. He completed his paralegal degree while in prison and was able to start working in a law firm December 2019. He is now being sent to school to complete his law degree by the company’s lawyers so that he can practice law as a lawyer. Being a felon you are able to work in a law office the only type of law you can not defend is criminal law cases. You can do family, civil, and cases like that. It is better for you if you live in a major city there are more opportunities and lawyers that will hire you.
Please can u tell me how he was hired. I have a paralegal degree and i felony. Please help
I appreciate the effort but you should not believe the part that says you should avoid any job with direct client interactions or massage therapy. Why? I was an HVAC tech for 6 years and I have obtaining property by false Pretense (no property was received…but whatever…I’ve still got the charge) & Sell & Deliver of a Schedule II substance. It has been over 10 years since the conviction. I was given people’s credit card info on a daily basis and in their homes around all people hold dear. I was hired happily and I proved to be the honest hardworking person that I truly am. If you can get the interview and explain yourself and your UNIQUE situation that makes ALL the difference. It was clear to my employer that I am no criminal. You never know till you try….so try.
Has anyone considered starting their own business?
I want to start my own buisness I just dont know what kind of buisness. I am a convicted felon and it is over 10 years old. I have worked in the Medical field as a medical assistant but now I am out of work due to the company I was working for shut down out of nowhere. So now I am searching for a job praying that I will find something. So it is possible to work in the medical field in clinics cause not all clinics do background checks. But I do know how it feels be judged because of your background. So dont give up because I’m not.
That is a great idea. I started my own LLC and I pay Zen Business $30 a month to handle any paperwork issues that may occur. You would think that employers would catch on that it can actually be a strong advantage to hire a felon (depending on the individual of course). Most feel bad about their record and will work hard to prove they’re not a product of their charges. & plus don’t employers get a tax break for hiring felons?
Good luck getting an engineering job with a felony. It’s possible if you are the top of your class though however It’s extremely competitive and will probably take 7 years with all the math pre requisites. Also, you can’t do Free Lance engineering without a professional engineers license PE which comes after getting a degree and five years work experience, doing otherwise may result in another felony.