Tuition
- 26 credit hours
- Missouri residents: $290 per credit hour
- Non‑residents: $580 per credit hour
- Lion Pride Tuition Discount provides in‑state rates to students from AR, KS, OK, IL, IA, TN, KY, NE, and all Texas counties.
Estimated Total Costs
- In‑State Tuition: $7,540
- Estimated Total: $8,700
- Includes $1,325 lab + certification fee
- Out‑of‑State Tuition: $15,080
- Estimated Total: $16,405
- Includes $1,325 lab fee + $125 certification fee
Additional Requirements & Fees
Personal medical insurance is required for all cadets.
Physical exam:
- May be completed by your own physician (cost varies)
- Or through MSSU’s Health Center for $25
- Bring the physician’s release form included in your packet
Fingerprint background check:
All costs are subject to change.
Once hired by a law enforcement agency the officer will be required to complete a minimum of 24 hours of continuing education per year to renew their license.
Two hours of continuing education must be completed in each of the four core curricula areas: Legal Studies, Technical Studies, Interpersonal Perspectives, and Skill Development in Firearms. The remaining 16 hours may be completed within any of the four curricula areas. Peace officers must also receive one (1) hour of Racial Profiling, one (1) hour of De-escalation, and one (1) hour of Implicit Bias training per year as part of their continuing education requirement. The Racial Profiling, Implicit Bias, and De-escalation training are part of the required 24 hours, not in addition to it.
Peace officers who are not commissioned but want to maintain their peace officer licenses must complete the mandated continuing law enforcement education requirements. Meeting the continuing education requirements will not prevent the expiration of the officer’s license, if the officer is not commissioned for five consecutive years.
The Law Enforcement Academy and Continuing Education Department at Missouri Southern State University is an “Approved Provider”, and Law Enforcement Officers can receive POST training hours through various trainings provided at or by the department.
More information on CLEE requirements can be found here: https://dps.mo.gov/dir/programs/post/edrequirements.php
The Missouri Southern State University Law Enforcement Academy is certified by the Missouri Department of Public Safety to provide a basic law enforcement academy in Missouri. The Academy provides students with the training required to become eligible to be licensed peace officers in the State of Missouri.
Upon completion of the Law Enforcement Academy applicants that meet Missouri POST certification requirements will be eligible to take the Missouri Peace Officer Certification and Licensing Examination. The certification and licensing examination is a 200-point objective examination administered by the Missouri Department of Public Safety the last week of the Law Enforcement Academy. For further information regarding the Missouri Peace Officer Certification and Licensing Examination you may visit the Department of Public Safety website at www.dps.mo.gov/dir/programs/post/.
Students who successfully complete the 600-Hour Certified Law Enforcement Academy at Missouri Southern State University, pass the Missouri Peace Officer Certification and Licensing Examination, and meet certification requirements for a Peace Officer in Missouri receive a Class A License as a Peace Officer in Missouri. A Peace Officer License does not empower you with the authority to arrest or enforce any of the laws of the State of Missouri. This will only occur after you have been employed by a law enforcement agency and commissioned by that agency. A Class A License is valid for a period of five years. If a person is not employed as a Peace Officer within five years of receiving their licenses it expires.
