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Why This Matters

  • THE U.S. NEEDS 20,600 MORE POLICE OFFICERS BY 2031

    Population growth and continual changes in legislation mean the police and detective workforce is expected to grow 3% in the next ten years.

  • POLICE AND DETECTIVES EARN $66,020

    The need for highly trained police officers and detectives means they can earn almost $5,000 more, on average, than other law enforcement workers.

  • FORGE A UNIQUE CAREER PATH FROM A VARIETY OF OPTIONS

    A degree in criminal justice opens the path to a number of careers, including police officer, criminal investigator, and federal agent. A bachelor’s degree qualifies you for higher-paying, strategic job roles.

Our Research

This list features some of the best criminal justice degree programs at top colleges across the country. Each school featured is a nonprofit, accredited institution — either public or private — with a high standard of academic quality for post-secondary institutions.

We evaluated each school’s program on tuition costs, admission, retention and graduation rates, faculty, and reputation as well as the student resources provided for on-campus students. Then we calculated the Intelligent Score on a scale of 0 to 100. Read more about our ranking methodology.

Next, we compared this comprehensive list of criminal justice programs to a list of aggregated college rankings from reputable publications like the U.S. News & World Report among others to simplify a student’s college search. We pored through these rankings so students don’t have to.

The Top 50 Criminal Justice Degree Programs

Best Criminal Justice Degree Programs 2023
01
Intelligent Pick
John Jay College of Criminal Justice
01
Most Affordable
Sam Houston State University
01
Best in the Southeast
George Mason University
01
Best Tuition Discounts
University of New Haven
01
Best Concentration Options
Saint Leo University
01
Best Internship Program
Florida State University
01
Best for Criminalistics
Tiffin University
01
Best Online Program
Eastern Kentucky University
01
Best Accelerated Program
University of Missouri at St. Louis
01
Best in the Midwest
UC College of Education Criminal Justice and Human Services
01

Lake Superior State University
01

Utica College
01

Arizona State University at Downtown Phoenix
01

Madonna University
01

Rutgers University
01

Keiser University
01

Anna Maria College
01

St. Ambrose University
01

University of Nebraska Omaha
01

University of Central Oklahoma
01

Lewis University
01

Temple University
01

Chaminade University of Honolulu
01

University of Central Florida
01

Washburn University
01

Georgia State University
01

Indiana University College of Arts and Sciences
01

Cedar Crest College
01

University of Delaware
01

Adrian College
01

University of South Carolina
01

University of Southern Mississippi
01

Old Dominion University
01

Upper Iowa University
01

University of Arkansas at Little Rock
01

Mercyhurst University
01

UMass Lowell
01

University of Louisville
01

Florida International University
01

Quincy University
01

Oakland University
01

North Dakota State University
01

Bethel University at Tennessee
01

University of North Dakota
01

Roger Williams University
01

NSU Florida Fischler College of Education and School of Criminal Justice
01

Suffolk University
01

St. Edward's University
01

Texas State University
01

Siena Heights University

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What You Should Know About This Degree

A bachelor’s in criminal justice prepares you for a career in a range of sectors, including social services, government agencies, nonprofits, and public and private research agencies. If you’re looking for a role as a forensic technician or a federal agent, you need additional specialized training in natural sciences and federal law enforcement, respectively.

Though crime rates are falling on state and federal levels, growing population size and increased demand for public safety services mean the need for police officers and detectives is expected to grow by 3% until 2031. Still, funding for these jobs depends on government budgets, and available jobs can vary per location and year. A few things can improve your chances of getting a job in this sector, such as speaking a foreign language, having prior military or investigative experience, or holding a bachelor’s degree.

As a police officer or criminal investigator, you need to have a license to carry a firearm and a certificate in first aid and CPR. These are usually easily earned on the job, although some states might ask you to obtain them on your own. If you’d like to work as a law enforcement agent at the federal level, you need to undergo additional training, usually at the U.S. Marine Corps base in Quantico, Virginia or a Federal Law Enforcement Training Center.

What’s Next?

Here are a couple of questions to consider when researching bachelor’s degrees in criminal justice:

  • Am I eligible for this program? Anyone who has completed their high school education can apply for a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, although some universities may require minimum SAT or ACT scores. Likewise, certain programs require a minimum of 2.0 GPA or higher. For some law enforcement careers, you must be a U.S. citizen, so consider this when making your long-term career choice.
  • How long does it take to complete this online degree? All degrees require at least 120 credits, yet their duration can vary from state to state. Some universities provide intensive online programs that can be completed within a year; however, most states require four years of undergraduate education for a bachelor’s degree. Most universities are very flexible with their curriculum and method of training delivery, so you should find a program that suits your specific needs easily.

Most universities offer financial aid for talented students if you apply early through their admissions office. You can also apply for federal student aid, although the deadline for these scholarships may vary from state to state and college to college.


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