Criminal Justice Degree Schools Welcomes You
What can I do with a Criminal Justice Degree?
A criminal justice degree is your first step toward a rewarding career in law enforcement, homeland security, private security, paralegal studies or forensics. Although the field continues to grow and expand, the Bureau of Labor Statistics says applicants should expect competition for state and Federal positions. With more people competing for these good-paying jobs, a criminal justice degree will set you apart during the hiring process and prepare you for success.
Top Online Criminal Justice Schools
University of Cincinnati
Popular Degrees:
- Master of Science Degree in Criminal Justice, MS - Criminal Justice
University of Phoenix
Popular Degrees:
- Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice Administration
- Master of Science in Administration of Justice and Security
- Associate of Arts in Criminal Justice
- Bachelor of Science in Psychology
- Bachelor of Science in Organizational Security Management
- Master of Public Administration
American InterContinental University
Popular Degrees:
- Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice (BSCJ) - Special Populations
- Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice (BSCJ) - Law Enforcement
- Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice (BSCJ) - Forensic Science
Criminal Justice Careers Outlook
The criminal justice career sector is one of the fastest growing in the United States. Across the nation, there is a heightened focus on law enforcement, immigration, public safety and security, which has created a high demand for criminal justice school graduates. This growth is continuing into the next decade, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, which estimates that police and detective employment will grow 10 percent through 2018. The bottom line: high-paying jobs are available now and into the future in the field of criminal justice.
Colleges and universities offer a number of criminal justice degrees and training programs, several of them designed specifically for working professionals. A criminal justice education can conveniently be obtained through online criminal justice degree programs, which provide specialized training and education at your fingertips — complete your classes online, at your own pace, and graduate with the knowledge you need to begin your job search or advance your criminal justice career.
Criminal Justice Employment Outlook By State 1, 2
| State | Overall Employment Returns To Peak By |
Overall Employment Outlook Grade |
Gov’t Employment Returns To Peak By |
Gov’t Employment Outlook Grade |
| US Total | 6/1/2014 | average | 3/1/2014 | average |
| Alabama | 6/1/2014 | above average | 3/1/2014 | average |
| Alaska | 6/1/2011 | excellent | 6/1/2011 | excellent |
| Arizona | 12/1/2014 | below average | 12/1/2014 | below average |
| Arkansas | 6/1/2013 | very good | 6/1/2011 | excellent |
| California | 3/1/2015 | below average | 6/1/2014 | average |
| Colorado | 6/1/2013 | good | 6/1/2011 | good |
| Connecticut | 12/1/2014 | below average | 12/1/2014 | below average |
| Delaware | 12/1/2013 | average | 6/1/2011 | excellent |
| District of Columbia | 3/1/2011 | excellent | 6/1/2011 | excellent |
| Florida | 6/1/2014 | below average | 6/1/2013 | average-good |
| Georgia | 3/1/2014 | average-below average | 9/1/2012 | average-good |
| Hawaii | 6/1/2014 | average | 6/1/2015 | average |
| Idaho | 3/1/2014 | average | 3/1/2012 | good |
| Illinois | 12/1/2015 | below average | 9/1/2012 | very good |
| Indiana | 9/1/2015 | below average | 12/1/2012 | very good |
| Iowa | 12/1/2014 | good | 3/1/2012 | very good |
| Kansas | 12/1/2013 | average | 3/1/2013 | average |
| Kentucky | 12/1/2013 | average | 12/1/2012 | average |
| Louisiana | 12/1/2012 | good | 12/1/2012 | good |
| Maine | 3/1/2013 | good | 3/1/2015 | average-below average |
| Maryland | 3/1/2013 | good | 9/1/2013 | average |
| Massachusetts | 3/1/2013 | good | 3/1/2013 | average |
| Michigan | 12/1/2025 | poor | 6/1/2015 | below average |
| Minnesota | 9/1/2013 | average | 6/1/2013 | good |
| Mississippi | 6/1/2014 | below average | 6/1/2013 | average |
| Missouri | 3/1/2014 | average-below average | 6/1/2011 | excellent |
| Montana | 12/1/2014 | average | 12/1/2011 | excellent |
| Nebraska | 3/1/2013 | good | 6/1/2011 | excellent |
| Nevada | 6/1/2015 | below average | 12/1/2015 | below average |
| New Hampshire | 12/1/2013 | good | 6/1/2011 | excellent |
| New Jersey | 9/1/2014 | below average | 12/1/2014 | below average |
| New Mexico | 3/1/2013 | good | 6/1/2011 | excellent |
| New York | 9/1/2013 | average | 12/1/2012 | good |
| North Carolina | 3/1/2013 | good | 6/1/2011 | excellent |
| North Dakota | 3/1/2012 | excellent | 12/1/2012 | very good |
| Ohio | 3/1/2015 | below average | 6/1/2014 | below average |
| Oklahoma | 9/1/2014 | average-good | 12/1/2014 | average-good |
| Oregon | 9/1/2014 | average-below average | 6/1/2011 | excellent |
| Pennsylvania | 3/1/2014 | average-below average | 9/1/2013 | average |
| Rhode Island | 3/1/2015 | below average | 9/1/2014 | below average |
| South Carolina | 3/1/2013 | good | 6/1/2011 | excellent |
| South Dakota | 6/1/2013 | good | 12/1/2012 | very good |
| Tennessee | 9/1/2014 | average-below average | 6/1/2011 | excellent |
| Texas | 12/1/2012 | excellent | 6/1/2011 | excellent |
| Utah | 6/1/2014 | average | 6/1/2011 | excellent |
| Vermont | 3/1/2014 | average | 6/1/2015 | average |
| Virginia | 6/1/2013 | good | 9/1/2013 | good |
| Washington | 12/1/2013 | average | 6/1/2013 | average |
| West Virginia | 12/1/2013 | average | 12/1/2013 | average |
| Wisconsin | 6/1/2015 | below average | 12/1/2012 | very good |
| Wyoming | 3/1/2014 | average | 6/1/2011 | excellent |
(2) The CJDS career outlook was completed by a trained economist with a MBA from Chicago’s Booth School of Business. The analysis looked at multitude of sources, trends and factors to compile its outlook for each state’s overall and criminal justice employment prospects outlook. We hope this effort helps you in your assessment. Government budgets for operations and hiring and demographic-related factors drive hiring in criminal justice. Early in the downturn, Federal Stimulus and the need to offset private sector job loss usually meant relatively better prospects for government related hiring and stability. With the advent of the pressure on state budgets and pressures on government unions via state legislations (consider Wisconsin and Ohio), the picture has since clouded. The aging population will ensure turnover especially in the rougher jobs. The story varies dramatically state-by-state and you should leverage our analysis to help you make the best decision — be that investing in criminal justice degree in your area or looking for an area to move where prospects are best. No matter the area, a criminal justice degree will provide an edge in a competitive labor market.
