Criminal Justice Degree Schools Welcomes You

Criminal Justice Degree Schools has the resources and relationships you need to find the best criminal justice schools and associated criminal justice degrees to launch your criminal justice career.

What can I do with a Degree in Criminal Justice?

A criminal justice education 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.

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. The online criminal justice degree programs listed at criminaljusticedegreeschools.com 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*

 State Overall Employment
Returns To Peak By		 Overall Employment
Outlook Grade		 CrimJ Employment
Returns To Peak By		 CrimJ Employment
Outlook Grade
US Total 12/01/12 average 12/1/2011 average
Alabama 9/1/2012 average 6/1/2010 excellent
Alaska 6/1/2010 excellent 6/1/2010 excellent
Arizona 12/1/2013 below average 12/1/2013 below average
Arkansas 6/1/2012 very good 6/1/2010 excellent
California 3/1/2014 below average 6/1/2013 average
Colorado 6/1/2012 good 6/1/2010 good
Connecticut 12/1/2013 below average 12/1/2013 below average
Delaware 12/1/2012 average 6/1/2010 excellent
District of Columbia 3/1/2010 excellent 6/1/2010 excellent
Florida 6/1/2013 below average 6/1/2012 average-good
Georgia 3/1/2013 average-below average 9/1/2011 average-good
Hawaii 6/1/2013 average 6/1/2014 average
Idaho 3/1/2013 average 3/1/2011 good
Illinois 12/1/2014 below average 9/1/2011 very good
Indiana 9/1/2014 below average 12/1/2011 very good
Iowa 12/1/2013 good 3/1/2011 very good
Kansas 12/1/2012 average 3/1/2012 average
Kentucky 12/1/2012 average 12/1/2011 average
Louisiana 12/1/2011 good 12/1/2011 good
Maine 3/1/2012 good 3/1/2014 average-below average
Maryland 3/1/2012 good 9/1/2012 average
Massachusetts 3/1/2012 good 3/1/2012 average
Michigan 12/1/2025 poor 6/1/2014 below average
Minnesota 9/1/2012 average 6/1/2012 good
Mississippi 6/1/2013 below average 6/1/2012 average
Missouri 3/1/2013 average-below average 6/1/2010 excellent
Montana 12/1/2013 average 12/1/2010 excellent
Nebraska 3/1/2012 good 6/1/2010 excellent
Nevada 6/1/2014 below average 12/1/2014 below average
New Hampshire 12/1/2012 good 6/1/2010 excellent
New Jersey 9/1/2013 below average 12/1/2013 below average
New Mexico 3/1/2012 good 6/1/2010 excellent
New York 9/1/2012 average 12/1/2011 good
North Carolina 3/1/2012 good 6/1/2010 excellent
North Dakota 3/1/2011 excellent 12/1/2011 very good
Ohio 3/1/2014 below average 6/1/2013 below average
Oklahoma 9/1/2013 average-good 12/1/2013 average-good
Oregon 9/1/2013 average-below average 6/1/2010 excellent
Pennsylvania 3/1/2013 average-below average 9/1/2012 average
Rhode Island 3/1/2014 below average 9/1/2013 below average
South Carolina 3/1/2012 good 6/1/2010 excellent
South Dakota 6/1/2012 good 12/1/2011 very good
Tennessee 9/1/2013 average-below average 6/1/2010 excellent
Texas 12/1/2011 excellent 6/1/2010 excellent
Utah 6/1/2013 average 6/1/2010 excellent
Vermont 3/1/2013 average 6/1/2014 average
Virginia 6/1/2012 good 9/1/2012 good
Washington 12/1/2012 average 6/1/2012 average
West Virginia 12/1/2012 average 12/1/2012 average
Wisconsin 6/1/2014 below average 12/1/2011 very good
Wyoming 3/1/2013 average 6/1/2010 excellent

* = 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. Overall, criminal justice careers are mostly tied to Federal, State and Local government budget, hiring and replacement (retirement, turnover) needs. The good news is that during the downturn, Federal Stimulus and the need to offset private sector job loss usually means relatively better prospects for government, and hence, criminal justice career prospects. But, this 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.

Criminal Justice Schools By State