Colorado Criminal Justice Schools

  • 32 schools offering criminal justice degrees in Colorado are in our database. (see below)
  • 16 offer associate’s degrees or certificates, 10 of them offer bachelor’s degrees and above, and 6 offer a mix of bachelor’s and master’s
  • We found 4 schools in Colorado ranked in US News and World Reports that have a criminal justice program: #31 Colorado School of Mines–Golden, CO; #42 University of Colorado Boulder–Boulder; CO #63 Colorado State University–Fort Collins, and CO #100 University of Colorado Denver–Denver, CO
  • According to Kiplinger’s, Colorado has 3 universities ranked in the top 100 for “Values in Public Colleges”, #64 Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO; #78 University of Colorado at Boulder, Boulder, CO; and #97 Colorado State University, Fort Collins
  • 10 campus-based and online schools in Colorado are available for requesting information.

Spotlight School

Liberty University
We keep our tuition affordable because it is an integral part of the overall mission for our university. The vision of our Chancellor, Jerry Falwell Jr., is to keep Liberty's Distance Learning Program affordable so as many individuals as possible can experience a Christ-centered education and become equipped for excellence, professionally as well as spiritually.

Programs:

  • BS in Criminal Justice
  • AA in Criminal Justice

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Profiles of Well Known Schools in Colorado

Colorado Technical University Online: This school offers five unique criminal justice programs: BS in Criminal Justice, a BS in Criminal Justice – Human Services, BS Criminal Justice – Homeland Security and Emergency Management, MS in Criminal Justice, and an MS in Management – Homeland Security. All students have 24-hour access to instructors and course materials, making earning a degree manageable for even the busiest individuals. To make virtual instruction reach its highest potential, Colorado Technical University Online offers CTU Mobile and CTU Podcasts so that students can keep up with material even while away from the computer. Interested individuals do not have to wait to begin their classes until the fall as the first classes begin in July.

Jones International University (Online): Jones International University is a full online university and it offers a specialized Master of Business Administration in Forensic Accounting. This 36 credit hour graduate degree involves five specialization courses: Fundamental Forensic Knowledge, Current Topics in Forensic Accounting, Auditing (I and II), and Forensic Accounting. Jones International University also has an MBA in Information Security Management – Cyber Security for those interested in risk management and corporate security. The specialization courses for this online MBA are Securing the Organization, Securing the Network, Risk Assessment and Management, Business Contingency Planning, and Penetration Testing and Ethical Hacking.

Metropolitan State College Denver: A Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice and Criminology is offered at the Metropolitan State College Denver. The Department of Criminal Justice and Criminology pursued the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences (ACJS) certification in 2006 and the standards of the certification have been applied to both the curriculum and the hiring of new faculty. Students can enhance their academic experience by becoming involved in one or more of the department student organizations; Delta Phi Omega, Delta Gamma Xi and the Cold Case Club. Department majors are also able to pursue internships and apply for financial aid through the James E. Weir Endowed Memorial Scholarship. The university prides itself on having one of the lowest tuition rates among the major campuses in Colorado.

University of Colorado at Boulder: Within the Department of Sociology at the University of Colorado at Boulder is the Graduate Program in Criminology and Deviance. The department hosts five different graduate seminars; Theories of Crime and Justice, Patterns of Criminal Behavior, Institutions of Social Control, Social Reactions to Crime, and Special Topics Seminars. Student and faculty pursue their research projects through one or more of the affiliate research centers such as the Institute of Behavioral Science (IBS), Center for the Study and Prevention of Violence (CRC), and the Social Science Data Lab. There are eight full time faculty dedicated to the Graduate Program in Criminology and Deviance who specialize in gender violence, policing democracies, youth violence, policing democracies, sentencing reforms, and drug use.

The University of Colorado at Colorado Springs: The criminal justice programs at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs resides in the School of Public Affairs where both undergraduate and graduate students can follow their ambitions. The Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice, the Masters of Science in Criminal Justice and the Criminal Justice Graduate Certificate all prepare students to draw from the multiple disciplines to study the behaviors and environments that contribute to criminal activity. The department also has the Supervisory Institute, a training program for Colorado peace officers funded by the County Sheriff of Colorado’s Office and the Colorado Association of Chiefs and Police. Also unique to UCCS is its small classrooms with the average undergraduate roster being 22 students and 11 for graduate courses.

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Colorado Criminal Justice Salary and Jobs

Occupation Number Employed Average Annual Salary
Correctional Officers and Jailers 7,400 $45,000
First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives 1,330 $88,690
Detectives and Criminal Investigators 1,740 $79,060
Police and Sheriff’s Patrol Officers 9,490 $60,780

Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics as of May 2011.

Respected leaders who have graduated from universities in Colorado

  • Colorado Springs Police Chief Peter Carey – University of Colorado at Colorado Springs, CO
  • Arapahoe County Sheriff J. Grayson Robinson – University of Colorado, CO/em>
  • Jefferson County Sheriff Ted Mink – University of Northern Colorado, CO
Police Quote: “Don’t park your patrol car on the successes of today. There are plenty of other bad guys out there that need to go to jail.” -Steve Conner, Vice President of the Colorado Homicide Investigators Association

Colorado Criminal Justice Degrees

Located where the West and Midwest meet, Colorado is one of the fastest growing states in the country. It has a good mix of local, state and federal criminal justice agencies that will generate demand for criminal justice degree holders. The quality of the criminal justice community in Colorado has contributed to the lowest violent crime rate of any Western state.

The state’s Department of Corrections is currently hiring correction officers at a number of locations throughout the state. The average salary for police and patrol officers in Colorado is $60,660.1 For many law enforcement positions, a criminal justice degree will give the applicant preferential consideration through the hiring process, as well.

The federal government has a large presence in Colorado, which is the home of the Air Force Academy. The Secret Service hires criminal investigators and the Federal Bureau of Prisons, who runs its Supermax facility in Florence, Colorado, often seeks new hires, and offers significant benefits for people who hold a degree in criminal justice. In addition, there is a need for federal law enforcement to patrol the large quantity of federally-controlled land throughout Colorado.

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Colorado’s Criminal Justice Employment Outlook 2, 3, 4, 5

At the start of 2012, Colorado’s unemployment dropped to 7.9%, and is growing back toward prior peak employment levels by Q4 2013. Government related employment, which is a good proxy for Colorado criminal justice jobs has excellent prospects as the downturn never hurt public hiring and it is projected to have a burst starting in 2013 according to the USA Today / Moody’s Analytics projections. The Occupational Supply & Demand system projects strong prospects for Police and Sheriff patrol (400 openings / 88% of individuals in this position reported having some college or a bachelor’s degree), Correctional Officers (420 annual openings / 60% of individuals in this position reported having some college or a bachelor’s degree), Detectives / Investigators / Forensic Techs (30 annual openings), Security Guards (460 annual openings) and Paralegals (140 annual openings / 88% of individuals in this position reported having some college or a bachelor’s degree). However, according the to Sunshine report, Colorado’s state budget has improved since the depth of the Downturn, but is still stressed going into 2012 although that is not impacting public hiring. We suggest requesting free information from several Colorado criminal schools to best understand your education options.

Online and Colorado Criminal Justice Schools

If you are interested in learning more about Colorado criminal justice degrees, we recommend the following accredited campus-based and online criminal justice programs for students interested in pursuing associate’s, bachelor’s and master’s degrees in the growing field of criminal justice.

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University of Phoenix
Campuses: 1Online
Popular Degrees:

  • A.A. in Criminal Justice
  • B.S in Criminal Justice Administration/Cybercrimes
  • B.S. in Criminal Justice Administration - Human Services

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Baker College Online
Campuses: 1Online
Popular Degrees:

  • Bachelor of Criminal Justice

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Keiser University
Campuses: 1Online
Popular Degrees:

  • Criminal Justice, BA
  • Criminal Justice, MA (Online Only)
  • Homeland Security, BA (Online)

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Capella University
Campuses: 1Online
Popular Degrees:

  • MS - Criminal Justice
  • PhD - Criminal Justice
  • BS - Criminal Justice

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Walden University
Campuses: 1Online
Popular Degrees:

  • B.S. in Human Services - Criminal Justice 
  • B.S. in Criminal Justice - Crime and Criminals
  • B.S. in Criminal Justice

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Kaplan University
Campuses: 1Online
Popular Degrees:

  • MS in Criminal Justice - Law
  • MS in Criminal Justice
  • BS in Criminal Justice

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Post University
Campuses: 1Online
Popular Degrees:

  • B.S. in Human Services / Criminal Justice
  • B.S. in Criminal Justice - Law Enforcement
  • B.S. in Criminal Justice

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Grand Canyon University
Campuses: 1Online
Popular Degrees:

  • B.S. in Justice Studies
  • M.S. in Criminal Justice: Legal Studies
  • M.S. in Criminal Justice: Law Enforcement

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Liberty University
Campuses: 1Online
Popular Degrees:

  • BS in Criminal Justice
  • AA in Criminal Justice

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Colorado Technical University Online
Campuses: 1Online
Popular Degrees:

  • Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice
  • Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice: Human Services
  • Master of Science in Criminal Justice


Tip: If you don’t live near a campus-based school that offers a program of interest, consider an online degree or a university in an adjacent state (Utah, Wyoming, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, and Arizona).

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Student Review: “University of Phoenix has been a pleasant, albeit confusing experience. This college isn’t any run-of-the-mill “degree farm” where you can just buy a degree, you actually have to keep up with the work quite consistently and are even forced to participate in class discussion which can be a mixture of intelligent and belligerent exchanges. The main concern that became apparent was the lack of direction; this isn’t implying that the faculty doesn’t help, but if you don’t ask a question, it’s unlikely you’ll ever figure out any other way, which can lead to some misunderstandings. As well as this, an underwhelming challenge is apparent; however, this can be counteracted with a bit of willpower and extra studying on one’s own behalf in order to better understand information, as well as retain information for a longer period, which can be vital in the actual real-world work environment. All-in-all what can be said is that University of Phoenix is a bit too expensive and confusing for some or many, but past that is a wealth of information, opportunity, and relaxed study paces in most cases; this is all dependent on a student’s willingness to perform however.” -Osama D., student at University of Phoenix
Student Review: “My experience with Colorado Technical University Online has been a driving factor in bettering myself and my life. I spent seven years as a volunteer fire fighter, learning all kinds of different aspects of firefighting and emergency management, so Colorado Technical University Online’s Bachelor of Science in Homeland Security and Emergency Management was a natural choice for me. My instructors have, for the most part, been very knowledgeable and helpful. There have been the rare instructors that been less helpful, or have lacked in the information they have shared, but the overwhelming majority have been nothing but professional. I would encourage anyone considering an online education to give Colorado Technical University Online a chance.” -Desiree G., student at Colorado Technical University Online

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Directory of Colorado Universities Offering Criminal Justice Degrees

 

Directory of Colorado Universities Offering Criminal Justice Degrees

Aims Community College (Greeley, CO)
Criminal Justice Degrees Offered:
Associate of Applied Science | Criminal Justice
Associate of Arts | Criminal Justice
Certificate | Basic Peace Officer Academy

Anthem College (Aurora, CO)
Criminal Justice Degrees Offered:
Associate of Applied Science | Criminal Justice
Associate of Science | Criminal Justice (online program)
Bachelor of Science | Criminal Justice (online program)

Arapahoe Community College (Littleton, CO)
Criminal Justice Degrees Offered:
Associate of Science | Criminal Justice (online program)
Certificate | Crime Analysis
Certificate | Criminal Justice (online program)
Certificate | Emergency Dispatch
Certificate | Law Enforcement Academy

Argosy University (Denver, CO)
Criminal Justice Degrees Offered:
Bachelor Degree | Criminal Justice (online program)
Bachelor of Science | Criminal Justice

Colorado Mountain College (Glenwood Springs, CO)
Criminal Justice Degrees Offered:
Associate of Science | Criminal Justice

Colorado Northwestern Community College (Rangely, CO)
Criminal Justice Degrees Offered:
Associate of Applied Science | Law Enforcement
Associate of Applied Science | Small Business Management in Criminal Justice
Associate of General Studies | Criminal Justice
Occupational Certificate | Law Enforcement

Colorado Technical University (Colorado Springs, CO)
Criminal Justice Degrees Offered:
Associate of Science | Criminal Justice (online program)
Bachelor of Science | Criminal Justice
Bachelor of Science | Criminal Justice | Human Services (online program)
Master of Science in Management | Criminal Justice

Community College of Aurora (Aurora, CO)
Criminal Justice Degrees Offered:
Associate of Applied Science | Criminal Justice
Certificate | Basic Law Enforcement Training
Certificate | Criminal Justice
Certificate | Criminal Justice Community Policing
Certificate | Criminal Justice Detention
Certificate | Criminal Justice Law
Certificate | Criminal Justice Operations
Certificate | Criminal Justice Systems

Community College of Denver (Denver, CO)
Criminal Justice Degrees Offered:
Associate Degree | Public Security Management
Certificate | Public Security | Applied Forensics
Certificate | Public Security | Homeland Security

Delta-Montrose Technical College (Delta, CO)
Criminal Justice Degrees Offered:
Bachelor of Science | Corrections
Bachelor of Science | Criminal Justice
Certificate | Law Enforcement Academy

Denver Academy of Court Reporting (Westminster, CO)
Criminal Justice Degrees Offered:
Certificate | Court Reporting
Certificate | Court and Realtime Reporter
Certificate | Court and Realtime Reporter (online program)

Everest College (Aurora, CO; Colorado Springs, CO; Thornton, CO)
Criminal Justice Degrees Offered:
Associate of Applied Science | Criminal Justice
Associate of Science | Criminal Justice
Associate of Science | Criminal Justice (online program)
Certificate | Criminal Justice

Front Range Community College (Westminster, CO)
Criminal Justice Degrees Offered:
Associate of General Studies | Criminal Justice Studies

ITT Technical Institute (Thornton, CO)
Criminal Justice Degrees Offered:
Associate of Applied Science | Criminal Justice (online program)
Bachelor of Science | Criminal Justice
Bachelor of Science | Information Systems Security

Johnson & Wales University (Denver, CO)
Criminal Justice Degrees Offered:
Bachelor of Arts | Criminal Justice

Kaplan College (Thornton, CO)
Criminal Justice Degrees Offered:
Associate of Applied Science | Criminal Justice

Mesa State College (Grand Junction, CO)
Criminal Justice Degrees Offered:
Associate of Applied Science | Criminal Justice
Bachelor of Applied Science | Public Administration/Public Safety
Bachelor of Arts | Criminal Justice
Certificate | Peace Officer Standards and Training
Minor | Forensics

Metropolitan State College of Denver (Denver, CO)
Criminal Justice Degrees Offered:
Bachelor of Science | Criminal Justice
Bachelor of Science | Criminology

Otero Junior College (La Junta, CO)
Criminal Justice Degrees Offered:
Certificate | Law Enforcement

Pikes Peak Community College (Colorado Springs, CO)
Criminal Justice Degrees Offered:
Associate of Applied Science | Criminal Justice | Corrections
Associate of Applied Science | Criminal Justice | Crime Scene Investigations
Associate of Applied Science | Criminal Justice | Investigations/Management
Associate of Applied Science | Criminal Justice | Patrol
Associate of Applied Science | Homeland Security; Emergency Management

Pueblo Community College (Pueblo, CO)
Criminal Justice Degrees Offered:
Associate of Applied Science | Corrections
Associate of Applied Science | Criminal Justice

Red Rocks Community College (Lakewood, CO)
Criminal Justice Degrees Offered:
Associate of Arts | Criminal Justice
Associate of General Studies | Criminal Justice
Diploma | Basic Law Enforcement Training Academy

Regis University (Denver, CO)
Criminal Justice Degrees Offered:
Bachelor Degree | Peace and Justice Studies
Bachelor of Science | Criminology (online program)
Master of Science | Criminology

Student Review: “Attending Regis University was an interesting and rewarding experience. One of the things which drew me to this school was the fact that they offered many online programs. This made it feasible for a professional adult to continue working full time while still obtaining their degree. In general, the course facilitators were helpful, available, and were able to pass on real-world knowledge since many of them worked full time in the fields in which they taught at the university. If I had the ability to change anything at the university, it would be to upgrade the technology the bookstore used, so it was easier to find and order textbooks, and to lower the price of the courses, which were rather expensive. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed my experience at Regis University and would recommend it to nearly anyone, but especially to those who want to attend school while continuing to work full time.” -Teri R., student at Regis University

Remington College (Colorado Springs, CO)
Criminal Justice Degrees Offered:
Associate of Science | Criminal Justice (online program)
Bachelor of Science | Criminal Justice (online program)

Trinidad State Junior College (Trinidad, CO)
Criminal Justice Degrees Offered:
Associate of Applied Science | Criminal Justice
Associate of Arts | Criminal Justice
Associate of Science | Forensic Science Field Investigation
Certificate | Basic Law Enforcement Training Academy
Certificate | Criminal Justice
Certificate | Reserve Law Enforcement Academy

University of Colorado-Colorado Springs (Denver, CO)
Criminal Justice Degrees Offered:
Bachelor of Arts | Criminal Justice

Student Review:“My experience with the University of Colorado Colorado Spring’s Criminal Justice program has been great. The University offers several different Criminal Justice options so that students are able to get a degree more specific to their career choice. Personally, I have selected the Forensic Science Option. The class sizes at UCCS are rather small, only twenty to thirty students, so it is much easier to get to know the professors. Interacting with the professors in smaller classes is very beneficial as it is far easier to ask questions and get feedback on assignments. All of my professors are also very friendly and open to questions and concerns. Overall, I am greatly enjoying my experiences with the CJ program and am looking forward to the next three years studying at UCCS.” -Lorelei B., student at University of Colorado-Colorado Springs

University of Colorado-Denver (Denver, CO)
Criminal Justice Degrees Offered:
Bachelor of Arts | Criminal Justice
Master of Arts | Criminal Justice
Master of Public Administraton | Public Administration (online program)

University of Denver (Denver, CO)
Criminal Justice Degrees Offered:
Bachelor of Arts | Criminology

University of Northern Colorado (Greeley, CO)
Criminal Justice Degrees Offered:
Bachelor of Science | Criminal Justice
Master of Science | Criminal Justice (online program)

University of Phoenix (Colorado Springs, CO; Lone Tree, CO)
Criminal Justice Degrees Offered:
Associate Degree | Criminal Justice (online program)
Associate of Arts | Criminal Justice (online program)
Bachelor Degree | Criminal Justice (online program)
Bachelor of Science | Criminal Justice Administration (online program)
Bachelor of Science | Organizational Security and Management (online program)
Master of Science | Administration of Justice and Security
Master of Science | Administration of Justice and Security (online program)
Masters Degree | Criminal Justice (online program)

University of the Rockies (Colorado Springs, CO)
Criminal Justice Degrees Offered:
Certificate | Criminal Justice (online program)
Masters Degree | Criminal Justice (online program)
PhD | Criminal Justice (online program)

US Career Institute (Fort Collins, CO)
Criminal Justice Degrees Offered:
Certificate | Criminal Justice (online program)

Westwood College (Denver, CO)
Criminal Justice Degrees Offered:
Bachelor Degree | Criminal Justice (online program)

 

References:
(1) Bureau of Labor Statistics: http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_CO.htm
(2) Bureau of Labor Statistics: http://www.bls.gov/lau/ see state on page for current unemployment rate
(3) USA TODAY/Moody’s Analytics/BLS: http://www.usatoday.com/money/economy/2009-02-06-new-jobs-growth-graphic_N.htm
(4) Occupational Supply & Demand System / OCDS Georgia State University for the U.S. Department of Labor: http://www.occsupplydemand.org/OSD_SelectOcc.aspx?chk=2&ST=ZZ
(5) The Sunshine Review: http://sunshinereview.org/core/home (select state budget button)

Page Edited by Charles Sipe.