Idaho Criminal Justice Schools

  • 8 schools offering criminal justice degrees in Idaho are in our database. (see below)
  • 4 offer associate’s degrees or certificates, 2 of them offer bachelor’s degrees and above, and 2 offer a mix of bachelor’s and master’s
  • We found no schools in Idaho ranked in US News and World Reports that have a criminal justice program
  • According to Kiplinger’s, Idaho has no universities ranked in the top 100 for “Values in Public Colleges”
  • 10 campus-based and online schools in Idaho are available for requesting information.

Spotlight School

Kaplan University

Kaplan University is focused on recognizing the achievements of military and veteran students and offers the flexibility of an online education. Eligible students can receive college credit for prior military experience and coursework—up to 75 percent of the credit needed for a Kaplan University undergraduate degree.*

Programs:

  • MS in Criminal Justice - Law
  • MS in Criminal Justice
  • BS in Criminal Justice
  • And more...

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Profiles of Well Known Schools in Idaho

Boise State University: The Department of Criminal Justice at Boise State University has over 800 students enrolled in the Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science or Master of Arts in Criminal Justice programs. Majors are able to pursue multiple scholarships through the department such as the FBI Scholarship or the Michael Blackenship Social Justice Scholarship. The faculty are involved in engaging and socially relevant research projects such as “Survey of the Prosecution of Child Sex Abuse in Idaho,” and “Crime in the Lives of Idahoans.” Field work/ internship courses are available for both undergraduate and graduate students through which they gain valuable experience working within government agencies and correctional facilities.

University of Idaho: Through the Department of Sociology and Anthropology, University of Idaho students can pursue a Bachelor of Arts or a Bachelor of Science in Sociology with an emphasis in criminology. This academic route enables students to study criminal activity through a multidisciplinary perspective, taking a combination of different social science courses. The sociology faculty that teach criminology related courses are world renowned experts in comparative criminology, deviance and crime and social control. The University of Idaho is one of the premier institutions of higher education in the Northwest with the Princeton Review naming it one of the “373 Best Colleges” in 2011 as well as one of the top 286 environmentally responsible colleges.

Lewis-Clark State College: Lewis-Clark State College, located in Lewiston, provides a bachelor’s degree in Justice Studies to prepare students to start a career with local and federal criminal justice agencies. There are three concentrations available including criminal justice, corrections/human services, and language or computer science. The curriculum focuses on social and behavioral sciences including courses in criminal law, criminal procedure, juvenile delinquency, deviant behavior, and corrections in America.

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Idaho Criminal Justice Salary and Jobs

Occupation Number Employed Average Annual Salary
Correctional Officers and Jailers 1,730 $32,540
First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives 700 $66,380
Detectives and Criminal Investigators 360 $63,280
Police and Sheriff’s Patrol Officers 2,960 $45,600

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

Idaho Criminal Justice Degrees

Idaho is projected to have population growth almost twice that of the rest of the country over the next 20 years, and has a violent crime rate that is just a little more than half the country’s average. As Idaho continues to grow at its quick pace, it will continue to need professionals trained in the criminal justice field to keep its citizens safe and protected from injustice.

Earning an Idaho criminal justice degree can help determined individuals make a difference in their communities and fulfill their goals while following their interests. If you are interested in the field that aims to reduce crime in our neighborhoods, then a criminal justice degree can help you attain a job that is rewarding and exciting. There is a wide range of possibilities within the criminal justice field and you can find a criminal justice program that is best tailored to help you meet your goals.

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Police Quote: “Of course, you can have a successful career in patrol or corrections without a degree, but it definitely helps. Even if these people don’t aspire to management, a Bachelor’s degree should still be the goal because it helps in so many ways – even with simple life skills.” -Gary Raney, Sheriff Ada County in Idaho

Respected leaders who have graduated from universities in Idaho

  • Nampa Police Chief LeRoy Forsman- Northwest Nazarene University, Nampa, ID
  • Caldwell Chief of Police Chris Allgood – Boise State University, Boise, ID
  • Twin Falls Police Chief Brian Pike- College of Southern Idaho, Twin Falls, ID
  • Ada County Sheriff Gary Raney- Boise State University, Boise, ID

The City of Pocatello offers preferential treatment to holders of an associate’s degree or higher, and they offer a generous benefit package. The City of Boise requires coursework such as criminal justice classes for its police force. Located in the scenic Idaho Panhandle, the Coeur d’Alene Police Department is another employer of criminal justice professionals and prefers applicants with a minimum of an associate’s degree. The Idaho State Police offers a comprehensive benefit package, all of which start while a recruit is undergoing training at the academy. The Idaho Department of Correction hires officers with a starting salary of $27,331 1 per year with comprehensive benefits. Both the Idaho State Police and Department of Correction require two years of experience, although that requirement can be waived with two years of post-high school education. The average annual salary for Idaho police and patrol officers is $45,570 2 according the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

While several colleges offer a classroom setting with a traditional lecture format for learning about criminal justice, there are also online degrees that can provide the same degree without having to attend classes. This can be a more convenient option, especially if you do not live near a college with a criminal justice program.

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Idaho’s Criminal Justice Employment Outlook 3, 4, 5, 6

At the start of 2012, Idaho’s unemployment has fallen 8.4% from over 9% in early 2010, and it is nearly at parity with the national average. According to the USA Today / Moody’s Analytics employment projections, it should regain prior peak employment levels by mid-to-late 2014. Government related employment, which is a good proxy for Idaho criminal justice jobs, has excellent prospects with the pre-Downturn peak eclipsed and solid growth projected ahead. According to the Occupational Supply Demand System, high demand occupations in Idaho include: Police and Sheriff Patrol (110 annual openings / 88% of individuals in these positions reported having some college or bachelor’s degree), Correctional Officers (50 annual openings / 60% of individuals in these positions reported having some college or bachelor’s degree), Detectives / Investigators / Forensic Techs (15 annual openings) and Paralegals (30 annual openings / 88% of individuals in these positions report having some college or a bachelor’s degree). According to Sunshine report, Idaho’s state budget has been managed conservatively with significant cuts since 2007 and a nearly balanced level projected in 2012. With strong prospects in government related job growth, Idaho represents a state where an investment in a Idaho criminal justice degree should be rewarded. We suggest requesting free information from several Idaho criminal schools to best understand your education options.

Online and Idaho Criminal Justice Schools

For residents living in Idaho, 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

request information

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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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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Kaplan University
Campuses: 1Online
Popular Degrees:

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

request information

Liberty University
Campuses: 1Online
Popular Degrees:

  • BS in Criminal Justice
  • AA in Criminal Justice

request information

Grand Canyon University
Campuses: 1Online
Popular Degrees:

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

request information

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 (Oregon, Washinton, Montana,Wyoming, Utah, and Nevada).

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Directory of Idaho Universities Offering Criminal Justice Degrees

Boise State University (Boise, ID)
Criminal Justice Degrees Offered:
Bachelor of Science | Criminal Justice
Master of Arts | Criminal Justice

Student Review: “BSU is a public school located in the capital city of Idaho, Boise. The layout of the core campus buildings are relatively centralized, so walking between facilities is quick. BSU is also very cyclist friendly, with designated biking zones and secure lock-up areas for bikes. The school’s football team, The Broncos, have had an incredible history in recent years with a cumulative single digit loss record. Being located in the capital city of the state, BSU is poised to provide great internship opportunities for many major fields of study. Engineering majors, for example, have the opportunity to intern at great tech companies such as Micron and Hewlett-Packard, who have their headquarters located in Boise. However, BSU does have some shortcomings, such as its lack of a Law program, which other universities in the state offer.” -Benjamin A., student at Boise State University

College of Southern Idaho (Twin Falls, ID)
Criminal Justice Degrees Offered:
Associate of Applied Science | Law Enforcement
Associate of Arts | Criminal Justice
Certificate | Law Enforcement

Eastern Idaho Technical College (Idaho Falls, ID)
Criminal Justice Degrees Offered:
Associate of Applied Science | Legal
Technical Certificate | Legal

Idaho State University (Pocatello, ID)
Criminal Justice Degrees Offered:
Associate of Arts | Criminal Justice
Associate of Arts | Female Corrections
Associate of Arts | Law Enforcement

Student Review: “Idaho State University has been very accommodating for me. I am what’s known as a ‘nontraditional’ student in that I’m married with kids and a bit older than most students. (29) The school is very welcoming of older individuals, even going so far as to have a Military Veterans’ Sanctuary on campus that specializes in making student veterans, like myself, more easily acclimated to student life. Many classes that I have taken have been in the Liberal Arts and Physical Science buildings, in which I’ve found the classrooms outdated and very uncomfortable. The desks seem better suited for middle-schoolers, honestly. But with that complaint aside, I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my time at ISU and would recommend it, doubly so for older individuals looking to find an accepting atmosphere in college.” -Michael V., student at Idaho State University

ITT Technical Institute (Boise, ID)
Criminal Justice Degrees Offered:
Associate of Science | Criminal Justice (online program)
Bachelor of Science | Criminal Justice

Lewis-Clark State College (Lewiston, ID)
Criminal Justice Degrees Offered:
Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Science | Justice Studies | Corrections/Human Services
Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Science | Justice Studies | Criminal Justice

North Idaho College (Coeur d’Alene, ID)
Criminal Justice Degrees Offered:
Associate of Applied Science | Administration of Justice
Associate of Applied Science | Law Enforcement
Associate of Science | Criminal Justice
Technical Certificate | Law Enforcement

University of Idaho (Moscow, ID)
Criminal Justice Degrees Offered:
Bachelor of Arts | Sociology with Criminology emphasis

Student Review: “I wasn’t sure what to expect coming in to Idaho because it’s a rather small school with a relatively unknown program. However after my experience I wouldn’t choose to study in a different environment. The faculty is great, they are all very knowledgable and love their field, which is awesome. The passion involved really makes classes a lot more engaging. Also, because of the small classes you really get to know your instructors, and this helps immensely if you plan on going to law school. My only real complaint is how small and unknown the school is; it might make it hard to get a job right out the gate. All in all my experience was great and I would recommend the University of Idaho to anyone interested in pursuing a criminal justice degree.” -Justin A., student at University of Idaho

University of Phoenix (Meridian, ID)
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
Bachelor of Science | Organizational Security and Management
Master of Science | Administration of Justice/Security (online program)
Masters Degree | Criminal Justice (online program)

References:
(1) Idaho Department of Correction: http://www.idoc.idaho.gov/content/careers/employee_resources/benefits
(2) Bureau of Labor Statistics: http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_ID.htm
(3) Bureau of Labor Statistics: http://www.bls.gov/lau/ see state on page for current unemployment rate
(4) USA TODAY/Moody’s Analytics/BLS: http://www.usatoday.com/money/economy/2009-02-06-new-jobs-growth-graphic_N.htm
(5) 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
(6) The Sunshine Review: http://sunshinereview.org/core/home (select state budget button)

Page Edited by Charles Sipe.