Indiana Criminal Justice Schools

  • 27 schools offering criminal justice degrees in Indiana are in our database. (see below)
  • 4 offer associate’s degrees or certificates, 17 of them offer bachelor’s degrees and above, and 6 offer a mix of bachelor’s and master’s
  • We found 1 school in Indiana ranked in US News and World Reports that have a criminal justice program; #100 Ball State University, Muncie, IN
  • According to Kiplinger’s, Indiana has 2 universities ranked in the top 100 for “Values in Public Colleges”, #65 Indiana University Bloomington, Bloomington, IN; and #76 Purdue University, West Lafayette, IL
  • 10 campus-based and online schools in Indiana 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 Indiana

Indiana University, Bloomington: Indiana University- Bloomington’s Department of Criminal Justice has a Bachelor of Arts, a Master of Arts and a Doctor of Philosophy in Criminal Justice. Most research is done with an emphasis on adolescence, prisoner re-entry, urban/rural crime, criminal psychology, and organized crime under the supervision of expert faculty. Upper level undergraduate courses have specific focuses such as a Deviant Images/Deviant Acts or Policing Democracies to enable students to explore and examine their personal interest early in their academic careers. Dubbed the “Hottest Big State School” by Newsweek in 2005 and “most wired” among public universities by P.C. Magazine in 2006, the access to quality higher education at the University of Indiana-Bloomington is hard to match.

Purdue University: Purdue University has an undergraduate sociology program with an emphasis in criminal justice in the Department of Behavioral Sciences. This degree plan is a specific combination of specialized sociology, psychology, history, and political science courses with electives including Ethnic Relations, Mass Communication and Society, and History of Crime in America. Purdue University is also home to the Institute for Social and Policy Research where faculty collaborate with upper level students on research projects like the Tribal Youth Victimization and Delinquency Project. Students that have specific interests in child development and how it relates to crime can make use of the Charlotte R. Riley Child Center, which functions and both a daycare center and a research laboratory.

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Indiana Criminal Justice Salary and Jobs

Occupation Number Employed Average Annual Salary
Correctional Officers and Jailers 7,680 $32,480
First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives 1,640 $62,840
Detectives and Criminal Investigators 1,020 $58,730
Police and Sheriff’s Patrol Officers 10,760 $44,990

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

Police Quote: 32 years ago, a gentleman from my church gave me a framed calligraphy print that he had done. It said, “Christ is the best back-up you can have…He is the only one that can get there before you do.” I just retired in January of 2011 and have repeatedly told new hires that very thing! My other advice to new officers and anyone wanting to be a police officer is… “you get out of this job what you put into it.” -Catherine L. Collins, Retired Lieutenant and Treasurer of the Indiana Drug Enforcement Association

Respected leaders who have graduated from universities in Indiana

  • Vanderburgh County Sheriff Eric Williams – University of Southern Indiana, Evansville, IN
  • Elkhart County Sheriff Bradley D. Rogers- University of Evansville, Evansville, IN
  • Porter County Sheriff David Lain – Indiana University Bloomington, Bloomington, IN

Indiana Criminal Justice Degrees

There are a number of different criminal justice positions in Indiana which require a range of qualifications. Some positions in Indiana require or strongly suggest a criminal justice degree, while other positions don’t have strict requirements but prefer candidates with either 2 or 4 year college degrees. A criminal justice degree can also provide an enhanced likelihood of success in training academies, increased starting salaries and greater opportunities for promotion.

The South Bend Police Department strongly recommends a college degree in an field like criminal justice and pays a starting salary of $41,500 1 while on probation. The Indianapolis Police Department pays $39,446 with up to a $1000 bonus to bachelor’s degree holders.2 The Department of Corrections has a number of open positions, and a college degree can substitute for some required experience and allows college graduates to start as a Correctional Officer Sergeant instead of a Correctional Office Starting and gaining additional pay. The average annual salary for police and patrol officers in Indiana is $44,490 3 according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

In addition to all of these positions, criminal justice graduates can also work for the federal government, with two major prisons in the state of Indiana, as well as all of the usual Federal operations (TSA, FBI, and the Department Homeland Security). Private industries in Indiana will also have ongoing demand for criminal justice graduates as well including private security, insurance fraud investigators, and paralegals.

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Indiana’s Criminal Justice Employment Outlook 4, 5, 6, 7

At the start of 2012, Indiana’s unemployment has stabilized at 9.0%, a half point above national average, and it will regain the pre-Downturn peak by Q3 2015. In the government sector, budget cuts have seen a drop in public hiring with the pre-Downturn peak not regained until early 2015, but with hiring picking up in mid 2013. According to the Indiana Workforce Development site with annual openings projected by the Occupational Supply Demand System, high demand criminal justice occupations in Indiana include: Police and Sheriff Patrol (400 openings / 88% of individuals in these positions report having some college or a bachelor’s degree), Correctional Officers (300 annual openings / 60% of individuals in these positions have some college or a bachelor’s degree), Detectives / Investigators / Forensic Techs (40 annual openings), Security Guards (615 annual openings) and Paralegals (140 annual openings / 88% of individuals in these positions report having some college or a bachelor’s degree). According the to Sunshine Review, Indiana’s state budget is facing a shortfall, but is being managed seemingly well as it tries to build a rainy day fund. With retirements pending and its significant number of projected criminal justice openings, we suggest requesting free information from several Illinois criminal schools to best understand your education options.

Online and Indiana Criminal Justice Schools

If you are interested in a Indiana criminal justice degree, 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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Liberty University
Campuses: 1Online
Popular Degrees:

  • BS in Criminal Justice
  • AA in Criminal Justice

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Rutgers University
Campuses: 1Online
Popular Degrees:

  • Master of Arts in Criminal Justice

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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


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 (Illinois, Michigan, Ohio, and Kentucky).

See all Online Schools

Student Review: “I enjoyed the Criminal Justice program at the University of Phoenix for many reasons. The first was the learning experience, most people think online learning is easy and you do not learn or retain any information. This is far from the truth, they have top notch teachers and great advisors that assist above and beyond the job duties. You can email your teacher and within a few hours they are emailing you back or calling you on the phone to assist you with any problem large or small. The instructors are very educated in their fields and all have proven experience and share their knowledge with the students. The only downfall I felt with the University of Phoenix was the tution cost; it is above what most colleges are for the same degree. I did feel it was an acceptable price due to the fact that it was catered around my schedule and the one on one attention that you do receive at the college made it all worth it in the end. Overall I would recommend anyone that is interested in obtaining a degree in Criminal Justice to look into the University of Phoenix.” -Matthew H., student at University of Phoenix

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Directory of Indiana Universities Offering Criminal Justice Degrees

Ball State University (Muncie, IN)
Criminal Justice Degrees Offered:
Associate of Arts | Criminology
Associate of Science | Criminal Justice
Bachelor of Arts | Criminology
Bachelor of Science | Criminal Justice
Bachelor of Science | Legal Studies: Business
Bachelor of Science | Legal Studies: Public Law

Student Review: “My time at Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana was a wonderful part of my life. At 22,000 students strong and with a wide variety of academic careers to choose from many different types of people and personalities inhabit the hallways of the buildings. While it is a bigger school, staff and students remained friendly. As an older student I was able to live in the campus apartments which afforded me new experiences with the various international students also living in the apartments. The program that I applied to was top notch and I came away with more than just an education, but experience in my chosen field giving me a leg up after graduation while applying for jobs.” -Rachel K., student at Ball State University

Bethel College (Mishawaka, IN)

Brown Mackie College (Fort Wayne, IN; Indianapolis, IN; Merrillville, IN; Michigan City, IN)
Criminal Justice Degrees Offered:
Associate of Science | Criminal Justice
Associate of Science | Paralegal
Bachelor of Science | Criminal Justice
Bachelor of Science | Legal Studies
Certificate | Criminal Justice
Certificate | Paralegal Assistant

Calumet College of St. Joseph (Whiting, IN)
Criminal Justice Degrees Offered:
Associate of Science | Forensic Science
Associate of Science | Paralegal/Pre-Law
Associate of Science | Probation, Parole and Courts
Bachelor of Science | Criminal Justice
Bachelor of Science | Forensic Science
Bachelor of Science | Paralegal/Pre-Law
Bachelor of Science | Probation, Parole and Courts
Certificate | Paralegal/Pre-Law
Master of Science | Public Safety Administration

College of Court Reporting Inc (Hobart, IN)
Criminal Justice Degrees Offered:
Associate of Applied Science | Court Reporting
Associate of Applied Science | Court Reporting (online program)

Grace College and Theological Seminary (Winona Lake, IN)
Criminal Justice Degrees Offered:
Bachelor of Arts | Criminology
Bachelor of Science | Criminology

Harrison College (Anderson, IN; Elkhart, IN; Fort Wayne, IN; Indianapolis, IN; Muncie, IN)
Criminal Justice Degrees Offered:
Associate Degree | Criminal Justice (online program)
Associate of Applied Science | Criminal Justice (online program)
Bachelor Degree | Criminal Justice (online program)
Bachelor of Science | Criminal Justice (online program)

Student Review: “Harrison College provides, in my opinion, one of the best Criminal Justice programs. Not only was the curriculum exciting and educational, but the staff were some of the most exceptional people I’ve ever met. Harrison College’s Criminal Justice program does more than just ‘teach’ students, it incorporates real life situations. In my opinion, there is more to gain from actually being in a situation, than from just reading text books. As an example, for the Forensic Course, my instructors put together a ‘live’ crime scene, where we students had to step up and perform hands-on crime scene techniques. Afterwards, evidence from that crime scene was later put into a mock trial, where all of the criminal justice student body participated in trying to solve the crime; this included lawyers, a judge, a suspect, prosecutor, the whole justice process. When it comes to the staff of Harrison College, they are truly some of the nicest and most helpful people. Anytime I had a question or concern, there was always someone there to help me. They go as far as to hug a student who is having a tough day. I honestly couldn’t have asked for a better college to attend.” -Sable W., student at Harrison College

Indiana Institute of Technology (Fort Wayne, IN)
Criminal Justice Degrees Offered:
Associate of Science | Criminal Justice
Bachelor of Science | Computer Security and Investigation
Bachelor of Science | Crime Analysis
Bachelor of Science | Criminal Justice Administration

Indiana University Bloomington (Bloomington, IN)
Criminal Justice Degrees Offered:
Certificate | Criminal Justice
Doctor of Philosophy | Criminal Justice
Master of Arts | Criminal Justice
Master of Security | Security Informatics

Student Review: “Although Indiana University Bloomington is a very large school with about 40,000 students, the advantages of being on this campus are innumerable. There are many student organizations available to choose from which is something that I certainly loved. There are also many opportunities to meet and get to know many different people around campus. Bloomington is a great college town and there is always something entertaining to do, especially on Kirkwood, which is an area I often frequented. The campus itself is a beautiful and breathtaking sight throughout every season of the year. I also love that there is a lot of school pride around campus, with many students decorated in their IU gear. For the most part, the professors were great and were always there when I was in need of assistance.” -Taylor L., student at University of Indiana – Bloomington
Student Review: “My time at Indiana University was a great experience for many reasons, from the challenging courses to the beautiful campus – everything about IU led to an enriching and fulfilling experience. My major provided a schedule that allowed me to not only take classes that would benefit me in my final area of study, but made sure that the curriculum that I took for credit would add to the main principles that were involved with my degree. This gave me a leg up in finding a job after college, and offered my a fresh foundation that many other candidates for the same positions did not have. The campus itself is beautiful, from the library to the large selection of dorms that students can pick from – everything is kept well-maintained and up to date with technology. In my entire time with the school, I never had any issues with other students or staff – or any problems that had a negative impact. It was a great school, with a ton to offer, and a great diversity of students to learn and become friends with. It was the perfect setting for the college experience.” -Richard T., student at Indiana University Bloomington

Indiana University-East (Richmond, IN)
Criminal Justice Degrees Offered:
Bachelor of Science | Criminal Justice

Indiana University-Kokomo (Kokomo, IN)
Criminal Justice Degrees Offered:
Associate of Science | Criminal Justice
Bachelor of Science | Criminal Justice
Certificate | Homeland Security

Indiana University-Northwest (Gary, IN)
Criminal Justice Degrees Offered:
Bachelor of Science | Criminal Justice
Master of Public Affairs | Criminal Justice

Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne (Fort Wayne, IN)
Criminal Justice Degrees Offered:
Bachelor of Science | Criminal Justice
Master of Public Administration | Criminal Justice
Master of Public Management | Criminal Justice Administrations

Student Review: “IPFW is a commuter college, meaning that there isn’t going to be as much of a campus life as there would be at Indiana University or Purdue University. However, they are in the process of building residence halls at IPFW, and they recently moved to a Division I status. This will help build a better campus-like atmosphere to this school. IPFW also has many different student activities, and there’s also a center for returning students, which helps these students with the transition of going back to college. The student life department also assists students with finding apartments or houses to rent, which can be helpful for these students.” -Nicholas H., student at Indiana University – Purdue University Fort Wayne

Indiana University-Purdue University-Indianapolis (Indianapolis, IN)
Criminal Justice Degrees Offered:
Bachelor of Science | Criminal Justice
Bachelor of Science | Forensic and Investigative Science
Bachelor of Science | Public Safety Management
Master of Science | Forensic and Investigative Science

Student Review: “I have nothing but good things to say about my experiences with Indiana University – Purdue University. The teachers were attentive to the needs of every student. The classes were a smaller size than that of a huge school, so it felt as though I received special attention in my studies. The classes were challenging, but were well taught. There were never too many people in the library. The only thing I didn’t like was the lack of activities for students on campus. Indiana University Purdue University is right in the middle of the city, and many of its students do not stay on campus.” -Edward F., student at Indiana University – Purdue University

Indiana University-South Bend (South Bend, IN)
Criminal Justice Degrees Offered:
Associate of Applied Science | Criminal Justice
Certificate | Correctional Management
Certificate | Public Safety

Indiana University-Southeast (New Albany, IN)
Criminal Justice Degrees Offered:
Bachelor of Science | Criminal Justice

Indiana Wesleyan University (Marion, IN)
Criminal Justice Degrees Offered:
Associate of Science | Criminal Justice
Bachelor of Science | Criminal Justice
Certificate | Criminal Justice (online program)

International Business College (Fort Wayne, IN; Indianapolis, IN)
Criminal Justice Degrees Offered:
Associate Degree | Legal Administration
Associate Degree | Paralegal
Bachelor Degree | Legal Administration
Bachelor Degree | Paralegal
Diploma | Legal Administration

ITT Technical Institute (Fort Wayne, IN; Indianapolis, IN; Newburgh, IN; South Bend, IN)
Criminal Justice Degrees Offered:
Associate of Applied Science | Criminal Justice
Associate of Applied Science | Criminal Justice (online program)
Associate of Applied Science | Paralegal Studies
Associate of Science | Criminal Justice
Associate of Science | Paralegal Studies
Bachelor of Science | Criminal Justice
Bachelor of Science | Criminal Justice (online program)
Bachelor of Science | Criminal Justice: Cyber Technology
Bachelor of Science | Cyber Security (online program)

Ivy Tech Community College (Bloomington, IN; Columbus, IN; Evansville, IN; Fort Wayne, IN; Gary, IN; Indianapolis, IN; Kokomo, IN; Lafayette, IN; Madison, IN; Muncie, IN; Richmond, IN; Sellersburg, IN; South Bend, IN; Terre Haute, IN)
Criminal Justice Degrees Offered:
Associate of Applied Science | Criminal Justice
Associate of Applied Science | Criminal Justice | Corrections
Associate of Applied Science | Criminal Justice | Law Enforcement
Associate of Applied Science | Criminal Justice | Youth Services
Associate of Applied Science | Paralegal Studies
Associate of Applied Science | Paralegal Studies (online program)
Associate of Applied Science | Public Safety
Associate of Applied Science | Public Safety | Environmental Health and Safety
Associate of Applied Science | Public Safety | Fire Science
Associate of Applied Science | Public Safety | Hazardous Materials
Associate of Applied Science | Public Safety | Public Administration
Associate of Science | Community Emergency Preparedness
Associate of Science | Corrections
Associate of Science | Criminal Justice
Associate of Science | Criminal Justice | Corrections
Associate of Science | Criminal Justice | Law Enforcement
Associate of Science | Criminal Justice | Youth Services
Associate of Science | Law Enforcement
Associate of Science | Paralegal Studies
Associate of Science | Paralegal Studies (online program)
Bachelor of Science | Corrections
Bachelor of Science | Criminal Justice
Bachelor of Science | Law Enforcement
Certificate | Community Preparedness and Management

Student Review: “I have attended Ivy Tech, Lafayette for a full year and I am currently taking an online class in the summer also. I have a had a good experience. The classes are small, but that is a good thing. Teachers give more individual attention to students and most are readily available outside of class. I have had very little bad experiences with Ivy Tech teachers. For a small campus, there are a lot of students events and services. The events are very fun and informative. I took place in helping the Earth Day events, and that was a very enlightening experience. The only real bad aspect of the campus is beyond Ivy Tech’s control. There are a lot of students there just to obtain financial aid money and then drop. These students can be quite annoying for the first few weeks before they get their money. Overall it is a wise and cheaper alternative than heading strait to a four year university first.” -Tyler D., student at Ivy Tech Community College
Student Review: “I truly enjoyed the four years I spent taking online courses through Ivy Tech. I enjoyed the computer courses most of all while the English Composition course was my least favorite. I learned how to use most of Microsoft Office Suite and the English course did teach me a lot about writing. The overall effect of going through all those college courses was the feeling that I am a step above where I was before I started. I have gained more confidence in my abilities and feel that I am able to follow any dream that I may set for myself.” -Tracy C., student at Ivy Tech Community College

Manchester College (North Manchester, IN)
Criminal Justice Degrees Offered:
Associate of Arts | Criminal Justice
Bachelor of Arts | Sociology (Criminal Justice concentration)

Martin University (Indianapolis, IN)
Criminal Justice Degrees Offered:
Bachelor of Arts | Criminal Justice

Oakland City University (Oakland City, IN)
Criminal Justice Degrees Offered:
Associate of Science | Criminal Justice
Bachelor of Science | Criminal Justice

Saint Joseph’s College (Rensselaer, IN)
Criminal Justice Degrees Offered:
Bachelor of Science | Criminal Justice

Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College (Saint Mary-Of-The-Woods, IN)
Criminal Justice Degrees Offered:
Associate Degree | Paralegal Studies
Bachelor of Science | Criminal Justice (online program)
Bachelor of Science | Paralegal Studies: Litigation
Bachelor of Science | Paralegal Studies: Personal Law
Certificate | Paralegal Studies

Student Review: “Saint Mary-of-the-Woods offers both an on-campus program and a distance education program. I am enrolled in Woods Online, and the advisers are incredible. The offices (including the Financial Aid office) are always very responsive. I hear back from both teachers and other faculty within 24 hours of sending an email. The course set-up is very simple. I have not had to drive for any proctored tests. You are not placed on a strict schedule and extensions are available should you need them. I have had a wonderful experience with SMWC, and I will be receiving my diploma sometime at the end of this year.” -Leigh W., student at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College

Trine University (Angola, IN; Fort Wayne, IN; Mishawaka, IN)
Criminal Justice Degrees Offered:
Bachelor of Arts | Criminal Justice
Bachelor of Science | Criminal Justice
Bachelor of Science | Forensic Science
Master of Science | Criminal Justice

University of Indianapolis (Indianapolis, IN)
Criminal Justice Degrees Offered:
Bachelor of Arts | Criminal Justice

References:
(1) South Bend Police: http://www.southbendpolice.com/jobs/benefits.htm
(2) Indianapolis Police Department: http://www.indy.gov/eGov/City/DPS/IMPD/Employment/Sworn/Pages/benefits.aspx
(3) Bureau of Labor Statistics: http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_IN.htm
(4) Bureau of Labor Statistics: http://www.bls.gov/lau/ see state on page for current unemployment rate
(5) USA TODAY/Moody’s Analytics/BLS: http://www.usatoday.com/money/economy/2009-02-06-new-jobs-growth-graphic_N.htm
(6) 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
(7) The Sunshine Review: http://sunshinereview.org/core/home (select state budget button)

Page Edited by Charles Sipe.