Kansas Criminal Justice Schools

  • 27 schools offering criminal justice degrees in Kansas are in our database. (see below)
  • 15 offer associate’s degrees or certificates, 9 of them offer bachelor’s degrees and above, and 3 offer a mix of bachelor’s and master’s
  • We found no schools in Kansas ranked in US News and World Reports that have a criminal justice program
  • According to Kiplinger’s, Kansas has no universities ranked in the top 100 for “Values in Public Colleges”
  • 10 campus-based and online schools in Kansas 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 Kansas

Wichita State University: Wichita State University offers both a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Arts in Criminal Justice in the School of Community Affairs. There is also a Bachelor of Science in Forensic Science and a Field Studies Major in Ethnic Studies for individuals who desire a more narrowly focused degree. The School of Community Affairs houses the Regional Community Policy Training Institute, which serves local law enforcement, and the Midwest Criminal Justice Institute. The faculty are nationally known experts in criminological theory, criminal justice policy, sex offenders, and corrections. Students enjoy the flexibility of being able to choose between face-to-face and online courses.

Washburn University: The Criminal Justice and Legal Studies Department at Washburn University offers and Associate of Arts in Criminal Justice, a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice with three different tracks (law enforcement, corrections or security administration), and a Master of Criminal Justice (MCJ). The department has the Criminal Justice Association, a student organization through which majors can participate in a variety of activities and seminars. Internship opportunities fall under two different umbrellas, Law Enforcement/ Security Administration and Corrections, both of which have their own lists of agencies with whom Washburn has developed relationships. What truly makes this school unique is its Minor in Military Studies, a program in which students examine military operations and national security issues.

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Kansas Criminal Justice Salary and Jobs

Occupation Number Employed Average Annual Salary
Correctional Officers and Jailers 4,330 $32,640
First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives 1,250 $62,820
Detectives and Criminal Investigators 1,050 $61,650
Police and Sheriff’s Patrol Officers 6,150 $42,980

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

Respected leaders who have graduated from universities in Kansas

  • Wichita Police Chief Norman Williams – Wichita State, Wichita, KS
  • Overland Park Police Chief Norman D. Williams – Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS
  • Topeka Police Chief Steven Culp – Baker University, Baldwin City, KS
  • Sedgwick County Sheriff Robert Hinshaw- Wichita State, Wichita, KS
Police Quote: “We have all heard of the ‘Golden Rule!’ ‘Do unto others as you would want them to do to you!’ Well, when we have a new officer begin their career, I spend some time with them on their very first day. And during that time, I share with them a little message that has taken me a long ways in my career and takes the “Golden Rule” to another level. If everyone they come into contact with during their career (burglary victims, parents of a runaway, vehicle stops, etc.), if they treat that person the very same way that they would want another police officer to treat their own parents (if their parents were the victim or person being stopped), then they will have a big impact in this community and go a long way in their career.” -Michael A. Keller, President of the Kansas Association of Chiefs of Police

Kansas Criminal Justice Degrees

The major state and local agencies in Kansas include the Kansas Highway Patrol, Kansas Bureau of Investigation, Wichita Police, Topeka Police, or Kansas Department of Corrections. Positions available include police officers, criminal investigators, correctional officers, crime scene investigators, and forensic scientists. If you go into the private sector, there is demand for paralegals at law firms, and opportunities for private investigators. A criminal justice degree will set you apart from other candidates seeking a position and often lead to higher salaries and faster advancement. Employment for police and detectives in the US are expected to grow as fast as the average for most occupations and is projected to increase at 10 percent between 2008-2018 according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Those in the criminal justice field in Kansas are typically well compensated with competitive salaries and strong benefit programs. The average annual salary for patrol and police officers in Kansas is $43,170.1 Paralegals are seeing strong demand due to a trend of law firms hiring legal assistants to perform work previously performed by attorneys and earn an average annual wage of $43,490 1 in Kansas. Often, government employees have the opportunity for retirement, with many police retiring after 20 years with half-pay. Those currently working in the criminal justice field also report several intangible benefits such as a strong sense of pride, fulfillment, and adventure.

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Kansas’ Criminal Justice Employment Outlook 2, 3, 4, 5

At the start of 2012, Kansas’ unemployment has slowly dropped to 6.3%, over 2 points below the national average. According to the USA Today / Moody’s Analytics employment projections, it should regain the pre-Downturn peak by early 2014. Government related employment, which is a good proxy for Kansas criminal justice jobs, has average prospects with prior peak employment levels reached by mid 2013 with strong hiring thereafter. According to the Kansasworks site and the Occupational Supply & Demand System, the top 100 growth careers include: Police and Sheriff Patrol (210 annual openings / 88% of individuals in these positions report having some college or a bachelor’s degree), Correctional Officers (140 annual openings), Security Guards (225 annual openings / 60% of individuals in these positions report having some college or a bachelor’s degree) and Paralegals (60 annual openings / 88% of individuals in these positions have some college or a bachelor’s degrees). According to Sunshine Review, Kansas’ budget is stretched but in better shape than most states. With relatively good prospects, Kansas represents a state where an investment in a Kansas criminal justice degree should be rewarded. We suggest requesting free information from several Kansas criminal schools to best understand your education options.

Online and Kansas Criminal Justice Schools

If you live in Kansas, 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

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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

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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 (Colorado, Nebraska, Missouri, and Oklahoma).

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Directory of Kansas Universities Offering Criminal Justice Degrees

Barton County Community College (Great Bend, KS)
Criminal Justice Degrees Offered:
Certificate | Criminal Justice: Law Enforcement Officer

Bethany College (Lindsborg, KS)
Criminal Justice Degrees Offered:
Bachelor of Arts | Criminal Justice
Bachelor of Arts | Forensic Science

Brown Mackie College (Lenexa, KS; Salina, KS)
Criminal Justice Degrees Offered:
Associate of Applied Science | Criminal Justice
Diploma | Criminal Justice

Butler Community College (El Dorado, KS)
Criminal Justice Degrees Offered:
Associate Degree | Administration of Justice

Cloud County Community College (Concordia, KS)
Criminal Justice Degrees Offered:
Associate of Applied Science | Corrections & Law Enforcement
Associate of Applied Science | Criminal Justice
Associate of Arts | Criminal Justice
Associate of Science | Criminal Justice

Colby Community College (Colby, KS)
Criminal Justice Degrees Offered:
Associate of Applied Science | Criminal Justice

Cowley County Community College (Arkansas City, KS)
Criminal Justice Degrees Offered:
Associate of Applied Science | Computer Forensics
Associate of Applied Science | Criminal Justice
Associate of Science | Criminal Justice
Associate of Science | Forensic Science
Certificate | Criminal Justice

Dodge City Community College (Dodge City, KS)
Criminal Justice Degrees Offered:
Associate of Applied Science | Criminal Justice and Police Science

Emporia State University (Emporia, KS)
Criminal Justice Degrees Offered:
Bachelor of Arts | Crime and Delinquency Studies
Bachelor of Science | Crime and Delinquency Studies

Fort Hays State University (Hays, KS)
Criminal Justice Degrees Offered:
Bachelor of Arts | Justice Studies (online program)
Bachelor of Science | Chemistry (Forensic Science concentration)
Bachelor of Science | Justice Studies (online program)
Certificate | Information Networking for Criminal Justice
Master of Liberal Studies | Liberal Studies (Criminal Justice Concentration)

Student Review: “I really enjoyed the FHSU justice studies program. It challenged me and taught me a lot. I thought the the curriculum covered just about everything you would need to know to start a career in the criminal justice field. However, I wish the program would have required some sort of internship. I feel like a hands on experience is very important in helping you get your foot in the door after school. Though I did well in my classwork, without hands on experience I feel like a lot of the stuff I learned at the time has been lost, because the way to get information to stick with me, is by experiencing it. I can learn anything, but to get it stick with me I need to see it and experience it. Lectures, reading, and tests don’t stick with me like experience does. Overall the program was good.” -Danielle Z., student at Fort Hays State University
Student Review: “I had a very good experience with the Justice Studies program at Fort Hays State University. The staff in our department were all extremely helpful and most importantly were all very approachable. They make you feel at home with them and were there to help us with whatever we needed. Our university has a well designed online program and the Justice Studies program had several classes available over the Internet. I took several online classes and never had any issues with them. Just as I was graduating the program had started to work closely with the local police department which many people thought was a great opportunity. Several professors at FHSU had extensive experience in the law enforcement field. I particularly enjoyed hearing their perspective and listening to actual events they had experienced.” -Steven N., student at Fort Hays State University

Fort Scott Community College (Fort Scott, KS)
Criminal Justice Degrees Offered:
Associate of Science | Criminal Justice
Certificate | Criminal Justice

Friends University (Wichita, KS)
Criminal Justice Degrees Offered:
Bachelor of Arts | Criminal Justice
Bachelor of Science | Forensic Science
Master of Science | Leadership and Management

Garden City Community College (Garden City, KS)
Criminal Justice Degrees Offered:
Associate of Applied Science | Law Enforcement
Associate of Science | Law Enforcement

Highland Community College (Highland, KS)
Criminal Justice Degrees Offered:
Associate of Applied Science | Criminal Justice
Associate of Arts | Criminal Justice

Hutchinson Community College (Hutchinson, KS)
Criminal Justice Degrees Offered:
Associate of Applied Science | Criminal Justice Administration
Associate of Applied Science | Emergency Dispatch
Certificate | Criminal Justice

Independence Community College (Independence, KS)
Criminal Justice Degrees Offered:
Associate Degree | Criminal Justice

Johnson County Community College (Overland Park, KS)
Criminal Justice Degrees Offered:
Associate of Science | Administration of Justice
Associate of Science | Law Enforcement

Kansas City Kansas Community College (Kansas City, KS)
Criminal Justice Degrees Offered:
Associate of Applied Science | Corrections
Associate of Applied Science | Victim/Survivor Services
Associate of Arts | Forensic Science
Associate of Science | Forensic Science
Certificate | Corrections
Certificate | Homeland Security
Certificate | Victim/Survivor Services

Kansas Wesleyan University (Salina, KS)
Criminal Justice Degrees Offered:
Associate of Arts | Law Enforcement
Bachelor of Arts | Criminal Justice

Labette Community College (Parsons, KS)
Criminal Justice Degrees Offered:
Associate of Applied Science | Corrections
Associate of Applied Science | Criminal Justice
Associate of Applied Science | Parole
Associate of Applied Science | Probation
Associate of Science | Corrections
Associate of Science | Criminal Justice
Associate of Science | Parole
Associate of Science | Probation

MidAmerica Nazarene University (Olathe, KS)
Criminal Justice Degrees Offered:
Bachelor of Science | Criminal Justice

National American University (Overland Park, KS)
Criminal Justice Degrees Offered:
Associate of Applied Science | Criminal Justice (online program)
Bachelor Degree | Criminal Justice (online program)
Bachelor of Science | Criminal Justice (online program)

Newman University (Wichita, KS)
Criminal Justice Degrees Offered:
Bachelor of Science | Criminal Justice
Bachelor of Science | Forensics

Ottawa University (Ottawa, KS)
Criminal Justice Degrees Offered:
Bachelor of Arts | Law Enforcement Administration (online program)
Bachelor of Arts | Police Science (online program)

Pittsburg State University (Pittsburg, KS)
Criminal Justice Degrees Offered:
Bachelor of Science | Justice Studies

Washburn University (Topeka, KS)
Criminal Justice Degrees Offered:
Associate of Applied Science | Criminal Justice
Associate of Arts | Legal Studies
Bachelor Degree | Legal Studies
Bachelor of Science | Corrections
Bachelor of Science | Law Enforcement
Bachelor of Science | Security
Master of Science | Criminal Justice

Wichita State University-College of Education (Wichita, KS)
Criminal Justice Degrees Offered:
Bachelor of Science | Criminal Justice
Master of Arts | Criminal Justice
Master of Arts | Public Administration/Policy

References:
(1) Bureau of Labor Statistics: http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_KS.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.