Criminal Justice Degree Schools » Criminal Justice Schools » Montana Criminal Justice Schools

Montana Criminal Justice Schools

  • 5 schools offering criminal justice degrees in Montana are in our database. (see below)
  • 3 offer associate’s degrees or certificates, and 2 offer a mix of bachelor’s and master’s
  • We found 1 school in Montana ranked in US News and World Reports that have a criminal justice program; #111 University of Montana–Missoula, MT
  • According to Kiplinger’s, Montana has no universities ranked in the top 100 for “Values in Public Colleges”
  • 10 campus-based and online schools in Montana are available for requesting information.

Spotlight School

Brandman University Online
Take a new step in your education with Brandman University. We offer 87 different certificate, associate, bachelor's, or master's programs in a wide variety of fields.

Programs:

  • BA in Criminal Justice (Homeland Security Emphasis)
  • BA in Criminal Justice
  • BA in Criminal Justice (Victim Advocacy)
  • And more...

Find a School

Profiles of Well Known Schools

The University of Montana: Through the Department of Sociology at the University of Montana, students can pursue a BA or MA in Sociology with a Criminology Emphasis. The department has established networks to pair majors with juvenile justice internships, better preparing them for graduation. Bachelors students are required to complete criminology option courses that include Sociology of Corrections, Juvenile Justice System, and Addiction Studies, while masters students dedicate the majority of their time to theory and methodology courses. To better network and take part in field seminars and activities, criminology students can join the department’s Criminology Club.

Montana State University: Students at Montana State University can pursue a BS in Sociology with the Criminology Option through the Department of Sociology and Anthropology. Common courses that students with this concentration take include Criminology, Principles of Criminal Law and Procedure, Occupational or Corporate Crime, and Family Violence. The department has 10 full time faculty and those teaching criminology courses specialize in family issues and juvenile delinquency. Being a land-grant campus, Montana State University is a hub for innovative research and currently holds 81 patents and 200 license agreements.

Montana Criminal Justice Salary and Jobs

Occupation Number Employed Average Annual Salary
Correctional Officers and Jailers 1,140 $32,440
First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives 300 $70,270
Detectives and Criminal Investigators 550 $71,470
Police and Sheriff’s Patrol Officers 1,830 $45,720

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

Respected leaders who have graduated from universities in Montana

  • Missoula, MT Police Chief Mark Muir- University of Montana, MT
  • Helena, MT Police Chief Troy Mcgee- Carroll College, MT
  • Lewis and Clark County, MT Sheriff Leo C. Dutton- University of Montana College of Technology, MT
  • Great Falls, MT Police Chief David Bowen- University of Great Falls, MT
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.” -Sheriff Gary Raney

Find a School

Montana Criminal Justice Degrees

Montana does have its own college communities in Missoula and Bozeman, as well as a Law Enforcement Academy for officer training. Government at the local, state and federal levels represents one of the largest employers in the Criminal Justice field. In Montana, law enforcement offices within the state’s Department of Justice include the Montana Highway Patrol, State Crime Lab Forensic Science Division, and Division of Criminal Investigation. Federal agencies that employ criminal justice majors include the Department of Justice, US Marshals Service, DEA, FBI, and Secret Service.

Montana is home to several schools offering criminal justice programs, and accredited online institutions help fill the gap, particularly in remote areas. Criminal justice education options available for students attending Montana campuses range from certification programs all the way to Master of Science and Master of Arts degrees, in concentrations as diverse as forensic anthropology, private security, and cybersecurity.

Find a School

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

At the start of 2012, Montana’s unemployment stands at 6.8%, well below national 8.5% national average, and will regain prior peak employment levels by the early 2014 according to USA Today / Moody’s Analytics analysis. Offsetting private job loss, Montana has the luxury of a budget surplus, which it has spent at times to support public sector hiring. Government related employment, which is a good proxy for Montana criminal justice jobs, has excellent prospects beyond 2012, a year of slight pull back in hiring. According to Occupational Supply & Demand System projected annual criminal justice openings by occupation include Police and Sheriff Patrol (55 annual openings / 88% of individuals in these positions report having some college or a bachelor’s degree), Correctional Officers (45 annual openings / 60% of individuals in these positions report having some college or a bachelor’s degree), Detectives / Investigators / Forensic Techs (15 annual openings), Security Guards (60 annual openings) and Paralegals (20 annual openings / 88% of individuals in these positions report having some college or a bachelor’s degree). Montana’s rich resources have helped keep the state budget in a surplus situation despite lost revenue. Projections indicate there are many Montana criminal justice jobs for those willing to pursue the right degree for the roles profiled or other criminal justice careers.

Online and Montana Criminal Justice Schools

If you live in Montana, 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.

request information

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

request information

Capella University
Campuses: 1Online
Popular Degrees:

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

request information

Keiser University
Campuses: 1Online
Popular Degrees:

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

request information

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

request information

Kaplan University
Campuses: 1Online
Popular Degrees:

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

request information

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

request information

Liberty University
Campuses: 1Online
Popular Degrees:

  • BS in Criminal Justice
  • AA in Criminal Justice

request information

Brandman University Online
Campuses: 1Online
Popular Degrees:

  • BA in Criminal Justice (Homeland Security Emphasis)
  • BA in Criminal Justice
  • BA in Criminal Justice (Victim Advocacy)

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 (North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming, and Idaho).

See all Online Schools

Copy and Paste the following HTML code to add this infographic to your site:

Montana Criminal Justice Salary

The Bureau of Labor Statistics provides wage details that can help prospective students form career decisions, although passion for your work is just as essential as financial compensation. The BLS categorizes most criminal justice jobs under protective services and community & social services, reflecting the important role and contribution that are fundamental to these occupations. Mean annual salaries within this field depend to a great extent on the level of training required. The average salary for police officers in Montana is $44,270 1 per year and first-line supervisors of police earn an average of $71,360.1 Corrections officers are paid an average of $32,040 1 while detectives earn an average salary of $68,980.1 Paralegals working in law firms or other settings earn an average of $38,060 1 in Montana.

Directory of Montana Universities Offering Criminal Justice Degrees

Dawson Community College (Glendive, MT)
Criminal Justice Degrees Offered:
Associate of Applied Science | Criminal Justice
Associate of Applied Science | Criminal Justice Law Enforcement | Peace Officer
Associate of Applied Science | Criminal Justice Law Enforcement | Private Security
Associate of Arts | Criminal Justice
Associate of Science | Criminal Justice
Certificate | Correctional Officer

Flathead Valley Community College (Kalispell, MT)
Criminal Justice Degrees Offered:
Associate of Applied Science | Criminal Justice

Miles Community College (Miles City, MT)
Criminal Justice Degrees Offered:
Associate of Science | Criminal Justice

The University of Montana (Montana, MT)
Criminal Justice Degrees Offered:
Bachelor of Arts | Anthropology | Forensic Anthropology Option
Bachelor of Arts | Sociology | Criminology Option
Bachelor of Arts | Sociology | Inequality and Social Justice
Bachelor of Science | Chemistry | Forensic Chemistry
Certificate | Forensic Studies
Master of Arts | Anthropology | Forensic Anthropology Option
Master of Arts | Sociology | Criminology Option
Master of Arts | Sociology | Inequality and Social Justice

University of Great Falls (Great Falls, MT)
Criminal Justice Degrees Offered:
Bachelor of Science | Criminal Justice (online program)
Bachelor of Science | Forensic Science
Master of Science | Criminal Justice

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