Oregon Criminal Justice Schools

  • 24 schools offering criminal justice degrees in Oregon are in our database. (see below)
  • 18 offer associate’s degrees or certificates, 4 of them offer bachelor’s degrees and above, and 2 offer a mix of bachelor’s and master’s
  • We found no schools in Oregon ranked in US News and World Reports that have a criminal justice program
  • According to Kiplinger’s, Oregon has 1 university ranked in the top 100 for “Values in Public Colleges”; #98 University of Oregon, Eugene, OR
  • 10 campus-based and online schools in Oregon 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

Portland State University: The College of Urban and Public Affairs at Portland State University houses the Hatfield School of Government, where a BS, BA, MS and a post baccalaureate certificate in Criminology and Criminal Justice are offered. The bachelors program is also available fully online, catering to working students since 2006. The Hatfield School of Government has five different and highly specialized institutes and centers: the National Policy Center; the Center for Public Service; the Center for Turkish Studies; the Center for Women, Politics and Policy; and the Criminal Justice Policy Research Institute. The Division of Criminology and Criminal Justice also melds with the Public Administration and Policy PhD Program since it provides one of the five current doctoral specializations.

Oregon State University: The Department of Sociology at Oregon State University has an undergraduate Crime and Justice Option as well as a general Sociology degree with one of six possible interest areas: International Development, Social Interaction and Group Relations, Deviance and Social Control, Social Systems and Social Change, Social Policy, and Environmental and Natural Resources. The department oversees the Rural Studies Program, a seminar series held each fall and winter, and the current faculty are making headway with several research endeavors such as Changes in Coastal Communities and Drugs and Drug Policy. Common courses that Crime and Justice students take include Deviant Behavior and Social Control, Juvenile Delinquency and Race and Ethnic Relations. Students can earn 1 to 4 credits through an internship with a government or social services agency.

Oregon Criminal Justice Salary and Jobs

Occupation Number Employed Average Annual Salary
Correctional Officers and Jailers 6,250 $29,740
First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives 1,160 $85,010
Detectives and Criminal Investigators 860 $72,120
Police and Sheriff’s Patrol Officers 4,770 $59,090

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

Respected leaders who have graduated from universities in Oregon

  • Multnomah County, Oregon Sheriff Daniel W. Staton – Salem State College
  • Washington County, Oregon Sheriff Pat Garrett – Oregon State University, Portland State University
  • Portland, OR, Police Chief Michael Reese- Portland State University
  • Marion, Oregon Sheriff Jason Myers – Oregon State University, Chemeketa Community College
Police Quote: “It is important to get a college education for a couple reasons. First, people watching TV often get the wrong idea of law enforcement. People don’t always last in this career and so a fallback is good to have just in case. For those staying, the education can help them be more effective in the job. I need someone who can do a good job of writing logically laid out reports – you have to be articulate in doing police work. Note these benefits from education benefit both the patrol and corrections side. I need dependable people who can do a good, reliable job. In getting an advanced degree, I know the requisite skills are covered well.” -Glenn Palmer, Sheriff of Grant County in Oregon

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Oregon Criminal Justice Degrees

Oregon criminal justice degreesThe public sector of Oregon’s criminal justice industry is strongly represented by the many city and county police departments that hire graduates of criminal justice. The Portland Police requires a minimum of an associates degree or 2 years of active duty with the military. New recruits attend the Oregon Police Academy in Salem Oregon for 16 weeks.

In the private sector there are opportunities working as a paralegal or legal assistant at the many law firms in Oregon. Many law firms are looking to hire paralegals to complete a lot of the workload that was traditionally performed by attorneys in order to cut costs.

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Oregon Criminal Justice Salary

There are many criminal justice jobs that offer attractive salary and benefits in addition to an exciting work environment. The average salary for a police officer is $58,310 1 per year and if you advance to a leadership position you can earn a higher salary. First-line supervisors of police officers earn an average of $81,1101 in Oregon. As a criminal investigator or detective you can expect to earn an average of $74,920 1 per year. Paralegals working in Oregon are paid an average annual salary of $50,730.1

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

At the start of 2012, Oregon’s unemployment is 8.9%, just above the 8.5% national average, and it will regain prior peak employment levels by mid 2014. Government related employment, which is a good proxy for Oregon criminal justice jobs, has average short-term and better mid-term prospects with prior peak employment levels reached by mid 2013. According to the Occupational Supply & Demand System, annual criminal justice hirings in Oregon include: Police and Sheriff Patrol (200 openings / 88% of individuals in these positions report having some college or a bachelor’s degree), Correctional Officers (140 annual openings / 60% of individuals in these positions report having some college or a bachelor’s degree), Detectives / Investigators / Forensic Techs (20 annual openings), Security Guards (235 annual openings) and Paralegals (50 annual openings / 88% of individuals in these positions report having some college or a bachelor’s degree). According to Sunshine Review, Oregon’s state budget is still stressed, but is being managed as revenue slowly grow. With prospect very good starting in 2103, now is a great time to pursue a Oregon Criminal Justice Degree. We suggest requesting free information from several schools to weigh options.

Online and Oregon Criminal Justice Schools

To learn more about earning an Oregon criminal justice degree, see 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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Capella University
Campuses: 1Online
Popular Degrees:

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

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 (Washington, Idaho, Nevada, and California).

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Directory of Oregon Universities Offering Criminal Justice Degrees

Abdill Career College Inc (Medford, OR)
Criminal Justice Degrees Offered:
Certificate | Legal Assistant/Secretary

Central Oregon Community College (Bend, OR)
Criminal Justice Degrees Offered:
Associate of Applied Science | Criminal Justice
Associate of Applied Science | Juvenile Corrections
Associate of Arts Oregon Transfer | Criminal Justice

Chemeketa Community College (Salem, OR)
Criminal Justice Degrees Offered:
Associate of Applied Science | Criminal Justice
Associate of Applied Science | Juvenile Justice
Certificate | Basic Corrections
Certificate | Basic Law Enforcement
Certificate | Juvenile Corrections
Certificate | Private Security

Student Review: “Chemeketa was a really good school for me to go to. Walking around the campus you’ll run into friendly staff and some friendly students as well. All of the instructors there are pretty easy to approach when in need of help, and are generally really helpful. Around campus you could find a good number of groups or organizations that you could join. Overall I enjoyed my two years at Chemeketa.” -Randall G., student at Chemeketa Community College

Clackamas Community College (Oregon City, OR)
Criminal Justice Degrees Offered:
Associate of Applied Science | Corrections (online program)
Associate of Applied Science | Criminal Justice (online program)
Associate of Arts | Corrections
Associate of Arts | Criminal Justice (online program)
Certificate | Corrections
Certificate | Crime Analysis

Clatsop Community College (Astoria, OR)
Criminal Justice Degrees Offered:
Associate of Applied Science | Criminal Justice

Columbia Gorge Community College (The Dalles, OR)
Criminal Justice Degrees Offered:
Juvenile Corrections Certificate | Criminal Justice

Everest College (Portland, OR)
Criminal Justice Degrees Offered:
Associate of Applied Science | Criminal Justice
Associate of Applied Science | Legal Administrative Assistant

ITT Technical Institute (Portland, OR)
Criminal Justice Degrees Offered:
Associate of Applied Science | Criminal Justice (online program)
Bachelor of Science | Criminal Justice (online program)

Klamath Community College (Klamath Falls, OR)
Criminal Justice Degrees Offered:
Certificate | Corrections
Certificate | Criminal Justice

Lane Community College (Eugene, OR)
Criminal Justice Degrees Offered:
Associate of Applied Science | Human Services: Criminal Justice
Certificate | Human Services: Juvenile Corrections Program

Linn-Benton Community College (Albany, OR)
Criminal Justice Degrees Offered:
Associate of Applied Science | Criminal Justice
Certificate | Juvenile Corrections

Mt Hood Community College (Gresham, OR)
Criminal Justice Degrees Offered:
Associate of Science | Criminal Justice Administration

Pioneer Pacific College (HCI | Wilsonville, OR)
Criminal Justice Degrees Offered:
Associate of Applied Science | Criminal Justice
Bachelor of Science | Criminal Justice

Portland Community College (Portland, OR)
Criminal Justice Degrees Offered:
Associate of Applied Science | Criminal Justice
Certificate | Corrections
Certificate | Juvenile Corrections

Portland State University (Portland, OR)
www.online.ccj.pdx.edu/
Criminal Justice Degrees Offered:
Bachelor’s Degree in Criminology & Criminal Justice (online)
Certificate in Advanced Crime Analysis (online)
American Justice System Certificate (online)
Criminal Behavior Certificate (online)
Post-Bachelor’s Certificate in Criminology & Criminal Justice (online)

Student Review: “Portland State can be a pretty mixed bag. On the one hand, there are a few really great professors here, it’s very centrally located, and the school often helps connect you with Portland-area professionals. On the other hand, there are nearly 30,000 students enrolled in this not-very-selective university. This means that things can get impersonal, there’s not a lot of feeling of community, and the labs and teaching are sometimes not of the best quality. I have to say, though, I started out at a very selective small liberal arts school, then enrolled in PSU after deciding to change career fields, and even my small college felt impersonal at times. And I definitely had bad teachers there, too. Overall, I’d say this is a great school for a returning student who knows their way around a university system. You have to be persistent with navigating the main registration/admissions/financial aid system, which is in large part staffed by overworked students. What really helps is to decide on a major as soon as you can, and get to know the folks in your department.” -Emily M., student at Portland State University

Rogue Community College (Grants Pass, OR)
Criminal Justice Degrees Offered:
Associate of Applied Science | Criminal Justice
Associate of Science | Criminology
Certificate | Juvenile Corrections

Southern Oregon University (Ashland, OR)
Criminal Justice Degrees Offered:
Bachelor of Science | Criminal Justice
Bachelor of Science | Criminology

Southwestern Oregon Community College (Coos Bay, OR)
Criminal Justice Degrees Offered:
Associate of Science | Criminal Justice

Sumner College (Portland, OR)
Criminal Justice Degrees Offered:
Associate Degree | Court Reporting
Diploma | Corrections
Diploma | Court Reporting

Tillamook Bay Community College (Tillamook, OR)
Criminal Justice Degrees Offered:
Associate of Applied Science | Criminal Justice

Treasure Valley Community College (Ontario, OR)
Criminal Justice Degrees Offered:
Associate of Applied Science | Criminal Justice
Associate of Applied Science | Legal Office Administration
Associate of Arts | Criminal Justice
Certificate | Criminal Justice

Umpqua Community College (Roseburg, OR)
Criminal Justice Degrees Offered:
Associate of Applied Science | Criminal Justice

University of Phoenix (Tigard, OR)
Criminal Justice Degrees Offered:
Associate Degree | Criminal Justice (online program)
Bachelor Degree | Criminal Justice (online program)
Bachelor of Science | Criminal Justice Administration
Masters Degree | Criminal Justice (online program)

Western Oregon University (Monmouth, OR)
Criminal Justice Degrees Offered:
Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Science | Criminal Justice
Certificate | Homeland Security and Community Preparedness
Master of Arts/Master of Science | Criminal Justice

Student Review: “It is hard to imagine that there is a better college for obtaining a degree in Criminal Justice then Western Oregon University. The professors are extremely helpful, all coming from various fields in the criminal justice fields, and are more than eager to share their various experiences with the students. The campus is a clean, friendly and safe environment to learn at, with an excellent library and multiple labs and work stations. The criminal justice department also schedules many meetings and forums throughout the year with various law enforcement agencies over a variety of topics. The curriculum is very through and challenging, yet very rewarding. Western Oregon University used to be the home of the police academy in Oregon, which acts as a form of recognition and prestige that any law enforcement on the west coast will recognize.” -Dolan K., student at Western Oregon University

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