Rhode Island Criminal Justice Schools

  • 6 schools offering criminal justice degrees in Rhode Island are in our database. (see below)
  • 1 offer associate’s degrees or certificates, 3 of them offer bachelor’s degrees and above, and 1 offer a mix of bachelor’s
  • We found no schools in Rhode Island ranked in US News and World Reports that have a criminal justice program
  • According to Kiplinger’s, Rhode Island has no universities ranked in the top 100 for “Values in Public Colleges”
  • 10 campus-based and online schools in Rhode Island 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...

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Profiles of Well Known Schools

University of Rhode Island: The University of Rhode Island’s Department of Sociology and Anthropology has an undergraduate program in Criminology and Criminal Justice that is labeled as a BS in Sociology. The department also has a Justice, Law and Sociology Minor, which emphasizes crime and social change. Nine full time faculty specifically teach the sociology courses and most have strong research interests in methods, juvenile delinquency and inequalities. Students with the Criminology and Criminal Justice concentrations as well as those pursuing a BA in Sociology are active within the Iron Cage Society, a student organization dedicated to humanitarian efforts.

Johnson and Wales University: Johnson and Wales University offers students the opportunity to pursue a Bachelors in Criminal Justice as well as a Master of Science in Criminal Justice Management. Students often become members of the Criminal Justice Association, providing peer support and professional networks. The university encourages it students to seek out supplemental experience through one of it many study abroad programs, which are active in over a dozen different countries in Europe, Asia and Latin America. The faculty consists of top rated criminal justice experts, including former employees of the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI).

Rhode Island Criminal Justice Salary and Jobs

Occupation Number Employed Average Annual Salary
Correctional Officers and Jailers N/A N/A
First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives 570 $72,060
Detectives and Criminal Investigators 360 $74,820
Police and Sheriff’s Patrol Officers 1,800 $52,960

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

Respected leaders who have graduated from universities in Rhode Island

  • Providence, RI Police Chief Hugh T. Clements – Roger Williams College, University of Rhode Island
  • Warwick, RI Police Chief Stephen McCartney – Salve Regina University, Roger Williams College, Providence College
Police Quote: “You have to be willing to relocate. You have to move to the opportunities. There are more opportunities in the bigger organizations. They need to put their best personal foot forward by working hard and being diligent. You have to learn how to get along with people even when it isn’t easy. You have to move with the group but find some way to stand out. And you just have to be a solid writer and communicator.” -Dr. Scott Thornsley, Associate Professor at Mansfield University

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Rhode Island Criminal Justice Degrees

With the state’s population estimated to grow to more than 1.1 million by 2020 and anticipated decline in the number of working age residents, it is important for the state of Rhode Island to recruit criminal justice professionals who will be able to provide legal, public safety and other protective services to the state’s growing elderly and youth populations.

State agencies that hire professionals with backgrounds in criminal justice include the Rhode Island State Police, Department of Corrections, Department of Public Safety, Department of Environmental Management, and others. The US Department of Homeland Security also employs criminal justice professionals in Rhode Island. Job opportunities with the DHS include criminal investigators, special agents, disaster assistance specialists, and transportation security.

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Rhode Island Criminal Justice Salary

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average yearly salary for police officers in Rhode Island is $52,630.1 A promotion to first-line supervisor will earn an average of $71,010.1 In the position of detective the average annual salary is $71,4501 while paralegals and legal assistants earn an average of $49,980.1

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Rhode Island Criminal Justice Employment Outlook 2, 3, 4, 5

At the start of 2012, Rhode Island’s unemployment is 10.5% or 2 percentage points above national average. It will regain prior peak employment levels by late 2014. Government related employment, which is a good proxy for Rhode Island criminal justice jobs, has below average prospects with prior peak employment levels not reached until 2015. The Occupational Supply & Demand System projects select annual Rhode Island criminal justice openings as follows: Police and Sheriff Patrol (60 openings / 88% of individuals in these positions report having some college or a bachelor’s degree), Correctional Officers (25 annual openings / 60% of individuals in these positions report having some college or a bachelor’s degree), Detectives / Investigators / Forensic Techs (10 annual openings), Security Guards (50 annual openings) and Paralegals (35 annual openings / 88% of individuals in these positions report having some college or a bachelor’s degree). According to Sunshine Review, Rhode Island’s state budget is still struggling in 2012 as reflected by budget cuts. However, in 2013, jobs in criminal justice are projected to grow with a the Downturn heals. We suggest requesting free information from several Rhode Island criminal justice schools to weigh options.

Online and Rhode Island Criminal Justice Schools

If you live in Rhode Island, we recommend the following accredited campus-based and online criminal justice programs for students interested in pursuing associates, 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

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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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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

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


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 (Massachusetts, and Connecticut).

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Directory of Rhode Island Universities Offering Criminal Justice Degrees

Community College of Rhode Island (Warwick, RI)
Criminal Justice Degrees Offered:
Associate in Science | Law Enforcement
Associate of Science | Legal Administrative Assistant/Secretary
Certificate | Legal Office Assistant

Johnson & Wales University (Providence, RI)
Criminal Justice Degrees Offered:
Bachelor of Science | Criminal Justice

Lincoln Technical Institute (Lincoln, RI)
Criminal Justice Degrees Offered:
Associate of Science | Criminal Justice (online program)
Associate of Science | Criminal Minds (online program)
Bachelor of Science | Criminal Justice & the Study of the Criminal Mind (online program)
Bachelor of Science | Criminal Justice and the Study of the Criminal Mind (online program)
Bachelor of Science | Information Management and Security (online program)
Certificate | Criminal Justice

Rhode Island College (Providence, RI)
Criminal Justice Degrees Offered:
Bachelor of Arts | Justice Studies | Criminal Justice

Roger Williams University (Bristol, RI)
Criminal Justice Degrees Offered:
Bachelor of Science | Criminal Justice
Master of Science | Criminal Justice

Salve Regina University (Newport, RI)
Criminal Justice Degrees Offered:
Bachelor of Arts | Administration of Justice
Certificate of Graduate Studies | Administration of Justice
Certificate of Graduate Studies | Homeland Security
Certificate of Graduate Studies | Law Enforcement Leadership
Master of Science | Administration of Justice

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