South Carolina Criminal Justice Schools

  • 33 schools offering criminal justice degrees in South Carolina are in our database. (see below)
  • 15 offer associate’s degrees or certificates, 16 of them offer bachelor’s degrees and above, and 2 offer a mix of bachelor’s and master’s
  • We found no schools in South Carolina ranked in US News and World Reports that have a criminal justice program
  • According to Kiplinger’s, South Carolina has 3 universities ranked in the top 100 for “Values in Public Colleges”; #36 Clemson University, Clemson, SC; #67 University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC; and #59 College of Charleston, Charleston, SC
  • 10 campus-based and online schools in South Carolina 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

Find a School

Profiles of Well Known Schools

University of South Carolina: Listed within the top 25 criminology graduate programs by the US News and World Report, the Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice at the University of South Carolina offers many valuable academic and professional experiences for its students. Individuals can pursue a BA/BS, a Minor, an MA or a PhD in Criminology and Criminal Justice, the latter two of which are highly competitive for admission. The department offers four different scholarships for its undergraduate majors and paid assistantships for its graduate students. 13 professionals and instructors teach within the school, with a large percentage specializing in law enforcement and corrections.

South Carolina State University: The Department of Human Services houses the Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice program at South Carolina State University. The students and faculty often conduct research in partnership with the 1890 Research Program, a multidisciplinary center that is dedicated to indentifying and solving social and environmental problems. Core criminal justice courses include Criminology and Penology, Juvenile Delinquency and Introduction to Corrections. It is during their final semester that students can earn field experience course credit through working with a criminal justice agency.

South Carolina Criminal Justice Salary and Jobs

Occupation Number Employed Average Annual Salary
Correctional Officers and Jailers 7,470 $31,950
First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives 1,330 $54,780
Detectives and Criminal Investigators 1,060 $58,010
Police and Sheriff’s Patrol Officers 9,480 $38,810

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

Respected leaders who have graduated from universities in South Carolina

  • Charleston County, SC Sheriff James Alton Cannon, Jr. – College of Charleston, University of South Carolina
  • Richland County, SC Sheriff Leon Lott – University of South Carolina- Aiken, University of South Carolina- Columbia
  • Columbia, SC Police Chief Randy Scott – Limestone College
Police Quote: “One of the biggest skills I see lacking in young people wanting to get into law enforcement is their communication skills. If you’re going to get into the field of law enforcement, you need to talk to anybody, anytime, at any place. I see young officers coming in who are very uncomfortable talking to people and this is a people business. You have to have great communication skills. On the college side, there are some great programs under communications, to become good at it. If you’re a good communicator, no matter what job you do in law enforcement, you’re going to be very successful.” -Gary Killam, President of the Florida Gang Investigators Association

Find a School

South Carolina Criminal Justice Degrees

In demand criminal justice occupations in South Carolina include: police officers, detectives and managers; criminal investigators and special agents; sheriffs and deputy sheriffs; firefighters; and immigration and customs inspectors.

Candidates for law enforcement typically must be at least 21 years of age, possess a clean record (no felonies or DUIs), and a good credit history. Many police departments in South Carolina require at least an associate’s degree to be considered for an entry level position; some require a bachelor’s degree and/or an associate’s with prior law enforcement experience. Starting salaries for police officers with college degrees are typically higher and many departments now offer educational pay incentives to attract college graduates. Nearly two thirds of police detective candidates in South Carolina possess college degrees.

In addition to local agencies, criminal justice graduates can pursue careers with the state government. The South Carolina Department of Public Safety, Department of Labor, Licensing & Regulation, and the Department of Probation are just some of the state agencies that hire professionals with degrees in criminal justice. Salaries and benefits with state agencies are often highly competitive and some require a college degree and some work experience to qualify. The US Department of Homeland Security also actively employs criminal justice professionals in the state. Positions available through the DHS include criminal investigators, mission support specialists and customs and border agents.

Find a School

South Carolina Criminal Justice Salary

Several criminal justice jobs in South Carolina offer attractive salary and benefits in addition to the intrinsic benefits of working in an exciting career. Police officers earn an average salary of $38,330 1 in South Carolina while a first-line supervisor earns an average of $53,550.1 In the role of detective or criminal investigator the average salary is $56,750 1 in the state. Working as a correctional officer will earn you an average of $31,710 1 in South Carolina. In the legal field, paralegals and legal assistants earn an average of $42,820.1

Find a School

South Carolina’s Criminal Justice Employment Outlook 2, 3, 4, 5

At the start of 2012, South Carolina’s unemployment is 9.5%, and should regain pre-Downturn employment levels by mid 2014. Government related employment, which is a good proxy for South Carolina criminal justice jobs, has average prospects with prior peak employment levels reached by early 2014, but with growth starting again in 2013. The Occupational Supply & Demand System shows annual South Carolina Criminal Justice job openings with Police and Sheriff Patrol (280 openings / 88% of individuals in these positions report having some college or a bachelor’s degree), Correctional Officers (205 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 (400 annual openings) and Paralegals (140 annual openings / 88% of individuals in these positions report having some college or a bachelor’s degree). According to Sunshine Review, it appears that the state budget situation in South Carolina is stretched but under control and apparently in much better shape than its cousin to the North. Investing in a South Carolina criminal justice degree could give you the edge needed to get a North Carolina criminal justice career. We suggest requesting free information from several South Carolina criminal justice schools to weigh options.

Online and South Carolina Criminal Justice Schools

If you live in South Carolina, 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

Keiser University
Campuses: 1Online
Popular Degrees:

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

request information

Capella University
Campuses: 1Online
Popular Degrees:

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

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

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

Kaplan University
Campuses: 1Online
Popular Degrees:

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

Grand Canyon University
Campuses: 1Online
Popular Degrees:

  • B.S. in Justice Studies
  • M.S. in Criminal Justice: Legal Studies
  • M.S. in Criminal Justice: Law Enforcement

request information

Liberty University
Campuses: 1Online
Popular Degrees:

  • BS in Criminal Justice
  • AA 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 (Georgia, and North Carolina).

See all Online Schools

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

Directory of South Carolina Universities Offering Criminal Justice Degrees

Aiken Technical College (Graniteville, SC)
Criminal Justice Degrees Offered:
Associate of Applied Science | Criminal Justice
Certificate | Basic Criminal Justice

Anderson University (Anderson, SC)
Criminal Justice Degrees Offered:
Associate of Arts | Criminal Justice
Bachelor of Arts | Criminal Justice
Bachelor of Science | Criminal Justice (online program)

Benedict College (Columbia, SC)
Criminal Justice Degrees Offered:
Bachelor of Arts | Criminal Justice

Bob Jones University (Greenville, SC)
Criminal Justice Degrees Offered:
Bachelor of Science | Criminal Justice

Central Carolina Technical College (Sumter, SC)
Criminal Justice Degrees Offered:
Associate Degree | Criminal Justice Technology

Charleston Southern University (Charleston, SC)
Criminal Justice Degrees Offered:
Associate in Public Service | Criminal Justice
Bachelor of Science | Criminal Justice
Master of Science | Criminal Justice

Claflin University (Orangeburg, SC)
Criminal Justice Degrees Offered:
Bachelor of Arts | Sociology/Criminal Justice Administration

Coker College (Hartsville, SC)
Criminal Justice Degrees Offered:
Bachelor of Arts | Criminology

Denmark Technical College (Denmark, SC)
Criminal Justice Degrees Offered:
Associate Degree | Criminal Justice Technology
Technical Certificate | Criminal Justice

Florence-Darlington Technical College (Florence, SC)
Criminal Justice Degrees Offered:
Associate of Science | Criminal Justice Technology

Forrest Junior College (Anderson, SC)
Criminal Justice Degrees Offered:
Associate of Applied Science | Criminal Justice

Greenville Technical College (Greenville, SC)
Criminal Justice Degrees Offered:
Associate Degree | Criminal Justice Technology

Horry-Georgetown Technical College (Conway, SC)
Criminal Justice Degrees Offered:
Associate of Applied Science | Crime Scene Investigations
Associate of Applied Science | Criminal Justice

ITT Technical Institute (Columbia, SC; Greenville, SC)
Criminal Justice Degrees Offered:
Associate of Applied Science | Criminal Justice
Bachelor of Science | Criminal Justice

Lander University (Greenwood, SC)
Criminal Justice Degrees Offered:
Bachelor of Science | Criminal Justice

Limestone College (Gaffney, SC)
Criminal Justice Degrees Offered:
Bachelor Degree | Criminal Justice (online program)

Midlands Technical College (West Columbia, SC)
Criminal Justice Degrees Offered:
Associate of Applied Science | Criminal Justice
Certificate | Court Reporting
Certificate | Legal Administrative Assistant

Miller-Motte Technical College (North Charleston, SC)
Criminal Justice Degrees Offered:
Associate of Applied Science | Criminal Justice
Associate of Applied Science | Security & Investigation
Associate of Applied Science/Associate of Occupational Science | Criminal Justice
Associate of Science | Criminal Justice
Bachelor Degree | Criminal Justice (online program)
Bachelor of Science | Criminal Justice
Bachelor of Science | Public Administration/Policy
Diploma | Network Administration and Security

Morris College (Sumter, SC)
Criminal Justice Degrees Offered:
Bachelor of Arts | Criminal Justice

Northeastern Technical College (Cheraw, SC)
Criminal Justice Degrees Offered:
Bachelor of Science | Criminal Justice
Certificate | Criminal Justice

Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College (Orangeburg, SC)
Criminal Justice Degrees Offered:
Associate of Science | Criminal Justice
Certificate | Forensics
Certificate | Security

Piedmont Technical College (Greenwood, SC)
Criminal Justice Degrees Offered:
Associate of Applied Science | Criminal Justice
South Carolina State University (Orangeburg, SC)
Criminal Justice Degrees Offered:
Bachelor of Arts | Criminal Justice

South University (Columbia, SC)
Criminal Justice Degrees Offered:
Bachelor Degree | Corrections (online program)
Bachelor Degree | Criminal Justice (online program)
Bachelor of Science | Corrections
Bachelor of Science | Crime Scene Investigation
Bachelor of Science | Criminal Justice
Bachelor of Science | Cyber Crime (online program)
Bachelor of Science | Juvenile Justice (online program)
Bachelor of Science | Law Enforcement
Masters Degree | Corrections (online program)
Masters Degree | Criminal Justice (online program)
Masters Degree | Homeland Security (online program)

Southern Wesleyan University (Central, SC)
Criminal Justice Degrees Offered:
Bachelor of Science | Criminal Justice

Spartanburg Methodist College (Spartanburg, SC)
Criminal Justice Degrees Offered:
Associate Degree | Criminal Justice

Technical College of the Lowcountry (Beaufort, SC)
Criminal Justice Degrees Offered:
Associate in Public Service | Criminal Justice Technology
Certificate | Correctional Office Administration
Certificate | Correctional Training
Certificate | Criminal Justice and Law
Certificate | Law Enforcement Psychology
Certificate | Law Enforcement Training

The Citadel (Charleston, SC)
Criminal Justice Degrees Offered:
Bachelor of Science | Criminal Justice

Tri-County Technical College (Pendleton, SC)
Criminal Justice Degrees Offered:
Certificate | Corrections
Certificate | Crime Scene Investigation

Trident Technical College (Charleston, SC)
Criminal Justice Degrees Offered:
Associate of Applied Science | Criminal Justice (online program)
Certificate | Crime Scene Investigation (online program)
Certificate | Criminal Justice | Corrections (online program)
Certificate | Criminal Justice | Law Enforcement (online program)
Certificate | Emergency Management and Protection (online program)

University of South Carolina-Lancaster (Lancaster, SC)
Criminal Justice Degrees Offered:
Associate in Science | Criminal Justice

University of South Carolina-Upstate (Spartanburg, SC)
Criminal Justice Degrees Offered:
Bachelor of Science | Criminal Justice
Bachelor of Science | Forensics

Voorhees College (Denmark, SC)
Criminal Justice Degrees Offered:
Bachelor Degree | Criminal Justice

York Technical College (Rock Hill, SC)
Criminal Justice Degrees Offered:
Associate in Public Service | Criminal Justice Technology
Certificate | Law Enforcement

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