Georgia Criminal Justice Schools

Georgia Criminal Justice Schools

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Staff Writers Contributing Writer
Updated October 31, 2023

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Are you ready to find a school that's aligned with your interests?

Whether you're just getting started in your criminal justice career or looking for opportunities to advance, Georgia is likely home to a program that's the right fit for your goals. The colleges and universities in Georgia offer a variety of degree pathways that can be a fit for various career goals, including information security, emergency management, administration of justice, and forensics. Schools in Georgia with criminal justice programs are also increasing their online offerings. Students can now complete online criminal justice degrees from such schools as Columbus State University, Dalton State College, and Valdosta State University.

Quick Facts

  • There are 60 schools offering criminal justice degrees in Georgia (see below).1
  • 34 colleges and universities offer associate's degrees in criminal justice.*1
  • 32 colleges and universities offer bachelor's degrees in criminal justice.*1
  • 13 colleges and universities offer master's or doctoral degrees in criminal justice.*1
  • 29 colleges and universities offer criminal justice degree programs online.*1
  • 4 schools ranked in Kiplinger's Best Values in Public Colleges in 2018.2
  • 4 schools ranked in College Factual's Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Colleges in 2018.3
  • 1 school ranked in Criminal Justice Degree Schools Best Online Bachelor's Programs in 2018.4
  • 3 schools ranked in US News Best Online Graduate Criminal Justice Programs in 2018.5

*For not-for-profit colleges and universities with criminal justice degree programs.

Featured Online Programs

Explore program formats, transfer requirements, financial aid packages, and more by contacting the schools below.

Criminal Justice Degree Programs in Georgia

The options for earning a criminal justice degree in Georgia include traditional undergraduate and graduate programs as well as online programs offering associate's, bachelor's, and master's degrees. Holding a degree can make you more competitive for open positions even where a college degree is not required, such as for entry-level police work. A degree can also qualify you for promotion opportunities, or help you negotiate a higher salary. Georgia's criminal justice schools offer a variety of options, making it likely that you can find a program that fits your personal and career goals.

Top-Ranked Schools with Criminal Justice Programs in Georgia

Kiplinger's Best Values in Public Colleges*

  • Georgia Institute of Technology (#17 in-state, #20 out-of-state)
  • Georgia State University (#90 in-state, #89 out-of-state)
  • University of Georgia (#12 in-state, #11 out-of-state)
  • University of North Georgia (#94 in-state, #95 out-of-state)

*Institution-wide ranking.

College Factual's Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Colleges

  • University of Georgia (#53)
  • Mercer University (#87)
  • Georgia State University (#117)
  • Georgia College & State University (#191)

Criminal Justice Degree Schools Best Online Bachelor's Programs

  • Valdosta State University

US News Best Online Graduate Criminal Justice Programs

  • Armstrong State University (#46)
  • Georgia College & State University (#51-#67)
  • University of North Georgia (#51-#67)

Profiles of Well-Known Schools in Georgia

Georgia State University: Georgia State University offers bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs through its Department of Criminal Justice and Criminology, which has more than 560 students. Advanced degree students that wish to shorten the time it takes to transition to a doctoral program can enroll in the Joint MS/PhD Program. The department administers two academic journals, the Criminal Justice Review and the International Criminal Justice Review. Researchers that wish to narrow their scope can collaborate with GSU's Crime and Prevention Policy Initiative, an interdisciplinary group that is committed to investigating the contributors and outcomes of rules and procedures used to address criminal activity. This group has partnerships with multiple councils and agencies such as the Atlanta Police Department Crime Analysis Unit.

University of Georgia: The University of Georgia has the interdisciplinary Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminal Justice, which draws faculty and courses from the School of Public and International Affairs and multiple departments within the College of Arts and Sciences. The faculty include professors and instructors of law, history, political science, psychology, sociology, economics, medicine, and computer science. Criminal justice students have access to three different scholarships as well as the Criminal Justice Studies Fund, which is used to cover the costs of hosting seminars, speakers, and research projects. There are two student organizations for criminal justice majors, the CJ Society and Alpha Phi Sigma, through which students can network and participate in activities that are suitable for their course of study.

Kennesaw State University: Students at Kennesaw State University can pursue a Bachelor of Science or a Master of Science in Criminal Justice within the Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice. Upper-level undergraduate courses range from Research Methods in Criminal Justice to Police in America. Students actively participate in internship and study abroad programs, the latter of which are hosted in Ghana, the Netherlands, Sweden, and Thailand. The faculty of this department have done groundbreaking research in the field on such focuses as methamphetamine use in the suburbs, immigration, homelessness, law enforcement, and computer crimes. Graduate students can enjoy the flexibility of taking face-to-face, hybrid, and online courses.

Notable Alumni from Georgia Universities

  • Atlanta Police Chief George N Turner - Saint Leo University
  • Savannah Chief of Police Willie Lovett - Savannah State University
  • Cobb County Sheriff Neil Warren - Kennesaw State University
  • DeKalb County Sheriff Thomas E. Brown - Brenau University

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 Director St. John's River State College Criminal Justice Center

Georgia Criminal Justice Careers

Projected to be one of the fastest-growing states in the country, Georgia is home to a number of major corporations and one of the country's fastest-growing cities. According to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, the state's violent crime rate was 389.9 per 100,000 people as of 2010.5 Highly skilled criminal justice graduates are needed to help improve public safety. Urban policing is also a strong source of job openings in Georgia. The Savannah-Chatham Metropolitan Police accept applications on an open, rolling basis and offers a starting salary of $34,115 and an additional $2,654 bonus for a four-year degree.6 The Atlanta Police Department is also hiring, and also offers a differential for applicants with a college degree. The average annual salary for police and patrol officers in Georgia was $39,510 as of May 2015.7

The Georgia Department of Corrections is looking to hire a number of correctional officers and offers a generous benefits package. An associate's degree or higher in criminal justice is strongly preferred for this position. The Department of Public Safety pays patrol troopers a starting wage of $35,741 and prefers applicants with at least 90 quarter hours of collegiate work.8

The federal government is looking for qualified individuals for a number of positions. Atlanta's airport is one of the busiest in the world and requires qualified individuals to staff TSA positions. In addition, the FBI is active in the state of Georgia and requires trained professionals to staff a number of positions. The Bureau of Prisons also hires for facilities in McRae, Jesup, Glynco, and Atlanta.

Georgia Criminal Justice Salary and Jobs

OccupationNumber EmployedAverage Annual Salary
Correctional Officers and Jailers16,710$29,650
First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives3,860$61,180
Detectives and Criminal Investigators3,370$62,480
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers24,670$39,510

Data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics as of May 2015.7,9,10,11

Georgia's Criminal Justice Employment Outlook

In May 2016, the unemployment rate for Georgia was 5.3%, which is above the national average of 4.7% but well below the state's peak unemployment of 10.5% in January of 2010.12 The previous state unemployment low occurred in January of 2008, at 5.2%.12 Government-related employment is a good indicator of criminal justice job prospects for Georgia. Projections Central projects many future openings for Georgia in the field of criminal justice. These positions include:

  • Police and Sheriff Patrol: 980 annual openings; 46% in these positions report completing at least some college, with 24% holding an associate's degree.13,14
  • Correctional Officers: 630 annual openings; 37% in these positions report completing at least some college, with 15% holding a post-secondary certificate.13,15
  • Detectives and Criminal Investigators: 110 annual openings; 37% in these positions report completing at least some college, with 21% holding an associate's degree.13,16
  • Security Guards: 640 annual openings; 4% in these positions report completing at least some college.13,17
  • Paralegals and Legal Assistants: 280 annual openings; 86% in these positions report completing at least some college, with 30% holding an associate's degree and 44% holding a bachelor's degree.13,18
  • Forensic Science Technicians: 10 annual openings; a bachelor's degree is typically required for these positions.13

These projections are based on openings from both jobs growth and replacements.

The Mercatus Center, a conservative think tank, analyzed and rated the long-term solvency of each state. After looking at the budgeting, cash/tax collection, and pensions for Georgia, the state was ranked 23rd in the nation.19 This indicates that the state should be financially positioned to continue to pay out pensions to its employees.

Featured Online Programs

Explore program formats, transfer requirements, financial aid packages, and more by contacting the schools below.

Directory of Not-for-Profit Georgia Universities Offering Campus-based and Online Criminal Justice Degrees

If you are interested in getting a Georgia criminal justice degree, we recommend looking for an accredited campus-based or online program for pursuing your associate's, bachelor's, or master's degree in the growing field of 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 (AlabamaTennesseeNorth CarolinaSouth Carolina, or Florida).

Schools with Online and On-Campus Criminal Justice Programs

Note: Student Reviews are based on the experiences of a few individuals and it is unlikely that you will have similar results. Please review the "Data, Student Reviews and Other Information" section in our Terms of Use and Disclaimers.

Albany State University (Albany)
Bachelor of Science | Criminal Justice
Bachelor of Science | Forensic Science
Master of Science | Criminal Justice (online or on-campus)
Program | ROTC

Albany Technical College (Albany)
Associate of Science | Cybersecurity
Associate of Science | Information Security Specialist
Associate of Science | Law Enforcement Technology (online or on-campus)
Certificate | Computer Forensic and Investigation Specialist
Certificate | Cyber Crime Specialist
Certificate | Information Security Specialist
Technical Certificate of Credit | Criminal Justice Specialist (online)
Diploma | Law Enforcement Technology (online)

Armstrong Atlantic State University (Savannah)
Associate of Applied Science | Corrections
Associate of Applied Science | Criminal Justice
Associate of Applied Science | Law Enforcement
Bachelor of Science | Criminal Justice
Master of Science | Criminal Justice (online)
Minor | Cyber Security
Certificate | Cyber Crime (online)
Certificate | Police Officer

Central Georgia Technical College (Warner Robins)
Associate Degree | Emergency Management
Diploma | Emergency Management
Technical Certificate | Public/Private Crisis Manager

Clayton State University (Morrow)
Bachelor of Applied Science | Administrative Management: Applied Criminal Justice (online)
Bachelor of Applied Science | Homeland Security/Emergency Management (online)
Bachelor of Science | Criminal Justice
Bachelor of Science | Criminal Justice: Administration of Justice
Bachelor of Science | Criminal Justice: Criminology, Law & Society
Bachelor of Science | Criminal Justice: Homeland Security & Emergency Management
Master of Arts | Liberal Studies: Criminology
Master of Science | Criminal Justice
Minor | Criminal Justice
Minor | Homeland Security/Emergency Management
Minor | Social and Community Justice

Columbus State University (Columbus)
Associate of Applied Science | Criminal Justice
Bachelor of Arts | Liberal Arts: Military and Global Issues Track (online)
Bachelor of Science | Criminal Justice
Bachelor of Science | Forensic Chemistry
Bachelor of Science | Sociology | Crime, Deviance, and Society
Master of Public Administration | Justice Administration
Master of Public Safety Administration | Public Safety Administration
Minor | Criminal Justice
Minor | Military Science and Advanced Leadership
Certificate | Criminal Justice
Certificate | CyberSecurity
Certificate | Geographic Information Systems and Science
Post-Baccalaureate Certificate | Information Systems Security Officer
Post-Baccalaureate Certificate | Information Systems Security Professional

Dalton State College (Dalton)
Associate of Science | Criminal Justice
Bachelor of Science | Criminal Justice (online or on-campus)
Minor | Criminal Justice
Minor | Forensic Accounting

Darton College (Albany)
Associate of Science | Criminal Justice (online)
Certificate | Addiction Counseling

East Central Technical College (Fitzgerald)
Associate of Applied Science | Criminal Justice Technology (online or on-campus)
Associate of Applied Science | Information Security Specialist
Associate of Science | Criminal Justice
Technical Certificate of Credit | Criminal Justice Specialist (online or on-campus)
Diploma | Criminal Justice Technology (online or on-campus)
Diploma | Information Security Specialist

Fort Valley State University (Fort Valley)
Bachelor of Arts | Criminal Justice (online)
Minor | Criminal Justice

Georgia College & State University (Milledgeville)
Bachelor of Arts | Criminal Justice
Master of Arts | Criminal Justice
Master of Science | Criminal Justice (online)
Minor | Criminal Justice

Georgia Military College (Columbus, Martinez, Milledgeville, Union City, Valdosta, Warner Robins)
Associate of Applied Science | Criminal Justice
Associate of Arts | Criminal Justice (online or on-campus)
Associate of Arts | Homeland Security (online or on-campus)
Associate of Science | Criminal Justice (online or on-campus)
Associate of Science | Cybersecurity
Associate of Science | Homeland Security (online or on-campus)
Program | Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC)

Georgia Northwestern Technical College (Rock Spring, Rome)
Associate of Applied Science | Criminal Justice Technology (online or on-campus)
Certificate | Addictions Specialist
Certificate | Basic Law Enforcement
Certificate | Computer Forensics & Security Specialist (online or on-campus)
Technical Certificate of Credit | Crime Scene Investigation
Technical Certificate of Credit | Criminal Justice Specialist (online or on-campus)
Technical Certificate of Credit | Domestic and Family Violence Specialist (DVP1)
Diploma | Criminal Justice Technology (online or on-campus)

Georgia Southwestern State University (Americus)
Bachelor of Science | Criminal Justice (online)

Lanier Technical College (Oakwood)
Associate Degree | Criminal Justice Technology (online or on-campus)
Associate Degree | Emergency Management
Certificate | Criminal Justice Specialist (online or on-campus)
Diploma | Criminal Justice Technician
Diploma | Emergency Management

Mercer University (Macon)
Bachelor of Science | Public Safety Leadership (online or on-campus)
Master of Laws | Federal Criminal Practice and Procedure
Master of Science | Public Safety Leadership (online)
Minor | Criminal Justice
Minor | Digital Forensics
Minor | Public Safety Leadership
Certificate | Public Safety
Certificate | Substance Abuse (Addictions Counseling)

Student Review: "Mercer University is a very beautiful campus. Where the university stands is a series of small, rolling hills, so looking out at the campus you can see rolling green hills. Aside from the scenery, the campus is pretty awesome with a few exceptions. The buildings are all in very good condition and there's wheelchair access to most of the buildings. I studied English there and all the professors I had were very excellent. Once you finish taking the required courses and can take the more specific classes to your course of study, the classes are quite small especially considering the large size of the campus. As an added perk, the cafeteria on campus has an excellent, wide-range of choices and if cafeteria food just won't do it, there is a cafe area where there are franchise restaurants like Chick-fil-A and Pizza Hut that you can buy from right on campus."
stars-4

Jolinda P., student at Mercer University

Middle Georgia State University (Macon)
Associate of Science | Criminal Justice
Associate of Science | Public Safety
Bachelor of Science | Criminal Justice
Bachelor of Science | Information Technology: Digital Forensics (online or on-campus)
Bachelor of Science | Public Service / Human Service
Certificate | Criminal Justice
Certificate | Public Safety

Ogeechee Technical College (Statesboro)
Associate of Applied Science| Criminal Justice Technology (online or on-campus)
Certificate | Criminal Justice Specialist (online or on-campus)
Certificate | Crime Scene Fundamentals
Certificate | Criminal Justice Fundamentals (online or on-campus)
Technical Certificate of Credit | Basic Law Enforcement
Diploma | Criminal Justice Technology (online or on-campus)
Diploma | Forensic Science Technology

Point University (West Point)
Associate of Arts | Criminal Justice (online)
Bachelor of Science | Criminal Justice (online or on-campus)
Master of Public Administration | Crisis Management (online)

Reinhardt College (Waleska)
Associate of Science | Criminal Justice
Bachelor of Arts | Organizational Leadership: Public Safety
Bachelor of Science | Criminal Justice (online)
Bachelor of Science | Sociology: Criminology/ Criminal Justice
Master of Public Administration | Criminal Justice
Diploma | Police Academy

Shorter University (Rome)
Associate of Science | Criminal Justice (online)
Bachelor of Science/ Arts | Criminal Justice (online or on-campus)
Minor | Criminal Justice (online)

Southeastern Technical College (Vidalia)
Associate Degree | Criminal Justice Technology (online or on-campus)
Technical Certificate | Cyber Crime Specialist
Technical Certificate | Introduction to Criminal Justice
Diploma | Criminal Justice Technology (online or on-campus)

Swainsboro Technical College (Swainsboro)
Associate Degree | Criminal Justice Technology (online or on-campus)
Technical Certificate | Cyber Crime Specialist
Technical Certificate | Introduction to Criminal Justice
Diploma | Criminal Justice Technology (online or on-campus)

Toccoa Falls College (Toccoa Falls)
Associate of Science | Criminal Justice (online)

Thomas University (Thomasville)
Associate of Science | Law Enforcement (online)
Bachelor of Science | Criminal Justice (online)
Minor | Criminal Justice

University of North Georgia (Dahlonega)
Associate of Science | Criminal Justice
Bachelor of Science | Criminal Justice
Bachelor of Science | Criminal Justice: Criminal Forensics
Master of Science | Criminal Justice (online or on-campus)
Minor | Criminal Justice
Minor | Criminal Justice Forensics
Minor | Cyber Security
Minor | Information Assurance and Security
Certificate | Geographic Information Systems
Certificate | Military Leadership

University of West Georgia (Carrollton)
Bachelor of Science | Criminology (online or on-campus)
Minor | Criminology

Valdosta State University (Valdosta)
Bachelor of Arts | Criminal Justice (online or on-campus)
Master of Science | Criminal Justice (online or on-campus)

West Georgia Technical College (LaGrange, Waco)
Associate of Applied Science | Criminal Justice
Associate of Applied Science | Cybersecurity (online)
Associate of Applied Science | Fire Science Technology (online)
Associate of Science | Criminal Justice
Technical Certificate of Credit | Crime Scene Fundamentals
Technical Certificate of Credit | Criminal Justice Fundamentals
Diploma | Criminal Justice
Diploma | Fire Science Technology (online)

Schools with On-Campus Criminal Justice Programs Only

Note: Student Reviews are based on the experiences of a few individuals and it is unlikely that you will have similar results. Please review the "Data, Student Reviews and Other Information" section in our Terms of Use and Disclaimers.

Andrew College (Cuthbert)
Associate of Science | Criminal Justice
Associate of Science | Forensic Science

Augusta Technical College (Augusta)
Associate of Applied Science | Criminal Justice Technology
Associate of Applied Science | Cybersecurity
Certificate | Basic Law Enforcement
Technical Certificate of Credit | Criminal Justice Specialist
Certificate | Armament Systems & Procedures (ASP Baton)
Certificate | Defensive Tactics
Certificate | Emergency Vehicle Operations
Certificate | Firearms
Certificate | First Aid/ CPR
Certificate | NIMS
Certificate | Oleoresin Capsicum (OC) Spray
Certificate | TASER
Certificate | Verbal Judo
Diploma | Criminal Justice Technology

Augusta University (formerly Augusta State University) (Augusta)
Bachelor of Arts | Criminal Justice
Minor | Criminal Justice

Student Review: "My experience with the Criminal Justice program at Augusta University was a pleasurable one. The content that the program presented was very useful. The professors were all very knowledgeable with most having have worked for federal law enforcement agencies. The classes were structured so that you completed general classes first and the more specific classes afterward. The program offered classes during the day for traditional students and during the evening hours for students who worked during the day. This allowed those students who worked and those students who began work after entering the program to be able to stay on track to graduate. Again, this is a great program in a great school. There is nothing to dislike about it."
stars-5

Student at Augusta State University

Student Review: "Augusta State University is a school that is very capable of leading a willing student to success. Class sizes are very small, and many professors treat their students as individuals. Extracurricular activities are very high in number, as are the opportunities to join them. However, I do feel this school lacks an amount of "school spirit" that prevents it from feeling like a true college."
stars-4

Zachary S., student at Augusta State University

Bainbridge College (Bainbridge)
Associate of Arts | Criminal Justice
Associate of Applied Science | Criminal Justice Technology: Basic Criminal Justice
Associate of Applied Science | Criminal Justice Technology: Law Enforcement Management
Associate of Applied Science | Information Technology: Cyber Security
Diploma | Criminal Justice Technology

Brenau University (Gainesville)
Bachelor of Arts | Conflict Resolution and Legal Studies

Central Georgia Technical College (Macon)
Associate Degree | Criminal Justice Technology
Associate Degree | Emergency Management
Certificate | Criminal Justice Technology
Technical Certificate of Credit | Criminal Justice Fundamentals
Technical Certificate of Credit | Criminal Justice Specialist
Technical Certificate of Credit | Crime Scene Fundamentals
Technical Certificate of Credit | Introduction to Criminal Justice
Technical Certificate of Credit | Legal Issues of Criminal Justice
Technical Certificate of Credit | Public/ Private Crisis Manager
Technical Certificate of Credit | Selected Topics in Criminal Justice
Diploma | Criminal Justice Technology
Diploma | Emergency Management

Chattahoochee Technical College (Jasper, Marietta)
Associate of Applied Science | Criminal Justice Technology
Diploma | Criminal Justice Technology

Clark Atlanta University (Atlanta)
Bachelor of Arts | Criminal Justice
Master of Arts | Criminal Justice
Minor | Criminal Justice

Coastal Pines Technical College (Waycross)
Associate of Applied Science | Criminal Justice Technology
Technical Certificate of Credit | Criminal Justice Specialist
Technical Certificate of Credit | Crime Scene Fundamentals
Technical Certificate of Credit | Introduction to Criminal Justice
Diploma | Criminal Justice Technology

College of Coastal Georgia (Brunswick)
Associate of Science | Criminal Justice (transfer degree)
Bachelor of Science | Criminal Justice: Homeland Security
Bachelor of Science | Criminal Justice: Public Management
Bachelor of Science | Public Management: Criminal Justice
Bachelor of Science | Public Management: Criminal Justice and Security
Minor | Criminal Justice

Flint River Technical College (Thomaston)
Associate of Applied Science | Criminal Justice Technology
Associate of Applied Science | Forensic Science Technology
Technical Certificate of Credit | Criminal Justice Fundamentals
Technical Certificate of Credit | Criminal Justice Specialist
Technical Certificate of Credit | Forensic Science Fundamentals
Diploma | Criminal Justice Technology
Diploma | Forensic Science Technology

Georgia Perimeter College (Alpharetta)
Associate of Arts | Homeland Security and Emergency Management
Associate of Science | Criminal Justice

Student Review: "I had a great experience studying criminal justice at Georgia Perimeter College. I feel as if I've learned a lot of valuable information that has helped me in my job search and my career as I now work in law enforcement. I feel that the courses I took gave me a great backbone of knowledge that has helped me to become a great officer with a lot of knowledge. I thoroughly enjoyed the practical portions of some courses which allowed us to participate in studies and programs related to our fields of interest. I think it would have improved my experience if the college would provide more resources for internships and job training."
stars-3

Justin V., student at Georgia Perimeter College

Georgia Institute of Technology (Atlanta)
Master of Science | Cybersecurity

Georgia Piedmont Technical College (Clarkston)
Associate of Applied Science | Criminal Justice Technology
Associate of Applied Science | Criminal Justice Technology: Crime Scene
Associate of Applied Science | Criminal Justice Technology: Criminal Justice Administration
Associate of Applied Science | Criminal Justice Technology: Public Safety
Certificate | Basic Law Enforcement
Certificate | Crime Scene Fundamentals
Certificate | Criminal Justice Fundamentals
Diploma | Criminal Justice Technology

Georgia Southern University (Statesboro)
Bachelor of Science | Justice Studies
Master of Arts | Criminal Justice and Criminology
Minor | Criminal Justice

Student Review: "This once agricultural university is nestled in the sandy swamps of South Georgia. This school has more than 20,000 students, making Statesboro, GA a college town. The college has a great athletic center. There is an outdoor pool with basketball goals. There is an indoor gym with a gymnastic room, rock climbing wall, weight room, smoothie bar, sauna, indoor Olympic size pool, and hot tub. The University is also building a new science education department. There is also a 24-hour tennis court with id access. There are new dorms with internet access and food courts in them. I hope that the university buys an electron scanning microscope that students can use for research projects and opens a research greenhouse so that this rural area school can compete with UGA since they are in different growing zones."
stars-4

Tyleen S., student at Georgia Southern University

Student Review: "I have a strong dislike for the criminal justice program at my school, at least the one class I have taken. It was a basic lecture-style class, consisting of about 200 students or so. My teacher would read off a PowerPoint, which was very vague in itself, and post the same PowerPoint online. I found the class incredibly boring, as was most of the information taught to us. There were a series of online assignments we had to do in which we took the role of the police officer, intern to the district attorney, as well as a courtroom judge, and it was almost like a simulation in which we were given a situation as well as a number of different responses to the problem, and we had to provide the best one and back our reasoning up. These assignments were my favorite thing in this class and helped balance out the boring reading we had to do. All in all, I think I disliked the class because of the material being presented to us, being more on the laws and behavioral side than anything else."
stars-2

Student at Georgia Southern University

Student Review: "The program offers excellent opportunities to study the essential criminal justice concepts in earlier courses. advance courses allow students to gain experience in specific course areas such as criminal law, policing, school violence, and gangs & society. The professors here are very knowledgeable in their specialties and have years of experience. In my experience, All of the professors I have encountered have seemed to be very passionate about their work and dedicated to ensuring their students learn. The program provides an opportunity for a student to work with prisoners to discuss their role in the criminal justice system and how future leaders can promote change that deters crime and ensure justice in our society."
stars-5

Student at Georgia Southern University

Georgia State University (Atlanta)
Bachelor of Science | Crime and Justice
Bachelor of Science | Legal Track
Master of Science | Criminal Justice
Masters International Program | Peace Corps
PhD | Criminal Justice and Criminology
Post-Baccalaureate Certificate | Disaster Management

Student Review: "This once agricultural university is nestled in the sandy swamps of South Georgia. This school has more than 20,000 students, making Statesboro, GA a college town. The college has a great athletic center. There is an outdoor pool with basketball goals. There is an indoor gym with a gymnastic room, rock climbing wall, weight room, smoothie bar, sauna, indoor Olympic size pool, and hot tub. The University is also building a new science education department. There is also a 24-hour tennis court with id access. There are new dorms with internet access and food courts in them. I hope that the university buys an electron scanning microscope that students can use for research projects and opens a research greenhouse so that this rural area school can compete with UGA since they are in different growing zones."
stars-5

Student at Georgia State University

Gwinnett Technical College (Lawrenceville)
Associate of Applied Science | Criminal Justice Technology
Associate of Applied Science | Cybersecurity
Certificate | Cyber Crime Specialist
Certificate | Cybersecurity
Diploma | Criminal Justice
Diploma | Cybersecurity

Kennesaw State University (Kennesaw)
Bachelor of Science | Criminal Justice
Bachelor of Science | Sociology: Criminal Justice
Master of Science | Criminal Justice
Minor | Criminal Justice
Minor | Criminology

Student Review: "Kennesaw State University is a school that has grown very quickly over the last 10 years. Because of this fact, I feel that they have taken on too many students way too quickly. If there is a service I need on campus, it takes a long time for them to fulfill it, since they seem to have too much of a workload for them to handle with the student population increasing. They take on more and more students every semester, yet they do not accommodate for it by increasing the amount of parking available either. Campus life is improving, but it is not that great either, but that is mostly because there is a high amount of commuter students. Overall, I like the school, but I think the biggest factor for that is because the classrooms are not too large for my major classes, so I feel like I can really interact with my professors and peers. After all, the most important value of a college campus should be the quality of the education, and I think that is the strongest feature of Kennesaw State University."
stars-3

Kyle M., student at Kennesaw State University

Student Review: "Kennesaw State University is an excellent school. I've transferred twice before and I've never experienced such a well-rounded school. The professors are really about helping their students succeed and it shows. They did a great job selecting the professors who are there because every professor I've encountered were all very approachable and that's rare at some universities. I've been able to meet with some of my professors to discuss my grades in some classes even if they didn't have the time, they made time to speak with me. They were all so encouraging when I thought I wasn't going to do well or as well as I wanted, they encouraged me to do what I needed to do to get what I wanted. The school is absolutely beautiful and they have a lot of activities during the school year. You get a fun atmosphere and place that teaches you what you need to know at the same time. Excellent school to attend so I would recommend it."
stars-5

Lawanda B., student at Kennesaw State University

Moultrie Technical College (Moultrie)
Associate of Applied Science | Criminal Justice Technology
Technical Certificate of Credit | Introduction to Criminal Justice
Diploma | Criminal Justice Technology

North Georgia Technical College (Clarkesville)
Associate of Applied Science | Criminal Justice Technology
Diploma | Criminal Justice Technology

Oconee Fall Line Technical College (Dublin)
Associate of Applied Science | Criminal Justice Technology
Diploma | Criminal Justice Technology
Technical Certificate of Credit | Criminal Justice Technician

Piedmont College (Demorest)
Bachelor of Arts | Criminal Justice
Bachelor of Arts | Criminal Justice: Technology & Crime
Bachelor of Science | Forensic Science
Minor | Criminal Justice

Savannah State University (Savannah)
Bachelor of Arts | Criminal Justice
Bachelor of Arts | Public Administration
Master of Public Administration | Public Administration

Savannah Technical College (Savannah)
Associate of Applied Science | Criminal Justice
Associate of Science | Criminal Justice
Technical Certificate of Credit | Basic Law Enforcement Training
Technical Certificate of Credit | Criminal Justice Fundamentals
Technical Certificate of Credit | Criminal Justice Specialist
Diploma | Criminal Justice

South Georgia Technical College (Americus)
Associate Degree | Criminal Justice
Technical Certificate | Basic Law Enforcement
Technical Certificate | Computer Forensics and Investigation
Technical Certificate of Credit | Crime Scene Fundamentals
Technical Certificate of Credit | Criminal Justice Specialist
Diploma | Criminal Justice Technology

Southern Crescent Technical College (Griffin)
Associate of Applied Science | Criminal Justice Technology
Associate of Applied Science | Forensic Science Technology
Technical Certificate of Credit | Criminal Justice Fundamentals
Technical Certificate of Credit | Criminal Justice Specialist
Technical Certificate of Credit | Forensic Science Fundamentals
Diploma | Criminal Justice Technology
Diploma | Forensic Science Technology

Southern Regional Technical College (Thomasville)
Associate of Applied Science | Crime Scene Investigation Technology
Associate of Applied Science | Criminal Justice Technology
Associate of Science | Criminal Justice
Technical Certificate of Credit | Crime Scene Fundamentals
Technical Certificate of Credit | Criminal Justice Specialist
Technical Certificate of Credit | Introduction to Criminal Justice
Diploma | Criminal Justice Technology

University of Georgia (Athens)
Bachelor of Science | Criminal Justice
Post-Baccalaureate Certificate | Disaster Management

Student Review: "UGA is a great school to go to. While at first, it may seem like all people do is party, there are a lot of different events going on there at all times. If you like something, there is probably a club for it. The teachers care a lot about their subject and their students. Also, it is one of the best educations you can get for that much money. It is impossible to talk about the typical UGA student because they come from all different walks of life, and have different interests, which is one of the great things about student life here. If you want to get a great education, have fun, and save money, UGA is the school for you."
stars-4

Rebecca B., student at University of Georgia

References:
1. National Center for Education Statistics: https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/
2. Kiplinger's Best Values in Public Colleges: https://www.kiplinger.com/tool/college/T014-S001-kiplinger-s-best-values-in-public-colleges/index.php
3. College Factual Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Colleges: https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/protective-security-safety-services/criminal-justice-and-corrections/rankings/top-ranked/
4. US News Best Online Graduate Criminal Justice Programs: https://www.usnews.com/education/online-education/criminal-justice/rankings
5. Georgia Bureau of Investigation: https://gbi.georgia.gov/gbi-crime-statistics-database
6. Savannah Chatham Metropolitan Police Department: https://savannahpd.org/
7. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2015 Occupational Employment and Wages, Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes333051.htm
8. Georgia Department of Public Safety: https://dps.georgia.gov/benefits-0
9. US Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2015 Occupational Employment and Wages, Correctional Officers and Jailers https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes333012.htm
10. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2015 Occupational Employment and Wages, First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes331012.htm
11. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2015 Occupational Employment and Wages, Detectives and Criminal Investigators: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes333021.htm
12. Y Charts 10 Year Unemployment Chart: https://https://ycharts.com/indicators/alabama_unemployment_rate
13. Projections Central Long Term Occupational Projections: https://www.projectionscentral.com/Projections/LongTerm
14. O*Net OnLine, Police Patrol Officers: https://www.onetonline.org/link/details/33-3051.01
15. O*Net OnLine, Correctional Officers and Jailers: https://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/33-3012.00
16. O*Net OnLine, Police Detectives: https://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/33-3021.01
17. O*Net OnLine, Security Guards: https://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/33-9032.00
18. O*Net OnLine, Paralegals and Legal Assistants: https://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/23-2011.00
19. Mercatus Center, George Mason University, Ranking the States by Fiscal Condition 2016 Edition: https://www.mercatus.org/statefiscalrankings

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