Best Criminal Justice Schools In Missouri

Home to over 40 accredited colleges and universities offering programs in criminal justice, Missouri is an ideal place to pursue an education in criminal justice. Schools in the state offer associate's, bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees in diverse specializations within the criminal justice field, including behavior analysis, law enforcement, forensic science, and military studies. A number of schools, such as Columbia College, Drury University, and Missouri Southern State University, also offer criminal justice degree programs online.

Quick Facts

There are 47 schools offering criminal justice degrees in Missouri (see below).¹
18 colleges and universities offer associate's degrees in criminal justice.*¹
32 colleges and universities offer bachelor's degrees in criminal justice.*¹
15 colleges and universities offer master's or doctoral degrees in criminal justice.*¹
29 colleges and universities offer criminal justice degree programs online.*¹
2 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
2 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.

Criminal Justice Degree Programs in Missouri

Earning a degree or certification in criminal justice can expand your career opportunities and help ensure job security while boosting salary compensation compared to those who lack specialized training. Whether you set your sights on certification or a degree program, you're bound to find a school that fits the bill in Missouri. Instruction is available in areas of criminal justice ranging from cybersecurity and forensic science to criminology, juvenile justice, and corrections. An associate's or bachelor's degree can prepare candidates for careers in airport security or US Customs, or even working for the Secret Service, CIA, or DEA. An advanced degree is preparation for professions including district attorney, criminal investigator, and counter-intelligence or FBI agent. Many Missouri schools also offer criminal justice degrees that can be completed online.

Featured Online Programs

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

Top-Ranked Schools with Criminal Justice Programs in Missouri

Kiplinger's Best Values in Public Colleges*

Truman State University (#19 in-state, #8 out-of-state)
University of Missouri (#74 in-state, #69 out-of-state)

*Institution-wide ranking.

College Factual's Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Colleges

Saint Louis University (#97)
Truman State University (#160)
Drury University (#186)
University of Missouri – Kansas City (#193)

Criminal Justice Degree Schools Best Online Bachelor's Programs

Missouri State University

US News Best Online Graduate Criminal Justice Programs

Southeast Missouri State University (#11)
Columbia College (#18)

Profiles of Well-Known Schools in Missouri

Missouri State University: Missouri State University has the Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice where students can pursue a bachelor's or master's in Criminology, a Homeland Security and Defense Graduate Certificate, or a Master of Science in Administrative Studies – Criminal Justice Option. Students can network and gain access to resources through two student organizations, the CJ Society and Alpha Phi Sigma (Criminal Justice Honor Society). The Center for Social Science and Public Policy Research (CSSPPR) provides students with the opportunity to become more knowledgeable regarding survey research and public opinion polling. For students who wish to supplement their classroom time with professional experience, NSU has a list of dozens of community partners that take interns.

Truman State University: Truman State University offers a Bachelor of Science in Justice Systems. The program is research-oriented and offers opportunities for study abroad as well as internships that help students develop hands-on experience in preparation for the workforce. Core courses include Juvenile Delinquency; The Rehabilitative System; and Senior Seminar. Approximately 40% of justice systems majors have gone on to graduate school or law school. The justice systems department prides itself on encouraging peer-to-peer interactions, small class sizes, and individualized attention to each student. Justice systems majors may wish to consider adding the interdisciplinary Forensic Science minor, which offers two tracks: lab-oriented forensic DNA or lab-oriented forensic chemistry. Students pursuing a different major may also choose to take a minor in justice systems.

College of the Ozarks: The bachelor's program in Criminal Justice at the College of the Ozarks allows students to specialize in either Corrections or Law Enforcement. The criminal justice core prepares students for careers in local, state, and federal government as well as private security. The college recommends that criminal justice majors choose a second major or minor to complement the degree, such as Computer Science, Psychology, Sociology, or Spanish. Required courses include Criminal Evidence, Police Field Services, Criminal Law and Procedure, and Interview and Interrogation. A senior capstone, which includes research and scenario-based testing, is also mandatory. Interested students may join the school's Criminal Justice Club, which offers opportunities for job shadowing, firearms practice, criminal justice agency tours, and more. All students at the College of the Ozarks participate in the school's work education program, which involves working 15 hours each week at an assigned job on-campus; the work education program helps students cover the cost of undergraduate study at College of the Ozarks.

Notable Alumni from Missouri Universities

Jay Nixon, Governor of Missouri 2009-2017 – University of Missouri
Colonel Sandra K. Karsten, Superintendent of the Missouri State Highway Patrol – Truman State University (bachelor's), University of Missouri (master's)

Police Quote:
Sergeant Ted Roy
Source

Missouri Criminal Justice Careers

There are numerous opportunities to work in criminal justice in Missouri. While not all opportunities require an associate's or bachelor's degree, a growing number of employers are showing preference towards hiring college graduates. The Missouri State Highway Patrol, for example, requires that applicants who do not have military experience have completed at least 30 college credit hours. Other departments may offer educational pay incentives or fast-track options for promotion for those who have at least an associate's degree.

Many careers in criminal justice offer competitive pay and attractive benefits. Police officers and patrol officers earn an annual average wage of $46,230 in the state of Missouri while police first-line supervisors earn an average of $73,490.^6,8 The paralegal field has a positive outlook with average annual earnings of $46,640 in Missouri.⁹ Correctional officers are paid an average of $30,320 and criminal investigators and detectives earn $69,800 per year in the state.^4,6

Missouri Criminal Justice Salary and Jobs

Occupation	Number Employed	Average Annual Salary
Correctional Officers and Jailers	8,260	$30,320
First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives	2,250	$73,490
Detectives and Criminal Investigators	1,560	$69,800
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers	13,030	$46,230

Data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics as of May 2015.^5,6,7,8

Missouri's Criminal Justice Employment Outlook

The May 2016 unemployment rate for Missouri was 4.3%, slightly below the national average of 4.7%.¹⁰ The 10-year state unemployment peak was recorded at 9.7% in December 2009.¹⁰ Government-related employment is a good proxy for criminal justice jobs in Missouri. Projections Central includes the following criminal justice job projections for Missouri:

Police and Sheriff Patrol: 520 annual openings; 46% in these positions report completing at least some college, with 24% holding an associate's degree.^11,12
Correctional Officers: 250 annual openings; 37% in these positions report completing at least some college, with 15% holding a post-secondary certificate.^11,13
Detectives and Criminal Investigators: 50 annual openings; 37% in these positions report completing at least some college, with 21% holding an associate's degree.^11,14
Security Guards: 330 annual openings; 4% in these positions report completing at least some college.^11,15
Paralegals and Legal Assistants: 140 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.^11,16
Forensic Science Technicians: 20 annual openings; these positions typically require a bachelor's degree.¹¹

These positions are based on estimates for employment growth as well as replacements.

The Mercatus Center is a conservative think tank that analyzed and rated the long-term solvency of each state government. Missouri was ranked 14th in the nation based on an examination of its budgeting process, cash/tax collection, and pensions.¹⁷ This indicates that it is likely the state will be able to fulfill its pension obligations.

missouri Criminal Justice Employment Outlook

Directory of Missouri Universities Offering Campus-based and Online Criminal Justice Degrees

If you live in Missouri, we recommend 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 (Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, or Oklahoma)

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.

Columbia College (Columbia)Associate of Science | Criminal Justice Administration (online or on-campus)Associate of Science | Human Services (online or on-campus)Bachelor of Arts | Criminal Justice Administration (online or on-campus)Bachelor of Arts | Human Services (online or on-campus)Bachelor of Science | Criminal Justice Administration (online or on-campus)Bachelor of Science | Forensic ScienceBachelor of Science | Human Services (online or on-campus)Master of Science | Criminal JusticeMaster of Science | Criminal Justice: Law Enforcement AdministrationMaster of Science | Criminal Justice: Corrections AdministrationMaster of Arts | Military StudiesMinor | Criminal Justice AdministrationMinor | Human ServicesCertificate | Crime Scene InvestigationProgram | ROTC

Student Review: "My college experience was atypical; most of my college experience took place in an online environment while I worked full time as a police officer. Prior to my online enrollment, I did attend a local 'commuter' state college for a short time (just after graduating high school) but I did less well there than I could have because I did not really want to be there at the time and took the experience less seriously than I should have. Later, after completing the Academy, I wanted to go back and complete my degree in order to advance my career, and with the desire to do well came greatly improved academic performance. I sometimes wonder how it would have been to have experienced the 'traditional' college experience, but the flexibility of the online format fit my life perfectly at the time I was enrolled."

— Stewart D., student at Columbia College

Student Review: "The program was completed online which was beneficial to my work schedule. A majority of the classes in the program are geared toward the criminal justice student who needs the general requirements of criminal justice to complete the degree. Some of the 400 level classes were harder and would have been better if they would have been in seat classes. The class sizes were perfect for the content of the classes. Just enough people to get into good discussions, but not so many that you were just a number. I received a lot of support after the loss of our son, and the professors worked with me on deadlines and any needs I had to complete assignments. If I could change anything, it would be creating specialties within the program, there are not enough classes so that you can focus on one specific criminal justice area that you are interested in. I wanted to work with youth offenders, and there were not enough classes specifically detailing problems for youth and youth offenders."

— Student at Columbia College

Lindenwood University (Saint Charles)Bachelor of Arts | Chemistry: ForensicsBachelor of Arts | Criminal Justice (online or on-campus)Bachelor of Arts | Criminal Justice: Legal StudiesBachelor of Arts | Criminal Justice: Corrections/Probation & ParoleBachelor of Arts | Criminal Justice: Corrections/JuvenileBachelor of Arts | Criminal Justice: Law EnforcementBachelor of Arts | Criminal Justice: Law Enforcement with Police AcademyBachelor of Arts | International Relations: Security StudiesBachelor of Science | Cyber SecurityMinor | Criminal JusticeMinor | Military ScienceProgram | Army or Air Force ROTC

Student Review: "I love Lindenwood. I am in the communications department and studying interactive media and web design. I will have to say the best part is the professors. I have had very few bad professors in my time being at Lindenwood. They actually care! If you e-mail them they will give you a good response and they will actually sit down and take time to help you if you need it. My negative comment about Lindenwood is two things, I lived on campus for one semester and hated it, there is no interaction or fun on campus. No one gets involved in anything. If you are looking for a University experience this is not the school for that. It is very education focused. Also, they use paperwork for everything. I don't think they know how to use computers in the administration area of the school. Just be prepared for a hassle."

— Kels H., student at Lindenwood University

Maryville University of Saint Louis (Saint Louis)Bachelor of Arts | Criminal Justice/CriminologyBachelor of Arts | Forensic Psychology/Criminal JusticeBachelor of Arts | Forensic Science: BiologyBachelor of Arts | Forensic Science: ChemistryBachelor of Science | Accounting Systems and ForensicsMaster of Science | Cyber Security (online)Post-Baccalaureate Certificate | CybersecurityMinor | Cybersecurity

Mineral Area College (Park Hills)Associate of Applied Science | Criminal Justice: Correctional AdministrationAssociate of Applied Science | Criminal Justice: Forensic InvestigationAssociate of Applied Science | Criminal Justice: Judicial AdministrationAssociate of Applied Science | Criminal Justice: Law EnforcementAssociate of Applied Science | Criminal Justice: Security ManagementCertificate | Law EnforcementCertificate | Law Enforcement Academy

Missouri Southern State University (Joplin)Associate of Science | Law EnforcementAssociate of Science | Law Enforcement: Basic Law Enforcement AcademyBachelor of Science | Criminal Justice Administration (online or on-campus)Minor | Corrections (online or on-campus)Minor | Criminal Justice Administration (online or on-campus)Minor | Crime Scene InvestigationMinor | Juvenile Justice (online or on-campus)Minor | Military ScienceCertificate | Safety & Hazard Prevention (online)

Missouri State University-West Plains (West Plains)Associate of Applied Science | Law EnforcementBachelor of Science | CriminologyMaster of Science | Criminology and Criminal Justice (online)Certificate | Public Outreach and Education

North Central Missouri College (Trenton)Associate of Arts | Criminal Justice (transfer degree)Associate of Applied Science | Criminal JusticeAssociate of Applied Science | Criminal Justice (online or on-campus)Certificate | Criminal Justice

Park University (Parkville)Associate of Science | Criminal Justice AdministrationBachelor of Arts | Criminal Justice AdministrationBachelor of Science | Criminal Justice AdministrationBachelor of Science | Military History (online)Bachelor of Public Administration | Criminal JusticeBachelor of Public Administration | Public ServiceBachelor of Public Administration | Homeland SecurityBachelor of Public Administration | Criminal JusticeMinor | Criminal Justice AdministrationCertificate | Terrorism and Homeland SecurityPost-Baccalaureate Certificate | Disaster and Emergency Management

Student Review: "My experience with Park University was a good one. I liked the fact that the online classes were taught in a way that allowed for different learning styles. Park is a big fan of training students how to function as a team in the workplace and the experience I obtained from this has greatly helped me in my career field. Although Park teaches the majority of their students online or at remote military campuses, there is a sense of community among the students. Park University is also a very diverse school and offers the students a chance to learn about other cultures and lifestyles. The teachers were knowledgeable and almost always willing to help out. The only downside for me was that the administrative staff wasn't always the best. I had trouble with them losing documents and having to do paperwork twice a few times. Overall, I am glad to be a graduate and would take classes there again."

— Jennifer F., student at Park University

Student Review: "The program was somewhat of a challenge for me. I really enjoyed the course content, mainly in regards to learning about the due processes, from the beginning of an investigation all the way up to the prosecution of a suspect. A big challenge for me during this program was the fine guidelines for prosecution and investigations, see all of the hoops you have to jump through in order to get search warrants or convictions. Although the courses were challenging at times, a lot of schools from my understanding help you work with local police departments to better understand the criminal justice system and how everything flows."

— Student at Park University

St. Louis Community College (Kirkwood; Saint Louis)Associate of Arts | Criminal JusticeAssociate of Applied Science | Criminal Justice: Corrections (online)Associate of Applied Science | Criminal Justice: Law Enforcement (online)Associate of Applied Science | Human ServicesCertificate of Proficiency | Law Enforcement (online)Certificate of Proficiency | Corrections (online)Certificate of Proficiency | Human Services: Addictions Study

Saint Louis University (St. Louis)Bachelor of Arts | Criminology and Criminal JusticeBachelor of Science | Emergency Management (online)Bachelor of Science | Forensic ScienceBachelor of Science | Security and Strategic Intelligence (hybrid online)Master of Arts | Criminology and Criminal JusticeMaster of Science | Cybersecurity (online or on-campus)Master of Science | Strategic Intelligence (online or on-campus)Minor | Criminology and Criminal JusticeMinor | Emergency ManagementMinor | Forensic ScienceMinor | Global and Local Social JusticeGraduate Certificate | Biosecurity and Disaster PreparednessGraduate Certificate | Global and Local Social Justice

Southeast Missouri State University (Cape Girardeau)Bachelor of Science | Criminal Justice: Criminology (online or on-campus)Bachelor of Science | Criminal Justice: Corrections (online or on-campus)Bachelor of Science | Criminal Justice: Law Enforcement (online or on-campus)Bachelor of Science | Chemistry: DNA AnalysisBachelor of Science | Chemistry: Forensic ChemistryBachelor of Science | Chemistry: Forensic ScienceBachelor of Science | Communication DisordersBachelor of Science | CybersecurityMaster of Science | Criminal Justice (online or on-campus)Minor | Criminal JusticeMinor | CriminologyMinor | CybersecurityMinor | Geographic Information SystemsMinor | Military ScienceMinor | Substance Abuse PreventionPost-Baccalaureate Certificate | Psychological Examiner

University of Missouri-St. Louis (St. Louis)Bachelor of Science | Criminology and Criminal Justice (online, hybrid online, or on-campus)Master of Arts | Criminology and Criminal JusticePhD | Criminology and Criminal JusticeMinor | Child Advocacy StudiesMinor | Criminology and Criminal JusticeMinor | Military History and LogisticsMinor | Public LawCertificate | Child Advocacy StudiesCertificate | Criminology and Criminal JusticeCertificate | Cybersecurity (pending program)Certificate | Gender and MilitaryPost-Baccalaureate Certificate | Applied Behavior AnalysisPost-Baccalaureate Certificate | CybersecurityPost-Baccalaureate Certificate | Trauma Studies

Student Review: "I loved it at UMSL it was a great experience that was affordable and allowed me to grow as a student and as a person. It was a great alternative from the normal four-year college choices that are around my area. UMSL is a school where most of the people travel to the school and there is little on-campus action. UMSL is located right off Highway 70 and is very easy to find and get to during main transit hours. Also as a student, you receive a free Metro Pass which is great if you live closer inside the city of St.Louis."

— Paul O., student at University of Missouri-St. Louis

Webster University (Saint Louis)Bachelor of Arts | CriminologyMaster of Science | Cybersecurity (online or on-campus)Minor | Criminology and Criminal JusticeCertificate | Diversity and Identity in the USCertificate | Migration and Refugee StudiesPost-Baccalaureate Certificate | Cybersecurity: Threat Detection (online or on-campus)Post-Baccalaureate Certificate | Applied Behavior Analysis (online or on-campus)Post-Baccalaureate Certificate | Psychoeducational Needs of Immigrant and Refugee Youth (online)

Schools with On-Campus Criminal Justice Programs Only

Avila University (Kansas City)Bachelor of Arts | Criminology and Justice Studies

Student Review: "We had excellent faculty who were very knowledgeable about the real world aspect of Criminal Justice. I did feel like there wasn't a lot of money allocated to the department to spend on helpful things. In addition to the faculty there were several guests that we had from government agencies as well as local departments; this helped to give well rounded expectations of the Criminal Justice career. Probably my biggest complaint was that the program did not provide the certifications that I required to pursue the career that I wanted. This is very unfortunate as other schools of similar quality in the area do provide these certifications to their graduates. This would have saved money and time on my part. It is possible that with more money allocated to the department the certifications would be able to be provided. This seemed to me like an administrative problem. My overall experience at College of the Ozarks was amazing and life changing. I loved the unique experiences that the school provided and I made lifelong friends in the process. The Spiritual and Patriotic goals of College of the Ozarks make it worthy of high praise."

— Student at College of the Ozarks

Student Review: "The staff within the Criminal Justice department was very knowledgeable and willing to help educate about to realities of the Criminal Justice field. I was dissatisfied with not receiving all of the qualifications that I needed to be a police officer. Most notable my Missouri POST qualifications were not included in this program while at other schools this is included. However, the great experiences that I had were very worthwhile and educational. There were a lot of fun things like the annual mock crime scene that the department conducts to give students an idea of how a crime scene is run."

— Student at College of the Ozarks

Crowder College (Neosho)Associate of Arts | Criminal JusticeAssociate of Applied Science | Criminal JusticeCertificate | Criminal Justice

East Central College (Union)Associate of Arts | Criminal Justice

Evangel University (Springfield)Bachelor of Arts/ Bachelor of Science | Criminal JusticeBachelor of Science | Human ServicesMinor | Criminal JusticeMinor | Military Science (ROTC)

Hannibal-Lagrange University (Hannibal)Associate of Applied Science | Criminal JusticeBachelor of Science | Criminal JusticeBachelor of Applied Science | Criminal JusticeMinor | Criminal Justice

Harris-Stowe State University (Saint Louis)Bachelor of Science | Criminal Justice: Juvenile JusticeBachelor of Science | Criminal Justice: Law EnforcementBachelor of Science | Sociology: Law, Justice, and SocietyBachelor of Science | Sociology: Social Justice

Jefferson College (Hillsboro)Associate of Applied Science | Computer Information Systems: Criminal Justice Cyber SecurityAssociate of Applied Science | Criminal Justice: Law EnforcementAssociate of Arts | Criminal JusticeCertificate | Law Enforcement AcademyCertificate | Criminal Justice (POST)

Student Review: "Jefferson College was a good choice for me to attend when I needed to earn a few credit hours to get back on track at my main university. Jeffco is a community college with three campuses, including one close to my residence, so it was extremely convenient to stop by and take a test. During my time at Jeffco, I took several online classes. These classes were really nice since they allowed me to continue school work at one university and then come home to work on the Jeffco classwork. The two largest downfalls I experienced was the fact that some professors either didn't seem to know the material they were teaching, or they didn't allow off-campus testing, which would have been nice on my longer days at another facility."

— Jasmine K., student at Jefferson College

Lincoln University (Jefferson City)Associate of Arts | Criminal JusticeBachelor of Science | Criminal Justice Administration: GeneralBachelor of Science | Criminal Justice Administration: Law EnforcementBachelor of Science | Criminal Justice Administration: ResearchMinor | Criminal JusticeProgram | Army ROTC

Metropolitan Community College (Independence; Kansas City; Lees Summit)Associate of Applied Science | Computer Science and Information Systems: Cyber SecurityAssociate of Applied Science | Criminal Justice: CorrectionsAssociate of Applied Science | Criminal Justice: Juvenile ServicesAssociate of Applied Science | Criminal Justice: Police ScienceAssociate of Applied Science | Forensic Chemistry (Affiliated program with KCKCC)Associate of Arts | Criminal JusticeTechnical Certificate | Police ScienceShort-Term Certificate | Geographic Information Systems

Student Review: "I first attended Metropolitan Community College at the Kansas City, MO campus. The campus itself felt safe and secure, considering its downtown location, and the facilities were much more than I initially expected. The instructors were more willing to work one-on-one than some of my high school teachers had been. Overall, everyone I met in KC encouraged me to get as involved as possible and to follow my dreams. I found the same when I switched campuses. I chose MCC so I could stay close enough to home to see my younger sister graduate, and soon we will be attending together – maybe even sharing classes. I appreciate the start MCC gave me for my education and the people I met that allowed me to flourish."

— Sarah W., student at Metropolitan Community College

Missouri Western State University (Saint Joseph)Associate of Science | Criminal JusticeBachelor of Science | Criminal Justice: AdministrationBachelor of Science | Criminal Justice: CorrectionsBachelor of Science | Criminal Justice: Juvenile DelinquencyBachelor of Science | Criminal Justice: Law EnforcementBachelor of Science | Criminal Justice: Legal StudiesBachelor of Science | Chemistry: Forensic ScienceBachelor of Science | Pre-Major: Criminal JusticeMinor | Criminal JusticeMinor | Peace & Conflict StudiesMinor | Gender & Power StudiesMinor | Military Science

Moberly Area Community College (Moberly)Certificate | Law Enforcement

Ozarks Technical Community College (Springfield)Associate of Arts | Criminal Justice

Student Review: "The Criminology and Criminal Justice department and course of study at Ozarks Technical Community College provided me with a great learning opportunity in order to advance my knowledge and studies within my field. There are a number of amazing instructors that have a large amount of real-world experience working in their respective subject areas. With staff ranging from corrections officers to the Director of the United States Marshalls Service, to retired police officers, there are a plethora of individuals ready to prepare you for the future of criminology and criminal justice. One of the greatest moments in my program of study was having the pleasure of taking multiple courses with Andrea Logan-Jones, who has previous experience working as a correctional and probation officer. She taught Introduction to Criminology, Community Based Corrections, and Introduction to Policing among other required courses. She had ample office hours and was always willing to help a student regardless of their past performance in her courses. The program prepared me extremely well for continuing my undergraduate degree in Criminology."

— Student at Ozarks Technical Community College

Southwest Baptist University (Bolivar)Bachelor of Science | Criminal Justice

Student Review: "Attending Southwest Baptist University was a very rewarding experience. The criminal justice department was small so I was able to get more help and advice when it was needed. The staff was very understanding and very open to communication. The campus was just the right size and offered all the necessities. The classes were challenging which helped me learn and become more disciplined to study. There were plenty of opportunities to become involved in groups and organizations related to my degree as well as other campus activities. The one thing about SBU that I would have done without was the mandatory chapel attendance. As a non-traditional student and parent, it was hard for me to make childcare and work arrangements in order to attend chapel. I believe that I received a great education from SBU and would attend again if I had to do it all over."

— Alicia Z., student at Southwest Baptist University

St. Charles Community College (Cottleville)Associate of Arts | Criminal Justice (transfer degree)Associate of Applied Science | Law EnforcementAssociate of Applied Science | AddictionsAssociate of Applied Science | VictimologyAssociate of Applied Science | Cyber SecurityAssociate of Science | Cyber SecurityCertificate of Specialization | Computer SecurityCertificate of Achievement | Law Enforcement

State Fair Community College (Sedalia)Associate of Arts | Criminal JusticeAssociate of Applied Science | Criminal JusticeBachelor's Degree | Criminal Justice (joint program with Central Methodist University)Skills Certificate | Information Security

Three Rivers College (Poplar Bluff)Associate of Arts | Forensic ScienceAssociate of Applied Science | Criminal Justice: Law Enforcement optionAssociate of Applied Science | Criminal Justice: Corrections optionAssociate of Applied Science | Criminal Justice: P.O.S.T. AcademyAssociate of Applied Science | Geographic Information SystemsAssociate of Science | Administration of JusticeCertificate | Criminal Justice: P.O.S.T. AcademyCertificate | Geographic Information Systems TechnologyCertificate | Criminal Justice

Truman State University (Kirksville)Bachelor of Science | Justice SystemsMinor | Forensic ScienceMinor | Justice SystemsMinor | Military Science

Student Review: "Truman State University is an excellent mid-western liberal arts college. Truman is often ranked in national collegiate rankings as a "high value" or "best buy" school because of the quality of education Truman students receive in relation to the total costs of attendance. I have found this reputation to be absolutely true as Truman professors are masters in their fields and very knowledgeable about the subject matter that they teach. At Truman, most courses are taught completely by professors with very little graduate student involvement. This and the small class sizes allow students to really engage themselves in their own education and work closely with their professors, resulting in an excellent overall education. I found that the campus is beautiful and the educational resources are abundant. There is always a place for everyone whether they are looking to study, research, use technology or just find a place on the quad for a quick game of catch. The older dorms are kept up nicely and the newer dorms are like three-star hotels. The food is decent and although Kirksville can be less than exciting, Truman itself is an outstanding institution."

— Matt N., student at Truman State University

Student Review: "The Criminal Justice program at Truman State was one of the most enjoyable parts of my undergraduate experience. The program is taught by those who have or are currently working in their field (such as forensic scientists, child welfare agents, and lawyers) this really enhanced the program, as the information was current and had real-world applications. Having professors who hold jobs in the criminal justice field also adds networking benefits for students going through this program of study. Though the major is small, it has a good number of classes offered in a variety of subjects, both covering research and theory as well as law and the history of criminal justice. The small classes allow professors to really get to know their students and take an active role in their education. Unlike other majors, while studying criminal justice at Truman, you are able to make personal connections with the professors and other students."

— Student at Truman State University

University of Missouri-Kansas City (Kansas City)Bachelor of Arts | Criminal Justice & CriminologyBachelor of Arts | Communications Studies: Interpersonal and Public CommunicationMaster of Science | Criminal Justice and CriminologyJuris Doctor | Child & Family LawMinor | Criminal Justice and CriminologyCertificate | Geographic Information SystemsPost-Baccalaureate Certificate | Geographic Information Systems

William Woods University (Fulton)Bachelor of Science | Criminal JusticeMinor | Criminal JusticeMinor | Juvenile Justice

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.php3. 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/rankings5. US Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2015 Occupational Employment and Wages, Correctional Officers and Jailers https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes333012.htm6. US Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2015 Occupational Employment and Wages, First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes331012.htm7. US Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2015 Occupational Employment and Wages, Detectives and Criminal Investigators: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes333021.htm8. US Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2015 Occupational Employment and Wages, Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes333051.htm9. US Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2015 Occupational Employment and Wages, Paralegals and Legal Assistants: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes232011.htm10. Y Charts 10 Year Unemployment Chart: https://https://ycharts.com/indicators/missouri_unemployment_rate11. Projections Central Long Term Occupational Projections: https://www.projectionscentral.com/Projections/LongTerm12. O*Net OnLine, Police Patrol Officers: https://www.onetonline.org/link/details/33-3051.0113. O*Net OnLine, Correctional Officers and Jailers: https://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/33-3012.0014. O*Net OnLine, Police Detectives: https://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/33-3021.0115. O*Net OnLine, Security Guards: https://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/33-9032.0016. O*Net OnLine, Paralegals and Legal Assistants: https://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/23-2011.0017. Mercatus Center, George Mason University, Ranking the States by Fiscal Condition 2016 Edition: https://www.mercatus.org/statefiscalrankings

Missouri Criminal Justice Schools