The U.S. criminal justice system has many parts, including corrections, law enforcement, and courts. Careers in these fields may require a relevant degree. Over half of Virginia higher education institutions offer a criminal justice program.
Graduates can pursue in-state roles as police officers, forensic science technicians, and legal secretaries. Individuals interested in criminal justice can read below to find the best criminal justice schools in Virginia and popular career paths.
Quick Facts
In 2022, Virginia had the ninth lowest violent crime rate in the U.S., according to the Council of State Governments Justice Center.
According to the Prison Policy Initiative, 0.749% of Virginia's population is incarcerated.
The Virginia Center for School and Campus Safety helps provide annual school safety audits, promotes school safety, and assists with new safety legislation.
Popular Online Programs
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
Overview of Criminal Justice Education in Virginia
Higher Education in Virginia
92Total nonprofit postsecondary schools
48Schools that offer criminal justice degrees and certificates
The best criminal justice schools in Virginia may offer bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees in criminal justice and related programs. Most criminal justice schools offer undergraduate programs while graduate programs have fewer options. Students can choose among various majors, including criminal justice, criminology, and forensic science.
Some Virginia schools combine criminal justice with another subject, including philosophy and sociology. Combination programs attempt to give a unique perspective into the criminal justice system. Standalone criminal justice degrees and combination programs can be completed within the same timeframe.
Students may also have the option to add a criminal justice minor to their program, including crime analysis, forensic studies, and conservation law enforcement. Degrees and minors may be available on-campus, online, or as hybrid programs. Attendees should check their program to ensure it offers their ideal format.
Criminal Justice Schools in Virginia
This section highlights schools in Virginia that offer criminal justice degrees. The schools are unranked and presented alphabetically by institution name. To qualify for inclusion on this list, the school had to be nonprofit, be accredited, and offer at least one bachelor's degree in criminal justice.
Criminal Justice Careers in Virginia
Virginia offers many criminal justice career paths, including police officers, attorneys, and transportation security screeners. Some Virginia careers, including forensic science technician and administrative law judge, have some of the highest employment in the U.S.
According to Projections Central, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor, most Virginia criminal justice careers may grow between 2020-2030. These jobs may add hundreds or thousands of positions over the next decade. However, some positions may decrease in size. Legal secretary positions may decrease over 30% within 10 years.
Criminal justice professionals can earn over $100,000 annually through careers as a first-line supervisor of police or attorney. Virginia-based criminal justice employees may earn more than their average U.S. counterpart. Detectives and criminal investigators received a median annual wage of $98,590 in Virginia while the average U.S. detective earned $91,100.
| Job | Employment (2023) | Median Annual Wage (2023) | Projected Job Growth (2020-30) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Police officers and sheriff's patrol officers | 17,870 | $61,980 | +7.7% |
| Detectives and criminal investigators | 3,420 | $98,590 | +1.2% |
| Fish and game wardens | 190 | $60,030 | -4.5% |
| First-line supervisors of police and detectives | 3,660 | $100,890 | +5.4% |
| Public safety telecommunicators (police and fire dispatchers) | 2,980 | $45,810 | N/A |
| Transportation security screeners | 1,720 | $48,070 | +2.7% |
| Forensic science technicians | 700 | $64,280 | +11.9% |
| Correctional officers and jailers | 10,390 | $47,010 | -6.2% |
| First-line supervisors of correctional officers | 2,210 | $58,990 | -3.2% |
| Probation officers and correctional treatment specialists | 2,780 | $51,6700 | +2.4% |
| Bailiffs | 390 | $53,020 | +4.3% |
| Administrative law judges, adjudicators, and hearing officers | 580 | $87,460 | +0% |
| Lawyers | 17,040 | $159,550 | +0% |
| Paralegals and legal assistants | 9,460 | $59,580 | -1.7% |
| Legal secretaries | 2,280 | $47,940 | -31.8% |
| Municipal, license, and court clerks | 2,890 | $40,370 | +3.3% |
| Court reporters and simultaneous captioners | 270 | $38,570 | N/A |
| Security guards | 33,600 | $38,790 | +15.5% |
| Private investigators and detectives | 610 | $59,690 | +17.2% |
| Emergency management directors | 430 | $81,220 | +7.4% |
| Postsecondary criminal justice teachers | 200 | $72,850 | +14.6% |
Source: BLS OEWS, Projections Central
How to Choose the Best Criminal Justice School in Virginia
Schools offer various benefits, including price, format, and curriculums. Students should weigh the pros and cons of their prospective institutions. However, applicants should always check whether their school received accreditation.
Accreditation
Prospective students should ensure their future school has received institutional accreditation. Accreditation agencies provide institutional accreditation to schools that offer a certain standard of learning.
The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges provides accreditation to Virginia institutions. Graduates of unaccredited institutions may have difficulty pursuing a graduate degree or career, or getting financial aid.
Cost
Virginia criminal justice program costs depend upon the institution's prestige, class sizes, and whether the school is public or private. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, the average Virginia undergraduate programcosts $10,737 annually, including tuition and fees. The average U.S. school has a lower cost of $8,445 annually.
Program Format
The best criminal justice schools in Virginia offer multiple program formats. Students can choose among online, in-person, part-time, and full-time programs. Online and part-time programs offer additional flexibility, allowing enrollees to work and study simultaneously. However, in-person programs allow attendees to network while full-time programs offer additional structure. Applicants should consider which program format best suits their needs.
Curriculum and Instructor Expertise
Criminal justice schools may provide different curriculums that focus on criminal behavior, research methods, or criminal justice theories. The programs may also offer various hands-on experiences, including a mandatory capstone project or internship. Students should consider which curriculum intrigues them, aligns with their learning style, and helps advance their career goals.
Student Support Services
The best criminal justice schools in Virginia can offer various student support services, including counseling support, health services, and career services. These support services may be included in tuition fees.
The level of support differs by school. For example, career services may offer resume reviews, career expos, or internship connections. Students should confirm their future school provides the services they require.
Financial Aid for Criminal Justice Students in Virginia
Many enrollees rely on financial aid, including grants, scholarships, and loans, to assist paying for postsecondary tuition. According to Education Data Initiative, Virginia provided $844 million in financial aid, the sixth highest amount in the country.
Federal Financial Aid
Attendees can submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to qualify for grants, loans, and other federal financial aid. Many federal student aid programs require demonstrating financial need. The FAFSA must be completed by the end of June.
Criminal justice graduates that work for government or nonprofit organizations may qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program. The PSLF forgives remaining loan balances for qualified individuals that made 120 monthly payments towards their loan.
State Financial Aid
Virginia offers financial aid for residents enrolled in undergraduate or graduate degrees. Students in public or private nonprofit schools can qualify for state aid. Private schools must participate in the program.
Most aid programs require proof of financial need, while others require enrollment in specific full-time programs. Popular Virginia financial aid programs include the Virginia Commonwealth Award, Virginia Guaranteed Assistance Program, and Virginia Tuition Assistance Grant Program.
Criminal Justice Scholarships for Virginia Students
National Technical Investigators' Association Captain James J. Regan Memorial Scholarship
The Association of Firearm and Toolmark Examiners Scholarship
The American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors Scholarship Program
Criminal Justice Resources in Virginia
Frequently Asked Questions About the Best Criminal Justice Schools in Virginia
The University of Virginia does not offer an undergraduate criminal justice program, but does offer a residential program in criminal justice command for law enforcement leaders. Applicants must be mid- or upper-level law enforcement officers and receive a letter of nomination from a commanding officer. The 10-week program includes five courses. Graduates receive 15 credits that can be transferred to certain University of Virginia programs.
