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A bachelor’s in criminal justice can lead to careers in law enforcement, social work, or legal studies. This degree exceeds the minimum education requirement for some protective services positions and qualifies graduates for advanced positions in federal law enforcement and corrections. Many students build experience to become private detectives or criminal investigators.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects a 5% growth rate from 2019-2029 for police and detectives. The field is competitive, but candidates can increase job prospects with education and field experience. The top criminal justice degree programs prepare enrollees for job training programs through policy and ethics coursework.
This guide explores some of the nation’s best online criminal justice programs.
AdvertisementCriminalJusticeDegreeSchools.com is an advertising-supported site. Featured or trusted partner programs and all school search, finder, or match results are for schools that compensate us. This compensation does not influence our school rankings, resource guides, or other editorially-independent information published on this site.
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What Is Criminal Justice?
Criminal justice uses a multifaceted approach of processing criminals and delivering justice. American criminal justice comprises multiple agencies and institutions under the federal government, including local and state levels. Responsibilities of the U.S. criminal justice system include crime prevention, effective incarceration, and offender rehabilitation.
Critical elements of the criminal justice system include law enforcement, lawyers, courts, and incarceration facilities. These institutions require qualified criminal justice professionals with field-specific communication skills, empathy, and sound judgment.
The best online bachelor’s degrees in criminal justice explore the correctional system, criminology, and victimology.
Students can tailor the bachelor’s in criminal justice to their career goals. Many schools offer generalist criminal justice degrees or concentrations geared specifically toward aspiring law enforcement officers, criminal investigators, or correctional specialists. Aspiring paralegals and social workers can also pursue bachelor’s in criminal justice degrees toward niche professions of their choice.
Earning a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice online enables enrollees to complete internships or continue working while satisfying core requirements. Especially in fields like federal law enforcement and private investigation, which value extensive experience, distance programs can provide an affordable, accelerated path to graduation.
Why Get an Online Criminal Justice Bachelor’s?
The best bachelor’s in criminal justice programs provide a pathway to careers in law enforcement, social work, or legal studies. A bachelor’s in criminal justice can provide substantial benefits, including:
Variety
A bachelor’s in criminal justice meets the minimum education requirement for jobs in areas of law enforcement, including probation officer, private detective, or federal agent. Other options span the fields of law and social work, including occupations like paralegal or arbitrator, respectively.
Healthcare and Retirement
Criminal justice jobs offer annual salaries exceeding $40,000 and generous health insurance and retirement benefits. Many law enforcement positions guarantee a pension after just 20 years of full-time service in the field.
Steady Growth
BLS projections indicate a 3% increase in protective service occupations from 2019-2029. Within this sector, some jobs exceed this projected growth rate. For example, police and detectives receive a 5% projected employment growth rate, while the BLS projects employment for private detectives and investigators to increase by 8% from 2019-2029.
The Top Online Bachelor’s in Criminal Justice Programs
A Christian university in the Twin Cities, CSP offers an online bachelor's in criminal justice aimed at working professionals. Participants can enroll in two tracks: one for those interested in Minnesota licensure and one for those with other goals. The 44-credit curriculum runs asynchronously, and students at CSP must earn a total of 120 credits for a bachelor's degree. All candidates must complete the university's general education requirements.
This program takes a multidisciplinary approach to criminal justice education. CSP emphasizes current trends in law enforcement, professionalism, ethics, creative decision-making, and leadership. The core consists of 10 classes, after which students select from coursework in forensics and Minnesota law and traffic codes. The Minnesota Board of Peace Officers Standards and Training has given this curriculum their stamp of approval.
CSP alumni enjoy a 95% employment rate within a year of graduation. The Higher Learning Commission accredits all CSP programs.
A Christian polytechnical institution in Longview, Texas, LETU hosts criminal justice programs online and on campus. The school infuses biblical teachings into its 120-credit curriculum, and distance learners must complete 12 credits of theological learning. Criminal justice students can select from concentrations in human trafficking, homeland security, and criminal justice studies. Available entirely online, this program follows an accelerated format.
The major requires 36 credits in the core curriculum and nine in a concentration area or elective courses. LETU emphasizes an understanding of criminal behavior and psychology, progressive methods of conflict resolution, and real-world field knowledge. Highlighted classes explore ethics, cybercrime, restorative justice, and addiction theory. Students must maintain a C average in all major coursework.
LETU evaluates applicants based on character, service, transcript, test scores, and class rank. Veterans and law enforcement professionals may already have transferable credits. Online learners pay a flat tuition fee.
A private institution in Angola, Indiana, Trine offers a bachelor's in criminal justice through its TrineOnline virtual campus. Renowned for integrating psychology into law enforcement training, the program allows students to focus their studies in law enforcement, agency administration, addictions, academy and professional training, or forensic and correctional psychology. Trine is one of only a few undergraduate schools in the U.S. to offer a correctional psychology specialization.
The 120-credit curriculum breaks into several parts. Students must earn 42 credits in general education, 63 credits in the major, and 15 credits in their concentration. Classes run asynchronously in accelerated, eight-week sessions. Some distance learners with transferable credits can earn their degrees in as little as a year.
A private research university, Drexel offers one of the nation's best online bachelor's in criminal justice. The program brings together sociology, psychology, chemistry, biotechnology, computer science, and criminology to prepare students for 21st-century criminal justice careers. Distance learners can earn all necessary credits without having to visit the school's Philadelphia campus.
Available on a part-time basis, the curriculum proceeds asynchronously in four, 10-week quarters. Students complete 11 classes in the major curriculum, two in research methods and analytics, five in a criminal justice concentration, and 10 in electives. These electives explore topics like cybercrime, investigation, domestic violence, terrorism, and law, and degree candidates can use them to focus their studies to meet their professional goals. They must also complete the university's general requirements.
Applicants must submit evidence of a high school diploma or the equivalent, plus SAT scores. Drexel holds accreditation from the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
A career-oriented institution in Philadelphia, Peirce offers a bachelor's in criminal justice, which students can pursue online, on campus, or both. Taught by experienced law enforcement professionals, the 121-credit curriculum features classwork on criminal court systems, victimization, homeland security, criminology, and computer crimes.
Founded for working adults, Peirce set up its asynchronous program to accommodate most schedules. Distance learners gain a deep understanding of crime and criminology and learn executive skills that help in any career. These include effective writing, research, and technology skills. Ambitious students can join Alpha Phi Sigma, the criminal justice honor society.
Graduates earn up to 57 credits for training at the Philadelphia Police Academy and up to 27 for Philadelphia Divisions of Prisons training. Peirce accepts up to 90 transfer credits for this program. Peirce holds accreditation from the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
The oldest private university in Georgia, Mercer hosts an online criminal justice bachelor's degree emphasizing leadership skills. The Macon institution established this program to blend criminal justice theory and practice. It teaches students to make good decisions in the field, think critically, and act in an engaged, professional manner.
The 120-credit curriculum comprises 42 major credits, 39 general education credits, and 39 elective credits. Classes follow accelerated, eight-week sessions. Highlights include supervision in criminal justice, a leadership seminar, and an independent study project, which lets distance learners explore a related area of interest. Requirements include a field experience with an approved agency.
Mercer admits students to its program five times per year. The college boasts a generous transfer policy, accepting as many as two-thirds of its required credits. Applicants should hold a minimum 2.25 GPA.
A private liberal arts institution, Baker offers online and on-campus courses from its home in Baldwin City, Kansas. Affiliated with the Methodist Church, the school hosts one of the country's top online bachelor's in criminal justice. The 33-credit program prepares students for careers in law enforcement or to advance to graduate-level study.
Baker's curriculum proceeds in a lock-step format, offering one class at a time. Required coursework covers subjects such as criminology, victimology, policing, youth and crime, and white-collar crime. A bachelor's at the university requires a total of 124 credit hours. Degree candidates must complete 36 general education credits before enrolling in a major, and they must maintain a minimum 2.0 GPA while completing the program.
The university's Prior Learning Assessment Center provides a straightforward way to earn credits for police, fire, or military training. Baker offers a comprehensive resource package.
Set in Burlington, Champlain hosts one of the nation's most unique online criminal justice programs. The Vermont school focuses its curriculum on economic crime, teaching students to investigate white-collar offenses. The course of study proceeds entirely online, using hands-on exercises to develop the skills to fight crimes like embezzlement and fraud. Graduates leave ready to pursue careers in law enforcement, accounting, and risk management, and to sit for professional exams.
The 120-credit curriculum comprises 66 credits in professional courses and 54 in general education. It combines coursework in accounting, computer science, criminal justice, psychology, and sociology. Distance learners also acquire skills in effective communication, problem-solving, and analytical thinking. The program prepares students for the certified fraud examiner and certified anti-money laundering specialist exams. Most professors use an asynchronous format.
Champlain schedules two seven-week sessions per semester. The school's academic calendar has three semesters per year. The college accepts up to 90 transfer credits toward the degree.
Bay Path offers a women's-only bachelor's in criminal justice through the university's American Women's College. The program takes a public service approach to the field, featuring classes from the social services, corrections, probations and parole, juvenile justice, homeland security, and emergency management.
The curriculum consists of 120 credits, including 42 in the university core, 42 in criminal justice, and 36 in general electives. Fifteen credits in criminal justice electives allow students to customize the program to their personal goals. Bay Path utilizes an asynchronous delivery format as part of the social online universal learning program. Professors use lectures, interactive discussions, and cases to hone participants' skills.
Bay Path offers a minor in the field and encourages double majors. The university's generous transfer policy allows up to 90 credits toward baccalaureate degrees. Applicants should hold a minimum 2.0 GPA.
Vermont's military college, Norwich, offers an online bachelor's in criminal justice focused on the nation's criminal justice system. The program explores the workings of law enforcement, the courts, and corrections, and how to make them run ethically and efficiently. Students can specialize in intelligence and security management or create their own concentrations through electives. All learning takes place online, requiring no visits to the Northfield campus.
A bachelor's at Norwich requires 120 credits, but the major itself comprises just 57. These include 15 credits in foundational courses, 18 elective credits, 18 in field studies, and a six-credit capstone. Many distance learners earn this degree in 18 months by transferring in credits. The university requires at least 30 credits to enroll in the program, accepting up to 90 transfer credits.
Norwich carries accreditation from the New England Commission of Higher Education.
A comprehensive Christian institution located in Greater Los Angeles, APU offers a degree-completion bachelor's in criminal justice online. The university expects students to transfer at least 15 credits before they enroll. Learners must complete 50 units to graduate. A bachelor's degree at the evangelical school requires a total of 120 credits. Hands-on field experience forms part of the curriculum.
In APU's course of study, distance learners complete core coursework in courts and corrections, juvenile justice, criminological theory, race and crime, and victimology. They also complete three writing projects, including a capstone in which participants present their work to criminal justice professionals. Electives in areas like sex crimes, terrorism, domestic violence, and law allow learners to customize their degrees. An optional internship gives students real-world experience.
The university extends discounts to law enforcement and military personnel.
South Carolina's military college offers an online bachelor's in criminal justice, which allows students to design their degree paths. Based in Charleston, the school created a degree-completion program comprising just four required classes. Distance learners can use the remainder of their 55 required credits to craft their own curricula. The two-plus-two program assumes students hold credits from two-year schools or other universities.
The Citadel's core includes an introduction to criminal justice, plus courses in police systems, corrections, and criminology. Participants can use electives to concentrate in areas like drugs, criminal investigation, juvenile justice, organized crime, white-collar crime, terrorism, and policy. Most classes run asynchronously. Many students opt to add leadership minors to the program. Some pursue internships or independent study opportunities. The college requires 120 credits for a bachelor's.
All online learners pay the same flat-rate tuition fee.
Rutgers hosts its online bachelor's in criminal justice as part of its Rutgers Statewide Program. In partnership with community colleges, Rutgers Statewide features online and evening classes across New Jersey. Taught by top Rutgers faculty, the criminal justice course takes a social science approach, incorporating many other disciplines. The university highly recommends participants complete an associate degree prior to enrolling.
The 42-credit curriculum includes classwork from sociology, psychology, social justice, and law. Students must complete four core courses, a writing project, and 27 elective credits. Rutgers emphasizes effective communication, critical thinking, research skills, cultural awareness, and a broad understanding of criminal justice theory. Due to the university's goal to develop well-rounded graduates, students must also pursue liberal arts concentrations.
Most classes in the program follow an asynchronous format. Degree candidates must maintain a minimum cumulative 2.0 GPA.
Located in Tampa, USF offers an online criminal justice undergraduate degree as part of its bachelor's in applied science. The program takes an expansive look at the United States' criminal justice system. As an applied science major, this course features a hands-on, technical education approach.
The applied science major requires 120 unduplicated credits, including 36 in general education and 21 in the criminal justice concentration. The criminal science curriculum requires just two classes, including theories of criminal behavior and survey of the criminal justice system. Students choose the remainder of their classes, selecting five electives in the field. All degree candidates must complete a senior capstone and maintain a minimum C- average in concentration courses.
The university accepts up to 42 transfer credit hours toward the degree. USF holds accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
SJCNY hosts an array of criminal justice degree programs from its Brooklyn campus. The school offers a bachelor's focused on practice and policy, using evidence-based practices. The program incorporates sociology, political science, psychology, forensic bioscience, and law enforcement into a rigorous 120-credit curriculum. Most classes proceed asynchronously, allowing students scheduling flexibility.
The curriculum features 36 credits in required coursework. Participants explore policy in the courts, corrections, criminal analysis, along with how it relates to race, gender, and class. Most complete their studies with a capstone synthesizing the program's core teachings. As part of this seminar, degree candidates produce a research paper. Learners must earn at least 60 liberal arts credits to take home their degrees.
SJCNY uses a rolling admissions policy. Applicants should hold a high school diploma and a minimum 2.0 GPA on any previous collegiate studies.
FIU combines traditional criminal justice studies with computer science developments through its online bachelor's in crime science. The technology-centered degree brings together forensics, IT, and criminology to come up with new approaches to law enforcement. The Miami university aims to prepare students for careers in the crime analysis field. The program runs entirely online.
The 120-credit curriculum explores the impacts of new technologies on law enforcement, including DNA analysis, body cameras, smartphones, and sophisticated algorithms. The 43 core course credits include topics such as criminological theory, GIS and crime-mapping, criminal investigation, forensic science, cybercrime, and terrorism. The university's law enforcement apprenticeship program gives students specialized police training in the field.
Crime science program prerequisites include statistics, a general biology course with a lab, and a chemistry course with a lab. FIU charges out-of-state distance learners slightly more than Florida residents.
A Catholic institution in Bismarck, North Dakota, Mary grounds its bachelor's in criminal justice in Benedictine values. The 124-credit program teaches students the basic principles of law enforcement from a humanitarian, ethics-based perspective. The school recommends this program to anyone interested in careers in the protective services or who want to pursue law school.
Curriculum highlights include a junior internship with an appropriate agency and a senior seminar based on research studies and legal cases. Elective classes explore serial killing, terrorism, human trafficking, human behavior, and social welfare policies. Some distance learners pursue additional internships during their final year to gain further work experience. Mary also encourages ambitious students to consider its emerging leaders program, which includes mentorship opportunities, leadership training, and additional field experience.
Mary uses rolling admissions, admitting students every five weeks.
Part of the Massachusetts public university system, UMass Lowell boasts its own school of criminology and justice studies. Known for its research and nationally recognized faculty, the institution offers several online criminal justice programs, including a bachelor's degree. This 120-credit baccalaureate course of study blends a liberal arts curriculum with a strong education in contemporary law enforcement.
The degree plan includes a diverse set of classes in areas like criminal law, corrections, policing, criminology, emergency management, homeland security, hate crime, profiling, and victimology. Professors employ modern, data-driven teaching techniques. Most classes run asynchronously. Criminal justice majors need 36 credits and can earn no more than 60. All degree candidates must complete 12 courses of general education credits. They must maintain a minimum 2.2 cumulative GPA, and a 2.5 GPA in major courses.
UMass Lowell accepts up to 90 transfer credits toward this degree. The school reports that graduates from this program earn a median midcareer salary of roughly $80,000. It also offers an accelerated BS-MA program, through which students begin earning credits toward their master's during their undergraduate years.
A public university in Pullman, WSU boasts one of the nation's oldest criminal justice programs. Founded in 1943, the course of study now takes place online. The curriculum assesses law enforcement through a policy lens, melding political science, sociology, and psychology with traditional criminal justice skills. It also prepares students to step into leadership roles in law enforcement, advocacy, the legal professions, and social work.
To earn a bachelor's at WSU, all degree candidates must complete 120 credits. In the school's online criminal justice program, 18 credits come from the major core, 12 from electives, and the remainder from the school's general education requirements. All majors must complete a capstone project, typically during their final semester. Internships and the senior seminar serve as electives. Distance learners can pursue all credits online.
Nonresidents pay slightly more for tuition than Washington residents. Most classes run asynchronously.
The first higher education institution in Illinois, McKendree offers an online criminal justice degree as part of its sociology program. Designed to accommodate the schedules of working professionals, the program serves those aiming to advance in law enforcement, corrections, and the courts.
This university's curriculum revolves around a 22-credit sociology core. The criminal justice component includes 21 additional credits. Course highlights include police and urban society, sociology of deviance, and juvenile delinquency. The university schedules classes in accelerated, asynchronous eight-week sessions. Students typically enroll in two courses per term. Degree candidates must earn a total of 120 credits for a bachelor's and maintain a minimum 2.0 GPA.
McKendree also hosts a four-plus-one program, in which students can earn a master's in criminal justice in five years. The university allows distance learners to take up to 21 credits before enrolling in a degree path.
What To Expect From a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice Program
The requirements of a bachelor’s in criminal justice vary by school and type. Schools most commonly offer a bachelor of science (BS), or more specifically, a BS in criminal justice (BSCJ). Though rare, some institutions feature bachelor of arts (BA), bachelor of applied arts (BAA), and bachelor of applied sciences (BAS) options.
Most online bachelor’s degrees in criminal justice require 120 semester credits. Many programs include optional practicums or internships. Common concentrations include:
Police management
Criminology
Corrections
Family violence
Juvenile justice
Law
Investigations
Security management
While most bachelor’s-level programs take four years to complete, many online bachelor’s in criminal justice degrees offer accelerated paths to graduation. Applicants commonly possess work or military experience, which may satisfy transfer requirements.
Distance degrees may deliver courses synchronously, with appointed class times, or asynchronously, through pre-recorded material. Some programs combine online and in-person learning through hybrid coursework.
While admission requirements vary, most bachelor’s degrees in criminal justice share some common criteria. For example, most bachelor’s in criminal justice require applicants to submit official academic transcripts and ACT or SAT scores. Schools may require applicants with some college experience from associate degrees or undergraduate certificates.
Schools also routinely include a FAFSA requirement for undergraduate admission. Some programs require personal statements, resumes, and letters of recommendation. Most criminal justice programs do not require a criminal background check for admission, though aspiring law enforcement officers should expect to undergo this process to begin their careers.
Most schools now prefer online applications to traditional mail. Students increasingly use Common App to apply online. This service allows schools to manage large volumes of student applications, while candidates can conveniently enter application information for multiple schools at once.
Comparing Degree Types
Schools most commonly offer BSCJ degrees, though some feature BA, BAA, and BAS formats. The BSCJ outlines a broad core and elective curriculum, while the BA, BAA, and BAS emphasize practical career skills for entry-level employment. The bachelor’s in criminal justice meets the preferred education requirement for many advanced law enforcement positions, especially through the federal government.
The top criminal justice degree programs offer diverse concentrations. Popular options include police management, criminology, and corrections. Learners can choose from broad specializations, like law, or more acute areas, such as juvenile justice or domestic violence. Regardless of concentration, core coursework explores victimology, criminology, and the courts and correctional systems in the United States.
Employers place a premium on job experience, especially within federal agencies like the FBI. Aspiring police officers typically must complete police academy training programs in addition to their degrees. All bachelor’s in criminal justice prepare students for specialized job training after graduation.
Popular Criminal Justice Courses
A bachelor’s in criminal justice typically requires core, concentration, and elective coursework. Many offer optional practicums or internship experiences. At the bachelor’s level, the curriculum explores criminal justice theory, practice, and policy. Students also develop field-specific communication, critical thinking, and cultural awareness skills. Common courses include:
This comprehensive course introduces degree-seekers to the multifaceted field of criminal justice. Topics emphasize the overlapping of local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies and correctional systems. Enrollees also explore the differences between sworn and civilian occupations.
This course examines the broad and acute functions of the national correctional system in the U.S., including incarceration, punishment, and sentencing protocols. Many programs emphasize public policy and allied professions. Learners often take this class concurrently with a course in the U.S. judicial system.
Commonly included among the core courses in a bachelor’s in criminal justice, this class explores the criminal justice system from a victim’s perspective to develop stronger empathy skills. Topics include risk factors, victim statistics, and crime prevention techniques.
This course approaches the criminal justice system from the criminal mind. Topics include psychology, sociology, and criminal behavior. Many programs require core coursework in criminology, while others offer criminology as an in-depth concentration of criminal justice.
Many bachelor’s degrees in criminal justice offer optional internships as elective courses. Learners can pursue internship placement within local police departments, law firms, or social services providers. At the bachelor’s level, internships involve more technical, less practical experience than in a master’s degree.
How Much Will a Bachelor’s in Criminal Justice Cost?
The overall cost of a bachelor’s in criminal justice depends on several key components. For example, many schools set their tuition rates based on whether in-state or out-of-state residency. Additionally, a school’s location and public vs. private status may affect its rates. Distance education programs often charge in-state rates, regardless of location.
Even with set or in-state tuition rates, most college students need financial aid to earn their degrees. Most schools require undergraduate applicants to complete FAFSA forms to determine their financial aid eligibility. Candidates may qualify for federal or institutional scholarships and grants, employer reimbursement programs, and loans to supplement the cost of bachelor’s in criminal justice degrees.
Applicants should pursue scholarship and grant awards first, which do not require repayment. After exhausting these options, they can apply for loans, which they must repay.
Jobs for Bachelor’s in Criminal Justice Graduates
The BLS projects a 3% increase in employment for protective service occupations from 2019-2029. Beyond protective service occupations like police and detectives, the criminal justice field includes jobs like probation officer, correctional treatment specialist, and paralegal.
While many criminal justice positions require on-the-job training instead of a college degree, a bachelor’s in criminal justice may give candidates an edge over their competition.
Common roles that require or prefer candidates to possess bachelor’s degrees include:
Police or Detective
Police officers and detectives protect people and property from illegal and criminal activity. Types of police and detectives include criminal investigators, fish and game wardens, and sheriff patrol officers. Generally, a police officer must be at least 21 years of age with a clean criminal record and complete a police academy training program. A detective may need to possess a bachelor’s degree, especially for federal positions.
Required Education: High school diploma or bachelor’s degree
Probation, parole, and pretrial services officers help law offenders transition from custody to supervised probate or parole programs. Probation officers must be at least 21 and typically must possess bachelor’s degrees in fields like criminal justice. Each candidate must also pass a criminal background check and a drug test. Federal and state agencies require students to complete training programs and pass a competency exam.
Correctional treatment specialists may work alongside probation or parole officers to develop release plans for law offenders. Also commonly referred to as case managers or correctional counselors, these professionals use psychological testing and questionnaires to evaluate offenders for potential release. They typically must possess bachelor’s degrees in criminal justice, social work, or behavioral science.
Most private detectives and investigators build experience in law enforcement, federal intelligence, or the military before entering this specialized field. Candidates with extensive experience may only need to possess high school diplomas, though most employers prefer that they hold associate or bachelor’s degrees in criminal justice. Most positions require candidates to complete extensive on-the-job training.
Required Education: High school diploma or criminal justice degree
Paralegals and legal assistants support lawyers by organizing client files, performing legal research, and drafting legal documents. Some paralegals hold an associate degree in legal studies, though candidates commonly hold bachelor’s degrees in other majors, like criminal justice, along with a paralegal certificate. Legal assistants and paralegals may specialize in corporate- or litigation-based legal assistance.
Our rankings offer a sensible starting point in the search for the best bachelor of science in criminal justice. However, other criteria can affect the quality of a bachelor’s in criminal justice, especially accreditation. Schools may achieve national or regional accreditation through an agency approved by the Department of Education or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation.
Since even the top criminal justice degree programs do not include separate programmatic accreditation, students may prefer schools with regional institutional accreditation, which requires a more rigorous process.
Aspiring criminal justice majors should consider:
Location
Aspiring criminal justice professionals often consider the location of a school and its potential to support local job opportunities after graduation.
Program Culture/Composition
Learners may prefer traditional BS programs in criminal justice or seek career-oriented BAA or BAS criminal justice degrees.
Cost/Financial Aid
Some candidates choose online bachelor’s in criminal justice degrees for their set or in-state tuition rates for online learning.
Transfer Admissions
Many applicants possess academic or military experience and can transfer the maximum credits allowed toward a bachelor’s in criminal justice.
Concentrations/Specializations
Candidates should explore each prospective program’s concentration options to ensure that they align with their career goals.
Job Opportunities
The best online criminal justice programs prepare students for on-the-job training, including police academy programs and federal special agencies.
Why You Should Get Your Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice Online
Bachelor’s degrees in criminal justice translate well to the online education experience. While many schools still offer in-person programs, distance degrees continue to grow in popularity. The best online criminal justice programs offer optional internships and benefits, including accelerated schedules, flexible enrollment, and in-state tuition rates. Online enrollees can continue to maintain employment while pursuing their degrees, also avoiding additional housing, commuting, and campus facilities costs.
Online bachelor’s degrees in criminal justice develop soft skills in communication, perceptiveness, time management, and sound judgment. Additionally, online programs familiarize students with the latest criminal justice technology, especially in law enforcement and private investigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a BA or BS better for criminal justice?
Schools commonly offer both BAs and BS degrees in criminal justice. While the degrees share many of the same core course requirements, the BA includes more liberal arts electives than the technically oriented BS degree.
How many years is a bachelor's degree in criminal justice?
Most bachelor’s degrees in criminal justice take four years to complete. However, many dual programs and online criminal justice degrees offer accelerated paths to graduation. Conversely, part-time students may take longer to complete the degree.
What jobs can you get with a bachelor of science in criminal justice?
A bachelor’s in criminal justice can lead to occupations in law enforcement, social work, and law. Graduates commonly pursue employment as police officers, private investigators, probation officers, or paralegals.
What is the highest-paying job with a bachelor's degree in criminal justice?
Police and detectives earn a median annual salary of more than $65,000 as of 2019. Within this professional group, detectives and criminal investigators earned more than $83,000 in 2019.
CriminalJusticeDegreeSchools.com ranking lists can help you find the best program for you. Explore our methodology for ranking criminal justice programs.
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