Explore the nation's best Bachelor's in Criminal Justice Degrees.
Whether you envision yourself chasing criminals out in the streets or behind a desk strategizing crime prevention for the local community, a bachelor in criminal justice degree is necessary. It will provide an array of career opportunities and ensure your exciting yet stable vocational future.
What kind of Criminal Justice Degree should you get?
How you design your undergraduate experience should reflect your career aspirations. For example, if you hope to work directly in law enforcement then check out a program that emphasizes the practical applications of criminal justice.
But, if you're more drawn to the analytics of crime, wondering what causes it and how it can be prevented, then you may want to look at programs which stress the importance of research and data analysis.
However you intend to specialize, you can be assured that all of the programs here will provide a sturdy foundation in criminal justice. And some of these programs can even be completed fully online. We've been sure to highlight those.
For a full listing of online criminal justice degrees, be sure to check out College Choice's Best Online Criminal Justice Degrees.
Recommended Online Programs
How much money do people make with a Criminal Justice Degree?
A degree in criminal justice will set you up to find work in a variety of settings: the court system, in a law office, in a police station. Because of the diversity of options upon graduation, the average salary for one holding a BS in Criminal Justice degree also varies.
For example, if you decide to become a police officer then you can expect to make around $48,000 annually in your first few years. However, if you want to apply your degree to security management, then you're looking at least $63,000 a year.
Whichever route you take, the need for those with a BS in Criminal Justice degree is projected to rise at least another 3.5 percent in the next few years.
What are the requirements for a Criminal Justice Degree?
The programs here are all full undergraduate degree programs. You will be required to first complete two years of general education coursework (in English, science, math, etc). Once those are finished you will dive into the criminal justice major, taking such introductory classes as:
Criminology
Courts and Law
Police and Society
Juvenile Detention
After finishing your core criminal justice classes you can further explore the complex world of criminal justice by taking a number of electives, in everything from transnational crime to the death penalty. Finally, you can gain hands-on experience by participating in an internship or field practicum. Some schools even require it (we've been sure to note which).
What are the best Criminal Justice Degrees?
While some of these programs specialize in corrections and others in cyber crime, they all share one thing one common: they are the best Bachelor in Criminal Justice degrees.
To determine the best Criminal Justice programs we started first with the academic reputation of each school nationwide that offers the degree. We then examined retention rates, as it reflects student satisfaction. And we then took into account the affordability of the program and the early salaries of its graduates.
After our extensive research, we found those programs that are the country's absolute best at training leaders in law enforcement and criminology. Our figures and information come from the university and colleges' websites, PayScale, and nationally recognized U.S. News & World Report and The National Center for Education Statistics.
Rankings
See our rankings methodology page.
