Best Master's In Criminal Justice Degrees

Become an agent of change and advance your career with a Master's degree in Criminal Justice.

The field of criminal justice is changing fast. In the past, many criminal justice careers required little or no academic training.

But advancements in technology, combined with current national (and international) events, have created a need for experts in criminal justice. A master's program can provide you with foundational knowledge in all aspects—sociological, legal, theoretical, and practical—of law enforcement.

No matter what sector you plan a career in, a Master's in Criminal Justice improves your ability to take informed and thoughtful actions——as an administrator, scholar, investigator, police officer, probation officer or caseworker in the criminal justice system.

What kind of Criminal Justice Degree should you get?

Before you start looking for programs, you'll need to determine what your career goals are. If you're considering future doctoral studies, you don't want to end up in a primarily practice-oriented program.

You'll also need to decide whether to take your classes on campus or online. Most of us imagine the college experience taking place in brick and mortar buildings. But if that is not a feasible option for you, be sure to check out our list of the Best Online Master's in Criminal Justice.

Getting a degree online is no longer the shady proposition it may have seemed a decade or two ago. There are now many high-quality, accredited programs that are designed for nontraditional students. You'll get the same credentials without having to uproot your entire life to attend school.

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How much money do people make with a Criminal Justice Degree?

Graduates of a Master's in Criminal Justice program earn a highly marketable degree. Legal, law enforcement, criminal investigation, forensics and corrections jobs—to name a few—are in high demand. That being said, careers in criminal justice are not likely to make you rich.

Specific salaries vary widely for people in the Criminal Justice profession since there is such a wide range of career possibilities. Here are a few median salaries, though, as reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics:

Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Teachers: $67,040
Police and Detectives: $61,600
Private Detectives: $48,190
Probation Officer: $50,160

What can you do with a Criminal Justice Degree?

Oh, so many things.This is a broad-based degree that can prepare you for many kinds of jobs in criminal justice. Here are a few (okay, more than a few) options:

CIA Agent
Police Officer
Detective
Secret Service Agent
Researcher
FBI Agent
Private Investigator

The one major decision you should make before committing to a program is whether you are more interested in an academic career (probably involving future doctoral studies) or a professional career in the Criminal Justice field. This will help you eliminate programs that don't serve your interest area (though many hold a dual focus on research and practice).

What are the requirements for a Criminal Justice Degree?

Entrance requirements vary depending on the school, but common admissions criteria include:

A Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution
GRE scores
Letters of recommendation from individuals able to speak to your academic and/or professional abilities and potential to succeed in the program

As you peruse this ranking, you'll notice that program requirements vary widely as well. Some programs require a thesis, while others assign a capstone project or internship. Some programs give you the option. Most programs have a core of required courses with a number of electives for students to tailor their degree to their own interests.

What are the best Criminal Justice Degrees?

You need a degree that will give you a competitive edge—whether your career plans involve working as a law enforcement professional, or pursuing a doctorate. And we at College Choice have crunched the numbers to help you find a program that fits your needs.

We collect data from a wide range of sources, scouring the internet for essential criteria like reputation scores, tuition costs, early career earnings, and peer assessments. The composite score we end up with (our College Choice score) reflects academic excellence and the return on your tuition dollar.