Do you want to contribute to your community and help keep people safe? Are you fascinated by the court system? If so, criminal justice may be the right field for you, and an online bachelor’s degree in criminal justice can help you achieve your goals in a format that works with your busy schedule.
The rankings list below highlights colleges with the best online bachelor’s degrees in criminal justice. These schools put students first by offering online programs and services that let them personalize their higher education experience. Explore this year’s top-rated schools, then keep reading for more information on what you’ll learn, how you can specialize your degree program, and what the job market looks like for graduates.
- Create List of Eligible Schools and Programs
- Institutional accreditation from an organization recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
- At least one program in the subject area offered partially or fully online.
- Assign Weightings
- Number of online programs in subject area reported by school to the U.S. Department of Education. Because exact numbers change often and can be difficult to verify, we use a range-based scoring system: 0-5 online programs = 1 star; 6-10 = 2 stars; 11-15 = 3 stars; 16-20 = 4 stars; 21+ = 5 stars. In our design, laptop icons = stars.
- For degree-specific pages, ex: Psychology degrees, we list the current number of online programs available at that school for that degree type, as self-reported by the schools.
- Cost – Relative cost of attendance compared to peer schools on the list. Based on tuition and fees per academic year.
- Students w/ Institutional Aid – Percentage of students who receive financial aid from the school itself.
- Academic Counseling – Existence of this service on campus or online.
- Career Placement – Existence of this service on campus or online.
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University Park, PAPublic $$$$
Students looking to enter into the criminal justice field should check out the fully online program from the Pennsylvania State University. The program does a good job of balancing high quality education and flexibility, with all courses being offered online and at times which fit around a typical work schedule. The curriculum also covers the foundational knowledge students need to enter the field while leaving room for students to take electives in areas of interest to them. Electives and foundational courses cover topics such as law, policing and corrections in America, criminology, sociology, and police administration. The program also covers alternatives to incarceration and is a national leader in restorative justice.
Program Highlights:
Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice
- Credits: 120
- Length: 4 years
- Cost: $620 per credit per credit
- Mode: Online
- Accreditation: Middle States Commission on Higher Education
Online Programs
1
Academic Counseling
Yes
Career Placement
Yes
Student/Faculty Ratio
15/1
-
Ellsworth Air Force Base, SDPrivate for-profit $$
National American University offers a comprehensive bachelor degree in criminal science through their Ellsworth AFB Extension. The curriculum is equally divided between general courses, foundational criminal justice classes, and electives in the major. Electives cover topics such as cyber crime, conflict resolution, forensic science, executive protection, and more. With National American’s program, students don’t have to choose one specialization – they can take electives in multiple areas in order to determine what subfield of criminal justice they might want to work in after graduating. While classes are delivered online, some in-class participation is required and courses cannot be taken asynchronously. Upon graduating, students will be ready for a variety of entry level roles in the criminal justice field.
Program Highlights:
Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice
- Credits: 180
- Length: 4 years
- Cost: 157.95 per credit
- Mode: Online
- Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission
Online Programs
1
Academic Counseling
Yes
Career Placement
Yes
Student/Faculty Ratio
5/1
-
Norman, OKPublic $
University of Oklahoma’s Norman campus has designed a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice for those wanting to complete their degree at their own pace. Thanks to their fully online, asynchronous classes, students can watch recorded classes and contribute to class discussions whenever works in their weekly schedule. They also have a special transfer evaluation process which makes it easier for more of your credits to count when you transfer – and to help you graduate within two to three years after transferring when possible. Courses are also eight weeks long so students can adjust their course load more often depending on how much availability they have in their schedule. The program covers a wide variety of topics including forensic science, deviance and social control, ethics, drugs and society, comparative justice systems.
Program Highlights:
Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice
- Credits: 120
- Length: 4 years
- Cost: $160 per credit in-state | $672 per credit out-of-state
- Mode: Online
- Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission
Online Programs
1
Academic Counseling
Yes
Career Placement
Yes
Student/Faculty Ratio
20/1
-
Johnson, VTPublic $$$
Those looking for a foundational knowledge of the criminal justice system should consider the undergraduate program from Northern Vermont University. Its curriculum covers a wide range of subjects, including sociology, psychology, the judicial process, criminology, law, punishment and corrections. It also has courses on ethics and theory. Aside from classroom work, students get real-world experience through an internship requirement and completing a research project in the field. While students can choose to take all their courses online or in-person, the internship might have to be completed in-person, depending on the requirements of the organization an online student is interning for. Northern Vermont also works with transfer students and those who have college credit for general electives so they can graduate in two years instead of four.
Program Highlights:
Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice
- Credits: 49 credits
- Length: 2-4 years
- Cost: $483 per credit in-state | $1,070 per credit out-of-state
- Mode: Online
- Accreditation: New England Commission of Higher Education
Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice
- Credits: 49 credits
- Length: 2-4 years
- Cost: $483 per credit in-state | $1,070 per credit out-of-state
- Mode: In-person
- Accreditation: New England Commission of Higher Education
Online Programs
2
Academic Counseling
Yes
Career Placement
Yes
Student/Faculty Ratio
11/1
-
Hamburg, NYPrivate not-for-profit $$$$$
Hilbert College designed their bachelors in criminal justice for those looking to change careers. Thanks to the flexible class times and 100% virtual programming, students can fit their coursework around a full-time job. The criminal justice department also has online resources for students who want to make a career transition, whether that’s to a different role in the criminal justice field or from an entirely different field. Additionally, the faculty often host online office hours and offer many opportunities for academic support. Because face-to-face interaction is so important to the department, online courses are only offered synchronously, though they are scheduled to fit around work and personal obligations. Alumni work in a variety of fields such as fraud investigation, forensic science, police administration, and law.
Program Highlights:
Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice
- Credits: 156
- Length: 4 years
- Cost: $450 per credit
- Mode: Online
- Accreditation: Middle States Commission on Higher Education
Online Programs
3
Academic Counseling
Yes
Career Placement
Yes
Student/Faculty Ratio
13/1
-
Las Cruces, NMPublic $$
Online Programs
1
Academic Counseling
Yes
Career Placement
Yes
Student/Faculty Ratio
16/1
-
Delhi, NYPublic $$
Online Programs
2
Academic Counseling
Yes
Career Placement
Yes
Student/Faculty Ratio
16/1
-
Odessa, TXPublic $
Online Programs
1
Academic Counseling
Yes
Career Placement
Yes
Student/Faculty Ratio
17/1
-
Dayton, TNPrivate not-for-profit $$$$
Online Programs
1
Academic Counseling
Yes
Career Placement
Yes
Student/Faculty Ratio
12/1
-
Marion, ALPrivate not-for-profit $$$$
Online Programs
1
Academic Counseling
Yes
Career Placement
Yes
Student/Faculty Ratio
5/1
-
Muncie, INPublic $$
Online Programs
1
Academic Counseling
Yes
Career Placement
Yes
Student/Faculty Ratio
14/1
-
Fort Lauderdale, FLPrivate not-for-profit $$$$
Online Programs
3
Academic Counseling
Yes
Career Placement
Yes
Student/Faculty Ratio
15/1
-
Flagstaff, AZPublic $$$
Online Programs
1
Academic Counseling
Yes
Career Placement
Yes
Student/Faculty Ratio
22/1
-
Birmingham, ALPublic $$
Online Programs
1
Academic Counseling
Yes
Career Placement
Yes
Student/Faculty Ratio
20/1
-
Macomb, ILPublic $$
Online Programs
1
Academic Counseling
Yes
Career Placement
Yes
Student/Faculty Ratio
13/1
-
Cullowhee, NCPublic $
Online Programs
1
Academic Counseling
Yes
Career Placement
Yes
Student/Faculty Ratio
17/1
-
Durham, NCPublic $
Online Programs
1
Academic Counseling
Yes
Career Placement
Yes
Student/Faculty Ratio
16/1
-
Little Rock, ARPrivate not-for-profit $$$
Online Programs
1
Academic Counseling
Yes
Career Placement
Yes
Student/Faculty Ratio
12/1
-
Frankfort, KYPublic $$
Online Programs
1
Academic Counseling
Yes
Career Placement
Yes
Student/Faculty Ratio
14/1
-
Kearney, NEPublic $$
Online Programs
1
Academic Counseling
Yes
Career Placement
Yes
Student/Faculty Ratio
13/1
-
Elizabeth City, NCPublic $
Online Programs
1
Academic Counseling
Yes
Career Placement
Yes
Student/Faculty Ratio
16/1
-
Russellville, ARPublic $$
Online Programs
1
Academic Counseling
Yes
Career Placement
Yes
Student/Faculty Ratio
17/1
-
Nashville, TNPublic $$
Online Programs
1
Academic Counseling
Yes
Career Placement
Yes
Student/Faculty Ratio
12/1
-
Fayetteville, NCPublic $
Online Programs
1
Academic Counseling
Yes
Career Placement
Yes
Student/Faculty Ratio
17/1
-
Oswego, NYPublic $$
Online Programs
1
Academic Counseling
Yes
Career Placement
Yes
Student/Faculty Ratio
16/1
-
Fort Wayne, INPrivate not-for-profit $$$
Online Programs
3
Academic Counseling
Yes
Career Placement
Yes
Student/Faculty Ratio
15/1
-
Institute, WVPublic $$
Online Programs
1
Academic Counseling
Yes
Career Placement
Yes
Student/Faculty Ratio
12/1
-
Minot, NDPublic $$
Online Programs
1
Academic Counseling
Yes
Career Placement
Yes
Student/Faculty Ratio
11/1
-
Cincinnati, OHPublic $$
Online Programs
1
Academic Counseling
Yes
Career Placement
Yes
Student/Faculty Ratio
19/1
-
Louisville, KYPublic $$$
Online Programs
1
Academic Counseling
Yes
Career Placement
Yes
Student/Faculty Ratio
19/1
-
Highland Heights, KYPublic $$
Online Programs
1
Academic Counseling
Yes
Career Placement
Yes
Student/Faculty Ratio
18/1
-
Westfield, MAPublic $
Online Programs
1
Academic Counseling
Yes
Career Placement
Yes
Student/Faculty Ratio
15/1
-
Denton, TXPublic $$
Online Programs
1
Academic Counseling
Yes
Career Placement
Yes
Student/Faculty Ratio
26/1
-
Florence, ALPublic $$
Online Programs
1
Academic Counseling
Yes
Career Placement
Yes
Student/Faculty Ratio
15/1
-
Boca Raton, FLPublic $
Online Programs
1
Academic Counseling
Yes
Career Placement
Yes
Student/Faculty Ratio
22/1
-
Huntsville, TXPublic $$
Online Programs
2
Academic Counseling
Yes
Career Placement
Yes
Student/Faculty Ratio
21/1
-
Memphis, TNPublic $$
Online Programs
1
Academic Counseling
Yes
Career Placement
Yes
Student/Faculty Ratio
16/1
-
Edwardsville, ILPublic $$
Online Programs
1
Academic Counseling
Yes
Career Placement
Yes
Student/Faculty Ratio
16/1
-
Kennesaw, GAPublic $
Online Programs
1
Academic Counseling
Yes
Career Placement
Yes
Student/Faculty Ratio
22/1
-
Monroe, LAPublic $$
Online Programs
1
Academic Counseling
Yes
Career Placement
Yes
Student/Faculty Ratio
18/1
-
Athens, OHPublic $$$
Online Programs
1
Academic Counseling
Yes
Career Placement
Yes
Student/Faculty Ratio
16/1
-
Omaha, NEPublic $$
Online Programs
1
Academic Counseling
Yes
Career Placement
Yes
Student/Faculty Ratio
16/1
-
Cedar City, UTPublic $$
Online Programs
1
Academic Counseling
Yes
Career Placement
Yes
Student/Faculty Ratio
23/1
-
Silver City, NMPublic $
Online Programs
1
Academic Counseling
Yes
Career Placement
Yes
Student/Faculty Ratio
12/1
-
Jackson, MSPublic $$
Online Programs
1
Academic Counseling
Yes
Career Placement
Yes
Student/Faculty Ratio
14/1
-
Toledo, OHPublic $$
Online Programs
1
Academic Counseling
Yes
Career Placement
Yes
Student/Faculty Ratio
21/1
-
Fairbanks, AKPublic $$
Online Programs
1
Academic Counseling
Yes
Career Placement
Yes
Student/Faculty Ratio
11/1
-
Lynchburg, VAPrivate not-for-profit $$$
Online Programs
1
Academic Counseling
Yes
Career Placement
Yes
Student/Faculty Ratio
17/1
-
Cleveland, GAPrivate not-for-profit $$$$$
Online Programs
2
Academic Counseling
Yes
Career Placement
Yes
Student/Faculty Ratio
17/1
-
Warrensburg, MOPublic $$
Online Programs
1
Academic Counseling
Yes
Career Placement
Yes
Student/Faculty Ratio
15/1
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Base Methodology for OnlineColleges.me’s 2024 Online College Rankings
To be eligible for this ranking, schools were required to meet the following criteria based on government data provided by The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS).
After creating the list of eligible schools, OnlineColleges.me data scientists assigned weights and ranked schools based on a mix of affordability, support services, and online program availability metrics. Online program availability and overall affordability metrics received the heaviest weightings.
Online Program Availability
Affordability
Support Services
About Our Data
OnlineColleges.me’s rankings use the latest official data available from The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS). Most recent data pull: July 2024
Goals and Outcomes for Your Online Criminal Justice Bachelor’s Degree
When you earn an online criminal justice bachelor’s degree, employers expect you to have certain skills and knowledge for job success. To ensure you have these qualifications, schools create outcomes for learning that their curriculum addresses. The following are the general outcomes that schools expect when you graduate with a bachelor’s in criminal justice, though each school has its unique approach and emphasis for this degree.
Communication Skill
Criminal justice professionals deal with very serious issues, sometimes even those related to life and death, so they must know how to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing. A bachelor’s degree in criminal justice gives you the skills needed to express information concisely, so you get your message across and provide information that people need to know. Also, communication skills help you work effectively with colleagues, so you understand each other and can resolve any conflicts that may arise.
Research Skills
A criminal justice bachelor’s degree teaches you about the serious and complex problems that people in the field are tasked with solving. Much of this work involves some type of research, so you’ll sharpen your skills for understanding what kind of information you should look for, where to find it, and what to do with the information when you have it.
Procedural Skills
There are many procedures criminal justice workers need to master, whether they are collecting evidence, interviewing victims, or handling sensitive documents. A course in procedural skills helps you know how to handle these situations effectively and ethically.
Analytical Skills
Professionals in the criminal justice field are tasked with reviewing many kinds of information, from crime scene evidence to witness testimony to the findings of research studies. A criminal justice bachelor’s degree gives you the analytical skills you need to make sense of the information you receive, so you know how it fits into a real-world context and can decide how this information should be used to find a solution to an issue.
What You’ll Learn in an Online Criminal Justice Bachelor’s Degree Program
To ensure that graduates of online criminal justice bachelor’s degree programs achieve the outcomes their programs set, schools need to provide coursework that teaches these essential skills to their students. The following are examples of the courses you may find in your degree program but keep in mind that the schools you’re considering likely differ at least slightly in their curriculums.
Victimology
A course in victimology focuses on what the victims of crime go through legally, mentally, emotionally, physically, and socially. The class gives you an understanding of how to communicate with victims as well as the procedures involved in helping them. Topics covered include the risk factors of becoming the victim of a crime, data related to different types of crimes, and strategies for working with victims in an empathic way.
Research Methods in Criminal Justice
This course helps you deepen your research skills by developing your understanding of how research is conducted from the conception of a hypothesis through data collection and analysis. You’ll learn about different types of research used in the criminal justice field, read studies conducted by well-known professionals, and design a research study of your own.
Crime Prevention
A crime prevention course provides a framework of how professionals work to prevent crime, which helps you develop your communication and analytical skills as you gain an understanding of how crime prevention works and learn to communicate about crime prevention policies. The course covers different strategies for crime prevention, including the use of community and school programs, the media, and community policing agencies.
Ethics in Criminal Justice
Criminal justice professionals deal with sensitive situations, so they need to understand the ethical standards expected of them in their everyday work. This course covers the types of ethical dilemmas common in the field, how ethical challenges are categorized, and the disciplinary actions taken against those who don’t adhere to these standards. It can help you boost your analytical skills because you can apply ethics to how professionals handle specific scenarios that may occur in your work.
Criminal Behavior
This course covers theories about criminal behavior, such as the environments where crime is more or less likely to occur and the biological and psychological factors that contribute to criminal behavior. This course helps you with your research and analytical skills because you may need to read psychology, sociology, and criminology studies to understand the theories discussed in class.
Introduction to Forensic Psychology
This course covers how forensic psychology is used in criminal and civil cases. You’ll get information that helps you with your research skills as you learn about the role forensic psychology plays in the criminal justice system and the theories that guide the field. You’ll learn forensic psychology concepts and how forensic assessments are conducted. Also, you’ll likely look at specific legal cases where forensic psychology is at the center.
FAQs About Online Criminal Justice Bachelor’s Degrees
As you investigate earning your online criminal justice bachelor’s degree, you’ll need plenty of information to help you decide whether this is the best choice for you. The following are answers to common questions students tend to have when exploring online criminal justice bachelor’s degrees.
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Are online bachelor’s programs in criminal justice available 100% online?
Some schools allow you to complete your criminal justice bachelor’s degree program entirely online. In fact, you may be able to enroll in an asynchronous degree program that is self-pacing. However, some programs are synchronous, so you’ll need to make sure you’re available to attend classes on a specific day and time. Some online schools even offer virtual events and clubs where you can connect with your peers in the program.
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What can I do with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice?
Whether you’re interested in law enforcement, corrections, or a legal career, a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice gives you plenty of career options. Some of the potential careers that are available include:
- Case Manager
- Corrections Officer
- Court Clerk
- Policy Analyst
- Sheriff
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What accreditation should an online criminal justice bachelor’s degree have?
Choosing an accredited school makes it more likely that you’ll achieve the career success you want because accreditation requires that schools must prove their programs meet certain high standards.
When looking for online bachelor’s degrees in criminal justice, only consider schools that have been accredited by one of the following regional agencies: the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, the Higher Learning Commission, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, or the New England Commission of Higher Education. There is no accrediting body specifically for criminal justice programs, just for the schools offering them.
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What does the admissions process look like for criminal justice bachelor’s programs?
While the admissions process is different from one school to the next, there are common criteria among schools. For example, you’ll need a high school diploma or GED and a minimum grade point average. Also, international students may have to submit IELTS or TOEFL scores. Check the admissions criteria for the schools you’re interested in to know exactly what each program requires.
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How much does an online bachelor’s degree in criminal justice cost?
The cost of an online bachelor’s degree in criminal justice can vary significantly from one school to the next. For example, the online criminal justice bachelor’s degree program at the University of Louisville costs $514 per credit, the one at Southern New Hampshire University costs $320 per credit, and Penn Foster’s program costs $1,899 per semester. Factors like whether a school is public or private, if you’re full-time or part-time, and where you live all can impact the cost of tuition.
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How long will it take me to complete a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice online?
You can usually complete an online criminal justice bachelor’s degree in four years when you enroll as a full-time student. However, if you attend on a part-time basis, it can take about five years to finish.
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What specializations can I choose from for my bachelor’s degree in criminal justice?
If you’re interested in a specific area of criminal justice, look for schools offering a concentration that allows you to become an expert in that part of the field. Below are examples of specializations that online bachelor’s degree programs in criminal justice often offer.
- Corrections
- Criminology
- Cybercrime
- Forensic Science
- Homeland Security
- Law Enforcement
- Police Administration
Examining the Value of Your Online Bachelor’s in Criminal Justice
The table below provides examples of jobs you can get with your online bachelor’s degree in criminal justice. It also gives salary and growth data to help you know what to expect after you graduate.
| Career | Median Annual Earnings (2021) | Job Growth (2021-2031) |
|---|---|---|
| Legal Assistants | $56,230 | 14% |
| Police and Detectives | $66,020 | 3% |
| Probation Officers | $60,250 | 0% |
| Security Guards and Gambling Surveillance Officers | $31,470 | 3% |
| Social and Community Service Case Managers | $74,000 | 12% |
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics