12 Best Bachelor’s in Law Enforcement Degree Programs

Founded in 1851, Florida State University is one of the country’s oldest and best research universities. FSU Panama City is part of FSU’s College of Applied Sciences and is where our #1 top bachelor’s degree in law enforcement is housed. At Florida State University you will find a Bachelor of Science in public safety and security with an emphasis on law enforcement intelligence.

FSU’s bachelor’s in law enforcement intelligence is perfect for those who want multiple career options. With this degree, you can find jobs in law enforcement, security, intelligence, and investigations. Expect to take a range of criminal justice courses, such as:

• Ethics in Policing and Intelligence
• Computer Apps in Criminal Justice
• Policing Diversity: Race, Gender, Religion, and Crime

Another perk of FSU’s program is that you can take a combination of online and in-person classes. You will combine classroom skills and real-world experience to get the best training possible here. You can also further customize the program with a certificate in underwater crime scene investigation or pursue a master’s certificate or degree in law enforcement intelligence. If you are looking for online law enforcement degrees your school search may end with this law enforcement degree!

Check out Florida Atlantic University, known for its energy and diversity. FAU is one of the fastest-growing universities in Florida and currently serves over 30,000 students across 170 academic programs. FAU offers a Bachelor of Public Safety Management with a concentration in law enforcement and corrections that can be completed either online or in a hybrid format.

The BPSA—law enforcement/corrections program requires 60 credit hours that are broken into core classes, concentration classes, and electives. Sample coursework includes:

• Public Safety Systems
• Crime in the Schools
• White Collar Crime
• Policing in America

You also have the option of adding an additional concentration in disaster management. Some students complete both concentrations for more career opportunities. FAU also offers a Master’s in Public Administration.

You will complete a capstone in public safety administration during your senior year. While an internship is not required to complete this program, internships are available and strongly encouraged.

The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater is home to the Warhawks, and Warhawks are known to thrive! UW-Whitewater’s Law Enforcement Bachelor’s Degree Completion (LEB) is different from the other rankings because it is designed for police officers who have already earned an associate’s degree and have been working for at least three years.

UW-Whitewater’s LEB program combines credit for prior experience, independent learning, online learning, and face-to-face courses to meet the needs of working adults. In addition to enhanced research and writing skills, you will study topics like the following:

• Patterns and trends of U.S. crime data
• Criminology theory and research
• Key stages of the criminal justice system

All coursework will be either online, hybrid, or face-to-face evening and weekend courses. You can also add a minor in sociology which goes hand in hand with law enforcement.

To apply, you need to be a current law enforcement officer with at least three years of experience and an associate’s degree.

If you’re looking for an online bachelor’s degree in law enforcement, check out Eastern Kentucky University. EKU online consistently ranks among the top online universities in the nation. UKU’s Bachelor of Science in Police Studies is perfect for those who either already work in law enforcement or are interested in diving into the field.

The fully online program from Eastern Kentucky University requires 120 credit hours, which includes up to 90 transfer credits. At only $417 per credit hour and reduced tuition for active duty service members and their spouses, EKU offers one of the most affordable law enforcement degrees out there. Courses are presented in accelerated eight-week terms and begin six times each year.

You can expect to take courses such as:

• Police, Order, Maintenance and Crime
• Ethical Decisions and Police
• Criminal Investigation
• Contemporary Police Strategies

EKU’s online bachelor’s in law enforcement degree is both flexible and affordable. Whether you are interested in applying as a freshman or a transfer student, you will find all the important details of admission here.

Established in 1971, Metropolitan State University is part of the Minnesota State’s higher education system. Metropolitan State ranks high in social mobility, providing individualized studies for students and bridging gaps to ensure success. Metropolitan State’s Bachelor of Science in law enforcement holds a successful history—in fact, to date more than 40 police chiefs across the nation are graduates!

Metropolitan State’s BS in law enforcement includes three tracks:

Track 1: for students who wish to become eligible to become licensed police officers in Minnesota

Track 2: for students who have already earned an associate’s degree and wish to complete a bachelor’s degree

Track 3: for Minnesota licensed police officers who wish to complete their bachelor’s degree

The program requires 50 credits, divided into 31 required credits and 19-22 electives. You will also complete either a criminal justice capstone internship or a research project. Areas of study include ethical, legal, and leadership principles associated with policing in today’s world. For more information on all Metropolitan State has to offer, check out this page.

Since 1919, Bemidji State University has stood by its mission of “service to others, preservation of the earth, and respect and appreciation for the diverse peoples of our region and world.” While BSU’s Bachelor of Science in criminal justice-law enforcement program is offered both online and on-campus, it’s worth noting that BJU’s campus includes Minnesota’s north woods, forests, wetlands, and glacial lakes—breathtaking!

BSU’s law enforcement degree combines both theory and practice into a well-rounded program. Among the 120 credit hours, 48 credits are core courses such as the following:

• Criminal Justice and Society
• Research Methods and Statistics
• Criminal Law
• Criminal Investigation

Besides coursework for law enforcement, you complete an internship and research project before you graduate. BSU allows students to complete this program online or on campus; however, if you attend on-campus, you can finish the last two years completely online.

While this ranking focuses on the law enforcement track, BSU offers three others: corrections, victimology, and tribal justice.

North Carolina Central University has a lot to brag about. NC Central is consistently ranked as a top Historically Black College and Best Regional University in the South by U.S. News & World Report. Not only does NC Central rank well across categories, but it offers an affordable Bachelor of Science in criminal justice online.

 At NC Central, you can choose to concentrate on law enforcement alone or combine it with another emphasis:

• Corrections
• Juvenile justice
• Homeland security

Through this program, you will gain valuable law enforcement training through both classroom and field experience. This fully online law enforcement degree leads to any type of career in this field you can imagine, from corrections to forensic science.

NC Central’s bachelor’s in law enforcement is accredited by the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences (ACJS). Note that NC Central holds three admission deadlines:

• May 1 (Summer admission)
• July 15 (Fall admission)
• November 15 (Spring admission)

Purdue University Global, a branch of the Purdue University system, offers personalized online programs that meet the needs of working adults. Purdue Global is among the best online colleges for law enforcement. Purdue’s BS in criminal justice is offered with a law enforcement concentration along with five other options:

1. Crime scene investigation
2. Forensic psychology
3. Homeland security
4. Juvenile justice
5. Socially responsible leadership

Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, Purdue’s law enforcement program provides a strong mixture of professional skills and criminal justice knowledge. You will take courses for law enforcement such as:

• Philosophy and development of the U.S. criminal justice system
• Applied research methods and techniques
• Development of criminal law
• National law enforcement reform initiatives

While internships are not required to graduate, they are encouraged. They provide real-world experience that cannot be matched! Purdue’s online law enforcement degree is flexible and affordable. Each course is ten weeks, and current law enforcement majors spend approximately 15-18 hours per week working towards this degree. Tuition is just $371 per credit and discounts are available for military students.

Park University is a private, nonprofit university known for its academic excellence and diversity. Among the 54 bachelor’s degrees offered is a BS or BA in criminal justice administration with a concentration in law enforcement. Park’s law enforcement administration degree can be completed at the Parkville campus, the Gilbert campus, or online.

Park’s law enforcement administration program combines liberal arts with modern-day professional training. You will study topics such as:

• Criminal law
• Agency administration
• Criminology
• Criminal procedures
• Corrections

The core curriculum includes a criminal justice internship and a senior seminar. Park partners with local, state, and even federal criminal justice agencies to offer students meaningful real-world experiences.

In addition to law enforcement, Park also offers concentrations in corrections or security. You have the option of combining concentrations to supplement your degree. You can also add two certificates to customize your program even further.

Founded in 1906, SUNY Canton is part of the State University of New York system. SUNY Canton’s School of Health, Science, and Criminal Justice offers a unique law enforcement degree. You can earn a bachelor of technology in criminal justice with law enforcement leadership on campus or 100% online.

SUNY Canton’s bachelor’s in law enforcement leadership is designed for students who either want to become police officers or current law enforcement professionals who want to earn a bachelor’s degree. This program blends both public service and business courses such as:

• Critical Issues in Criminal Justice
• Business Communications
• Managing Law Enforcement Training
• Criminal Justice Agency Management

As a SUNY Canton law enforcement major, you have opportunities to attend the David Sullivan-St. Lawrence County Law Enforcement Academy as an internship. Other internships include the Buffalo City Police, Syracuse Police Department, and the Center for Forensic Science. SUNY Canton’s law criminal justice-law enforcement leadership program boasts a 100% job placement rate. 

Baker College is the largest private, non-profit college in Michigan and holds one mission: to succeed. Baker College reaches students where they are by offering accessible and flexible programs. The Bachelor of Science in criminal justice with a concentration in law enforcement and police academy is among the best degrees for police officers.

Baker’s BS in law enforcement and police academy training program entails 120 credit hours, divided into the following:

• 30 credit hours general education
• 78 credit hours major courses
• 12 credit hours law enforcement
• Two 150-hour work experiences (police academy)

This bachelor’s in law enforcement is unique because of the police academy program. When you graduate, you will be a certified police officer with a bachelor’s degree and ready to jump into a career. Another advantage of Baker College’s law enforcement program is that it is offered on five campuses as well as online.

Lindenwood University is an independent, private school founded in 1827. Lindenwood is known all over the world for its “innovation, entrepreneurship, and extraordinary dedication to students.” Lindenwood’s Bachelor of Arts in Criminology and Criminal Justice with a law enforcement/police academy specialization comes from the university’s College of Science, Technology, and Health.

Lindenwood’s Bachelor of Arts in law enforcement includes core criminal justice courses and the following required courses:

• Police Academy Preparatory and St. Louis County
• Municipal Police Academy
• Research Methods for Criminology and Criminal Justice
• Senior Seminar in Criminal Justice

You will complete 45 credits of major coursework and six credits of electives. This program is offered solely on campus in a traditional format.

Lindenwood University’s Criminology and Criminal Justice Department was born in the early 2000s and boasts over 20 years of excellence. The faculty includes law enforcement professionals, researchers, and attorneys.