A Bachelor of Criminal Justice degree offers graduates a competitive edge when applying for nationwide criminal justice positions. Most agencies will have varying qualifications, but most will see a college degree as a plus. This degree has become increasingly popular and has evolved to focus on numerous topics. Some topics included in criminal justice programs include various aspects of crime, the justice system, the law, criminality and social policy.
Students interested in law and policy will want to study Justice Policy. Students interested in law enforcement will want to study Crime and Criminology. Students interested in social work and related areas will want to study Community Justice.
Related:
- Best Colleges for Criminology Degrees
- Top Schools with Criminal Justice Majors
- Best Bachelor’s in Law Enforcement
- Top Colleges for Homeland Security Degrees
- Best Colleges for Correctional Officers
A Bachelor of Criminal Justice degree opens doors to an extensive range of career options in the private sector as well as at the federal, state and local government level. Potential career paths can include:
- Police Officer & Detective
- Corporate Security Specialist
- Criminologist
- Homeland Security Agent, CIA Agent
- Federal Marshal
- Crime Scene Investigator
- Sheriff
- ATF, DEA or INS agent
Last updated: April 25, 2025
Methodology
To supply you with the best of the best in Bachelor’s in Criminal Justice degree programs, we considered the following points when compiling this list, such as:
- The school’s ability to provide a quality Bachelor’s degree program in the field of Criminal Justice,
- Offering various learning degree formats, such as online, on-campus, or hybrid coursework,
- Taught by professionals in the field of Criminal Justice,
- Offers financial aid opportunities, such as federal loans, scholarships, and grants,
- Displays proper accreditation, pursuant to the field of Criminal Justice,
- Has an excellent reputation and has earned applicable awards,
- Prepares graduates for career placement in Criminal Justice.
Please feel free to visit our dedicated methodology page for a step-by-step breakdown. For questions, comments, badge downloads, or data corrections, please feel free to reach out to us at editor@www.collegerank.net.
Ranking the Best Online Bachelors in Criminal Justice Degree Programs
Portland State University
According to US News & World Report, the Bachelor’s in Criminology and Criminal Justice at Portland State University is one of the best in the nation. It has been offering high-quality education to students interested in law enforcement since the 1940s. The program can be completed 100% online without any campus visits.
The program provides an in-depth study of leadership in Criminal Justice, Criminal Behavior, and Advanced Crime Analysis. The courses are taught by highly accomplished faculty members with the student in mind. Applicants interested in this program should have an Associate of Arts or Associate of Science degree. If they do not have this requirement, then they need 30 semester hours of transferable college credit.
The program may be completed in two years.
Liberty University
Liberty University offers a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice. Students may choose from several focus areas. These focus areas include business administration and management; criminal psychology; crime scene investigation; homeland security; public administration; strategic intelligence and juvenile justice.
The 120 credit hour program will prepare students for career paths such as administration, casework, corrections, counseling, juvenile justice, probation & parole, social services, private or corporate security, homeland defense as well as state, local police and sheriff.
Based on full-time enrollment, tuition is $390 per credit hour. Liberty University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
Grand Canyon University
Grand Canyon University is considered to be one of the top private Christian schools for online education by Technology & Learning Magazine as well as Fortune Small Business. The University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. The Bachelor of Science in Justice Studies degree plan offers a strong foundation from a Christian standpoint for those interested in pursuing a career in law enforcement.
Courses include religion, criminal law and procedure, tourism, criminal justice and more. The degree consists of 120 credit hours. Tuition cost is $485 not including textbooks, supplies or board.
Saint Leo University
Saint Leo University is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. As a leading online education institution, Saint Leo offers a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice degree. Students receive a strong foundation in liberal arts and may be able to receive credit through by taking exams. Students may choose from three concentrations.
These concentrations are Criminalistics, General Criminal Justice, and Homeland Security.
Colorado State University- Global
Colorado State University-Global Campus has an online Bachelor in Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Administration degree. The program provides students with the tools needed to take on leadership and management roles in criminal justice organizations.
The program offers an in-depth study of trends and developments revolving around managing a criminal justice organization. Students will study topics such as law enforcement, criminology, corrections and juvenile justice. Research methods created for criminal justice professionals will also be covered.
Courses are eight weeks long. Students will learn critical thinking, leadership, and efficient decision-making skills that are needed in the law enforcement industry. Princeton Review has ranked CSU as one of the best institutions for undergraduate education in the nation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Criminal justice is a worthwhile degree for many reasons, not the least of which that it can lead to many different careers. With a bachelor’s degree, you can work in law enforcement, corrections, or probation and parole. A bachelor’s degree in this field is also great preparation for a master’s degree program or even law school. Other benefits of a bachelors in criminal justice include gaining advanced skills, increasing your employability, and improving your earning potential.
According to the Education Data Initiative, the average bachelor’s degree program costs nearly $36,500 per year. This includes tuition and fees, books and supplies, and room and board. How much you pay for your degree is based on many factors, though:
• Your residency status (in-state or out-of-state)
• The amount of scholarships and grants you receive
• The number of credits the program requires to graduate
• Whether you attend a public or private college
• The state in which you attend college
You can apply for many different types of scholarships as a criminal justice major. There are scholarships specific to this major, like those from law enforcement or legal organizations. You can also apply for merit-based scholarships that rely mostly on your academic record and are available for any major. Need-based scholarships are another option. These scholarships use your financial situation to determine eligibility. A good resource for finding scholarships is your high school guidance counselor. You can also consult with the financial aid office at the college or university you wish to attend. A simple online search for “criminal justice scholarships” can yield many results, too.
Yes, there are many online criminal justice bachelor’s degrees. These programs tend to have the same course requirements, graduation requirements, and faculty as on-campus programs. Some online courses are synchronous, meaning there is a specific day and time you “meet” online for class. Other courses are asynchronous, which allows you to work independently within a framework of due dates.
A full-time student can finish a criminal justice bachelor’s degree in four years or less. Most programs are 120 credits, which equates to 12-15 credits per spring and fall semester. You can reduce the timeline to graduate by taking additional courses each semester or by taking summer classes. If you study part-time, you’ll likely need at least 4.5-5 years to complete a criminal justice bachelor’s program.
Whether a BA or BS in criminal justice is better depends on the situation. A BA often gives you more freedom to take liberal arts courses like philosophy, psychology, and sociology. This is a good option if you want to go to graduate school, get a law degree, or simply have a broader base of knowledge. But, if you want to study criminal justice topics more thoroughly or work within the criminal justice field, a BS is often the better choice. A BS in criminal justice usually requires more criminal justice-related courses, like homeland security, forensics, and criminal investigations. You might also gain more applicable criminal justice skills in a BS program versus a BA program. These differences aren’t set in stone, though – there is wide variation in these programs from one university to the next.
Criminal justice is not considered a hard degree. There are few math-related courses beyond the basics you need to graduate. Bachelor of Arts programs usually don’t require many science courses beyond the basics, either. While a Bachelor of Science in criminal justice might have courses like forensic science, the number and complexity of these courses are often considered fairly easy. There is usually a good amount of research and writing in these programs, which increases their difficulty somewhat. But, this is still not considered to be a more difficult major than most.
Many criminal justice graduates pursue careers in law enforcement as officers or detectives. These positions are available in local and state police departments, sheriff’s departments, and highway patrol departments, to name a few. You can also use this degree to pursue a career in the following:
• Federal Officer (e.g., FBI, ATF)
• Corrections Officer
• Probation and Parole Officer
• Private Security
• Victim Advocate
• Bailiff
• Private Investigator
• Paralegal
According to ZipRecruiter, the average pay for a bachelor’s-level criminal justice worker is $61,213 per year. The pay scale starts at around $21,500 per year and grows to more than $142,500 per year. Where you fall on the pay scale depends on numerous factors, including your level of education, experience, and the organization for which you work. Other factors affecting your salary are the industry, geographic area, and your specific job title.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives in the Federal Executive Branch are among the best-paid bachelor’s-level workers with a median yearly salary of $149,800. The mean annual wage for all workers in this specific niche is just over $106,000. Median salaries vary widely, though, from around $101,750 on the low end to over $160,710 on the high end.