Minnesota Criminal Justice Schools

Updated October 31, 2023

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Minnesota is an ideal choice for those interested in earning a criminal justice education in order to further their careers. The state is home to numerous colleges and universities offering diverse criminal justice-related majors such as victimology, criminal justice leadership, and public safety. Several schools, including Concordia University St. Paul and St. Cloud State University, also offer criminal justice programs online. Continue reading to learn more about the criminal justice programs available in Minnesota.

Quick Facts

There are 40 schools offering criminal justice degrees in Minnesota (see below).¹

23 colleges and universities offer associate's degrees in criminal justice.*¹

18 colleges and universities offer bachelor's degrees in criminal justice.*¹

6 colleges and universities offer master's or doctoral degrees in criminal justice.*¹

7 colleges and universities offer criminal justice degree programs online.*¹

2 schools ranked in Kiplinger's Best Values in Public Colleges in 2018.²

4 schools ranked in College Factual's Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Colleges in 2018.³

No schools ranked in Criminal Justice Degree Schools Best Online Bachelor's Programs in 2018.⁴

1 school ranked in US News Best Online Graduate Criminal Justice Programs in 2018.⁵

*For not-for-profit colleges and universities with criminal justice degree programs.

Criminal Justice Degree Programs in Minnesota

The University of Minnesota administers a full range of degree programs for those who like to live and dream big. Schools like Hamline University and Macalester College also offer excellent criminal justice programs in more intimate settings. A growing number of schools are offering the option of earning a criminal justice degree online. Federal budget allocations for homeland security operations have created a wealth of career prospects for those with the specialized training to perform them. Criminal investigation and similar jobs generally are awarded to police officers who attend the kind of special instruction offered in criminal justice programs, especially those who obtain a degree in a specialty like forensic science. With job opportunities in both the private and public sector, a criminal justice education is an excellent preparation for an exciting career.

Featured Online Programs

Explore program formats, transfer requirements, financial aid packages, and more by contacting the schools below.

Top-Ranked Schools with Criminal Justice Programs in Minnesota

Kiplinger's Best Values in Public Colleges*

University of Minnesota-Morris (#79 in-state, #40 out-of-state)
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities (#23 in-state, #10 out-of-state)

*Institution-wide ranking.

College Factual's Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Colleges

Saint Mary's University of Minnesota (#114)
Hamline University (#124)
Saint Cloud State University (#162)
Winona State University (#178)

US News Best Online Graduate Criminal Justice Programs

Concordia University St. Paul (#51-#67)

Profiles of Well-Known Schools in Minnesota

University of Minnesota: The Department of Sociology at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities campus offers undergraduate specializations in Law, Criminology, and Deviance with a BA or BS in Sociology. The department has four research centers where students and faculty engage in collaborative projects, the Life Course Center, Flexible Work and Well-Being Center, Minnesota Population Center, and the Teaching Resources Center. There are also numerous department-led projects including the Youth Development Study (YDS), an ongoing effort to examine the components of the adolescence to adulthood transition. There are approximately 30 full-time faculty and those who teach the Law, Criminology, and Deviance courses specialize in juvenile justice, family, labor and unionization, and environmental justice.

University of Minnesota, Crookston: The Criminal Justice Department at University of Minnesota, Crookston offers two tracks for their Bachelor of Science degree in criminal justice, Corrections or Law Enforcement. The Criminal Justice BS prepares students with the skills and understanding of law enforcement needed to begin a career in this field, with a concentration in either law enforcement or corrections. This program is certified by the Minnesota Board of Peace Officer Standards & Training (POST), which qualifies graduates to apply for licensure as Minnesota police officers. The university also offers a minor in Criminal Justice and a BS in Law Enforcement Aviation, a unique program that trains students to become law enforcement pilots for local, state, and federal agencies that is also POST-certified. An internship program for future law enforcement pilots is available. Those interested in criminal justice with a focus on natural resources may be interested in the school's BS in Natural Resources Law Enforcement, a POST-certified program that equips students to enter careers as law enforcement officers protecting the country's natural resources in accordance with the law.

Minnesota State University: Minnesota State University has the Department of Sociology and Corrections, which offers the only Bachelor of Science in Corrections in the state in addition to master's and certificate programs. The department offers the JOLT (Joint Opportunity to Learn to Thrive) program, a course dedicated to students who wish to work in juvenile probation. Corrections majors are required to complete 450 internship hours to graduate and can do so within state agencies, correctional institutions, and victim services. The 19 full-time faculty are experts in corrections and related focuses such as juvenile delinquency, correctional law, and social organization. The school's Master of Science in Sociology: Corrections has been designed for individuals that want to pursue leadership and management positions in state, federal, or private institutions.

Notable Alumni from Minnesota Universities

Medaria Arradondo, Minneapolis Chief of Police - Metropolitan State University (bachelor's), Concordia University St. Paul (master's)
Aaron Biard, Minneaopolis Police 4th Precinct Inspector - St. Cloud State University

Police Quote: "To be successful in this career you need to conduct a self-assessment on a daily bases. You must constantly prepare yourself for tough decisions by playing different scenarios in your head and asking yourself the 'What if' questions. What would you do or how would you act if you were placed in that situation. Of course, you can never pre-plan for everything you may encounter in your career, but if you do this, you will be far better prepared when faced with ethical dilemmas."

Chief Fred W. Hayes

Minnesota Criminal Justice Careers

Salaries for criminal justice jobs in Minnesota are competitive and positions tend to offer great benefits. The average annual salary for protective service occupations, which includes police officers, in Minnesota was $46,750 as of May 2015, while police first-line supervisors earned an average of $2,060.^6,9 Many criminal justice jobs have a positive outlook as the population grows and security continues to be critical for businesses and governments.

Many good job opportunities can be found in the paralegal field, homeland security, and cybersecurity. The Minneapolis Police Department is frequently hiring, and requires prospective recruits who do not have police experience to hold an associate's or bachelor's degree. Similarly, the Minnesota Department of Corrections requires correctional officer applicants who do not have prior experience to hold a two- or four-year degree.

Minnesota Criminal Justice Salary and Jobs

Occupation	Number Employed	Average Annual Salary
Correctional Officers and Jailers	4,740	$47,820
First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives	2,060	$83,540
Detectives and Criminal Investigators	1,190	$73,600
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers	8,790	$59,310

Data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics as of May 2015.^5,6,7,8

Minnesota's Criminal Justice Employment Outlook

As of May 2016 Minnesota had an unemployment rate of 3.8%, the lowest statewide rate seen in the past ten years and below the national average of 4.7%.¹⁰ The state experienced peak unemployment in January 2010, with a rate of 8.5%.¹⁰ Government employment is a good proxy for criminal justice jobs in Minnesota. Projections Central estimates the following criminal justice job openings in Minnesota through 2024:

Police and Sheriff Patrol: 370 annual openings; 46% in these positions report completing at least some college, with 24% holding an associate's degree.^11,12
Correctional Officers: 140 annual openings; 37% in these positions report completing at least some college, with 15% holding a post-secondary certificate.^11,13
Detectives and Criminal Investigators: 30 annual openings; 37% in these positions report completing at least some college, with 21% holding an associate's degree.^11,14
Security Guards: 190 annual openings; 4% in these positions report completing at least some college.^11,15
Paralegals and Legal Assistants: 150 annual openings; 86% in these positions report completing at least some college, with 30% holding an associate's degree and 44% holding a bachelor's degree.^11,16
Forensic Science Technicians: 10 annual openings; a bachelor's degree is typically required for these positions.¹¹

These positions are a result of growth and replacement.

The Mercatus Center, a conservative think tank, rated and analyzed each state's long-term solvency. They looked at the budgeting, cash/tax collection, and pensions for the state, and ranked Minnesota 26th in the nation.¹⁷ This means that it is likely the state will be able to fulfill its pension obligations.

minnesota Criminal Justice Employment Outlook

Directory of Minnesota Universities Offering Campus-based and Online Criminal Justice Degrees

If you live in Minnesota, we recommend an accredited campus-based or online criminal justice program for pursuing your associate's, bachelor's, or master's degree in the growing field of criminal justice.

Tip: If you don't live near a campus-based school that offers a program of interest, consider an online degree or a university in an adjacent state (Wisconsin, Iowa, South Dakota, or North Dakota).

Schools with Online and On-Campus Criminal Justice Programs

Note: Student Reviews are based on the experiences of a few individuals and it is unlikely that you will have similar results. Please review the "Data, Student Reviews and Other Information" section in our Terms of Use and Disclaimers.

Alexandria Technical College (Alexandria)
Associate of Science | Law Enforcement
Associate of Applied Science | Law Enforcement
Certificate | Law Enforcement Skills
Diploma | Law Enforcement Career Transition (online or on-campus)

Bemidji State University (Bemidji)
Bachelor of Science | Criminal Justice (online or on-campus)
Bachelor of Science | Criminal Justice: Law Enforcement (online or on-campus)
Bachelor of Science | Criminal Justice: Corrections (online or on-campus)
Bachelor of Science | Criminal Justice: Victimology (online or on-campus)
Bachelor of Science | Criminal Justice: Tribal Justice (online or on-campus)
Minor | Criminal Justice (online or on-campus)
Minor | Chemical Dependency
Minor | Criminalistics
Minor | Fraud Examination
Certificate | Alcohol and Drug Counselor

Concordia University St. Paul (Saint Paul)
Bachelor of Arts | Criminal Justice (online or on-campus)
Master of Arts | Criminal Justice Leadership
Master of Business Administration | Cybersecurity
Minor | Criminal Justice
Certificate | Cybersecurity: Risk Management

Crown College (Saint Bonifacius)
Bachelor of Science | Criminal Justice (online or on-campus)
Bachelor of Science | Disaster and Emergency Management (online or on-campus)
Minor | Disaster & Emergency Management (online or on-campus)

Ridgewater College (Willmar)
Associate of Applied Science | Law Enforcement (online or on-campus)
Associate of Arts | Law Enforcement (online or on-campus)
Associate of Arts | Corrections

St. Cloud State University (Saint Cloud)
Master of Science | Criminal Justice (online or on-campus)
Master of Science | Social Responsibility
Master of Science | Applied Behavior Analysis (online or on-campus)
Master of Science | Rehabilitation and Addiction Counseling
Minor | Criminal Justice
Minor | Forensic Science
Minor | Geographic Information Science
Minor | Military Science
Post-Baccalaureate Certificate | Addictions (online or on-campus)
Post-Baccalaureate Certificate | Geographic Information Science
Post-Baccalaureate Certificate | Emotional/ Behavioral Disorders
Post-Baccalaureate Certificate | Chemical Dependency Specialist (online or on-campus)
Post-Baccalaureate Program | Board Certified Behavior Analyst
Post-Baccalaureate Program | Assistant Board Certified Behavior Analyst

Student Review "St. Cloud State was an amazing experience. I feel that the professors were helpful and if I needed help I felt that they were there and I could approach them. I loved that the school was big but yet I got the individual treatment. My class sizes were small and very well taught. Everything that I did was for a reason and was used wisely. Other positives include campus activities, good price, great food, and an overall great atmosphere. I am very happy with my school choice and would recommend it to anyone."

Daniel K., student at St. Cloud State University

Schools with On-Campus Criminal Justice Programs Only

Student Review: "The criminal justice program at Central Lakes College in central Minnesota was a great program. Many of the teachers had lifelong careers in the field so they were experienced and could provide so much more information beyond coursework. They encouraged students to get involved volunteering at local activities to gain experience and to join groups that got us involved in the community. This gave us the opportunities to make connections to assist us in starting a career when graduated. The program had diverse concentrations allowing you to follow multiple career paths whether it was to become a police officer, corrections, crime scene photographer, forensics, and more. Overall it was a great program that I would highly recommend to anyone looking into criminal justice programs."

Student at Central Lakes College

Student Review: "Century College Criminal Justice system was an amazing experience for me. The teachers were very approachable and honestly seemed to care about my education, and pushed for us to do well. Unlike some colleges and universities, Century College put in emphasis on learning about Race and Ethnicity. I feel like these classes were very helpful, due to the issues criminal justice practitioners face every day. Most of the classes required that we completed service learning experience, which required us to volunteer at an area specific to what we were studying. For example, I was placed to volunteer at a courthouse working directly with juvenile delinquents. This experience was extremely valuable because I was able to connect my coursework into real life experience. However, the downside to this was a lot of the courses require you to volunteer, which takes up a lot of time that can be spent studying for other courses."

Student at Century College

Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College (Cloquet)
Associate of Applied Science | Law Enforcement
Associate of Applied Science | Geospatial Technologies
Associate of Applied Science | Human Services
Associate of Science | Corrections
Associate of Science | Law Enforcement
Certificate | Geospatial Technologies
Certificate | Law Enforcement Skills

Student Review: "While the professors at the school are very knowledgeable in their fields and the classes are small, there is a definite cause for improvement. Granted, the education I received seems equal or better to that of the local community college or state university but I had issues. The Blackboard online software is somewhat glitchy and some of the tools available are not always functioning completely up to par. Also, my biggest issue with this school is that the credits do not transfer. Not one. Not to any accredited school in the state. Not only that but my current bachelor's degree is not recognized by any of the other accredited schools in the state. Globe University is not accredited by the state college accrediting system, they are accredited by an independent accrediting body, so the credits are only good at other schools of the same accreditation. At over $500 per credit, that is a steep penalty choosing Globe."

Jacquelyn L., student at Globe University

Hibbing Community College (Hibbing)
Associate of Applied Science | Law Enforcement 31B Military Police
Associate of Applied Science | Law Enforcement
Associate of Arts | Criminal Justice
Diploma | Law Enforcement Professional Peace Officer Education
Diploma | Law Enforcement Skills Program

Inver Hills Community College (Inver Grove Heights)
Associate of Science | Criminal Justice
Associate of Science | Law Enforcement
Certificate | Corrections
Certificate | Pre-Law Enforcement Skills

Leech Lake Tribal College (Cass Lake)
Associate of Applied Science | Law Enforcement

Minneapolis Community and Technical College (Minneapolis)
Associate of Applied Science | Computer Forensics
Associate of Applied Science | Homeland Security Specialist
Associate of Science | Addiction Counseling
Associate of Science | Criminal Justice
Associate of Science | Law Enforcement
Basic Certificate | Homeland Security
Certificate | Homeland Security Emergency Management
Certificate | Homeland Security Planning Certificate
Diploma | Addiction Counseling

Student Review: "Minneapolis Community and Technical College is a great value for the money, especially compared with any local state universities. They have several good programs for matriculation into four-year degrees, as well as many different 2 year associates and technical programs. I found the teachers to be relatively accessible, and there were many online courses available which added to the convenience. Many of the summer courses are ideal for students to take who may be home visiting to expedite the acquisition of cheaper and quicker credits. Overall, some of the educators may be a bit hard to communicate with, particularly with the online coursework, but I've found that they are generally pretty accessible and pleasant to deal with. I would definitely recommend the school for people who are unsure what degree they may wish to pursue, are returning to school after a long hiatus, or need more flexibility in the timing of classes or the pursuit of their degree, particularly with the online coursework."

Patrick H., student at Minneapolis Community and Technical College

Minnesota State Community and Technical College (Fergus Falls)
Associate of Arts | Criminal Justice
Associate of Science | Criminal Justice
Associate of Arts | Law Enforcement
Certificate | Correctional Officer

Student Review "Minnesota State University Mankato is a wonderful location for any sort of degree. The surrounding area is very welcoming for students. A plethora of jobs, off-campus housing, and city life are very close to campus. Living on campus is fantastic, with fast internet connections and stupendous meal halls. The teachers and academic advisers are very helpful towards whatever problems students might have and the campus hub is very welcoming and able to help with whatever problems students might have. MSU Mankato is a very well rounded school."

Skyler J., student at Minnesota State University-Mankato

Minnesota State University-Moorhead (Moorhead)
Bachelor of Arts | Criminal Justice
Bachelor of Arts | Criminal Justice: Political Science
Bachelor of Arts | Criminal Justice: Psychology
Bachelor of Arts | Criminal Justice: Sociology
Bachelor of Arts | Criminal Justice: Law Enforcement Track
Minor | Juvenile Justice

Minnesota West Community and Technical College (Granite Falls)
Associate of Applied Science | Information Security Administration
Associate of Applied Science | Law Enforcement
Associate of Science | Law Enforcement
Associate of Arts | Law Enforcement: Corrections
Certificate | Information Security Administration
Certificate | Law Enforcement Skills

Normandale Community College (Bloomington)
Associate of Science | Criminal Justice
Associate of Science | Law Enforcement
Certificate | Law Enforcement

North Hennepin Community College (Brooklyn Park)
Associate of Science | Criminal Justice
Associate of Science | Law Enforcement

Northland Community and Technical College (Thief River Falls)
Associate of Science | Criminal Justice
Associate of Applied Science | Geospatial Intelligence Analysis
Certificate | Law Enforcement
Diploma | Law Enforcement

Student Review "I found that most of the teachers that I had were helpful and genuinely seemed like they wanted us to succeed. Most of the classes were relative to my degree, but I also felt like they could definitely improve some of their courses. The school was a little more expensive than the community schools, which I disliked. I really wished they would have had a skills type program to really teach us the fundamentals about being in law enforcement. Overall, I found Rasmussen to be just okay."

Student at Rasmussen College, Mankato

Riverland Community College (Austin)
Associate of Science | Law Enforcement: Non-MN POST
Associate of Science | Law Enforcement
Associate of Science | Criminal Justice: Corrections
Diploma | Criminal Justice: Corrections

Rochester Community & Technical College (Rochester)
Associate of Applied Science | Law Enforcement
Associate of Science | Criminal Justice
Associate of Science | Law Enforcement
Certificate | Law Enforcement

Saint Mary's University of Minnesota (Winona)
Bachelor of Science | Criminal Justice: Corrections
Bachelor of Science | Criminal Justice: Law Enforcement
Bachelor of Science | Police Science
Master of Science | Geographic Information Science
Minor | Criminal Justice
Minor | Geographic Information Science
Post-Baccalaureate Certificate | Addiction Studies
Post-Baccalaureate Certificate | Emotional Behavioral Disorders
Post-Baccalaureate Certificate | Geographic Information Science

Southwest Minnesota State University (Marshall)
Bachelor of Applied Science | Law Enforcement Administration
Bachelor of Science | Justice Administration
Minor | Criminal Justice
Minor | Social Welfare

University of Minnesota-Crookston (Crookston)
Bachelor of Science | Criminal Justice: Corrections
Bachelor of Science | Criminal Justice: Law Enforcement
Bachelor of Science | Natural Resources Law Enforcement
Minor | Criminal Justice

University of Minnesota-Morris (Morris)
Bachelor of Arts | Human Services: Criminal Justice

University of Minnesota-Twin Cities (Twin Cities)
Bachelor of Science | Sociology of Law, Criminology, and Deviance
Bachelor of Arts | Sociology of Law, Criminology, and Deviance
Master of Science | Security Technologies

University of St. Thomas-Minnesota (Saint Paul)
Bachelor of Arts | Criminal Justice
Minor | Criminal Justice
Certificate | Law Enforcement

Student Review: "St. Thomas is the largest private school in Minnesota, at 6,000 students. Coming from a large high school it seemed a bit bigger, but not overwhelmingly large the way the U of M or similar schools sometimes are. Nearly all the professors are friendly and helpful, and all of them knew my name and had specific things to say to help me if I went in for office hours. The overall atmosphere of the school is also fun, and I've made a lot of friends there. However, for students who don't get involved and look down upon partying and drinking, weekends might be kind of dull, and it may be harder for them to meet new people since a large amount of student interaction involves joining clubs or sports teams and often going to parties hosted by those groups. Since the addition of the new student center, the food has improved substantially, and there are a lot more options than there used to be, which is especially nice for those who live on campus."

Max H., student at University of St. Thomas-Minnesota

Vermilion Community College (Ely)
Bachelor of Science | Information Security
Bachelor Degree | Criminal Justice
Bachelor Degree | Geographic Information Systems
Bachelor Degree | Peace and Justice Studies
Bachelor Degree | Peace and Justice Studies: Leadership for Social Justice
Bachelor Degree | Peace and Justice Studies: Conflict Transformation
Bachelor Degree | Peace and Justice Studies: Public Policy Analysis and Advocacy
Minor | Criminal Justice
Minor | Geographic Information Systems
Minor | Information and Decision Theory
Minor | Social Welfare
Minor | Social Services Management
Minor | Chemical Dependency: Addiction and Recovery
Minor | Peace and Justice Studies

Winona State University (Winona)
Bachelor of Science | Sociology/Criminal Justice: Corrections
Bachelor of Science | Sociology/Criminal Justice: Law Enforcement
Minor | Criminal Justice

References:
1. National Center for Education Statistics: https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/
2. Kiplinger's Best Values in Public Colleges: https://www.kiplinger.com/tool/college/T014-S001-kiplinger-s-best-values-in-public-colleges/index.php
3. College Factual Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Colleges: https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/protective-security-safety-services/criminal-justice-and-corrections/rankings/top-ranked/
4. US News Best Online Graduate Criminal Justice Programs: https://www.usnews.com/education/online-education/criminal-justice/rankings
5. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2015 Occupational Employment and Wages, Correctional Officers and Jailers https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes333012.htm
6. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2015 Occupational Employment and Wages, First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes331012.htm
7. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2015 Occupational Employment and Wages, Detectives and Criminal Investigators: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes333021.htm
8. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2015 Occupational Employment and Wages, Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes333051.htm
9. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2015 Occupational Employment and Wages, Protective Service Occupations (Major Group): https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes330000.htm
10. Y Charts 10 Year Unemployment Chart: https://https://ycharts.com/indicators/minnesota_unemployment_rate
11. Projections Central Long Term Occupational Projections: https://www.projectionscentral.com/Projections/LongTerm
12. O*Net OnLine, Police Patrol Officers: https://www.onetonline.org/link/details/33-3051.01
13. O*Net OnLine, Correctional Officers and Jailers: https://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/33-3012.00
14. O*Net OnLine, Police Detectives: https://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/33-3021.01
15. O*Net OnLine, Security Guards: https://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/33-9032.00
16. O*Net OnLine, Paralegals and Legal Assistants: https://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/23-2011.00
17. Mercatus Center, George Mason University, Ranking the States by Fiscal Condition 2016 Edition: https://www.mercatus.org/statefiscalrankings

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