Colleges for Criminal Justice in New York
Updated May 17, 2024
Students can find dozens of colleges for criminal justice in New York. The state offers both online and in-person programs including associate, bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees in criminal justice and related fields. Earning a criminal justice degree in New York, students can take advantage of many hands-on professional learning opportunities in the area.
Criminal justice program graduates who stay in the state after completing their degree can choose from various in-demand relevant career opportunities.
Quick Facts
- New York is home to John Jay College of Criminal Justice, one of the best-known and highly regarded criminal justice schools in the country, offering dozens of undergraduate and graduate degrees in criminal justice and related fields.
- New York has 52 state prisons and 62 jails.
- As of May 2023, New York has over 270,000 people working in protective services and over 125,000 people working in legal occupations.
- The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects much faster than average growth between 2020 and 2030 for many criminal justice jobs in New York, including private detectives and investigators, probation officers and correctional treatment specialists, and postsecondary criminal justice teachers.
Popular Online Programs
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
Overview of Criminal Justice Education in New York
Criminal Justice Education in New York
338
Total nonprofit postsecondary schools
99
Schools that offer criminal justice degrees and certificates
A criminal justice degree can prepare you for various in-demand careers in the criminal justice, law enforcement, and legal fields. Criminal justice education can help you qualify for and earn higher salaries in jobs like forensic science technician, detective, and correctional officer.
In New York, students can pursue criminal justice certificates and associate, bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees at nearly 100 colleges and universities. Schools offer criminal justice programs both online and on campus. Students can find many opportunities in New York City, but universities outside the Big Apple also provide criminal justice education opportunities.
Online programs offer flexibility that can allow students to continue working while earning a degree. Notable online criminal justice programs in the state include St. Joseph's University, New York; the State University of New York (SUNY) Oswego; and SUNY Delhi. Even if you don't live in New York, you might want to consider earning an online criminal justice degree there.
Colleges for Criminal Justice in New York
This section highlights schools in New York that offer criminal justice degrees. The schools are unranked and presented alphabetically by institution name. To qualify for inclusion on this list, the school had to be accredited nonprofits that offer at least one bachelor's degree in criminal justice.
Adelphi University
Four-year | Private, nonprofit | Garden City, NY | On-campus and online
Bachelor's degrees:
- BS in criminal justice
Visit Adelphi's Programs . External link
Alfred University
Four-year | Private, nonprofit | Alfred, NY | On-campus
Bachelor's degrees:
- BA in criminal justice
Visit Alfred's Programs . External link
Canisius University
Four-year | Private, nonprofit | Buffalo, NY | On-campus and online
Bachelor's degrees:
- BS in criminal justice
Visit Canisius' Programs . External link
CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice
Four-year | Public | New York, NY | On-campus and online
Bachelor's degrees:
- BA in criminal justice: crime control and prevention
- BS in criminal justice: institutional theory and practice
- BS in criminal justice management
- BA in criminology
- BA in deviance, crime and culture
- BS in emergency services administration
- BS in fire and emergency service
- BA in forensic pathology
- BS in forensic science
- BS in fraud examination and financial forensics
- BS in human services and community justice
- BA in humanities and justice
- BA in international criminal justice
- BA in law and society
- BS in police studies
- BS in security management
Master's degrees:
- MA in criminal justice
- MS in digital forensics and cybersecurity
- MS in emergency management
- MA in forensic mental health counseling
- MA in forensic psychology
- MA in human rights
- MA in international crime and justice
- MPA/JD in law and public accountability
- MS in security management
Doctoral degrees:
- Ph.D. in criminal justice
- Ph.D. in psychology and the law
Dominican University New York
Four-year | Private, nonprofit | Orangeburg, NY | On-campus and online
Bachelor's degrees:
- BA in criminal justice
Visit DUNY's Programs . External link
Elmira College
Four-year | Private, nonprofit | Elmira, NY | On-campus and online
Bachelor's degrees:
- BS in criminal justice
- BS in criminal science
- BA in criminal science
Visit Elmira's Programs . External link
Empire State University
Four-year | Public | Saratoga Springs, NY | On-campus and online
Bachelor's degrees:
- BS in criminal justice
Visit Empire State's Programs . External link
Excelsior University
Four-year | Private, nonprofit | Albany, NY | Online
Bachelor's degrees:
- BS in criminal justice
- BS in national security
Master's degrees:
- MS in criminal justice
Farmingdale State College
Four-year | Public | Farmingdale, NY | On-campus and online options
Bachelor's degrees:
- BS in criminal justice: police, courts and corrections
- BS in criminal justice: law enforcement technology
Visit Farmingdale's Programs . External link
Hartwick College
Four-year | Private, nonprofit | Oneonta, NY | On-campus and online
Bachelor's degrees:
- BA in criminal justice
Visit Hartwick's Programs . External link
Hilbert College
Four-year | Private, nonprofit | Hamburg, NY | On-campus and online
Bachelor's degrees:
- BS in criminal justice
- BS/MS in criminal justice 4+1 program
- BS in forensic science/laboratory sciences
- BS/MS in forensic science / crime scene investigation
Master's degrees:
- MS in criminal justice administration
Hofstra University
Four-year | Private, nonprofit | Hempstead, NY | On-campus and online
Bachelor's degrees:
- BA in criminology
Master's degrees:
- MA in forensic linguistics
Iona University
Four-year | Private, nonprofit | New Rochelle, NY | On-campus and online
Bachelor's degrees:
- BA in criminal justice
- BA in criminal justice and sociology
- BA/MS 4+1 in criminal justice
Master's degrees:
- MS in criminal justice
Keuka College
Four-year | Private, nonprofit | Keuka Park, NY | On-campus and online
Bachelor's degrees:
- BS in criminology and criminal justice
Visit Keuka's Programs . External link
Long Island University
Four-year | Private, nonprofit | Brookville, NY | On-campus and online
Bachelor's degrees:
- BA in criminal justice
Master's degrees:
- MS in criminal justice
Manhattanville College
Four-year | Private, nonprofit | Purchase, NY | On-campus and online
Bachelor's degrees:
- BA in social and criminal justice
- BA in criminal law
Visit Manhattanville's Programs . External link
Pace University
Four-year | Private, nonprofit | New York, New York | On-campus and online
Bachelor's degrees:
- BS in criminal justice
- BS in criminal justice/MA in homeland security
- BA/JD in criminal justice
Master's degrees:
- MA in homeland security
Rochester Institute of Technology
Four-year | Private, nonprofit | Rochester, NY | On-campus and online
Bachelor's degrees:
- BS in criminal justice
Master's degrees:
- MS in criminal justice
University at Albany
Four-year | Public | Albany, NY | On-campus and online
Bachelor's degrees:
- BA in criminal justice
- BS in digital forensics
- BS in emergency preparedness, homeland security and cybersecurity
Master's degrees:
- MA in criminal justice
- MA/MSW in criminal justice and social work
- MS in digital forensics and cybersecurity
- MS in emergency management and homeland security
- MS in forensic science investigation and management
Doctoral degrees:
- Ph.D. in criminal justice
Criminal Justice Careers in New York
Criminal justice graduates can find many relevant career opportunities in New York.
According to Projections Central, many of the criminal justice jobs in New York will grow more quickly than average between 2020 and 2030. This data signals that now is a good time to get into this field if you live in the state.
Jobs with faster-than-average projected growth include police and sheriff's patrol officers, detectives and criminal investigators, forensic science technicians, and paralegals and legal assistants. The BLS projects a 35% job growth rate between 2020 and 2030 for security guards in New York.
High-paying criminal justice jobs in New York include detectives and criminal investigators ($111,630); first-line supervisors of police and detectives ($122,760); lawyers ($179,650); and administrative law judges, adjudicators, and hearing officers ($111,090).
Read More:
New York State Trooper Requirements
New York City Police Department Officer Requirements
| Job | Employment (2023) | Median Annual Wage (2023) | Projected Job Growth (2020-30) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Police officers and sheriff's patrol officers | 37,910 | $89,400 | +14.3% |
| Detectives and criminal investigators | 9,030 | $111,630 | +12% |
| Transit and railroad police | 500 | $62,230 | +14.1% |
| Fish and game wardens | 390 | $75,460 | +12.8% |
| First-line supervisors of police and detectives | 8,270 | $12,760 | +14.3% |
| Public safety telecommunicators (police and fire dispatchers) | 5,120 | $60,170 | +15.9% |
| Transportation security screeners | 3,240 | $51,400 | +9.3% |
| Forensic science technicians | 590 | $77,660 | +24.7% |
| Correctional officers and jailers | 26,080 | $71,300 | -0.3% |
| First-line supervisors of correctional officers | 3,130 | $96,050 | +3% |
| Probation officers and correctional treatment specialists | 4,140 | $82,040 | +14.9% |
| Bailiffs | 3,510 | $74,080 | +7.6% |
| Administrative law judges, adjudicators, and hearing officers | 1,060 | $111,090 | +11.6% |
| Lawyers | 86,000 | $179,650 | +17.8% |
| Paralegals and legal assistants | 30,930 | $73,740 | +20.1% |
| Legal secretaries | 12,340 | $64,940 | -15.9% |
| Municipal, license, and court clerks | 10,470 | $53,840 | +13.1% |
| Court reporters and simultaneous captioners | 1,050 | $105,060 | +14.8% |
| Security guards | 121,920 | $39,780 | +35% |
| Private investigators and detectives | 1,510 | $59,670 | +22.4% |
| Emergency management directors | 490 | $89,080 | +13.3% |
| Postsecondary criminal justice teachers | 970 | $85,000 | +19.9% |
How to Choose the Best College for Criminal Justice in New York
Because there are so many colleges for criminal justice in New York, it can be hard to choose the right one for you. Before making your decision about where to go to school, consider the factors below.
Make sure that any colleges for criminal justice in New York that you consider hold institutional accreditation. You must attend an accredited college to qualify for federal financial aid.
Accredited schools have approval from an accrediting agency approved by the U.S. Department of Education or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. These accrediting agencies ensure schools meet minimum quality standards related to academic programs, faculty, and student resources and services.
In New York, schools typically earn accreditation from the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
Cost varies for a criminal justice degree in New York. Public institutions typically offer much more affordable programs than private ones.
The National Center for Education Statistics reports that one year of undergraduate tuition and required fees at a public university costs $8,541 in New York. Tuition for the same time period at a private New York institution costs $42,538.
This is less than the national average of $9,596. Public school students in New York save more than $1,000 a year on average on tuition and fees.
Colleges for criminal justice in New York offer both on-campus and online, full-time and part-time programs. It's important to choose the type of program that fits best with your lifestyle, schedule, and personal commitments. If you plan to work full-time while in school, consider an online program that can offer flexibility.
It's important to choose a program with a curriculum and instructor expertise that aligns with your career goals. For example, if you want to become a forensic science technician, look for programs that offer courses or a concentration in this subfield.
Also, think about if you want to choose a program with internship opportunities to get hands-on experience, or if you'd rather graduate in less time.
Student support services can vary from school to school in New York. It's important to choose a college that offers the services you need or want. For example, if you want a school that provides help finding a job, look for colleges with robust career development centers and programs that emphasize professional development and networking opportunities.
Financial Aid for Criminal Justice Students in New York
Criminal justice students in New York attending accredited universities can pursue various financial aid opportunities. The type and amount of financial aid that you receive varies depending on various factors including need, school/program, and availability of funds.
Federal Financial Aid
To find out if you qualify for federal financial aid, you need to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. Potential funding opportunities include federal student loans, grants, and the work-study program.
Criminal justice graduates who take out federal student loans may qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program. PSLF participants can have the remainder of their loans forgiven by the government after making 120 qualifying payments while working full-time for an eligible employer.
For criminal justice professionals, this would include public law enforcement agencies, federal corrections, and other jobs working for public or nonprofit employers.
State Financial Aid
Students also need to fill out the FAFSA to qualify for state financial aid. New York state financial aid opportunities may include grants, scholarships, and the New York State Get on Your Feet Loan Forgiveness Program. Look for state financial aid opportunities at the New York Higher Education Services Corporation.
Criminal Justice Scholarships for New York Students
- New York State's Sheriffs’ Institute Scholarship Program for Criminal Justice Majors
- Equitable Justice Scholarship
- Imette St. Guillen Memorial Scholarship
- Keith B. Carrington, Sr. Memorial Scholarship in Criminal Justice
- Steven C. Croglio Scholarship
- University Police Scholarship
- Filomen M. D'Agostino Scholarships in Civil Rights, Civil Liberties, and/or Criminal Justice
- Donald J. Griffin Memorial Award
Criminal Justice Resources in New York
- Criminal Justice Professionals Training and Consulting
- New York City Criminal Justice Agency
- New York Police Department Criminal Justice Process
- New York State Bar - Criminal Justice Section
- New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services
- Vera Institute
- We Are New York Values
Frequently Asked Questions About Colleges for Criminal Justice in New York
.Which CUNY is best for criminal justice?
It depends on your career goals, and you can get a good criminal justice education at many CUNY schools. However, the John Jay College of Criminal Justice appears to be among the best CUNY school for criminal justice. It specializes in criminal justice and offers a large variety of criminal justice-related degrees at the undergraduate and graduate level.
Is NYU good for criminal justice?
New York University doesn't offer a bachelor's degree in criminal justice. NYU's law school offers a criminal law program for JD students.
What is John Jay College known for?
John Jay College in New York City is known for its criminal justice programs and focuses on the exploration of justice in society. It first started in 1964 and was called the College of Police Science. The school offers majors like criminal justice management, forensic science, and police studies.
Is John Jay hard to get into?
John Jay is a moderately competitive school to get into. The college evaluates applicants based on their high school GPA and SAT/ACT scores. College Board reports that John Jay College of Criminal Justice admits 51% of candidates.
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