Guide to Online Criminal Justice Bachelor’s Degree Programs
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What Is an Online Bachelor's Degree in Criminal Justice?
The criminal justice field covers a broad range of careers, many of which offer high salaries without significant education requirements. With an online bachelor's in criminal justice, graduates can find careers in law enforcement, the legal system, and government agencies.
A bachelor's in criminal justice combines a liberal arts education with courses in law, sociology, ethics, and psychology. These programs teach students to understand current legal systems and work for both the government and individuals. Through a combination of studying and internship experience, graduates complete their degrees ready to begin their careers.
Career outcomes for criminal justice degree-holders vary. Some criminal justice graduates find careers as forensic science technicians. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), this high-growth career pays a median wage of $59,150, though some forensic science technicians earn more than $97,350 annually. Graduates who enjoy the outdoors can become fish and game wardens, earning a mean annual wage of $57,690, according to the BLS.
Some careers may require additional education, so many online bachelor's in criminal justice degrees also prepare students to begin graduate programs. However, bachelor's degree-holders can find plenty of career opportunities without continuing their education.
Featured Online Programs
Explore program formats, transfer requirements, financial aid packages, and more by contacting the schools below.
Why Get an Online Bachelor's Degree in Criminal Justice?
Prospective bachelor's in criminal justice students may wonder if earning a degree online pays off. Online bachelor's degrees in criminal justice teach employable skills, and their online format offers flexibility for those who must continue working while earning the degree. Criminal justice programs teach an array of skills, and graduates end up in various fields and careers. Learners earn their bachelor's degrees for various reasons, including the following benefits.
Career Advancement
Individuals currently working in criminal justice-related fields earn bachelor's degrees to advance their current careers, increasing their salary potential.Transfer Fields
Recent high school graduates and working adults use online bachelor's degrees in criminal justice to enter the criminal justice field, even if they have no relevant professional experience.Learn New Skills
Criminal justice degrees blend multiple fields, teaching students an array of valuable skills. These skills help graduates find employment or increase their earnings.Why Should You Get Your Degree Online?
New students looking at earning bachelor's degrees must choose between on-campus and online programs. Online degrees require the same courses, cover the same materials, and match the same quality of on-campus degrees. However, online students also benefit from distance learning, and many programs allow students to complete courses asynchronously, at their own pace. Some programs even offer discounted tuition rates to online learners.
Many of the concepts covered by bachelor's in criminal justice programs do not require in-person studies, which means the degree is well-suited to online students. Some programs also offer hybrid options, allowing learners to complete some of their courses online. This format also benefits students interested in internships.
Online education offers many benefits to students, but some learners prefer to study entirely on campus. Consider the benefits of each option before committing to online education.
Career and Salary Outlook for Online Bachelor's Degree in Criminal Justice Graduates
Students who earn online degrees in criminal justice benefit from many possible career outcomes. Criminal justice careers include law enforcement, corrections, forensics, homeland security, and private sector work.
Some criminal justice graduates find careers in substance abuse counseling. According to the BLS, substance abuse counselors -- along with behavioral disorder and mental health counselors -- earn a median wage of $46,240, with the highest 10% of earners making more than $76,080.
Other graduates find positions as police officers and detectives, earning a median salary of $65,170 per year, according to the BLS. These skilled professionals sometimes see wages exceed $100,000, and detectives working for the federal government earn a median salary of $88,060. However, some higher-paying positions, such as CIA officer, could require master's degrees in criminal justice.
Private Investigator
Private investigators work independently to gather information, analyze evidence, and assist law enforcement professionals. Some also work for private employers to perform other investigatory tasks. Private investigators perform tasks including surveillance, background checks, researching suspects, and gathering information.
Median Annual Salary:�$56,493
FBI Agent
FBI agents work for the U.S. government to investigate and solve crimes. Agents sometimes specialize in specific fields, interview persons of interest, analyze data, make arrests, and testify in court. Most agents go on assignments across the United States. While not required, many FBI agents complete bachelor's degrees in criminal justice or criminology.
Median Annual Salary:�$65,574
Homicide Detective
These detectives specialize in investigating and solving homicide cases. Day-to-day tasks include examining crime scenes, collecting evidence, interviewing persons of interest and witnesses, researching suspects, and making arrests. Homicide detectives work at every level of government but earn the highest wages working for the federal government.
Median Annual Salary:�$74,377
Substance Abuse Counselor
Substance abuse counselors work with individuals or groups of people who suffer from alcohol or drug abuse. These counselors often work for the government and may work on site with patients at correctional facilities. Most substance abuse counselors earn bachelor's degrees, though some choose to complete master's degrees.
Median Annual Salary:�$39,411
Forensic Ballistics Expert
Sometimes referred to as forensic scientists, forensic ballistics experts work with other law enforcement professionals to collect firearm evidence at crime scenes. These professionals gather evidence, match bullets, analyze projectile and explosions, and help determine suspects based on analysis.
Median Annual Salary:�$56,860
Online Bachelor's Degree in Criminal Justice Careers: Median Salaries by Experience
| JOB TITLE | ENTRY LEVEL (0-12 MONTHS) | EARLY CAREER (1-4 YEARS) | MID-CAREER (5-9 YEARS) | EXPERIENCED (10-19 YEARS) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Private Investigator | $45,940 | $47,070 | $57,710 | $59,470 |
| FBI Agent | $52,000 | $60,000 | $65,000 | $81,000 |
| Homicide Detective | $60,000 | $73,000 | $74,000 | $85,000 |
| Substance Abuse Counselor | $36,730 | $38,870 | $43,550 | $46,320 |
| Forensic Ballistic Expert | $49,000 | $53,000 | $65,000 | $74,000 |
Interviews with Criminal Justice Professionals
From county sheriffs to forensic psychiatrists, criminal justice professionals cover a wide array of fields. Anyone interested in criminal justice bachelor's degrees could benefit from learning more about the many potential careers, what each career entails, and long-term career expectations.
EXPLORE CRIMINAL JUSTICE INTERVIEWS
Types of Online Bachelor's Degrees in Criminal Justice
When researching various bachelor's in criminal justice degrees, learners might notice multiple degree types. Schools offer bachelors of science or arts in criminal justice, or sometimes both options. While both degrees take roughly four years to complete and teach similar topics, their specific courses vary. Each degree prepares students for different careers and graduate degrees.
Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice:
A bachelor of science in criminal justice focuses more on technical skills and the scientific components of jobs in the field, like forensics.Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice:
Unlike a bachelor of science, a bachelor of arts in criminal justice focuses on broad, theoretical concepts. Much of this degree emphasizes the liberal arts, examining the sociology and psychology of crime.Online Bachelor's in Criminal Justice Concentrations
Because criminal justice covers a broad range of topics, many programs offer concentrations. Concentrations allow students to specialize their degrees in specific fields, learn skills specific to certain careers, and study preferred materials. For example, concentrations in forensic psychology prepare students for all psychology-related careers -- not just those under the criminal justice umbrella.
When looking at bachelor's in criminal justice programs, consider concentrations, specializations, and emphases. All three work similarly to each other and allow students to study niche fields. Some programs might offer concentrations, but not require students to select one.
Potential criminal justice concentrations include:
Popular Online Bachelor's Degree in Criminal Justice Courses
Learners enrolling in online bachelor's in criminal justice programs can anticipate taking general education, core, and elective courses. However, specific course requirements and availability depend on the school, program, and specialization.
All programs require a set of core courses for the criminal justice major, though course requirements differ between BS and BA degrees. Some schools require students to complete a thesis or capstone project during the final semester. Other programs might require learners to complete internships related to their specialty. Requirements vary, but many programs offer the following courses.
CRIMINOLOGY
Criminology focuses on various types of criminal acts, why people conduct criminal activity, and policies implemented by law enforcement to prevent and punish these acts. This reading-intensive course explores professional journals covering criminology, sociology, psychology, and criminal justice.THE AMERICAN LEGAL SYSTEM
Usually offered as a lower-division introductory course, the American legal system covers various legal issues at the local, state, and federal levels. Students discover the legal powers of legislative, executive, and judicial branches and analyze the checks and balances set to distribute legal power between the three branches.INTRODUCTION TO POLICING
An important introductory course required by most criminal justice programs, introduction to policing opens with the history of policing and covers the role of police and law enforcement professionals in criminal justice. This course also looks at various law enforcement agencies and their relationships with citizens and each other.GENDER, CRIME, AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE
This course explores the important association between gender and crime. Learners cover the social constructs surrounding women's involvement in crime, analyzing the sociological and criminological factors. Programs emphasize women's involvement in crime, both as offenders and victims, and focus on how the legal system treats women.TECHNOLOGY IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE
Sometimes known as criminal justice technology, technology in criminal justice explores how law enforcement and criminal justice professionals use technology. Learners also discover how criminals use technology to commit crimes. This course touches on the positive and negative impacts of technology on criminal justice.Pairing Internships With Your Education
To learn new skills, gain experience, and potentially cover tuition expenses, criminal justice learners use internships. Internships provide individuals with real-world experience, and some internships help students gain the skills for their career of choice.
Aside from experience, some internships also offer hourly compensation or a stipend. Some criminal justice programs also extend college credits to students who complete relevant internships. Schools might even connect learners with local internship opportunities.
Internships also allow students to form connections with current professionals. Networking through internships could lead to careers after graduation.
Selecting Your Online Bachelor's Degree in Criminal Justice Program
While researching undergraduate criminal justice programs, applicants should pay attention to several factors, including:
Cost and Financial Aid
While some programs charge steep tuition rates, some online programs offer tuition and fee discounts. Prospective learners must consider schools offering generous financial aid packages.
Concentrations and Specializations
Strongly consider selecting a criminal justice program with concentration offerings, which allow students to dive into specific fields of criminal justice.
Program Length
Most online bachelor's in criminal justice degrees take four years to complete, though some online and accelerated programs take less time, providing students with faster routes to employment.
Alumni Network
An extensive alumni network helps learners find internship opportunities and graduates find jobs.
Online vs. In-Person
Online education provides more flexibility than on-campus programs, but some schools offer discounted tuition rates to online learners. However, in-person students benefit from face-to-face interactions with faculty and other students.
Accreditation
As we explore later on, accreditation plays a significant role in selecting criminal justice programs. Only apply to accredited colleges and universities.
Admission Requirements for Online Criminal Justice Programs
All colleges and universities require applicants to earn high school diplomas or GEDs. Applicants should demonstrate a minimum 2.5 high school GPA, though many programs prefer GPAs exceeding 3.0. Students with previous college experience or associate degrees must demonstrate a 3.0 GPA, and most programs only accept college credits earned at accredited institutions.
Some schools no longer require standardized test scores, but high school students typically take the SAT and/or ACT. Test score requirements vary by school, but students should earn at least a 1400 or 22 on the SAT or ACT, respectively.
Finally, applicants must submit personal essays, transcripts, letters of recommendation, and application fees. Fortunately, many schools use the Common App, allowing students to apply to multiple schools at once.
Accreditation for Online Bachelor's Degree in Criminal Justice Schools and Programs
Perhaps the most important factor to consider when comparing schools is accreditation. Accreditation indicates that a school and/or program meets standards set by an accrediting organization, and accrediting organizations receive recognition from the government-backed Council for Higher Education Accreditation.
First, prospective students should look for regional or national accreditation. Awarded to colleges and universities, regional and national accreditation both demonstrate quality. However, many employers and graduate schools prefer candidates with degrees from regionally accredited institutions.
Next, criminal justice learners should look for programmatic accreditation. Though less common than in other fields, some criminal justice programs receive accreditation from organizations like the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences. However, many high-quality online and on-campus criminal justice degrees do not hold programmatic accreditation. When programs do not hold programmatic accreditation, make sure their institutions hold regional accreditation.
Ranking Your Top Schools
Tuition expenses, course offerings, degree quality, and accreditation status play important roles in ranking schools. However, dozens of factors determine the best criminal justice programs for you. Decide which factors matter most, then research all criminal justice programs meeting your personal requirements. To start, check out our ranking of the top online criminal justice programs.
EXPLORE OUR LIST OF THE BEST ONLINE BACHELOR'S IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROGRAMS
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Frequently Asked Questions
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Scholarships for Online Bachelor's Degree in Criminal Justice Programs
As education costs continue to rise, many students reduce expenses through scholarships. Thousands of students receive scholarships each year, and many awards go to specific students. Along with academic, athletic, and other scholarships, criminal justice students could qualify for the following scholarships.
Jim & Anna Hyonjoo Lint Scholarship
Thomas Reuters Student Scholarship
Console Associates Legal Scholarships
Edward J. Kiernan Memorial Scholarship
LivSecure Scholarship
Professional Organizations for Criminal Justice
Along with pursuing an education, current students and recent graduates can boost their chances of finding criminal justice jobs through professional organizations. Professional organizations usually charge membership fees, but members access many useful resources, including networking events, job boards, professional development, and online education.
These organizations also help professionals advance their current careers and stay current on important industry information. Consider several criminal justice professional organizations.
AMERICAN SOCIETY OF CRIMINOLOGY
The society connects criminal justice and criminology professionals from around the world. Members receive access to exclusive publications and an invitation to an annual meeting.
ACADEMY OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE SCIENCES
Created in 1963, ACJS works to help criminal justice professionals grow. Members gain access to various discounts, publications, and networking opportunities. They can also connect with mentors.
INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR CORRECTIONAL AND FORENSIC PSYCHOLOGY
IACFP offers student and professional memberships, and members receive industry discounts and access to online tools. Members also receive access to IACFP's publication, Criminal Justice and Behavior.
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