Overview of a Bachelor’s in Criminal Justice & Law
The world needs people who can fight crime and ensure that justice is served. It also needs people who care about others and who are willing to help those people who have made mistakes turn their lives around. There are many professions where one can do one or the other, but after completing an online or on-campus bachelor's in criminal justice degree program, a person is trained to do both.
Criminal justice sounds like “lock up the bad guys”, but there is much more to it than that. Those who work in the criminal justice system also have a sense of duty to help those who have made mistakes rectify the situation and improve their own lives to ensure they don’t end up on the wrong side of the law again. Criminal justice majors work with both the “law” and the “order” side of the justice system in a variety of ways.
An online, on-campus, or hybrid (online and in-person) bachelor’s degree in criminal justice prepares students to work in a variety of positions. Criminal justice majors are not pigeonholed into work as law enforcement officials or correction officers, they can work in a variety of fields and in many circumstances. Criminal justice professionals can help prevent crime and illegal activities just as easily as they can investigate after the criminal act has happened or find themselves working as forensic science technicians far from any crime scene. Here are just a few of the role options for criminal justice graduates once they join the criminal justice system and enter a career in law enforcement:
- Probation Officers
- Correctional Officers
- Correctional Treatment Specialists
- Juvenile Justice Probation Officers
- Local, State, and Federal Law Enforcement or criminal justice agencies, such as with the FBI or Department of Homeland Security
- Police Officers
- Private Detective and Investigators
- Private Security
- Forensic Science Technicians
- Crime Scene Investigators or Technicians
- Emergency Management Professionals
- Or criminal justice professionals may opt for further criminal justice education, such as in law school or to gain leadership or policy-creation positions in the criminal justice field at the national level with a master's degree
Top 25 Best Online Bachelors in Criminal Justice Programs
1
San Diego State University
Score: 85.91
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $8,290
- Out-of-State:$20,170
- Net Price: $13,017
- Acceptance Rate: 39%
- Retention Rate: 89%
- Graduation Rate: 78%
- Total Enrollment: 37,402
- Undergrad Students: 32,194
- Graduate Students: 5,208
- Grads Salary: $82,000
- Student-to-faculty: 25:1
2
University of South Florida
Score: 81.95
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $6,410
- Out-of-State:$17,324
- Net Price: $11,004
- Acceptance Rate: 44%
- Retention Rate: 90%
- Graduation Rate: 74%
- Total Enrollment: 49,600
- Undergrad Students: 38,047
- Graduate Students: 11,553
- Grads Salary: $73,000
- Student-to-faculty: 22:1
3
Charter Oak State College
Score: 81.21
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $8,506
- Out-of-State:$8,506
- Net Price: $10,191
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 100%
- Graduation Rate: 64%
- Total Enrollment: 1,602
- Undergrad Students: 1,501
- Graduate Students: 101
- Grads Salary: $81,000
- Student-to-faculty: 13:1
4
Indiana University-Bloomington
Score: 81.18
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $11,790
- Out-of-State:$40,482
- Net Price: $16,234
- Acceptance Rate: 82%
- Retention Rate: 90%
- Graduation Rate: 81%
- Total Enrollment: 47,005
- Undergrad Students: 35,660
- Graduate Students: 11,345
- Grads Salary: $76,000
- Student-to-faculty: 17:1
5
University of Central Florida
Score: 80.28
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $6,368
- Out-of-State:$22,467
- Net Price: $13,108
- Acceptance Rate: 41%
- Retention Rate: 93%
- Graduation Rate: 76%
- Total Enrollment: 68,346
- Undergrad Students: 58,662
- Graduate Students: 9,684
- Grads Salary: $71,000
- Student-to-faculty: 29:1
6
University of Massachusetts-Lowell
Score: 79.33
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $16,570
- Out-of-State:$35,396
- Net Price: $17,240
- Acceptance Rate: 86%
- Retention Rate: 84%
- Graduation Rate: 71%
- Total Enrollment: 17,153
- Undergrad Students: 12,389
- Graduate Students: 4,764
- Grads Salary: $82,000
- Student-to-faculty: 17:1
7
Florida International University
Score: 78.58
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $6,565
- Out-of-State:$18,963
- Net Price: $9,881
- Acceptance Rate: 64%
- Retention Rate: 91%
- Graduation Rate: 69%
- Total Enrollment: 55,609
- Undergrad Students: 45,688
- Graduate Students: 9,921
- Grads Salary: $71,000
- Student-to-faculty: 24:1
8
LeTourneau University
Score: 78.04
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $35,500
- Out-of-State:$35,500
- Net Price: $26,974
- Acceptance Rate: 49%
- Retention Rate: 77%
- Graduation Rate: 67%
- Total Enrollment: 3,536
- Undergrad Students: 3,350
- Graduate Students: 186
- Grads Salary: $87,000
- Student-to-faculty: 13:1
9
University of Oklahoma-Norman
Score: 76.82
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $9,595
- Out-of-State:$26,665
- Net Price: $22,601
- Acceptance Rate: 73%
- Retention Rate: 88%
- Graduation Rate: 76%
- Total Enrollment: 28,308
- Undergrad Students: 21,282
- Graduate Students: 7,026
- Grads Salary: $75,000
- Student-to-faculty: 16:1
10
Arizona State University
Score: 76.64
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $12,051
- Out-of-State:$32,193
- Net Price: $14,808
- Acceptance Rate: 90%
- Retention Rate: 85%
- Graduation Rate: 67%
- Total Enrollment: 80,065
- Undergrad Students: 65,492
- Graduate Students: 14,573
- Grads Salary: $77,000
- Student-to-faculty: 19:1
11
Washington State University
Score: 75.99
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $12,997
- Out-of-State:$29,073
- Net Price: $17,911
- Acceptance Rate: 83%
- Retention Rate: 81%
- Graduation Rate: 62%
- Total Enrollment: 27,539
- Undergrad Students: 22,612
- Graduate Students: 4,927
- Grads Salary: $81,000
- Student-to-faculty: 15:1
12
Lewis University
Score: 75.29
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $37,882
- Out-of-State:$37,882
- Net Price: $19,184
- Acceptance Rate: 74%
- Retention Rate: 81%
- Graduation Rate: 62%
- Total Enrollment: 6,513
- Undergrad Students: 3,933
- Graduate Students: 2,580
- Grads Salary: $79,000
- Student-to-faculty: 14:1
13
University of Cincinnati
Score: 74.96
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $13,570
- Out-of-State:$30,582
- Net Price: $20,149
- Acceptance Rate: 86%
- Retention Rate: 86%
- Graduation Rate: 72%
- Total Enrollment: 41,155
- Undergrad Students: 29,663
- Graduate Students: 11,492
- Grads Salary: $74,000
- Student-to-faculty: 18:1
14
St. Joseph's University-New York
Score: 74.77
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $34,535
- Out-of-State:$34,535
- Net Price: $18,001
- Acceptance Rate: 77%
- Retention Rate: 82%
- Graduation Rate: 69%
- Total Enrollment: 4,348
- Undergrad Students: 3,556
- Graduate Students: 792
- Grads Salary: $71,000
- Student-to-faculty: 12:1
15
Florida Atlantic University
Score: 74.66
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $4,879
- Out-of-State:$17,324
- Net Price: $9,711
- Acceptance Rate: 81%
- Retention Rate: 81%
- Graduation Rate: 62%
- Total Enrollment: 29,592
- Undergrad Students: 24,191
- Graduate Students: 5,401
- Grads Salary: $71,000
- Student-to-faculty: 22:1
16
California State University-Sacramento
Score: 74.41
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $7,602
- Out-of-State:$19,482
- Net Price: $11,596
- Acceptance Rate: 93%
- Retention Rate: 80%
- Graduation Rate: 54%
- Total Enrollment: 31,818
- Undergrad Students: 28,921
- Graduate Students: 2,897
- Grads Salary: $81,000
- Student-to-faculty: 24:1
17
Marian University-Fond Du Lac
Score: 74.38
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $39,100
- Out-of-State:$39,100
- Net Price: $22,554
- Acceptance Rate: 94%
- Retention Rate: 76%
- Graduation Rate: 64%
- Total Enrollment: 3,701
- Undergrad Students: 2,633
- Graduate Students: 1,068
- Grads Salary: $83,000
- Student-to-faculty: 13:1
18
The University of Alabama
Score: 74.14
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $11,900
- Out-of-State:$33,200
- Net Price: $20,592
- Acceptance Rate: 80%
- Retention Rate: 87%
- Graduation Rate: 73%
- Total Enrollment: 38,644
- Undergrad Students: 32,458
- Graduate Students: 6,186
- Grads Salary: $71,000
- Student-to-faculty: 19:1
19
Texas A&M University-Commerce
Score: 74.13
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $10,026
- Out-of-State:$22,626
- Net Price: $13,025
- Acceptance Rate: 86%
- Retention Rate: 65%
- Graduation Rate: 43%
- Total Enrollment: 11,306
- Undergrad Students: 7,383
- Graduate Students: 3,923
- Grads Salary: $91,000
- Student-to-faculty: 20:1
20
Maryville University of Saint Louis
Score: 74.05
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $27,166
- Out-of-State:$27,166
- Net Price: $26,757
- Acceptance Rate: 88%
- Retention Rate: 83%
- Graduation Rate: 67%
- Total Enrollment: 9,959
- Undergrad Students: 5,809
- Graduate Students: 4,150
- Grads Salary: $82,000
- Student-to-faculty: 13:1
21
University of Mary
Score: 74.01
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $21,468
- Out-of-State:$21,468
- Net Price: $18,369
- Acceptance Rate: 81%
- Retention Rate: 80%
- Graduation Rate: 64%
- Total Enrollment: 3,652
- Undergrad Students: 2,506
- Graduate Students: 1,146
- Grads Salary: $75,000
- Student-to-faculty: 14:1
22
University of Washington-Tacoma
Score: 73.78
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $12,817
- Out-of-State:$42,171
- Net Price: $10,680
- Acceptance Rate: 88%
- Retention Rate: 75%
- Graduation Rate: 54%
- Total Enrollment: 4,794
- Undergrad Students: 4,083
- Graduate Students: 711
- Grads Salary: $76,000
- Student-to-faculty: 15:1
23
Monroe College
Score: 73.33
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $17,922
- Out-of-State:$17,922
- Net Price: $9,157
- Acceptance Rate: 60%
- Retention Rate: 70%
- Graduation Rate: 56%
- Total Enrollment: 7,011
- Undergrad Students: 5,916
- Graduate Students: 1,095
- Grads Salary: $69,000
- Student-to-faculty: 16:1
24
The University of West Florida
Score: 73.26
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $6,360
- Out-of-State:$19,241
- Net Price: $8,609
- Acceptance Rate: 48%
- Retention Rate: 85%
- Graduation Rate: 53%
- Total Enrollment: 13,521
- Undergrad Students: 9,291
- Graduate Students: 4,230
- Grads Salary: $67,000
- Student-to-faculty: 22:1
25
New Mexico State University
Score: 73.2
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $8,147
- Out-of-State:$25,271
- Net Price: $10,407
- Acceptance Rate: 78%
- Retention Rate: 72%
- Graduation Rate: 51%
- Total Enrollment: 14,268
- Undergrad Students: 11,591
- Graduate Students: 2,677
- Grads Salary: $76,000
- Student-to-faculty: 16:1
