24 Cheapest Online Criminal Justice Degrees

The cheapest online criminal justice degrees can lead to several professional progression chances. A graduate criminal justice degree can significantly boost your professional reputation, regardless of whether you have recently finished a Bachelor’s in Criminal Justice program or have years of legal experience. Students can select a specific specialty in their chosen area of study, such as leadership and administration, for many online master’s degrees in criminal justice.

Professionals with knowledge of the academic, practical, social, and legal facets of law enforcement are particularly in high demand. Students who pursue on-campus or online degrees in this area have the knowledge and abilities necessary to either start a career in federal law enforcement or land leadership roles in the criminal justice system. To start the process of choosing the program that most closely matches your academic and professional objectives, look through our ranking of the top 24 most affordable online Master’s in Criminal Justice degrees.

Methodology

Law enforcement and legal careers are typically the two options available to students seeking an affordable online Master’s in Criminal Justice degree. Finding the school that will help you reach your goals can be challenging because the field of criminal justice involves a wide range of vocations. For students looking for the flexibility of an online degree, we’ve created the list of top master’s in criminal justice programs below.

We made use of data from the U.S. The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), where we performed a search for the term online Master’s of Criminal Justice degrees, News & World Report, each school’s website, and. The initial pool of 40 colleges was then reduced, and the top 24 institutions were determined using criteria including tuition and national college rankings.

What kind of Jobs can I Get with a Master’s in Criminal Justice?

Graduate degree programs prepare students for the technological skills and specialized research that are necessary for many employment in the field of criminal justice. Effective criminal justice practitioners need to be very analytical and detail-oriented in general.

More people with master’s degrees are being sought than ever by federal organizations including the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Likewise, the U.S. Security analysts, patrol officers, and other related posts are still available with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

Law enforcement agencies are constantly looking to hire forensic analysts, fraud examiners, and experts in cybercrime. Three of the most popular employment paths for graduates with a master’s in criminal justice are listed below.

• Detectives and Police Officers: Police officers and detectives perform surveillance and gather information for criminal investigations in which suspects are alleged to have broken local, state, and/or federal laws in order to keep communities safe. Although each law enforcement agency and state has its own unique set of duties and educational requirements, most police officers acquire master’s degrees in order to increase their income or advance to more senior positions.

Similar to this, federal agents and investigators with graduate degrees are more inclined to seek employment in managerial positions than those with merely bachelor’s degrees.

• Correctional Treatment Specialists and Probation Officers: These specialists help criminals avoid committing repeat offenses by ensuring they follow the terms of their release. They work to rehabilitate people who are released back into society on parole or probation. If necessary, they might also assist these people in locating drug counseling services and job training options. For this professional route, graduates just require a bachelor’s degree, although a master’s degree may open up more advanced job prospects.
• Postsecondary Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Teachers: At the undergraduate and graduate levels, these professionals conduct research, plan, prepare, and instruct courses in legal studies and criminal justice. Professional schools, private and public four-year institutions, and community colleges may all employ teachers. Although each institution will have its own requirements for this position, the majority of professors must have at least a master’s degree, and most possess doctoral degrees.

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25 Cheapest Online Criminal Justice Degrees

24. University of New Haven

The University of New Haven’s online MS in Criminal Justice program calls for 36 credits of coursework.

Professionals in victim advocacy, prisons, law enforcement, and national security can earn an online Master of Science in Criminal Justice degree from the University of New Haven. Students can select one of the following areas of specialization for their coursework: leadership and management, police behavioral studies, or crime analysis.

Coursework is fully online. The 12-credit core curriculum of contemporary research methods, theories, and quantitative applications pertinent to the area makes up the majority of the 36-credit degree, while the 24-credit elective component consists of eight sections. The curriculum can be completed in two years of full-time study by graduates.

• Options for degrees include a master’s in criminal justice.
• $32,940 for in-state tuition.
• $32,940 for out-of-state tuition

23. Trine University

36 credit hours of coursework are needed to complete Trine University’s online MS in Criminal Justice program.

The Master of Science in Criminal Justice program offered by Trine University’s remote learning division is designed for people who are in the middle of their careers or are just starting out and want to work in the legal, correctional, or law enforcement fields.

A total of 36 credit hours are needed to complete the program, including 18 hours for the core component and a six-credit capstone project in forensic psychology, law concentration, or law enforcement leadership. Twelve credits in electives are used to complete the degree. Applied statistics, criminology, planning and program evaluation, law and social control, research and writing, and the formulation and analysis of criminal justice policies are among the study areas.

• Degree Options: MS in Criminal Justice
• In-State Tuition: $19,800
• Out-of-State Tuition: $19,800
• U.S. News & World Report Ranking: N/A

22. Faulkner University

In just 14 months, you can finish the online Master of Justice Administration program at Faulkner University.

A Master of Justice Administration degree is offered by Faulkner University, and it can be completed fully online. The curriculum is structured into a cohort in which students advance through the program as a group. Students complete 10 five-week courses, completing their degree in 14 months.

For each subject, students can anticipate working 12 to 15 hours each week. Research methodologies, comparative criminal justice, ethics, courts, prisons, American policing, the administration of justice, law and justice, and justice writing are among the topics of study. Graduates of the program are prepared for professions in law enforcement at the federal and state levels as well as for positions in management or corrections within criminal justice organizations. The curriculum ends with a graduate-level research thesis.

• Degree Options: Master of Justice Administration
• In-State Tuition: $16,365
• Out-of-State Tuition: $16,365
• U.S. News & World Report Ranking: N/A

21. Indiana State University

33 credit hours of instruction are needed to complete Indiana State University’s online MA in Criminology and Criminal Justice program.

A 33-credit online Master of Arts in Criminology and Criminal Justice is offered by Indiana State University’s Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice. The program is intended for academic criminologists and criminal justice professionals who want to progress their careers or start new ones. It places a strong emphasis on research.

Students take classes in law and society, criminological theories, ethics in criminal justice, and law and criminal justice administration; all courses are available online with no on-campus requirements. Students must finish a research in criminology course, a statistics course, a master’s thesis that is seen as preparation for a doctoral dissertation, and both because of the program’s strong research emphasis.

• Degree Options: Criminology and Criminal Justice (M.A.)
• In-State Tuition: $13,596
• Out-of-State Tuition: $17,391
• U.S. News & World Report Ranking: N/A

20. Marshall University

Marshall University’s online MS in Criminal Justice program calls for 30 credits of coursework.

The Master of Science in Criminal Justice degree from Marshall University is offered online over the course of four synchronous sessions. In contrast to other online degrees, the program gives students the chance to communicate virtually with professors at least four times every course. Students are given extensive methodological, theoretical, and legal training through the curriculum in preparation for management, teaching, and research positions in criminal justice.

The 30 credits that students must finish are broken down into 18 hours of required study and 12 hours of electives. Applied statistics, criminal law and procedure, research methodologies, theory, and a seminar in criminal justice are among the topics covered. While graduate students seeking entry-level roles may complete a master’s thesis, working professionals in the area are required to complete a capstone experience.

• Degree Options: Online Master of Science in Criminal Justice
• In-State Tuition: $12,172
• Out-of-State Tuition: $12,172
• U.S. News & World Report Ranking: N/A

19. University of North Alabama

The University of North Alabama’s online MS in Criminal Justice program calls for 30 credits of coursework.

The University of North Alabama’s College of Arts and Sciences offers a 30-semester-hour Master of Science in Criminal Justice degree. Along with 21 hours of electives in subjects like victimology, juvenile justice, forensic investigation, criminal investigation, and current issues in law enforcement, students must complete nine hours of core coursework in criminological theory, methods of research in criminal justice, and crime in America. In addition to the program requirements, students who choose the thesis option must finish a six-semester-long thesis course. To complete the program and receive their diploma, non-thesis option students must take and pass a written comprehensive test.

• Degree Options: Master’s in Criminal Justice
• In-State Tuition: $11,730
• Out-of-State Tuition: $11,730
• U.S. News & World Report Ranking: N/A

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18. Missouri State University

30-36 credit hours of instruction are needed to complete Missouri State University’s online MS in Criminology and Criminal Justice program.

By emphasizing the development of students’ leadership, policy analysis, and decision-making skills, Missouri State University awards an online Master of Science in Criminology and Criminal Justice degree, giving them the tools they need to pursue career growth. Students have a choice between a 36-hour non-thesis option that calls for a thorough policy analysis paper and a 30-hour thesis option that involves the completion of a research study with a scientific foundation and an oral defense.

Both choices involve courses in applied criminal justice research, leadership and management in criminal justice, crime theory and policy, and criminal justice policy. While it is possible for students to finish the program in four semesters, those who enroll in classes during the summer session can finish in one and a half years.

• Degree Options: Master of Science in Criminology and Criminal Justice
• In-State Tuition: $8,550
• Out-of-State Tuition: $8,550
• U.S. News & World Report Ranking: N/A

17. Indiana University of Pennsylvania

The Indiana University of Pennsylvania offers a 30-credit hour online MA in Criminology program.

The online Master of Arts in Criminology from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, one of the top graduate criminal justice programs offered online, offers a flexible curriculum for people already employed in the area. Part-time students can finish the program in two years, while full-time students can finish it in one year of enrollment. The curriculum entails 30 semester hours of study, comprising courses on criminology theory, organizational dynamics in the criminal justice system, and cybercrime. The same faculty members teach online IUP students who are enrolled in the traditional face-to-face program, and they both have access to the same learning materials.

• Degree Options: Online Master of Arts in Criminology
• In-State Tuition: $22,101
• Out-of-State Tuition: $23,028
• U.S. News & World Report Ranking: #30 (tie)

16. California State University Long Beach

A totally online, accelerated Master of Science in Criminology and Criminal Justice degree is now being offered by the College of Professional and International Studies and the School of Criminology, Criminal Justice, and Emergency Management at California State University Long Beach. The MSCCJ has been ranked as one of the best online programs in the nation for 2019. It offers a balanced curriculum that is relevant to industry and balances theory and practice.

Research methods and statistical analysis, crime and public policy, police organization and management, legal issues, crime causation theories, law and social control, as well as ethics, values, and diversity are among the topics covered. Graduates are prepared for research and managerial jobs in the fields of criminology and criminal justice and can complete their degrees in as little as 24 months.

• Degree Options: Master of Science in Criminology and Criminal Justice
• In-State Tuition: $20,700
• Out-of-State Tuition: $20,700
• U.S. News & World Report Ranking: #30 (tie)

15. Georgia College

Georgia College’s online MS in Criminal Justice program calls for 36 credits of coursework.

The 36-credit Master of Science in Criminal Justice program at Georgia College equips graduates to work in private industry, government, law enforcement, social services, and education. Graduate students can complete their degree in four semesters of full-time study thanks to the flexible online structure. The 36-credit curriculum is split into 12 semester hours of electives and 24 semester hours of mandatory courses.

The program’s comprehensive examination serves as its capstone. Ethics, research methodology and statistics, legal concerns, criminological theory, corrections, police, and criminal justice policy are among the topics of study. Students have the choice to complete a three-credit capstone research project or seek an internship, cooperative experience, or both.

• Criminal Justice M.S.
• $14,457 for in-state tuition.
• $14,457 for out-of-state tuition
• U.S. Rank by News & World Report: #55-#71

14. University of North Georgia

The University of North Georgia’s online MS in Criminal Justice program calls for 36 credits of coursework.

A Master of Science in Criminal Justice is offered by the University of North Georgia for working professionals who want to expand their education and certifications. The 36 semester-hour program is fully online and does not require any on-campus attendance. It is divided into 15 semester hours of core requirements and 18 semester hours of electives. Students gain knowledge of administration, policy, and theory in criminal justice even though the curriculum’s main concentration is on international crime and justice.

A capstone course that highlights research, contemporary developments in criminal justice, as well as the application and design of criminal justice research, serves as the program’s capstone.

• Degree Options: Criminal Justice M.S.
• In-State Tuition: $14,457
• Out-of-State Tuition: $14,457
• U.S. News & World Report Ranking: #55-#71

13. St. Joseph’s University

30-36 credit hours of coursework are needed to complete St. Joseph’s University’s online MS in Criminal Justice program.

The online Master of Science in Criminal Justice program at St. Joseph University offers a comprehensive, dynamic analysis of the criminal justice system from the viewpoint of professionals in the field. The five concentrations available to students are in behavior analysis, behavior management, federal law enforcement, intelligence and criminal analysis, or homeland security. Students may also choose to follow a general route.

Core courses in criminological theory, ethics and criminal justice, professional writing for law enforcement, and research methods and analysis are offered in all concentrations. Depending on the course of study taken, students can expect to finish 30 to 36 credits of coursework and receive their degree in as little as 1.5 years.

• Options for degrees include a master’s in criminal justice.
• $26,100 for in-state tuition.
• Tuition from Outside State: $26,100
• Rank by U.S News & World Report: #28

12. University of Louisville

The University of Louisville’s accelerated Master of Science in Criminal Justice program enables bachelor’s degree candidates to finish up to nine criminal justice graduate-level coursework in their final year of study. Research methodologies, applied statistics in criminal justice, theories of crime and delinquency, and the criminal justice system are all subjects that students might pursue.

The institution also awards a traditional online M.S. Students who graduate with a degree in criminal justice have advanced behavioral and social science abilities in addition to a full understanding of criminal justice institutions, crime, and associated procedures. Graduates are prepared to enter criminal justice PhD programs or to hold mid- and upper-level leadership positions in criminal justice organizations and initiatives.

• Degree Options: Accelerated M.S. in Criminal Justice, Master of Science in Criminal Justice
• In-State Tuition: $25,704
• Out-of-State Tuition: $25,704
• U.S. News & World Report Ranking: #13

11. University of Memphis

The University of Memphis’ School of Urban Affairs and Public Policy offers a Master of Arts in Criminal Justice degree that gives graduates a firm grounding in criminology and criminal justice. Research methodologies, social justice in public policy, and criminological concepts, theories, and principles are all taught in courses for students. In order to prepare them for a variety of professional occupations in the criminal justice sector, other classes assist students in the development of their research and analytical skills.

Students have two options for completing the 33 semester hours: they can take all of them online or they can mix online and in-person coursework. Partnerships with other community organizations, lawmakers, and program developers are highly valued by the program.

• Degree Options: Master of Arts in Criminal Justice
• In-State Tuition: $19,899
• Out-of-State Tuition: $19,899
• U.S. News & World Report Ranking: #43 (tie)

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10. Southeast Missouri State University

Students considering doctorate study as well as those looking to work in law enforcement, crime prevention, or incarceration can choose Southeast Missouri State University’s Master of Science in Criminal Justice program. The practical application of carrying out evaluation research, evaluating policies and programs, and comprehending complicated legal issues as they pertain to the subject of criminal justice is the main focus of the courses.

Students take 15 hours of elective coursework and 15 hours of required coursework in subjects such social inequity, research technique, statistical analysis, and theories of crime. Graduate capstone requirements can be satisfied through a master’s thesis, an internship, or a leadership capstone that takes the form of a portfolio.

• Degree Options: Master of Science Criminal Justice
• In-State Tuition: $14,197
• Out-of-State Tuition: $24,975
• U.S. News & World Report Ranking: #39 (tie)

9. Angelo State University

All students having a bachelor’s degree are eligible to enroll in the Master of Science in Criminal Justice program offered by the Department of Security Studies and Criminal Justice at Angelo State University. The curriculum is fully online, and classes are offered in eight-week and sixteen-week lengths. With full-time study, students can complete their degree in 18 months.

Focus areas include criminal justice theory, ethics, corrections, research techniques and statistics, and legal facets of the criminal justice system. Additionally necessary is a criminal justice capstone seminar. The school’s extensive library of governmental publications, books, and journals covering the various branches of criminal justice leadership, research, and policy is advantageous to graduate students.

• Degree Options: Master of Science (M.S.) in Criminal Justice
• In-State Tuition: $12,949
• Out-of-State Tuition: $28,141
• U.S. News & World Report Ranking: #43 (tie)

8. Texas A&M University Commerce

Texas A&M University Commerce’s Master of Science in Applied Criminology program is designed to suit the needs of both traditional students desiring to start a new career and working criminal justice professionals seeking managerial advancement. The program consists of 12 five-week courses and is fully online. One course at a time, students complete 36 credits to complete the degree in as little as 18 months. The focus of the curriculum will depend on the track selected, but options include homeland security, criminal justice administration and management, and general criminology. All three alternatives are non-thesis programs that need passing grades on a comprehensive exam.

• Degree Options: Master of Science in Applied Criminology Program
• In-State Tuition: $10,706
• Out-of-State Tuition: $23,156
• U.S. News & World Report Ranking: #28 (tie)

7. Colorado State University-Global Campus

The Colorado State University-Global Campus’s online Master of Criminal Justice program requires 36 credits to complete.

Students who enroll in Colorado State University’s online master’s program in criminal justice explore diversity issues, sort through moral dilemmas that confront law enforcement organizations and agencies, consider what makes a good manager of the field, and create solutions to problems that affect both legal and criminal justice professionals frequently. The comprehensive 36-credit graduate degree program comprises of eight core courses each worth three credits.

Analytical techniques, applied research, management and administration, policy development and analysis, criminological theory, research and writing, and ethics, justice, and social control are among the topics covered. Some master’s students may be required to do a criminal justice internship as part of the program’s capstone experience.

• Degree Options: Online Master’s Degree in Criminal Justice
• In-State Tuition: $18,000
• Out-of-State Tuition: $18,000
• U.S. News & World Report Ranking: #21

6. Bowling Green State University

33 credits are needed to complete the online MS in Criminal Justice program at Bowling Green State University.

The Master of Science in Criminal Justice program at Bowling Green State University consists of 11 courses totaling 33 credit hours. With a week off in between classes, students take one class every seven weeks. With this plan, students can anticipate receiving their degree in less time than two years.

Research methodologies, modern police, modern juvenile justice, data analysis and interpretation, and race, gender, and diversity in criminal justice are all topics of study. Students are required to create a portfolio of specific projects they did throughout the program in addition to their coursework. Graduates are prepared to work as probation and parole officers, investigators, correctional treatment experts, and higher education professors and administrators. They can also pursue PhD studies in criminology and criminal justice.

• Degree Options: Master of Science in Criminal Justice
• In-State Tuition: $14,964
• Out-of-State Tuition: $14,964
• U.S. News & World Report Ranking: #14 (tie)

5. Arizona State University

33 credit hours of instruction are needed to complete Arizona State University’s online MA in Criminal Justice program.

One of the top 10 online graduate criminal justice programs in the US is the Master of Arts in Criminal Justice offered by Arizona State University’s School of Criminology and Criminal Justice. While full-time students can finish the program in as little as 18 months, part-time students have six years to do so.

The 33-credit program consists of accelerated 7.5-week classes that cover criminology and the workings of the criminal justice system as well as instruct students on statistics and research techniques. Additionally, students must pass the capstone course Theory and Practice in Criminal Justice, which requires them to create and write an analysis of a particular criminal justice practice or policy.

• Degree Options: Master of Arts in Criminal Justice
• In-State Tuition: $21,219
• Out-of-State Tuition: $21,219
• U.S. News & World Report Ranking: #6 (tie)

4. University of Massachusetts Lowell

33 credit hours of instruction are needed to complete the University of Massachusetts Lowell’s online MA in Criminal Justice program.

The University of Massachusetts Lowell’s 11-course Master of Arts in Criminal Justice program is designed for professionals with hectic schedules and offers students a selection of classes that can be taken fully online. The university offers classes in terrorism, forensic psychology, crime analysis, public policy, management and administrative skills in emergency and crisis management, and leadership. It is renowned for its top-ranked, high-quality criminal justice programs.

The core curriculum consists of five courses that include criminal justice administration, quantitative analysis, scholarship, research, and theory. Students complete 33 credits of coursework. Six electives are taken to complete the degree, allowing students to concentrate their studies in the areas that best suit their professional aspirations.

• Degree Options: Master of Arts in Criminal Justice
• In-State Tuition: $18,975
• Out-of-State Tuition: $18,975
• U.S. News & World Report Ranking: #5

3. Sam Houston State University

36 credit hours of coursework are needed to complete the online MS in Criminal Justice.

Sam Houston State University’s Master of Science in Criminal Justice program prepares students for careers in social services, security, correctional, or law enforcement and is ranked as the third-best online graduate criminal justice school in the nation. The 36-credit program can be finished in two years by graduate students, and all coursework is offered online. Consider joining active honor societies and student organizations created especially for the criminal justice sector if you’re an aspiring criminal justice practitioner.

Students can pursue a wide range of occupations in the sector thanks to a top-notch education offered by SHSU and solid faculty ties with federal, state, and local criminal justice agencies.

• Degree Options: Master of Science in Criminal Justice
• In-State Tuition: $18,018
• Out-of-State Tuition: $18,018
• U.S. News & World Report Ranking: #3

2. Florida State University

Florida State University’s online master’s in criminal justice program calls for 36 credits of coursework.

A highly regarded master’s program in criminal justice is offered by Florida State University’s College of Criminology & Criminal Justice (CCCJ). The core courses in computer applications, theory and research, research techniques, and applied statistics make up 15 of the 36 credit hours of prerequisite courses. The remaining 21 credits are electives, 12 of which must be taken in criminal justice and can be chosen from subjects with a variety of specializations, including administration, crime and delinquency, victimology, and penology.

A three-credit directed individual study course is an option for students, who meet with their teachers on a regular basis and work on a topic of interest related to their particular professional aspirations.

• Degree Options: Online Master’s Program
• In-State Tuition: $15,993
• Out-of-State Tuition: $38,723
• U.S. News & World Report Ranking: #6 (tie)

1. University of Nebraska-Omaha

36 credit hours of coursework are needed to complete the University of Nebraska at Omaha’s online Master of Criminal Justice program.

The top online criminal justice master’s program in the United States is offered by the University of Nebraska-Omaha. The 36-hour program is available in online, on-campus, or hybrid modes and consists of 11 classes and a capstone course. There are two specialties available: counseling and public administration.

Students must complete 15 hours in the following subjects: research theory and methodology, the administration of justice, the nature of crime, seminars on women and criminal justice, and race, ethnicity, and criminal justice. Statistical applications in criminal justice and public administration are also required. In order to satisfy the degree requirements, they can also choose nine hours of electives and finish a capstone project in criminology or criminal justice. Degree completion for full-time students could take as little as 18 months.

• Degree Options: M.S. in Criminology and Criminal Justice
• In-State Tuition: $12,834
• Out-of-State Tuition: $21,600
• U.S. News & World Report Ranking: #1

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

Criminal justice as a subject of study examines the formulation, interpretation, and application of laws in various localities, states, nations, and jurisdictions. Many employment can be attained with a Bachelor’s in Criminal Justice, regardless of whether you want to work in the legal field or feel drawn to a career in law enforcement. However, in a cutthroat yet exciting job market, earning one of the nation’s most reasonably priced online master’s degrees in criminal justice can help you stand out even more from the competitors.

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