Best Liberal Arts Colleges for Criminal Justice Degrees

Best Liberal Arts Colleges for Criminal Justice Degrees

By James Barham

Published: Nov 5, 2021
Updated: Mar 14, 2023

The best criminal justice liberal arts colleges are those with rich histories of influence, proven through the work produced by the program’s faculty and alumni. Beyond demonstrating scholarly impact in the field, the best criminal justice degree programs maximize your opportunities to interact with outstanding criminal justice faculty.

Key Takeaways

A criminal justice degree program utilizes the principles of sociology, psychology, political science, and philosophy.
Students seeking a criminal justice degree complete courses in Constitutional Law, judicial administration, police work, legal issues, and ethical practice.
Criminal justice degree programs produce competent federal intelligence analysts or police officers in law enforcement and many more job occupations.

Top 10 Liberal Arts Colleges Criminal Justice Programs

San Francisco State University

51%

San Jose State University

48%

Suffolk University

45%

Fairleigh Dickinson University

44%

California State University, Long Beach

42%

Goucher College

42%

John Jay College of Criminal Justice

42%

New York Institute of Technology

41%

Loyola University Maryland

38%

Ashland University

38%

Radford University

95%

University of New Haven

94%

San Francisco State University

93%

Roger Williams University

91%

New Jersey City University

91%

University of Baltimore

89%

St. Mary's University, Texas

88%

Suffolk University

88%

University of Southern Maine

87%

Fairleigh Dickinson University

85%

San Jose State University

25 to 1

California State University, Long Beach

24 to 1

San Francisco State University

22 to 1

John Jay College of Criminal Justice

19 to 1

University of New Haven

18 to 1

Southern University at New Orleans

17 to 1

16 to 1

Ashland University

16 to 1

Tiffin University

15 to 1

Roger Williams University

15 to 1

Loyola University Maryland

$53,530

Goucher College

$48,200

$43,410

University of New Haven

$42,898

Suffolk University

$41,648

Anna Maria College

$40,208

New York Institute of Technology

$39,760

Roger Williams University

$39,594

$39,107

St. Mary's University, Texas

$34,564

Suffolk University

$39,450

New York Institute of Technology

$25,200

St. Mary's University, Texas

$18,684

$18,600

Loyola University Maryland

$18,540

University of New Haven

$17,820

Roger Williams University

$17,476

$15,660

Canisius College

$15,120

University of Baltimore

$14,094

Anna Maria College

22%

Southern University at New Orleans

24%

Governors State University

25%

26%

New Jersey City University

28%

Roger Williams University

29%

University of Southern Maine

31%

32%

Tiffin University

32%

University of New Haven

32%

John Jay College of Criminal Justice

45%

California State University, Long Beach

47%

Governors State University

52%

60%

Ashland University

70%

Anna Maria College

73%

Tiffin University

74%

76%

Southern University at New Orleans

79%

New York Institute of Technology

80%

Goucher College

9 to 1

New York Institute of Technology

11 to 1

Canisius College

11 to 1

Governors State University

11 to 1

Anna Maria College

12 to 1

St. Mary's University, Texas

12 to 1

University of Southern Maine

12 to 1

Loyola University Maryland

12 to 1

La Salle University

13 to 1

University of Baltimore

13 to 1

Southern University at New Orleans

$4,483

California State University, Long Beach

$5,742

San Francisco State University

$5,742

San Jose State University

$5,742

John Jay College of Criminal Justice

$6,930

University of Baltimore

$7,154

Governors State University

$7,512

Radford University

$7,922

University of Southern Maine

$8,064

New Jersey City University

$12,992

La Salle University

$885

Southern University at New Orleans

$6,024

Governors State University

$6,354

Ashland University

$6,972

California State University, Long Beach

$7,176

San Francisco State University

$7,176

San Jose State University

$7,176

University of Southern Maine

$7,776

Radford University

$8,915

Goucher College

$9,180

Featured Programs

Studying the criminal mind and behavior is the core of a criminal justice degree. Whether you want to help people or give back to your community, pursuing a career in criminal justice is a satisfying vocation.

Criminal justice education examines the inner workings of law enforcement and correctional agencies in the government. There are also criminal justice colleges options for studying criminal law, constitutional law, and forensic science.

Becoming a law enforcement officer can be a strong prospective career from this a major in criminal justice, or it can serve as a springboard to law school. A criminal justice degree could unlock many opportunities.

For criminal justice students to determine which liberal arts college is right for them, prospective students should focus on the program academics, internships, location, and the availability of online programs.

The Criminal Justice Degree Explained

The study of criminal justice encompasses various subjects within the criminal justice field, including law enforcement and correctional facilities.

Students often get criminal justice degrees and criminology degrees confused, but these two degrees differ. In criminology, students study how people commit crimes and why they commit them, and more importantly, how they might be prevented.

Meanwhile, criminal justice degrees, many of which are online criminal justice programs, emphasizes the practical side of the law, including the types of crimes committed, how the courts and prisons operate, and the role of the police, among others.

Bottom Line: While criminal justice and criminology degrees differ, it is important to note that these two fields often overlap.

A bachelor’s degree in criminal justice is an excellent starting point for a career in policing, corrections, homeland security, and a host of other important roles related to crime, justice, and public safety. Students majoring in criminal justice will study three primary subject areas—law enforcement, corrections, and the courts.

Majoring in criminal justice is a good starting point if you plan to study policing, law, administration of justice, counter-terrorism, and more. You’ll study related subjects including criminal psychology, rehabilitation, and sociology.

And if you’re interested in eventually going to law school and becoming a practicing attorney, majoring in criminal justice could be a good starting point. A degree in criminal justice will give you the knowledge and qualifications to contribute to public safety, national security, social justice, and a host of other related fields.

Degree popularity: Criminal justice bachelor’s degrees are the 16th most popular undergraduate degrees across all student demographics. It is slightly more popular among men. Crimianl justice degrees rank 6th among Black men, 8th for Black women, 8th among Hispanic men, and 15th for Hispanic women, according to the number of degree earners reported by the National Center for Educational Statistics.

Frequently Asked Questions About Criminal Justice Bachelor’s Degrees

Earning a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice can open numerous professional doors. As noted above, the study of criminal justice is divided into three key areas: law enforcement, corrections, and the court system. Within each of these areas, there are countless avenues to a career. Whether you wish to work in a police precinct, for the Department of Homeland Security, as part of a private security firm, as a private detective, or in a specialized field like the prevention of cybercrime, majoring in criminal justice can help you get there.

Today, top influencers in Criminal Justice are working on felon disenfranchisement, place-based criminology, alternative drug policies, and much more.

Criminal justice is a popular major because it can provide pathways into countless fields and career opportunities. If you’re looking for a well-paying and secure job, a criminal justice degree is a great place to start. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2019, the average median pay for police officers and detectives was $65,170. For Detectives and Criminal Investigators, that figure was $81,920 in 2018. And if you parlay your criminal justice major into a postgraduate law degree, note that lawyers, in 2019, earned a well-above-average median pay of $122,960.

Once you’ve declared your major in criminal justice, you will likely be required to complete a set of core courses in a number of related subject areas. While your concentration will give you a chance to choose from a wide range of highly-specialized criminal justice electives, there are a number of common courses that most Criminal justice majors will be required to take, including:

Introduction to Criminology
International Law
Criminal Psychology
Race and the State
Comparative Criminal Law
Big Data and Surveillance
Transformative Justice
Capital Punishment in America

With a degree in criminal justice, you could qualify for an array of opportunities in law enforcement, security, forensics, counter-terrorism, corrections, and much more. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) identifies the following top jobs in criminal justice:

Related: How to Major in Criminal Justice

Best Liberal Arts Colleges for Criminal Justice Degree Programs

Frequently Asked Questions About Research Universities, Liberal Arts Colleges, Online Colleges

In pursuing a bachelor’s degree, you will need to choose between three kinds of schools: research universities, liberal arts colleges, and online colleges.

Research universities are colleges and universities whose faculty are active in research and publishing. Research universities offer a wide array of doctoral programs, especially in the sciences. They tend to be big, with tens of thousands of students.

Do you prefer a larger university setting, such as largest public university in your state? Research universities are typically big, offering degrees in many different disciplines. Is a big high-powered research environment the thing for you. If not, you should think about a liberal arts college. In deciding on an undergraduate institution, ask yourself what sort of environment will best help you to be happy and excel.

Consider whether you are self motivated enough to be a face in the crowd for some classes and largely unknown on campus at a large university. Of course you can find clubs and friends at a large university, but often liberal arts colleges have a more personal quality to them. If you want the community feel, a research university may not fit you well.
Are you interested in STEM fields? Research universities have that name for a reason – real research is happening there. This can create an exciting atmosphere for students interested in STEM. Attending a research university can give you a better chance of getting into better programs for graduate degrees, although a lot of that depends on your performance.

Learn more about research universities by reading about the best research universities in the US.

Often referred to as “teaching colleges” liberal arts colleges put a premium on undergraduate studies and offers a broad range of subjects for students to study. A college of liberal arts typically provides smaller class sizes, more direct engagement with professors, and, most importantly, the opportunity to sample a wide range of subject areas on the way to a bachelor’s degree.

Do you want your professors to know you? Liberal arts colleges strive to cultivate campus cultures that encourage tight bonds between professors and students. Professors at these schools will typically conduct original research. Yet the best of these schools offer their faculty reduced teaching loads so that they can both be productive researchers and still have plenty of time for students (both in and outside the classroom).
Do you want to feel like you know everybody? One of the most enticing features of a liberal arts college is that in very little time, you can feel like you know who’s who, which can create strong friendships, but also more pleasurable walks across campus. While your sports teams may never be on ESPN, it’s more likely that you’ll know the athletes as your peers. Beyond student and faculty relationships, it’s not unusual for the school president and other administrators to learn who you are. When faced with problems with your student account or the need to switch classes, this can be comforting during a stressful moment.

Learn more about liberal arts colleges by reading about the best liberal arts colleges in the US.

Online colleges are typically the same colleges and universities you could attend in-person, but for certain degree programs the college or unviersity has made the degree programs available to be completed online. For over 5 million students, online degree programs allow students to earn their degrees in the most flexible format available. Online degrees are as respected as the on-campus degress you could earn from the same schools. There’s usually no disctinction between the two degrees, and your degree and transcript will not say that the degree was earned online. Online degree programs are offered by a vast majority of colleges and universities, and the number of offering continues to grow. Whehter you are searching for an associate, bachelor’s, master’s, or doctorate, there’s a good chance you can earn your degree online from a respectable online college.

Are you a self-driven student? Perhaps the hardest aspect of obtaining an online degree is whether you will be disciplined enough to manage your time and course demands. Many online students report that online college made them more disciplined in all areas of their lives, but the flexible, self-paced learning that makes online colleges attractive can often be the same qualities that make it difficult. If you tend to be a procrastinator, you need to be honest with yourself. You can change your habits and propensities, or you can throw money down the drain.
Do you need the flexibility of an online degree program? Most online students study online because of time demands balancing work and life, or becuase the online colleges afford them the chance to attend a better school without moving. If you are serious about earning your degree for career advancement, online colleges make it possible. The most flexible options among online degrees are those that are aynchronous, meaning you don’t have scheduled times to meet with your class online. However, many students seek synchronous online degree programs so that they have some structure – set meeting times, scheduled exams, etc.
The good news is that attending an online college doesn’t mean you will miss out on getting to know your professors and classmates. In fact, many online students who have experienced both online and on-campus courses report having easier access to their professors. Since most communication with your professor is expected to be in text – via email or your class learning management system – it makes asking your questions easier. The same students also report that they got to better know the thoughts of their classmates. While in-person course conversations can be dominated by a few extroverts, online courses that require online discussions make it so that you see all of your classmates’ thoughts and questions.

If you’re interested in an online bachelor’s degree, check out what the best online colleges offer, or search our online degrees for the exact program that interests you. In either case, you will find well respected colleges and universities that offer online degrees.

If you think a research university may be a better fit for you, see our ranking of the best research universities for a bachelor’s in criminal justice.

How do we determine the best criminal justice research universities?

The people affiliated with a school are ultimately what make it great. This is why we rank the best colleges and universities based on what we call “Influence”.

The influence of a college or university is based on the schools’s top academic influencers related to the discipline in this ranking. We track the influence of faculty and alumni affiliate with these school counting not only the publications and citations of the school’s affiliated people, but we also consider the overall web presence of the faculty and alumni. The greater the citations, authority of web links, web searches, and page views, the greater the individuals’s influence. Those combined make up the departments’s influence in the field of study. We believe tracking the academic influence of the people affiliated with a school is the best indicator of academic excellence.

If you are serious about finding the best colleges and universities, you should be asking where the most influential professors are teaching, and whether their graduates themselves are advancing the school’s reputation for academic excellence. Most ranking sites rely on an opaque combination of reputation surveys and misused performance metrics. Influence, as measured by our InfluenceRanking engine, provides a ranking that is more insulated from manipulation, and more reflective of real-world educational outcomes.

Best Liberal Arts Colleges for Criminal Justice Degrees

Go to all Liberal Arts Colleges for Criminal Justice programs

The Best Criminal Justice Schools in Your State

Learn More About Criminal Justice

If you want to know more about criminal justice, then check out our related content:

Learn how to major in criminal justice
Learn about criminal justice from our expert interviews with influential criminologist
Find out who are the most influential criminologists today

Image Attributions

Image Source for John Jay College of Criminal Justice