Best Online Associate in Criminal Justice

Badge for BEST ONLINE ASSOCIATE'S IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE

Find top-ranked online associate in administration of justice degree programs to help develop students problem-solving skills, refine communication techniques, learn strategies for community engagement, and more.

Top 10 Online Associate in Criminal Justice Degrees

Sort by:
  1. Roger Williams University
  2. Chaminade University of Honolulu
  3. Blinn College
  4. Lone Star College System
  5. Tallahassee Community College
  6. St. Petersburg College
  7. Monroe Community College
  8. Albany State University
  9. Generations College
  10. Central Texas College
  1. Liberty University
  2. Southern New Hampshire University
  3. Northern Michigan University
  4. Lone Star College System
  5. Tallahassee Community College
  6. Roger Williams University
  7. St. Petersburg College
  8. Keiser University
  9. Albany State University
  10. Chaminade University of Honolulu
  1. Liberty University 99%
  2. Keiser University 97%
  3. Southern New Hampshire University 96%
  4. Chaminade University of Honolulu 93%
  5. Franklin Pierce University 93%
  6. Roger Williams University 91%
  7. University of the Cumberlands 83%
  8. North Greenville University 76%
  9. Northern Michigan University 71%
  10. Madonna University 65%
  1. Blinn College 35 to 1
  2. Generations College 25 to 1
  3. Florida State College at Jacksonville 23 to 1
  4. Tallahassee Community College 23 to 1
  5. Campbellsville University 23 to 1
  6. Camden County College 23 to 1
  7. Southern New Hampshire University 22 to 1
  8. St. Petersburg College 22 to 1
  9. Lone Star College System 21 to 1
  10. Albany State University 20 to 1
  1. Franklin Pierce University $43,155
  2. Roger Williams University $40,962
  3. Chaminade University of Honolulu $28,544
  4. Madonna University $26,100
  5. Campbellsville University $26,100
  6. North Greenville University $23,590
  7. Keiser University $23,248
  8. Liberty University $22,511
  9. Point University $22,300
  10. Southern New Hampshire University $15,380
  1. Franklin Pierce University $37,200
  2. Keiser University $30,032
  3. Chaminade University of Honolulu $25,200
  4. Southern New Hampshire University $18,900
  5. Roger Williams University $18,565
  6. Madonna University $16,830
  7. Point University $13,014
  8. North Greenville University $12,220
  9. Northern Michigan University $10,176
  10. Campbellsville University $8,904
  1. Camden County College
  2. North Greenville University
  3. Franklin Pierce University
  4. University of the Cumberlands
  5. Keiser University
  6. Campbellsville University
  7. Southern New Hampshire University
  8. Trinity Valley Community College
  9. Florida State College at Jacksonville
  10. Liberty University
  1. Generations College
  2. Point University
  3. Community College of Aurora
  4. Trinity Valley Community College
  5. North Greenville University
  6. Monroe Community College
  7. Central Texas College
  8. University of the Cumberlands
  9. Campbellsville University
  10. Community College of Denver
  1. Point University 24%
  2. Madonna University 65%
  3. Northern Michigan University 71%
  4. North Greenville University 76%
  5. University of the Cumberlands 83%
  6. Roger Williams University 91%
  7. Franklin Pierce University 93%
  8. Chaminade University of Honolulu 93%
  9. Southern New Hampshire University 96%
  10. Keiser University 97%
  1. Chaminade University of Honolulu 11 to 1
  2. Madonna University 12 to 1
  3. Franklin Pierce University 12 to 1
  4. North Greenville University 13 to 1
  5. Community College of Aurora 13 to 1
  6. Central Texas College 13 to 1
  7. Point University 13 to 1
  8. Roger Williams University 14 to 1
  9. Keiser University 15 to 1
  10. Trinity Valley Community College 16 to 1
  1. Trinity Valley Community College $1,170
  2. St. Petersburg College $1,943
  3. Tallahassee Community College $2,002
  4. Florida State College at Jacksonville $2,095
  5. Camden County College $2,856
  6. Blinn College $3,600
  7. Central Texas College $3,720
  8. Community College of Denver $3,754
  9. Community College of Aurora $3,754
  10. Albany State University $4,064
  1. Albany State University $3,438
  2. University of the Cumberlands $4,282
  3. Liberty University $7,893
  4. Campbellsville University $8,904
  5. Northern Michigan University $10,176
  6. North Greenville University $12,220
  7. Point University $13,014
  8. Madonna University $16,830
  9. Roger Williams University $18,565
  10. Southern New Hampshire University $18,900

Key Takeaways

  • The associate degree in criminal justice is an affordable way to get started on your college education. The typical associate degree will take about two years to complete.

  • Many community colleges and two-year schools offer both traditional and online degree programs for students pursuing their associate degree in criminal justice.

  • Earning an online associate degree in criminal justice can prepare you for a variety of entry level jobs in your field. Many students also continue into a bachelor’s degree program in criminal justice or a related area.

Featured Programs

Frequently Asked Questions About Criminal Justice Degrees

As an associate in the criminal justice or administration of justice, you’ll gain the training and knowledge required to enter a career in the criminal justice field in an area such as law enforcement, court administration, or corrections. The online associate degree is a great way for working law enforcement and corrections professionals to advance in their careers.

Back to Top

This roughly 60-credit degree provides students with the foundational and job-specific knowledge needed to enter the workforce as police officers, security guards, paralegals, victim advocates, and sheriff patrol officers. Though it may be possible to become a police officer with a high school diploma, earning a criminal justice associate degree can improve your chances of advancing to a leadership role in law enforcement. The online associate degree can also allow you to advance into other areas of the criminal justice field just as private sector security and Homeland Security.

You may be required to earn a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice or a related field in order to advance into certain leadership roles. The associate degree in the administration of justice is an affordable first step on the way to a four-year criminal justice program.

Back to Top

Whether you earn your associate degree in criminal justice online or on-campus, this 60-credit degree typically takes about two years to complete. Some schools offer an accelerated option where prospective students can earn an online associate degree in criminal justice in as little as 18 months.

Back to Top

The typical associate-level criminal justice program will include both general education courses and core courses in subjects specific to criminal law. Criminal justice students will typically also take courses in areas such as corrections, Constitutional law and juvenile justice.

Back to Top

Learn more about how to major in criminal justice.

An associate degree is a great way for many to start their educational journey, but you may want to also consider an online bachelor’s in criminal justice.

25 Best Online Associate in Criminal Justice Degree Programs

  1. #4

    Lone Star College System

    The Woodlands , TX
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $5K

    Graduation

    18%

    Student body

    103K

    Career Outlook for Criminal Justice degree at Lone Star College System

    Cost of Degree: $5,544
    Starting Salary: $39,351
    Salary after 4 years: $44,895

    Online Degrees

    AA in Criminal Justice
    • Required Credits: 60
    • Completion time: 2-3 years
    • Format: Online
  2. Tuition + fees

    $2K

    Graduation

    37%

    Student body

    16K

    Career Outlook for Criminal Justice degree at Tallahassee Community College

    Cost of Degree: $2,026
    Starting Salary: $33,853
    Salary after 4 years: $38,623

    Online Degrees

    AS in Criminal Justice Technology
    • Required Credits: 60
    • Completion time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
  3. #6

    St. Petersburg College

    St. Petersburg , FL
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $3K

    Graduation

    38%

    Student body

    33K

    Career Outlook for Criminal Justice degree at St. Petersburg College

    Cost of Degree: $2,682
    Starting Salary: $35,397
    Salary after 4 years: $40,383

    Online Degrees

    AS in Criminal Justice Technology
    • Required Credits: 60
    • Completion time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
  4. #7

    Monroe Community College

    Rochester , NY
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $6K

    Graduation

    21%

    Student body

    20K

    Career Outlook for Criminal Justice degree at Monroe Community College

    Cost of Degree: $5,856
    Expenses: $12,880
    Starting Salary: $34,239
    Salary after 4 years: $39,063
    Cost Recoup Time: 6 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary

    Online Degrees

    AAS in Criminal Justice

    Concentrations

    • Institutional Corrections
    • Required Credits: 60-62
    • Completion time: 2-3 years
    • Format: Hybrid
    AS in Criminal Justice
    • Required Credits: 60
    • Completion time: 2-3 years
    • Format: Online
  5. #9

    Generations College

    Chicago , IL

    Tuition + fees

    $13K

    Graduation

    14%

    Student body

    <1K

    Career Outlook for Criminal Justice degree at Generations College

    Cost of Degree: $12,700
    Starting Salary: $24,741
    Salary after 4 years: $28,947

    Online Degrees

    AS in Criminal Justice
    • Required Credits: 60
    • Completion time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
  6. #10

    Central Texas College

    Killeen , TX
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $4K

    Graduation

    17%

    Student body

    17K

    Career Outlook for Criminal Justice degree at Central Texas College

    Cost of Degree: $3,900
    Expenses: $13,021
    Starting Salary: $33,661
    Salary after 4 years: $38,403
    Cost Recoup Time: 6 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary

    Online Degrees

    AAS in Criminal Justice

    Concentrations

    • Corrections Specialization
    • Required Credits: 60
    • Completion time: 2-3 years
    • Format: Online
    AS in Criminal Justice
    • Required Credits: 60
    • Completion time: 2-3 years
    • Format: Online
  7. Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $4K

    Graduation

    25%

    Student body

    11K

    Career Outlook for Criminal Justice degree at Community College of Aurora

    Cost of Degree: $4,030
    Starting Salary: $37,036
    Salary after 4 years: $42,254

    Online Degrees

    AA in Criminal Justice
    • Required Credits: 60
    • Completion time: 2 years
    • Format: Online
  8. Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $13K

    Acceptance

    71%

    Graduation

    53%

    Student body

    8K

    Career Outlook for Criminal Justice degree at Northern Michigan University

    Cost of Degree: $13,622
    Expenses: $15,620
    Starting Salary: $38,386
    Salary after 4 years: $43,794
    Cost Recoup Time: 8 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary

    Online Degrees

    AS in Criminal Justice
    • Required Credits: 60
    • Completion time: 2 years
    • Format: Online
  9. #14

    Madonna University

    Livonia , MI
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $26K

    Acceptance

    65%

    Graduation

    49%

    Student body

    3K

    Career Outlook for Criminal Justice degree at Madonna University

    Cost of Degree: $27,360
    Expenses: $16,590
    Starting Salary: $34,544
    Salary after 4 years: $40,417
    Cost Recoup Time: 11 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary

    Online Degrees

    AS in Criminal Justice
    • Required Credits: 60
    • Completion time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
  10. #16

    Liberty University

    Lynchburg , VA
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $23K

    Acceptance

    99%

    Graduation

    66%

    Student body

    131K

    Career Outlook for Criminal Justice degree at Liberty University

    Cost of Degree: $15,822
    Expenses: $21,458
    Starting Salary: $32,210
    Salary after 4 years: $37,686
    Cost Recoup Time: 10 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary

    Online Degrees

    AA in Criminal Justice
    • Required Credits: 60
    • Completion time: 1.5 years
    • Format: Online
  11. Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $5K

    Graduation

    25%

    Student body

    8K

    Career Outlook for Criminal Justice degree at Trinity Valley Community College

    Cost of Degree: $4,920
    Expenses: $14,760
    Starting Salary: $34,336
    Salary after 4 years: $39,173
    Cost Recoup Time: 6 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary

    Online Degrees

    AA in Criminal Justice
    • Required Credits: 60
    • Completion time: 2-3 years
    • Format: Online
  12. Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $15K

    Acceptance

    96%

    Graduation

    41%

    Student body

    224K

    Career Outlook for Criminal Justice degree at Southern New Hampshire University

    Cost of Degree: $16,450
    Expenses: $24,000
    Starting Salary: $39,056
    Salary after 4 years: $45,697
    Cost Recoup Time: 9 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary

    Online Degrees

    AS in Criminal Justice
    • Required Credits: 60
    • Completion time: 2 years
    • Format: Online
  13. #21

    Keiser University

    Fort Lauderdale , FL
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $23K

    Acceptance

    97%

    Graduation

    58%

    Student body

    32K

    Career Outlook for Criminal Justice degree at Keiser University

    Cost of Degree: $24,136
    Expenses: $26,450
    Starting Salary: $27,308
    Salary after 4 years: $31,951
    Cost Recoup Time: 14 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary

    Online Degrees

    AA in Criminal Justice
    • Required Credits: 60
    • Completion time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
  14. #22

    University of the Cumberlands

    Williamsburg , KY
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $10K

    Acceptance

    83%

    Graduation

    44%

    Student body

    25K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1060/19

    Career Outlook for Criminal Justice degree at University of the Cumberlands

    Cost of Degree: $9,875
    Expenses: $16,268
    Starting Salary: $29,720
    Salary after 4 years: $34,773
    Cost Recoup Time: 8 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary

    Online Degrees

    AAS in Criminal Justice
    • Required Credits: 61
    • Completion time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
  15. #24

    North Greenville University

    Tigerville , SC
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $24K

    Acceptance

    76%

    Graduation

    54%

    Student body

    3K

    Career Outlook for Criminal Justice degree at North Greenville University

    Cost of Degree: $24,650
    Expenses: $18,680
    Starting Salary: $28,164
    Salary after 4 years: $32,953
    Cost Recoup Time: 12 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary

    Online Degrees

    AS in Criminal Justice
    • Required Credits: 60
    • Completion time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
  16. #25

    Camden County College

    Blackwood , NJ

    Tuition + fees

    $4K

    Graduation

    22%

    Student body

    16K

    Career Outlook for Criminal Justice degree at Camden County College

    Cost of Degree: $4,056
    Starting Salary: $35,686
    Salary after 4 years: $40,713

    Online Degrees

    AS in Criminal Justice
    • Required Credits: 60
    • Completion time: 2 years
    • Format: Hybrid

Career Outlook for Students with Criminal Justice Degree

Go to Degree Finder tool

Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement Administration

Degree Level: Associate's

  • Location: The U.S. (Private Schools)
  • Avg. Cost of Degree*: $2,845
  • Avg. Expenses*: $15,028
  • Avg. Starting Salary*: $35,050
  • Avg. Salary after 4 Years*: $39,988
  • Avg. Cost Recoup Time**: 6 years
  • Job Growth: 5.52%
  • Number of Jobs: 1,443,100
  • * denotes ‘annually’
  • ** denotes ‘at 15% of annual salary’

Career Salaries

CareerJob GrowthAvg. Salary
Managers, All Other5.75%$133,560
First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives3.81%$101,750
Detectives and Criminal Investigators2.29%$91,100
Police and Sheriff’s Patrol Officers3.92%$72,280
Transit and Railroad Police4.17%$72,250

Top Industries

IndustryAvg. Salary
Managers, All Other$133,560
First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives$101,750
Detectives and Criminal Investigators$91,100
Back to Top

Online Criminal Justice Programs Looking for You

Back to Top

Online Degree Frequently Asked Questions

If this is your first time taking an online course, the experience may require a time of adjustment. Although you’ll typically learn the same material and take the same exams as your on-campus peers, going online will require greater independence and responsibility than going in person. You’ll be accountable for your own time management, for harnessing the online educational technology that you’ll need to use, and for completing the course requirements, such as listening to lectures, learning lessons, reading texts, and handing in assignments. This means you’ll need to create a suitable workspace for yourself, maintain a realistic schedule, and take the initiative in building relationships with your instructors and classmates. With online college, your goal is to find a balance between independence and engagement.

No. The only part of online education that’s easier than campus-based education is ease of access: all you need is a computer and an internet connection for online education. But even this seeming advantage of online education can be misleading: what’s easier, studying online with your computer and internet connection from your home where you need to cook, clean, pay rent, and maintain a job? Or studying on campus in a dorm where all your living needs are handled by the school, and college staff are there to help you every step of the way?

If you take the commute to campus out of the equation, campus-based education is easier. All the support structures available on campus for students, especially with real people to help you in person, are not there online. The demands on you as an online student will largely be the same as for your campus-based counterpart, but without the same helps.

In general, your online courses will present the same material and test you in the same way as traditional in-person courses. In many cases, you’ll even have the same instructors as your on-campus counterparts. In fact, if you are adjusting to the experience of independent learning with remote educational technology for the first time, online college may be considerably more challenging than campus-based college. For a few insights on how to manage this new online experience, check out our 10 Tips for Adjusting to School Online.

Accreditation is especially important when it comes to online college. This is because the online education landscape is a mix of highly-reputable non-profit institutions on the one end and less-than-reputable for-profit institutions on the other end. Accreditation gives you the power to identify the more reputable actors in online education. Accreditation is a stamp of approval from an independent accrediting agency indicating that a college or university is meeting standards of quality and credibility. School-wide accreditation falls into two major categories: regional and national accreditation. Regional accreditors generally hold jurisdiction only over schools in the states comprising their region, whereas national accreditors hold jurisdiction over schools in all states. Regional accreditation is widely regarded as a more rigorous standard of quality and credibility than national accreditation.

Attending a college or university that is not regionally accredited could limit your opportunities. For students seeking an online education, we strongly recommend that they opt for regionally accredited schools. Regional accreditation ensures eligibility for federal loans and grants, ensures your college credits can be transferred between schools, and ensures that your degree credits can be accepted if you wish to earn an advanced degree. For more on this important topic, check out our What is Accreditation and Why Does It Matter? College & University Accreditation Guide.

As long as your online college degree is regionally accredited (see the previous point), you should have little difficulty transferring most of your credits or credentials to another regionally accredited undergraduate school. Every school carries its own standards and procedures for granting a transfer of credits. In many cases, you will encounter some bureaucratic haggling in which some of your credits will be transferred and others may be refused. However, provided that you have attended an online school with recognized regional accreditation, you should be in good shape in transferring your credits earned online.

In most cases, as long you graduate from a well-regarded, regionally-accredited online college, prospective employers won’t look sideways at your degree. In fact, unless you attend an exclusively online college or university, there will likely be no specific indicator on your degree, transcript, or resumé differentiating your school from its brick-and-mortar counterpart. This means that your employer will likely only differentiate between an online and in-person degree if you mention this distinction.

Some employers may express the concern that because you did your degree online, you may need to transition from an online education experience to in-person workplace experience. But in an age of Covid, that concern seems much diminished. The fact is that much employment these days is remote. And collaboration increasingly happens online over Zoom. Many employers will therefore view your online degree as evidence of valuable 21st century professional skills such as independence, self-motivation, time management, and tech savvy.

If you are a student who thrives on the dynamic energy of in-person discussion, who requires the physical surroundings of a classroom to feel engaged, or who considers the social aspects of education to be of equal importance to the actual content of your courses, online education will be less than ideal for you (though depending on your circumstances, it may also be the only viable option).

While there is much in traditional campus-based education that can be substituted or simulated through the online medium, some students may find that there is nothing that can replace the conversation, collaboration, and motivation that occur in an actual in-person classroom setting. As you transition to online education, one of the biggest challenges you will likely face in getting the most out of your online classes is overcoming this difference between “real reality” and “virtual reality.” Fortunately, we’ve got some great Tips for Online Education Beginners.

The advantages of online classes are many. Above all, online courses give you the freedom and flexibility to attend class from anywhere that works for you, whether you’re at home, in a coffee shop, or in a quiet conference room at work. In many cases, you’ll also enjoy the convenience of asynchronous learning opportunities-educational experiences that you can complete at your own pace and on your own schedule. This may include pre-taped lectures, ongoing chat-board discussions, and 24/7 access to digital materials. And of course, just as there are some learners who prefer the energy of a live classroom, there are those who learn best when working in their own personal space, free from distractions. If this sounds like you, you might find the solitude of online learning to be a major advantage.

Resources for Online College-Bound Students

Whether you’re just getting started on your college search, you’re looking for survival tips on your way to a bachelor’s degree, or you’re preparing for the transition into grad school, we’ve got guides, how to’s and tons of other valuable resources to keep you moving forward in your educational journey.

Do you have a question about this topic? Ask it here