Best Online Master’s in Criminal Justice

BEST ONLINE MASTER'S IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE
By James Barham
Published:
Updated:

Find top-ranked online master’s in criminal justice degree programs to help students strengthen leadership skills within the context of criminal justice, law enforcement, and national security.

Top 10 Online Master's in Criminal Justice

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  1. University of Southern California
  2. Boston University
  3. University of Arizona
  4. University of California, Irvine
  5. Florida State University
  6. Wayne State University
  7. University of Cincinnati
  8. Texas A&M University
  9. University of Louisville
  10. University of Mississippi
  1. Marshall University 98%
  2. Sam Houston State University 97%
  3. University of New Haven 94%
  4. University of Texas at Tyler 94%
  5. Nova Southeastern University 93%
  6. Roger Williams University 91%
  7. Wichita State University 91%
  8. University of Mississippi 90%
  9. University of Arizona 87%
  10. University of Nebraska Omaha 87%
  1. University of Central Florida 31 to 1
  2. University of North Texas 26 to 1
  3. Florida International University 25 to 1
  4. Florida State University 21 to 1
  5. Sam Houston State University 21 to 1
  6. Texas A&M University 19 to 1
  7. University of Cincinnati 19 to 1
  8. University of Louisville 19 to 1
  9. University of Massachusetts Lowell 19 to 1
  10. University of Texas at Tyler 19 to 1
  1. University of Southern California $61,503
  2. Boston University $59,816
  3. Texas Christian University $51,660
  4. University of New Haven $42,898
  5. Roger Williams University $39,594
  6. Nova Southeastern University $34,570
  7. Charleston Southern University $28,930
  8. University of Massachusetts Lowell $15,078
  9. Wayne State University $13,532
  10. University of Louisville $12,174
  1. University of Southern California $60,446
  2. Boston University $58,560
  3. Texas Christian University $32,220
  4. Nova Southeastern University $21,153
  5. University of New Haven $17,820
  6. Roger Williams University $17,476
  7. Wayne State University $16,920
  8. University of Massachusetts Lowell $14,590
  9. University of Louisville $13,524
  10. University of Cincinnati $13,224
  1. Charleston Southern University
  2. University of Texas at Tyler
  3. Roger Williams University
  4. University of New Haven
  5. University of Nebraska Omaha
  6. University of Massachusetts Lowell
  7. Nova Southeastern University
  8. Sam Houston State University
  9. Wichita State University
  10. Texas Christian University
  1. University of Southern California 13%
  2. Boston University 19%
  3. University of California, Irvine 29%
  4. University of Central Florida 36%
  5. Florida State University 37%
  6. Texas Christian University 54%
  7. Charleston Southern University 57%
  8. Wayne State University 63%
  9. Florida International University 64%
  10. Texas A&M University 64%
  1. University of Southern California 9 to 1
  2. Boston University 10 to 1
  3. University of Alaska Fairbanks 11 to 1
  4. Texas Christian University 13 to 1
  5. Charleston Southern University 13 to 1
  6. Wayne State University 15 to 1
  7. Roger Williams University 15 to 1
  8. University of Arizona 15 to 1
  9. University of Mississippi 16 to 1
  10. University of Nebraska Omaha 16 to 1
  1. University of Central Florida $4,478
  2. Florida State University $4,640
  3. Florida International University $4,721
  4. Sam Houston State University $5,856
  5. University of Nebraska Omaha $6,344
  6. Wichita State University $6,843
  7. University of Texas at Tyler $7,020
  8. Marshall University $7,190
  9. University of Alaska Fairbanks $7,296
  10. University of North Texas $8,295
  1. Charleston Southern University $5,085
  2. Wichita State University $5,544
  3. Sam Houston State University $5,765
  4. University of Nebraska Omaha $6,138
  5. University of Texas at Tyler $6,264
  6. University of North Texas $6,350
  7. Texas A&M University $6,885
  8. University of Central Florida $6,916
  9. Marshall University $7,520
  10. Florida International University $8,912

Featured Programs

Frequently Asked Questions About Criminal Justice Degrees

Why get a master’s in criminal justice?

A master’s in criminal justice helps to strengthen leadership skills within the context of criminal justice, law enforcement, and national security.

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What can I specialize in?

Students will have the opportunity to focus on a range of specialized topics including criminal psychology, legislative policy, and administration practices in law enforcement.

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How long does it take to get a master’s in criminal justice?

Students can pursue this degree either online or on-campus, and most programs require the completion of between 30 and 36 credits. This typically takes two to three years to complete.

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What can I do with a master’s in criminal justice?

Graduates can go on to hold supervisory positions in law enforcement, work in the field of forensic science, or act as district attorneys. The master’s degree in criminal justice may also be a basic threshold for many leadership roles in national intelligence, security and cybersecurity.

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Learn more about what you can do with a master’s in criminal justice.

Best Online Master's in Criminal Justice Degree Programs

Median Salaries of Similar Careers in the U.S.

The following graph depicts the average salaries of similar occupations to Detectives and Criminal Investigators in the U.S.

Source: U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS

Annual Salary
46050Parking Enforcement Workers
52340Bailiffs
53420Correctional Officers and Jailers
58190Fish and Game Wardens
90370Detectives and Criminal Investigators

25 Best Online Master’s in Criminal Justice Degree Programs

  1. #1

    Florida State University

    Tallahassee , FL
    #12 Top 20 Best Military Friendly Online Colleges Ranked for 2023 #24 Most Affordable Graduate Schools Ranked for 2023 #2 Most Affordable Colleges in Florida 2023 #2 Best Public Colleges in Florida 2023
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $7K

    Acceptance

    37%

    Graduation

    83%

    Student body

    41K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1285/29

    Online Degrees

    MS in Criminology
    • Required Credits: 36
    • Completion time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    MS in Criminology and Criminal Justice
    • Required Credits: 21
    • Completion time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    Compare school
  2. #2

    University of Southern California

    Los Angeles , CA
    #13 50 Best Private Grad Schools 2023 #16 Best Universities in the US Ranked for Prospective Students in 2023 #18 50 Best Graduate Schools Ranked for Prospective Students in 2023 #2 Best Private Colleges in California 2023
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $62K

    Acceptance

    13%

    Graduation

    92%

    Student body

    38K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1435/32

    Online Degrees

    MS in Criminal Justice
    • Required Credits: 24
    • Completion time: 2-3 years
    • Format: Online
    Compare school
  4. #4

    University of Cincinnati

    Cincinnati , OH
    #11 15 Best Online Colleges for Veterans to Start Their Careers #2 Most Affordable Colleges in Ohio 2023 #2 Best Public Colleges in Ohio 2023 #3 Best Research Universities in Ohio 2023
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $12K

    Acceptance

    85%

    Graduation

    73%

    Student body

    34K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1225/26

    Online Degrees

    MS in Criminal Justice
    • Required Credits: 33
    • Completion time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    Compare school
  7. #6

    University of Arizona

    Tucson , AZ
    #4 15 Best Online Colleges for Veterans to Start Their Careers #13 50 Best Public Grad Schools 2023 #19 Most Affordable Colleges and Universities in the U.S. 2023 #1 Best Colleges in Arizona 2023
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $12K

    Acceptance

    87%

    Graduation

    64%

    Student body

    40K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1220/25

    Online Degrees

    Master in Legal Studies

    Concentrations

    • Compliance and Legal Risk Management
    • International Economic Law and Policy
    • Intellectual Property
    • Indigenous Peoples Law and Policy
    • Human Rights
    • Mining Law and Policy
    • Environmental Law and Policy
    • Tax Law and Policy
    • Criminal Law and Policy
    • Family and Juvenile Law
    • Required Credits: 30
    • Completion time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    Compare school
  8. #7

    Boston University

    Boston , MA
    #19 50 Best Private Grad Schools 2023 #21 50 Best Graduate Schools Ranked for Prospective Students in 2023 #3 Best Private Colleges in Massachusetts 2023 #3 Best Colleges in Massachusetts 2023
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $60K

    Acceptance

    19%

    Graduation

    89%

    Student body

    32K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1405/32

    Online Degrees

    MS in Criminal Justice
    • Required Credits: 32
    • Completion time: 2 years
    • Format: Online
    Compare school
  11. #10

    University of Central Florida

    Orlando , FL
    #3 Top 20 Best Military Friendly Online Colleges Ranked for 2023 #5 Top 15 Best Online Colleges for Transfer Students in 2023 #19 Most Affordable Graduate Schools Ranked for 2023 #3 Most Affordable Colleges in Florida 2023
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $6K

    Acceptance

    36%

    Graduation

    75%

    Student body

    63K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1250/27

    Online Degrees

    MS in Criminal Justice
    • Required Credits: 36
    • Completion time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    Compare school
  14. #12

    University of Alaska Fairbanks

    Fairbanks , AK
    #1 Best Grad School in Alaska 2023 #1 The Most Influential Universities and Colleges Ranked by State 2023 #1 Best Colleges in Alaska 2023 #1 Most Affordable Colleges in Alaska 2023
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $9K

    Acceptance

    65%

    Graduation

    38%

    Student body

    4K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1160/22

    Online Degrees

    MA in Criminal Justice Administration
    • Required Credits: 30
    • Completion time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    Compare school
  16. #14

    Florida International University

    Miami , FL
    #4 Top 15 Best Online Colleges for Transfer Students in 2023 #5 Most Affordable Colleges in Florida 2023 #5 Best Public Colleges in Florida 2023 #6 Best Research Universities in Florida 2023
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $7K

    Acceptance

    64%

    Graduation

    67%

    Student body

    49K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1185/26

    Online Degrees

    MS in Criminal Justice
    • Required Credits: 36
    • Completion time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    Compare school
  19. #16

    University of Massachusetts Lowell

    Lowell , MA
    #3 Best Public Colleges in Massachusetts 2023 #3 Most Affordable Colleges in Massachusetts Ranked for Students in 2023 #2 Best Online Associate in Information Technology #2 10 Fastest Accelerated Online Bachelor's of English
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $16K

    Acceptance

    85%

    Graduation

    69%

    Student body

    15K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1230/26

    Online Degrees

    MA in Criminal Justice
    • Required Credits: 33
    • Completion time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    Compare school
  25. #21

    University of Louisville

    Louisville , KY
    #2 Best Grad Schools in Kentucky 2023 #2 Best Public Colleges in Kentucky 2023 #2 Best Colleges in Kentucky 2023 #2 Most Affordable Colleges in Kentucky 2023
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $12K

    Acceptance

    75%

    Graduation

    62%

    Student body

    17K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1160/24

    Online Degrees

    MS in Criminal Justice
    • Required Credits: 36
    • Completion time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    Compare school
  28. #24

    Nova Southeastern University

    Fort Lauderdale , FL
    #3 Best Private Colleges in Florida 2023 #10 Best Research Universities in Florida 2023 #10 Best Colleges in Florida 2023 #10 Best Grad Schools in Florida 2023
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $35K

    Acceptance

    93%

    Graduation

    61%

    Student body

    14K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1135/23

    Online Degrees

    MS in Criminal Justice

    Concentrations

    • Child Protection And Juvenile Justice
    • Behavioral Science
    • Business Administration
    • Conflict And Crisis Management
    • Emergency Preparedness Leadership
    • Strategic Community Planning
    • Substance Abuse
    • Information Security
    • Information Systems
    • Investigative Forensic Technology
    • Public Administration
    • Required Credits: 30
    • Completion time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    MS in Disaster And Emergency Management

    Concentrations

    • Criminal Justice
    • Required Credits: 36
    • Completion time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    Compare school

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Online Degree Frequently Asked Questions

If this is your first time taking an online course, the experience may require some adjustment. While you’ll generally learn the same content and take the same exams as your on-campus peers, the medium will likely require you to manage much of this experience independently. You’ll be accountable for your own time management, your ability to harness the technology at your fingertips, and your ability to focus on the lectures, lessons, and assignments at hand. This means you’ll need to create a suitable workspace for yourself, maintain a realistic schedule, and take it upon yourself to build 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 is actually getting there. Taking the commute out of the equation means getting to class should be a lot more manageable. But that’s where it ends. In general, your online courses will incorporate the very same materials, concepts, and testing methods as would a traditional classroom.

And 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 or working with remote learning technology for the first time, online college may even be a little more challenging for you. For a few insights on how to manage this new 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 institutions and less-than-reputable for-profit schools. Accreditation gives you the power to differentiate between the two. Accreditation is a stamp of approval from an independent accrediting agency which indicates that a college or university is meeting standards of quality, credibility, and currency. 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 which is not regionally accredited could limit your opportunities. When seeking an online education, we strongly recommend that students 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.

As long as your online college degree is regionally accredited, 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. In many cases, you will be required to navigate a bureaucracy in which some of your credits will be transferred and others will be jettisoned. However, provided that you have attended an online school with the proper regional accreditation, you should have plenty of options for transfer.

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 resume 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.

While some employers may express concern about making the adjustment from online education to in-person workplace collaboration, many other employers will 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 require some adjustment.

While there is much that can be supplanted or simulated through the online medium, some students may find that there is nothing which can replace the conversation, collaboration, and motivation that occur in an actual classroom setting. As you make the adjustment to online education, one of the biggest challenges you will likely face is overcoming this difference in order to the get the most out of your classes. Fortunately, we’ve got some great Tips for Online Education Beginners.

The advantages of online classes are many. First and foremost, 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 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 Prospective Grad 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.

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