Best Criminal Justice Degree Programs 2025

If you want a career path in criminal justice, whether at a police department, nonprofit organization, or anything in between, you'll need to earn a criminal justice degree. This degree provides a strong knowledge of criminal justice theory and the criminal justice system while enhancing your critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

Many colleges and universities offer criminal justice degrees as both in-person and online programs, including many affordable online criminal justice programs. Keep reading to discover the best criminal justice programs for 2025.

Top Criminal Justice Programs in the U.S.

Criminal justice is a popular major, and many colleges and universities in the U.S. offer criminal justice degree programs. Below, we've listed ten of the top U.S. colleges offering criminal justice bachelor's degrees.

1. Arizona State University

Arizona State University is a public research university in Tempe, AZ. Its Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions offers a Bachelor of Science (BS) in criminology and criminal justice with an optional emphasis on policing.

Students in this program learn sociological, psychological, biological, and economic explanations for individual crime and differences in crime across neighborhoods, states, countries, and over time. This degree is offered as an accelerated bachelor's plus master's degree with the following programs:

• Master of Arts (MA) in criminal justice
• Master of Science (MS) in criminology and criminal justice
• Master of Science in crime analysis

The university also offers a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in criminology and criminal justice.

2. Boston University

Boston University is a private research university in Boston. Its Metropolitan College offers an in-person BS in criminal justice and an MS in criminal justice, available on-campus and online.

The bachelor's program provides specialized preparation in the study of criminal activity, policing, criminal court procedures, corrections, and social policy related to crime control, while the master's is for those who want to enter or advance in the field of criminal justice, or who seek a deeper understanding of crime and justice for application in related fields.

3. California State University Long Beach

California State University Long Beach is a public research university in Long Beach, CA. Its College of Health and Human Services offers a BS and an MS in criminology and criminal justice through its School of Criminology, Criminal Justice, and Emergency Management.

The bachelor's degree includes courses such as:

• Criminal Courts and Judicial Processes
• Corrections: Theory, Policy, and Practice
• Criminal Justice Ethics, Values, and Diversity
• Advanced Concepts & Integration in Emergency Management and Homeland Security

Both programs prepare students to become agents of positive change through evaluation, research, ethical practice, and dedicated service. Students often go on to work in corrections, emergency management, juvenile justice, and more.

4. George Washington University

George Washington University is a private research university in Washington, D.C. It offers a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in criminal justice that allows students to develop an understanding of how societies define, facilitate, or reduce crime, and the social conditions that contribute to crime and its control.

Students can continue their studies with the university's MA in criminology or MS in crime scene investigation. A combined BA in criminal justice and MA in criminology is available, as is a combined BA in criminal justice and Master of Public Administration program.

5. Indiana University Bloomington

Indiana University Bloomington is a public research university in Bloomington, IN. It offers criminal justice degrees at the bachelor's, master's, and doctoral levels.

Students in the BA program study social norms, rules, and laws, the causes of their violations, and the social and legal response to these violations. The program is designed for students interested in studying justice-related issues, including law.

6. John Jay College of Criminal Justice

The John Jay College of Criminal Justice is a public college in New York City that's focused on criminal justice studies. It offers bachelor's degrees, master's degrees, and doctoral degrees in criminal justice and related fields.

Bachelor's degrees at John Jay include:

• BA in criminal justice with a specialization in crime control and prevention
• BS in criminal justice with a specialization in institutional theory and practice
• BS in criminal justice management
• BA in criminology
• BS in forensic science

Many of these majors are offered at the master's degree level as well.

7. Michigan State University

Michigan State University is a public research university in East Lansing, MI. Its College of Social Science offers bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees in criminal justice.

The BA provides a basic orientation to the institutions and processes of criminal justice and offers students wide exposure to all of the major disciplines of the criminal justice system. The graduate degrees are primarily focused on criminal justice management and research.

8. Northeastern University

Northeastern University is a private research university with its main campus in Boston. It offers bachelor's and master's degrees in criminology and criminal justice.

Through the bachelor's program, students develop a keen appreciation for the complexities of crime and public and private efforts to make communities safer and ensure justice. The master's program prepares students for professional and research careers and offers an optional specialization in cybersecurity.

9. Pennsylvania State University

Pennsylvania State University is a public research university based in University Park, PA. It offers several criminal justice-related undergraduate and graduate degrees.

At the bachelor's level, students can pursue a criminal justice major that covers the main components of the criminal justice system or a major in criminology, which focuses on research methods and criminal behavior. An associate degree in criminal justice is also available.

Majors in criminal justice and criminology are also available at the master's level. Students can also pursue a Master of Professional Studies in criminal justice administration and policy.

10. University of Maryland College Park

The University of Maryland, College Park is a public research university in College Park, MD. Its Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice offers bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees.

The bachelor's degree program provides students with foundational knowledge of the criminal justice field, including the courts, policing, and corrections. The master's and doctoral programs are primarily focused on research methods within criminal justice and criminology.

FAQs About the Best Criminal Justice Programs

Below, we've answered some frequently asked questions about criminal justice schools and programs.

What Is the Highest Degree in Criminal Justice?

The highest degree you can earn in criminal justice is a PhD. This is a research degree that focuses on criminal justice research and preparing students to work in academia or for research centers.

Which Degree Is Best for Criminal Law?

If you're interested in working as a criminal lawyer within the legal system, you must attend law school. Before that, you'll need to earn a bachelor's degree.

Criminal justice majors are great for those wanting to move on to law school. Some other excellent majors include:

• criminology
• psychology
• social science
• sociology

What Can I Do with a Criminal Justice Degree?

There are several criminal justice career paths you can pursue after earning your degree, including:

• correctional officer
• criminal investigator
• law enforcement officer
• probation officer

Many criminal justice programs include elective coursework, allowing you to choose the courses that align best with your career goals. For example, if you want to become a police officer, you may enroll in courses about law enforcement and corrections.