Top 10 Community Colleges With Criminal Justice Programs 2025

Community colleges are public schools that offer associate degrees, certificates, and other diplomas. Students here can graduate ready to move into the workforce or to continue their education with a bachelor's degree.

Many careers in criminal justice only require an associate degree, so earning this degree at a community college is a great way to keep your costs low. Keep reading to learn more about community colleges that offer criminal justice degrees.

Are There Community Colleges That Offer Criminal Justice Degrees?

There are a lot of community colleges with criminal justice programs in the U.S. These schools provide students with a foundational education in criminal justice, ideal for those who want to go into law enforcement or continue to a four-year school.

What Type of Criminal Justice Programs Can I Pursue at a Community College?

Criminal justice community colleges may offer a range of programs to students. These include:

• Associate of Arts (AA) in criminal justice: Typically, AA degrees provide a strong liberal arts foundation and are designed so students can transfer into a four-year institution.
• Associate of Science (AS) in criminal justice: These degrees are usually meant for students who want to transfer into a bachelor's program or for those who want to begin entry-level roles in criminal justice.
• Associate of Applied Science (AAS) in criminal justice: AAS degrees are typically for students who aren't interested in transferring and instead want to go directly into a career that does not require a bachelor's degree, like law enforcement.
• Certificates or diplomas: Certificates and diplomas are short-term programs that can train students in specific areas of criminal justice or train them for entry-level roles.

Some schools don't offer criminal justice degrees specifically, but instead offer programs in areas like peace officer, administration of justice, or something similar.

10 Best Community Colleges for Criminal Justice Programs

Many community colleges across the country offer criminal justice programs. We've highlighted a few top picks below.

1. Santa Ana College

Santa Ana College (SAC) is a public community college in Santa Ana, CA. It offers several criminal justice programs, including:

• AS in criminal justice
• AS in administration of justice for transfer
• certificates for corrections officer and law enforcement

SAC is one of the best community colleges for criminal justice in California. It was recently designated an official Education Center by the state, which provides it with funding to further its training programs.

• Estimated tuition cost: $1,180 per year (in-state); $10,546 per year (out-of-state)
• Accreditation: Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC)

2. Austin Community College

At Austin Community College (ACC), students can earn an AA or an AAS in criminal justice. The AA is meant for transfer, while the AAS offers concentrations in corrections and law enforcement that are available online. An AAS and Texas Peace Officer certificate are also available.

ACC, a public community college, is located in Austin, TX. It also hosts a public safety training center for law enforcement officers who want additional training.

• Estimated tuition cost: $2,550 per year (in-district); $8,580 per year (in-state); $10,590 per year (out-of-state)
• Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)

3. Florida Gateway College

Florida Gateway College (FGC) offers an AS in criminal justice technology through its Public Safety Training Center. FGC is a public school in Lake City, FL.

This program prepares students for employment in the criminal justice profession, including careers in law enforcement, corrections, private security, juvenile justice, and probation and parole. The training center also offers certificates in law enforcement, corrections, firefighting, and emergency medicine.

• Estimated tuition cost: $3,100 per year (in-state); $11,747 per year (out-of-state)
• Accreditation: SACSCOC

4. Kingsborough Community College

The AA in criminal justice at Kingsborough Community College (KBCC) includes courses on corrections, constitutional law, policing, and crime. It prepares students for transfer into the bachelor's program at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice.

KBCC, located in New York City, is a college in the public City University of New York (CUNY) system. John Jay is a CUNY institution as well.

• Estimated tuition cost: $5,252 per year (in-state); $8,132 (out-of-state)
• Accreditation: Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)

5. Harrisburg Area Community College

Harrisburg Area Community College is the largest and oldest community college in Pennsylvania. Located in Harrisburg, PA, the public school offers an AA in criminal justice.

This degree is for those with an interest in criminal justice, police work, or law enforcement support services. It provides a transfer pathway to numerous public and private universities in Pennsylvania.

• Estimated tuition cost: $6,975 per year (in-district); $9,495 per year (in-state); $12,472 per year (out-of-state)
• Accreditation: MSCHE

6. Lewis & Clark Community College

Students at Lewis & Clark Community College (L&C) can earn an AA, AAS, or certificate in criminal justice. All three study the causes of crime, the workings of the police, courts, and correctional systems, and the law in society, and are available mostly online.

L&C, a public community college, is located in Godfrey, IL. It has transfer agreements with multiple universities in Illinois and St. Louis.

• Estimated tuition cost: $4,340 per year (in-district); $7,840 per year (all out-of-district)
• Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (HLC)

7. Cuyahoga Community College

Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C) offers an AAS in criminal justice with an optional concentration in basic police academy, as well as a police academy certificate. Tri-C is a public college in Cleveland.

The primary AAS degree covers various aspects of law enforcement and criminal justice, including policing, the judicial system, criminal investigations, industrial and corporate security, and juvenile delinquency. The basic police academy option is for those wanting to enter law enforcement.

• Estimated tuition cost: $3,249 per year (in-district); $3,958 per year (in-state); $7,249 per year (out-of-state)
• Accreditation: HLC

8. South Georgia Technical College

The AAS in criminal justice technology at South Georgia Technical College (SGTC) includes courses on criminal procedure, juvenile justice, crime scene processing, and more. It also requires students to complete either a practicum or an internship.

SGTC, located in Americus, GA, is a public community college. It also offers a diploma in criminal justice technology and certificates in basic law enforcement, crime scene fundamentals, criminal justice fundamentals, and criminal justice specialist.

• Estimated tuition cost: $3,992 per year (in-state); $7,202 per year (out-of-state)
• Accreditation: SACSCOC

9. County College of Morris

County College of Morris (CCM) is a public community college in Randolph, NJ. It offers an AS in criminal justice both on campus and online.

This program studies the nature of crime and defiance, its impact on society, and society's reaction to criminal and deviant behavior. Students can tailor their degree to their career goals through various electives.

• Estimated tuition cost: $6,210 per year (in-district); $10,530 per year (in-state); $14,310 per year (out-of-state)
• Accreditation: MSCHE

10. Central Wyoming College

Through Central Wyoming College (CWC), students can earn an AA or AAS in criminal justice. Both prepare students to pursue further academic studies or careers in various aspects of the justice system, such as policing, corrections, probation, family services, or victim advocacy.

CWC, a public community college, is located in Riverton, WY. It also offers certificates in criminal justice, corrections, and law enforcement.

• Estimated tuition cost: $4,800 per year (in-state); $11,100 per year (out-of-state)
• Accreditation: HLC

How We Rank Schools

To choose the good community colleges for criminal justice listed above, we focused on:

• Accreditation: All schools are regionally accredited.
• Affordability: Every school charges less than $7,000 per year to in-state students.
• Program reputation: All schools are non-profit and known for having solid criminal justice programs.

FAQs About Community College With Criminal Justice Majors

Community college can be a great place to start your career or education in criminal justice. Below, we've answered some frequently asked questions to help you determine if this is the right pathway for you.

Can You Get a Criminal Justice Degree in Community College?

Many community colleges offer AA, AS, or AAS degrees in criminal justice. Some even offer bachelor's programs.

How Much Does a Criminal Justice Degree Cost at a Community College?

The cost of a criminal justice degree at a community college will depend on which school you pick, where that school is located, and whether you're an in-state or out-of-state student.

Many states charge less than $5,000 per year for in-state students at community college. If you're an out-of-state student, you could pay between $15,000 and $20,000 per year.

It also depends on your financial aid. There are several states, including New York and California, that offer free tuition to qualifying undergraduate students. Fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to find out if you're eligible.

What Is the Best Degree To Get for Criminal Justice?

The best degree to get for criminal justice depends on the career you want to pursue. For example, careers in law enforcement and corrections may not require a degree at all.

Jobs in legal support, social services, and forensic science often require at least an associate, if not a bachelor's degree. These degrees can also prepare you for graduate school if you're interested in pursuing roles in forensic psychology or attending law school.

How Fast Can I Get a Degree in Criminal Justice?

Most associate degree programs require around 60 credit hours, which takes about two years of full-time study to complete. However, you may be able to accelerate your program by taking courses during the summer months.

Is a Degree in Criminal Justice Worth It?

If you're hoping to pursue a career in criminal justice, a degree in criminal justice is absolutely worth it. These programs can lead you directly into a career or allow you to earn your general credits at a low price before transferring to a four-year institution.

Discover More Criminal Justice Degrees

Find the perfect criminal justice degree for you by exploring the programs featured on Learn.org. Reach out to individual schools to learn more about admissions, enrollment, and financial aid.