Best Online Criminal Justice Programs

Arizona State University has a longstanding reputation for high-quality online education. The school offers more than 100 online degree programs, including an online criminal justice degree.

With a focus on research and analytics, this criminal justice program covers a breadth of knowledge, including the impact of crime as well as topics in law enforcement, the court systems, and corrections facilities. Notable classes include domestic violence, gangs, white collar crime, and social psychology. Students complete a three-credit solution-based learning course, in which they participate in an internship, an honors thesis, a self-directed study, or a community impact lab. Students typically explore their internships in the sixth term. ASU partners with Google to offer distance learners students Google’s education applications. Graduates from this program develop strong communication skills.

This criminal justice degree online program spans 120 credits and consists of 40 classes, which are offered in 7.5-week terms. Even though most students complete their degree in four years, there is a fast-track option available that allows students to earn their degrees within 30 to 36 months. Student must speak with their advisors to enroll in the fast-track plan.

Online learners who hold more than 24 credits from other institutions are considered transfer students, while those who have fewer than 24 credits are still considered freshmen applicants. ASU accepts a maximum of 64 community college credits. Arizona transfer applicants are assured admission if they hold an associate degree with a minimum 2.0 GPA. Admitted students have multiple start dates to choose from throughout the year.

Online tuition is $517 per credit hour plus university fees. More than 70% of ASU students receive financial aid. As such, students are encouraged to apply for grants, scholarships, loans, and work-study opportunities.

Program Overview
Program name: Bachelor's of Science in Criminology & Criminal Justice
Accrediting body: HLC
Tuition: $517/credit

Delivery
Format: Online
Instruction style: Asynchronous & synchronous

Program Requirements
Credit requirements: 120 credits

Program Length
Program options: Full-time only
Program length: 4 years (2.5-year & 3-year fast-track options)
Program start dates: Fall, spring, summer

Admission Requirements
Application deadline: Rolling
GPA: 3.0 minimum
Standardized tests: SAT, ACT

Contact
Department phone: (602) 496-2356
Department email: ccjonlineadvisor@asu.edu
Social media accounts: Facebook; Twitter

Part of the University of Nebraska system, the University of Nebraska at Kearney offers more than 30 online programs. Offering multiple online criminal justice programs for students seeking an undergraduate education in criminal justice, UNK's degree is designed for individuals who have completed most of the general education courses and/or those who already hold an associate degree.

This online criminal justice degree consists of 120 credits of e-courses offered entirely online through the Kearney, Omaha, and Lincoln campuses. Students have two learning tracks options available: a comprehensive program, which consists of 58 major course credits or a major program, which includes 36 major credits and 24 minor or second major credits. Both programs culminate with a three-credit general studies capstone class and an intensive field internship. Students typically complete the internship during the summer following the third year. Notable classes in the criminal justice program include juvenile justice, correctional services, victimology, and organized crime. Distance learners at UNK can also pursue a 24-credit online criminal justice minor, which culminates in a senior seminar.

Coursework is currently delivered through Blackboard, but starting in 2018 the school will use Canvas. Classes are instructor-led, not self-paced, which means that they have a specific start and end date. Online students at this school have access to library services, an online writing center, academic advising, a 24/7 help desk, and video training tutorials.

Applicants must either rank in the top 50th percentile from an accredited high school, earned a minimum ACT score of 20, or earned an SAT score of at least 1030. Online coursework with an earned grade of "C" or better can be transferring in successfully. UNK accepts a maximum of 66 transfer credit hour.

In-state tuition is $264 per hour, while out-of-state is $388 per hour plus some additional fees. Students are encouraged to apply for financial aid.

Program Overview
Program name: Bachelor's of Science in Criminal Justice Degree Completion
Accrediting body: HLC
Tuition: $264/credit in-state; $388/credit out-of-state

Delivery
Format: Online
Instruction style: Asynchronous & synchronous

Program Requirements
Prerequisites: 62 transferable college credits
Credit requirements: 58 credits
Field education requirements: Internship

Program Length
Program options: Full-time only
Program length: 4 years
Program start dates: Fall, spring, summer

Admission Requirements
Application deadline: Rolling
Standardized tests: ACT or SAT

Contact
Department phone: (308) 865-8927
Online programs email: ecampus@unk.edu
Social media accounts: Facebook; Twitter

Headquartered in the town of State College, Pennsylvania State University is a national leader in online education. Penn State was one of the first accredited universities in the world to provide online education. Their World Campus's enrollment today exceeds 12,000 students, most of whom take courses on a part-time basis.

Penn State’s 120-credit criminal justice degree online program is certified by the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences. The curriculum consists of 24 credits in core major courses, 12 upper-level criminal justice electives, 21 supporting courses plus some statistics coursework. Students may choose to add on an 18-credit homeland security minor.

Designed for those with or without a background in criminal justice, this program equips students with a breadth of knowledge regarding criminology. Classes include criminology, policing in America, courts and the prosecution process, corrections in America, border security, and security administration. The program culminates with a senior seminar capstone class in which students explore the past, current, and future criminal justice developments. Students in this online accredited criminal justice program are also required to complete a field experience internship in an approved criminal justice agency.

Online courses typically span between 12-15 weeks in length and are delivered through Blackboard. Activities, assignments, group work, and exams must be completed by specific due dates, however, classes are offered asynchronously, so there are no specific login requirements. Learners can expect to take part in chat and video conferences and discussions boards. Online students at this school have access to undergraduate advising, career counseling, tech support, and tutoring services.

Students with previous law enforcement training may be eligible to earn up to 7.5 credits to apply to their degrees. At least 36 of the final 60 credits must be taken at Penn State. Tuition is $542 or $584 per credit, depending on how many credits students have and how many classes they are enrolled in. Students also incur an information technology fee. Students who enroll on a full- and half-time basis are encouraged to apply for federal student aid.

Program Overview
Program name: Bachelor's of Science in Criminal Justice
Accrediting body: ACJS
Tuition: $542/credit in-state; $584/credit out-of-state

Delivery
Format: Online
Instruction style: Asynchronous

Program Requirements
Credit requirements: 120 credits

Program Length
Program options: Full-time only
Program length: 4 years
Program start dates: Fall, spring, summer

Admission Requirements
Application deadline: Fall - June 30; spring - October 31; summer - March 15

Contact
Department phone: (814) 863-5386
Admissions email: wdadmissions@outreach.psu.edu
Social media accounts: Facebook; Twitter

With its brick-and-mortar campus in Marion, Indiana Wesleyan University has another 11 satellite campuses throughout Indiana, Kentucky and Ohio. Founded in 1920 by the Wesleyan Church, this evangelical liberal arts college is a popular learning destination for nontraditional learners.

IWU's bachelor of science in criminal justice program focuses on how to make the world a safer place. Students discuss the historical foundation of the modern criminal court system. Notable classes include constitutional law, youth and crime, forensics, victimology, restorative justice, and cybercrime. Students take a research methods and data analysis course. The program culminates with a final capstone class in which students complete a scholarly research paper and work specifically on analysis and critical thinking skills.

One of the shortest criminal justice programs online, IWU's program is available in an accelerated format of 42 course credits. Students can start many times throughout the year and can finish the program in as little as a year and a half. Courses are typically taken one a time, sequentially.The program is delivered entirely online, however, individuals interested in a hybrid education can opt to enroll in an on-campus courses. Classes meet one night per week or online. Students enter this online criminal justice degree as part of a cohort group, which means added support for each other.

Online students at this school have access to a personal academic advisor and the school’s off-campus library services. As this program is designed for transfers students, applicants must hold a minimum of 60 transferable credit hours from a regionally accredited college or university.

Tuition is $368 per credit hour. A tuition discount is available for active duty military. Student loans, grants, scholarships, veterans benefits, and employer reimbursement options are available for eligible students.

Program Overview
Department: School of Service & Leadership
Program name: Bachelor's of Science in Criminal Justice Degree Completion
Accrediting body: HLC
Tuition: $368/credit

Delivery
Format: Online
Instruction style: Synchronous

Program Requirements
Prerequisites: 60 transferable credits
Credit requirements: 42 credits (major)

Program Length
Program options: Full-time only
Program length: 18 months
Program start dates: July, August, October, November

Admission Requirements
Application deadline: Rolling

Contact
Department phone: (866) 498-4968
Department email: jack.brady@indwes.edu (Jack Brady, Assistant Professor)
Social media accounts: Facebook; Twitter

Founded in 1851, Florida State University is the flagship member of the State University System of Florida. FSU offers an online criminal justice degree designed for nontraditional students who have completed all required liberal arts courses at FSU or who have already earned an associate degree from a previously attended accredited institution.

FSU’s program provides students with a breadth of knowledge surrounding the criminal justice field. The program also offers an optional 36-credit specialization in criminology. Students who do not wish to earn a specialization or minor may opt to complete an onsite internship instead. The internship can then be taken for academic credit, however, internships are not available in every state.

This program is intended for those who are balancing school with a full-time job and have limited availability. As such, there are no on-campus requirements. Most online courses at FSU are offered asynchronous via Blackboard. Online students have access to an academic advisor, the career center, a virtual computer lab, the reading-writing center, and the Academic Center for Excellence.

Applicants must complete their associate degree in Florida or meet the FSU Liberal Studies requirements and complete an oral competency exam. Applicants must also submit ACT or SAT scores. Accepted students can start in fall, spring, or summer. Students who wish to transfer credits from previously attended institutions may transfer up to nine credits toward their degree.

Tuition is $216 per-credit for in-state students and $721 per credit for out-of-state students. There is also an additional distance learning fee. Some online learning courses require students to purchase course packets. Degree-seeking online students who are registered for six or more hours per semester are encouraged to apply for financial aid. However, students cannot use independent living waivers, state employee tuition waivers, or the Florida Prepaid College Plan to cover the costs of their criminal justice degree online.

Program Overview
Department: College of Criminology & Criminal Justice
Program name: Bachelor's of Arts in Criminology & Criminal Justice Degree Completion
Accrediting body: SACSCOC
Tuition: $315/credit

Delivery
Format: Online
Instruction style: Asynchronous

Program Requirements
Prerequisites: Associate of Arts (or meet FSU Liberal Studies requirements)
Credit requirements: 36 credits (major)

Program Length
Program options: Part-time only
Program length: 3-4 years
Program start dates: Fall - July 1; spring - November 1; summer - March 1

Admission Requirements
Application deadline: Rolling

Contact
Department phone: (850) 644-4051
Department email: crimonline@fsu.edu
Social media accounts: Facebook; Twitter

Founded in 1991, Florida Gulf Coast University is located in the coastal city of Fort Myers. The university currently serves more than 14,000 students and about 80% of all courses are taught by full-time faculty members. FGCU utilizes the FloridaShines distance learning program, which enables students with an AA or an AS degree from an accredited Florida public community college to enroll in online courses and transfer credit from institutions across the state. All credit hours of the upper-division portion of FGCU’s online criminal justice degree program may be completed in this way.

The university is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, and is also a member of the Southern Regional Education Board’s Electronic Campus, a collective of colleges and universities across 16 states that exists to regulate standards of excellence for online education.

FGCU's accredited online criminal justice degree can be earned entirely online. According to the school, the strength of on-campus instruction leads roughly 80% of students enrolled in the program to opt for a hybrid of campus-based and online coursework. Prospective students typically apply with a high school GPA of 3.0 or higher, and will have also earned a composite ACT score of 21 (the equivalent of a 1070 on the SAT). The online criminal justice degree program includes 36 core course credits in areas such as criminal justice research methods, crime data analysis, juvenile justice and leadership, and management in law enforcement agencies.

The school also requires student completion of a three-credit internship as part of its criminal justice program, nine elective credits within the major, and a mandatory three-credit “University Colloquium” course that all FGCU students must pass in order to graduate. Criminal Justice students participate in their internships in tandem with legal studies and forensics students, either working directly with an approved agency or serving as a research assistant with a professor. Example agencies include local law enforcement, law firms or state/county legal offices, corrections facilities, and private security companies. Most students complete the 120-credit program in four years of full-time study. Transfer students may apply up to 30 credits of the upper-division’s required 60 credits with earned credits from coursework at other accredited institutions.

Program Overview
Department: Justice Studies
Program name: Bachelor's of Science in Criminal Justice Degree Completion
Accrediting body: SACSCOC
Tuition: $178/credit

Delivery
Format: Online or hybrid
Instruction style: Asynchronous & synchronous

Program Requirements
Prerequisites: Associate of Arts or Associate of Science
Credit requirements: 60 credits (major)

Program Length
Program options: Full-time only
Program length: 2 years
Program start dates: Fall, spring, summer

Admission Requirements
Application deadline: Fall - August 17; spring - January 9; summer - May 9

Contact
Department phone: (239) 590-7821
Department email: vcournoyer@fgcu.edu (Vanessa Cournoyer, Executive Secretary)
Social media accounts: Facebook; Twitter

Founded in 1889 in Cullowhee, North Carolina, Western Carolina University ranks among the oldest public institutions in the University of North Carolina system. WCU promotes an intimate learning environment and the nearly 10,000 students enrolled at the university enjoy an average student-to-faculty ratio of 16:1. (Nearly 30% of all courses boast an enrollment of fewer than 20 students.) WCU currently offers two dozen degrees and certificates in addition to its online criminal justice degree program.

Admission occurs in a two-stage process: first, general admission into the university and second, admission into the school's criminal justice program. The second stage may or may not coincide with a student’s selection of a concentration in justice administration. The program's distance education requirements include a cumulative 2.0 or better GPA on any coursework transferred from all other AA or AS degree courses from accredited college or universities. All incoming students have completed the core curriculum necessary to satisfy North Carolina community college general education/liberal studies requirements. The school also asks students to submit proof of at least one year of experience in the criminal justice field.

WCU's criminal justice degree online program spans 120 credits in length and emphasizes key areas of the field including the justice system; diversity and ethics in criminal justice; sports, crime, and delinquency; international perspectives on justice; and criminological issues. Degree requirements include 18 credits of core courses, 18 credits of concentration core courses and electives, and an additional 15 credits of major electives. Students pursue up to 135 hours at an internship in a criminal justice setting as part of the latter group. Coursework on international perspectives coincides with travel abroad for a program in a country that meets departmental approval.

Alternatively, students interested in the administrative and logistical side of criminal justice may choose to pursue an online bachelor's in emergency management. Required courses in this pathway focus on areas of politics and government, disaster mitigation and preparedness, public communication, and systems management and security.

Tuition prices are typically based on whether or not a student chooses to engage with a program on a part-time or full-time basis. The school offers no official full-time rate for distance learning students, and all online students are charged part-time rates unless their program has a special provision. WCU approves special provisions on the basis of prior military or community service, and rates may also differ based on a student’s designation as in-state or out-of-state.

Program Overview
Department: College of Arts & Sciences - Department of Criminology & Criminal Justice
Program name: Bachelor's of Science in Criminal Justice
Accrediting body: SACSCOC
Tuition: $152/credit in-state; $503/credit out-of-state

Delivery
Format: Online
Instruction style: Asynchronous & synchronous

Program Requirements
Prerequisites: Associate of Arts or Associate of Science (or "44 General Core" from NC community college)
Credit requirements: 120 credits

Program Length
Program options: Full-time only
Program length: 2-4 years
Program start dates: Fall, spring, summer

Admission Requirements
Application deadline: Fall - February 1 & March 1; spring - November 15; summer - April 15
Standardized tests: SAT or ACT
Work experience: 1year in criminal justice field

Contact
Department phone: (828) 227-7464
Department email: pswentzel@email.wcu.edu (Pirjo Swentzel, Administrative Support Associate)
Social media accounts: Facebook; Twitter

Established in 1917 and today the flagship institution of the University of Alaska system, the University of Alaska Fairbanks is a premier environmental research institution that participates in a number of land-, sun-, sea- and space-grant programs. The university emphasizes individualized education for all students and boasts a low student-to-faculty ratio of 11:1. Nearly two-thirds of all courses taught at UAF enroll fewer than 20 students. In recent years, the university has launched a competitive eLearning initiative aimed at recruiting talented students from Alaska's indigenous communities, a historically underrepresented population at U.S. college campuses.

UAF currently offers two online bachelor's programs to aspiring criminal justice professionals. The school's tailors its online criminal justice degree to meet the needs of busy students who wish to pursue a career in crime prevention and law enforcement. Core coursework includes studies in criminology, corrections, juvenile justice, and law enforcement in rural Alaska. Unique to the school, the program includes a significant ratio of coursework directly related to the school's geographical position. Course examples include language and culture in Alaska, which aims to provide an anthropological overview of language and conversational practices among cultures and societies of the state's indigenous community and rural justice in alaska, which investigates issues arising from conflicts between Western justice systems and native communities, as well as difficulties that arise when imposing centralized procedure in a region with little to no road infrastructure.

The program typically culminates in an internship with a local agency or a research project within the University of Alaska system. Additionally, online UAF students may pursue a bachelor's degree in homeland security and emergency management. This program is geared toward learners with administrative career goals, and emphasizes core areas of the field, such as fire and medical response, cybersecurity, and hazard risk analysis.

The school requires freshman and transfer applicants who have earned less than 30 credit hours to submit ACT or SAT scores for admittance to a baccalaureate-level program. All applicants must supply proof of a high school diploma with a minimum GPA of 2.5. If applicants have a GPA of 3.0 or higher, no minimum ACT or SAT score is required. Students with a minimum cumulative 2.5 GPA must hold a minimum ACT score of 18 or a minimum SAT score of 955.

Program Overview
Department: College of Liberal Arts
Program name: Bachelor's of Arts in Justice
Accrediting body: NWCCU
Tuition: $192/credit 100- & 200-level courses, in-state; $681/credit 100- & 200-level courses, out-of-state; $232/credit 300- & 400-level courses, in-state; $721/credit 300- & 400-level courses, out-of-state

Delivery
Format: Online
Instruction style: Asynchronous

Program Requirements
Credit requirements: 120 credits

Program Length
Program options: Full-time only
Program length: 4 years
Program start dates: Fall, spring, summer

Admission Requirements
Application deadline: Rolling
GPA: 3.0 minimum (2.5 minimum if acceptable SAT or ACT scores)
Standardized tests: SAT or ACT (only if GPA below 3.0)

Contact
Department phone: (907) 474-5500
Admissions email: admissions@uaf.edu
Social media accounts: Facebook; Twitter

Founded by the Presbyterian community as a private religious university in 1908, the University of Nebraska at Omaha was integrated into the University of Nebraska system in 1968 and currently serves more than 15,000 students. Many of these students are now enrolled in web-based courses through University of Nebraska Online Worldwide (NUOW) network. This network currently features more than 100 degree and certificate programs offered through the University of Nebraska schools in Lincoln, Omaha, Kearney, and the UN Medical Center in Omaha.

UNO's online criminal justice programs are part of a bachelor of general studies pathway that spans 120 credits in length. Core courses tackle a wide range of subjects, from women and minorities in crime to juvenile justice, statistics, and sociology of deviant behavior. Unique courses include international criminology and criminal justice, which analyzes social responses to criminal behavior and the differences in proceedings in justice systems between socialist and capitalist economic systems; and organized crime, which traces the historical development of organized crime within American society (specifically in terms of narcotics trafficking, gambling, extortion, bribery, and corruption). The curriculum additionally includes an internship and independent study that allows students to gain first-hand experience of their desired role within the justice system and may be completed through such agencies as the U.S. Marshal’s Service, local law enforcement agencies, the United States Secret Service, or the Child Advocacy Center.

Students enrolled in NUOW may also pursue a specialized online bachelor of science in criminal justice at the University of Nebraska at Kearney. The curriculum for this program is also 120 credits and is designed for students who seek a science-based career in law enforcement, with courses emphasizing theory in correctional services, forensics, and new procedures for collecting and documenting criminal evidence. Its focus on institutional corrections, the program presents an in-depth analysis of the history and operation of jails and prisons around the world, covering the operation and management of justice institutions from the perspective of both incarcerated persons and justice employees. Coursework in the program also emphasizes community-based corrections strategies and the theoretical framework of parole and probation.

UN-Omaha seeks to provide potential applicants with the financial tools to succeed as a student, furnishing a scholarship program in partnership with the College of Public Affairs Community Service to help non-resident distance learners with the means to offset the cost of attendance. Students who wish to transfer from an institution within the University of Nebraska must demonstrate a minimum 2.5 cumulative GPA.

Program Overview
Department: School of Criminology & Criminal Justice
Program name: Bachelor's of Science in Criminology & Criminal Justice
Accrediting body: HLC
Tuition: $264/credit in-state; $489/credit out-of-state

Delivery
Format: Online
Instruction style: Asynchronous & synchronous

Program Requirements
Credit requirements: 120 credits

Program Length
Program options: Full-time only
Program length: 4 years
Program start dates: Fall, spring, summer

Admission Requirements
Application deadline: Fall - August 1; spring - December 1; summer - July 1
Standardized tests: SAT or ACT

Contact
Department phone: (402) 554-2276
Admissions email: unoadmissions@unomaha.edu
Social media accounts: Facebook; Twitter

Named for the Kansas town in which its original campus was founded, Fort Hays State University was inaugurated in 1908 as a premier institution of higher learning. Currently the university serves more than 14,000 students, roughly 6,000 of whom are enrolled in distance learning courses through the Fort Hays Virtual College. Tuition rates for online students at FHSU fall within the lowest 2% of all U.S. postsecondary institutions, and more than 40 associate, bachelor’s, and master’s degree programs are currently offered through the virtual college program.

FHSU currently offers two accredited criminal justice program online pathways to its students. The bachelor of arts track has a requirement of 10 credit hours of language coursework, while the bachelor of science track has no specific language requirement. Otherwise, the two programs follow the same 124-credit curriculum. Core coursework throughout focuses on research methods and administration within different criminal justice systems, while available electives delve into more specific areas of the field. The Department of Criminal Justice at FHSU places an emphasis on developing appreciation among its students of the ways in which other cultures coordinate judicial efforts. In order to do this, FHSU coordinates field internships to other countries, such as Costa Rica and Italy, to gain a first-hand perspective on how these countries organize corrections facilities and communicate sentences to convicted persons.

Example courses include overviews in criminology, corrections, juvenile justice, and victim services. The school requires all criminal justice students to complete an internship with a local law enforcement agency or research project with faculty. Some examples of agencies with whom students have completed their internships include: the Hays Police Department, Kansas Community Corrections, Kansas City’s FBI Field Office, and the Dodge City Community College criminal justice program. Additionally, students can fulfill their criminal justice degree requirements with courses in psychology, government, and social justice. The program culminates in an advanced seminar in justice studies.

One of the more affordable online criminal justice programs in the United States, the school charges the same tuition rates for in-state and out-of-state students. All transcripts students issue to FHSU from other institutions must be sealed within an official school envelope. The university does not require students over the age of 21 to submit an ACT or SAT score in order to fulfill its application requirements.

Program Overview
Department: Criminal Justice
Program name: Bachelor's of Science or Bachelor's Arts in Criminal Justice
Accrediting body: HLC
Tuition: $207/credit

Delivery
Format: Online
Instruction style: Asynchronous & synchronous

Program Requirements
Credit requirements: 124 credits

Program Length
Program options: Full-time only
Program length: 4 years
Program start dates: Fall, spring, summer

Admission Requirements
Application deadline: Rolling
Standardized tests: SAT or ACT (only if under 21 years of age)

Contact
Department phone: (785) 628-5668
Department email: justicesecretary@fhsu.edu
Social media accounts: Facebook; Twitter

Originally established in 1977 as a training academy for healthcare professionals, Keiser University is a private nonprofit university and a member of the Independent Colleges and Universities of Florida. Keiser currently administers a total of 17 satellite campuses throughout the state of Florida, but the bulk of the university's online programs are offered through its flagship Fort Lauderdale campus. The school offers a total of 18 bachelor's degree programs 100% online, including multiple degree pathways for students seeking a criminal justice education. In addition to these domestic sites, Keiser maintains a number of international sites in diverse locales (including Nicaragua, Shanghai, Moldova, Taiwan, and Seoul).

Keiser University’s online criminal justice degree requires completion of 120 credits in order to graduate. Its curriculum consists of 24 core course credits, including surveys of corrections theory, law enforcement best practices, and juvenile justice strategies. To satisfy the program's 51-credit major elective requirements, students may also choose from courses in subjects like deviant behavior studies, white-collar crime, and cybersecurity. Keiser features a total of four accredited online criminal justice programs in related areas: cyber forensics and information security, legal studies, homeland security, and public safety administration. In terms of credits required to graduate, the university’s degree pathways are identical. All coursework for the online criminal justice programs can be completed without a single campus visit.

Keiser University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. The school holds a unique teaching philosophy: according to Keiser’s educational model, all classes are conducted at a pace of four weeks per class. As a result, all courses issue a final exam that must be completed before moving on to the following course. This focused approach, combined with a small class size, ensures a comprehensive, hands-on education.

The school requires all applications to submit proof of high school graduation or GED, either in the form of a diploma or as an official transcript. All criminal justice students must also successfully complete requisite english composition coursework before beginning their capstone project.

Program Overview
Department: Criminal Justice
Program name: Bachelor's of Arts in Criminal Justice
Accrediting body: SACSCOC
Tuition: $8,744/semester

Delivery
Format: Online
Instruction style: Asynchronous

Program Requirements
Credit requirements: 120 credits

Program Length
Program options: Full-time only
Program length: 4 years
Program start dates: Monthly

Admission Requirements
Application deadline: Rolling

Contact
Department phone: (888) 453-4737
Admissions email: admissions@keiseruniversity.edu
Social media accounts: Facebook; Twitter

Established in 1875 in Parkville, Missouri, Park University was originally conceived as a cooperative educational institution where students paid for tuition and housing in exchange for manual labor on the school's farms and machine shops. Today the school serves nearly 10,000 students and, fortunately for Park students, attendance no longer requires manual labor. Park is a member of both the Council of Independent Colleges and the Independent Colleges and Universities of Missouri, ensuring a high degree of excellence in education for all criminal justice students. Park's main campus is located a short drive from downtown Kansas City, but its programs are offered at 40 campus centers throughout the country. Park is known for its affordability: its $12,130 annual tuition rate earned the school a spot in U.S. News & World Report's 2016 "10 Least Expensive Private Colleges" ranking, for example.

Park's accredited criminal justice program online program offers both a bachelor of arts and a bachelor of science pathway to graduation. Both options allow students to select one of three areas of concentration: law enforcement, corrections, or security. These areas require two courses in addition to general courses for majors and are designed by working professionals to make the curriculum as relevant as possible for the needs of modern criminal justice organizations. A total of 42 hours of core criminal justice coursework are required, including an internship and a senior seminar. Internships are available from many different agencies, including the National Center for Border Security, U.S. Immigration, the local U.S. Secret Service field office, and the Department of Homeland Security. A minor in criminal justice and certificates in terrorism and homeland security are also available online for working professionals.

A chapter of the American Criminal Justice Association - Lambda Alpha Epsilon, the Tau Lambda Alpha Epsilon is an active part of all online criminal justice programs at the college. The organization offers opportunities to observe prison protocol and conducts tours, agency visits, and community service projects with local law enforcement agencies. Additionally, the school provides special consideration and makes tuition waivers available for active or returning veterans.

Program Overview
Department: Criminal Justice
Program name: Bachelor's of Science in Criminal Justice Administration
Available concentrations: Law enforcement, corrections, security
Accrediting body: HLC
Tuition: $391/credit

Delivery
Format: Online
Instruction style: Asynchronous & synchronous

Program Requirements
Credit requirements: 120 credits

Program Length
Program options: Full-time only
Program length: 4 years
Program start dates: January, March, June, August, October

Admission Requirements
Application deadline: Rolling

Contact
Department phone: (816) 584-6302
Department email: John.Hamilton@Park.edu (Dr. John Hamilton, Department Chair)
Social media accounts: Facebook; Twitter

Founded in 1912, the University of Memphis is the flagship institution of the Tennessee Board of Regents school system and holds accreditation by the Southern Association of College and Schools Commission on Colleges. The school currently serves more than 20,000 students, more than three-quarters of whom are undergraduates and nearly a third of whom are enrolled part-time. Despite a relatively large student population, the University of Memphis offers a notably individualized environment for all learners. With a student-to-faculty ratio of 15:1, almost half of all of its courses have fewer than 20 students. The school makes a comprehensive online student orientation available for first-time distance learners.

The U of M offers a total of 18 bachelor's programs online, including an online criminal justice degree path. This accredited criminal justice online program emphasizes four potential concentrations for aspiring students of the criminal justice profession: independent scholarship, a department-based research focus, coordinated public service projects and community outreach initiatives. All coursework within the online criminal justice degree provides an overview of a wide range of topics, including corrections strategies, capital punishment in its social context, in-depth research of precedents and historical models, international crime history, and gang and organized crime studies. Students graduate from the criminal justice degree online with a firm understanding of the theories and methods guiding modern criminal investigations, as well as best practices within the field of intervention and crime and social justice studies. U of M's bachelor of arts program spans a total of 120 credits in length. Students may earn their degree entirely online or they may supplement their web-based courses with on-campus courses.

The school makes internships available with local and national law enforcement agencies, and seeks to nurture the skill set necessary for students to build lasting relationships with community organizations. In order to better prepare them for the demands of the profession, the university's teaching staff makes a concerted effort at delivering a high level of on-hand experience to its criminal justice students. In addition, all criminal justice majors and minors at the university are given the opportunity to become member of the Criminal Justice Student Association, allowing them to gain first-hand experience in the field.

Program Overview
Department: School of Urban Affairs & Public Policy - Department of Criminology & Criminal Justice
Program name: Bachelor's of Arts in Criminology & Criminal Justice
Accrediting body: SACSCOC
Tuition: $480/credit

Delivery
Format: Online
Instruction style: Asynchronous & synchronous

Program Requirements
Credit requirements: 120 credits

Program Length
Program options: Full time
Program length: 4 years
Program start dates: Fall, spring, summer

Admission Requirements
Application deadline: Rolling
Standardized tests: SAT or ACT

Contact
Department phone: (901) 678-2111
Admissions email: admissions@memphis.edu
Social media accounts: Facebook; Twitter

Located in Natchitoches and founded in 1884, the Northwestern State University of Louisiana was the first school in the state to offer professional degrees in public service professions such as nursing and business administration. The university’s distance education initiative, eNSU, features a total of 39 online degree programs. The school's accredited criminal justice program online students enrolled in courses through the eNSU initiative pay no out-of-state tuition, regardless of where they may reside.

NSUL's criminal justice programs online all span 120 credits in length and are traditionally completed by full-time students in four years. Core coursework covers topics such as criminology, juvenile justice, corrections theory, homeland security, and criminal justice ethics. In addition, all criminal justice students must complete a senior seminar. While most online students need not attend physical classes at the university, learners are encouraged to attend an annual on-campus job fair to meet directly with current criminal justice professionals and learn more about potential employment opportunities in their desired field.

Students with legal aspirations may choose to follow a pre-law and paralegal studies concentration. The pre-law track consists of 21 credits of paralegal core courses and electives. The pre-law concentration is designed to equip students to smoothly transition into postgraduate legal studies or to obtain a support position within paralegal agencies. NSU's pre-law and paralegal studies concentration requires students to directly contact the registrar’s office to make curricular changes before beginning their course track.

Example courses in NSUL’s criminal justice degree online program include: criminal justice ethics, which examines theoretical and applied moral philosophies in the justice system from ancient times to the present; a senior seminar in criminal justice, which strives to integrate academic learning with practical knowledge and skills for successful application within contemporary justice systems; and drug use in modern society, which explores the social effects of drug use, both legal and illicit, along with drug use in contexts such as professional sports and citizen communities.

NSU aims to maximize the transfer of academic credits from two-year colleges, giving students the opportunity to complete up to 60 credits of coursework towards a baccalaureate degree before transferring to a public university within the state of Louisiana. The school requires official ACT, SAT, or ACCUPLACER scores for admission, and all students may transfer credits to their desired AA or AS course track.

Program Overview
Department: Department of Criminal Justice, History, & Social Sciences
Program name: Bachelor's of Arts in Criminal Justice
Accrediting body: SACSCOC
Tuition: $375/credit

Delivery
Format: Online
Instruction style: Asynchronous & synchronous

Program Requirements
Credit requirements: 120 credits

Program Length
Program options: Full-time only
Program length: 4 years
Program start dates: Fall, spring, summer

Admission Requirements
Application deadline: Rolling
Standardized tests: SAT or ACT

Contact
Department phone: (318) 357-6967
Department email: crim_justice@nsula.edu
Social media accounts: Facebook; Twitter

Located in Norman, the University of Oklahoma was founded in 1890 and currently serves more than 30,000 students. The school recently launched one of the most state-of-the-art criminal justice programs online in the nation through its One University Digital Initiative. This distance learning framework seeks to promote innovative systems for students to complete their degrees, including free software, iPad integration, digital textbooks, and on-campus spaces designed for peer-to-peer collaboration. U.S. News & World Report ranks UO among its top-30 online bachelor’s degree programs of 2016.

The university’s current offerings include its criminal justice degree online program through the College of Liberal Studies. The 120-credit program includes 39 credits of core criminal justice coursework on topics such as comparative justice systems, forensic science and criminology, the impact of drug use on society, and the sociology of deviant behavior. Example courses include human trafficking, focusing on the study of the subject from a historical and modern perspective in both the United State and around the world; and cyberspace security, which provides an in-depth analysis of crime within internet systems as well as a profile of current legal issues in cyberspace and digital evidence. While some students may complete the program in just 18 months with transfer credits, students typically complete the program over the course of four to five years. All criminal justice degree online programs at UO include a capstone project as part of their general education requirements.

UO's conducts its undergraduate criminal justice programs online according to an accelerated format and the programs take place over the span of eight weeks, allowing students to potentially pursue up to 18 credits per semester. The school conducts all courses online and follows a rolling matriculation calendar, meaning that students may take courses according to two different starting dates. In addition, all of UO's criminal justice online program students must complete an internship consisting of 192 hours of field work (or the equivalent of four hours of experience per credit hour, per week, over the span of one semester).

All applicants under the age of 21 and who are not actively engaged in military duty (or hold fewer than 24 credit hours of experience from another accredited institution) must apply as first-time freshman. UO's minimum admission GPA is 2.0.

Program Overview
Department: College of Liberal Studies
Program name: Bachelor's of Science in Criminal Justice
Accrediting body: HLC
Tuition: $279/credit in-state; $757/credit out-of-state

Delivery
Format: Online
Instruction style: Asynchronous & synchronous

Program Requirements
Credit requirements: 120 credits

Program Length
Program options: Full-time only
Program length: 4 years
Program start dates: Fall, spring, summer

Admission Requirements
Application deadline: Fall - February 1; spring - November 1; summer - March 1
Standardized tests: SAT or ACT

Contact
Department phone: (405) 325-3266
Admissions email: admissions@ou.edu
Social media accounts: Facebook; Twitter

The University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus' online criminal justice degree program allows students to earn their bachelor’s degree through their prefered combination of online or on-campus courses, making it possible for students to work completely online or to pursue web-based courses as a supplement to traditional classroom learning. The University of Colorado Denver is a regionally accredited school, and offers discounted tuition rates for non-Colorado residents who are enrolled in online courses. According to the school, this discounted rate will save online, out-of-state criminal justice students an average of $500 per credit hour.

UC-Denver is one of only four colleges to rank among the top 29 educational institutions that offer an online criminal justice program in the United States. Program degree requirements include 120 total credit hours, 36 focused on the major, and remaining credits for core education and elective courses. Students interested in a master’s degree may be interested in the bachelor-master joint degree the school offers, in which a total of 15 credits can be applied to both degrees, making it possible to complete the master’s in criminal justice with only one additional year of study.

Completion of UC-Denver’s criminal justice degree online program involves collaborative learning with other enrolled students through discussion and conversation, although the course material itself is available to be studied at an individual pace. Sample courses detailed online include an introductory overview to criminal justice and criminology, a course on criminal justice statistics, and a course on crime theory and causes, where students develop critical thinking skills to interpret various theories and perspectives that seek to explain criminal behavior.

Program Overview
Department: School of Public Affairs
Program name: Bachelor's of Arts in Criminal Justice​
Accrediting body: HLC
Tuition: $303/credit in-state; $968/credit out-of-state

Delivery
Format: Online or hybrid
Instruction style: Asynchronous & synchronous

Program Requirements
Credit requirements: 120 credits

Program Length
Program options: Full-time only
Program length: 4 years
Program start dates: Fall, spring, summer

Admission Requirements
Application deadline: Fall - August 1; spring - January 1; summer - June 1
GPA: 3.0 minimum
Standardized tests: SAT or ACT

Contact
Department phone: (303) 315-2228
Department email: spa@ucdenver.edu
Social media accounts: Facebook; Twitter

Based in the state of New Jersey but available far beyond the east coast, Rowan University offers a number of convenient web-based degrees and certificates through their Global Learning and Partnerships program, including an online criminal justice degree. Although there are special initiatives designed to make its education more accessible to students in the Southern New Jersey region, prospective students of Rowan’s online degree programs can enroll and study from around the world.

Like other criminal justice programs online, Rowan University’s degree plan provides learners with the skills they will need for a variety of professional careers in law enforcement, security services, court services, corrections, and human services. As an added bonus for students interested in earning a master’s degree upon completion of their bachelor’s, Rowan University is dedicated to offering the rigorous preparation necessary to allow graduates of the program to pursue further education. Completion of the online criminal justice degree requires 120 semester hours of coursework, which can be supplemented by transfer credits from another regionally accredited institution, structured in the format of eight week-long modules that allow students to complete their work at their own pace and schedule (as long as it is done by the 11:59 PM deadline each Monday night). Following this format, students can graduate in four or five consecutive semesters.

A few interesting courses required by the degree plan include an introduction to juvenile justice, a class on international terrorism, and a writing-intensive seminar on law and justice. Although the school also offers hybrid-format degrees, Rowan University delivers all courses in its criminal justice program in an accelerated online format, and includes a variety of online tools for communication with professors and peers, such as chat rooms and online discussion boards.

Program Overview
Department: Rowan Global Learning & Partnerships
Program name: Bachelor's of Arts in Law & Justice Degree Completion
Accrediting body: MSCHE
Tuition: $455/credit

Delivery
Format: Online
Instruction style: Asynchronous

Program Requirements
Prerequisites: 24 transferable college credits
Credit requirements: 60 credits (major)

Program Length
Program options: Full-time only
Program length: 4-5 consecutive semesters
Program start dates: Fall, spring

Admission Requirements
Application deadline: Fall - July 1; spring - November 1
GPA: 2.0 minimum

Contact
Department phone: (856) 256-4747
Department email: global@rowan.edu
Social media accounts: Facebook; Twitter

City University of Seattle is a regionally accredited, private, nonprofit school that boasts competitive tuition rates and a variety of options for scholarships and other forms of financial aid, making the institution an excellent option for prospective students of an accredited criminal justice degree online. The current cost of the degree is $378 per credit for all U.S. students, regardless of their state of residency, and CityU offers special discount tuition rates to active duty military members and their families.

When working towards their accredited online criminal justice degree from CityU, students choose among one of three different specializations. The corporate security and investigation specialization focuses on creating private sector professionals who will participate in business security, risk, and investigations. A cyber forensic investigation specialization offers students the knowledge required to begin a career in corporate investigation, data risk, and cyber investigation. Finally, the justice administration specialization builds upon knowledge learners gain from core courses in order to advance skills in policy and operations of justice administration in the public sector. With the flexibility offered by these varied programs, CityU alumni often go on to pursue a variety of related careers.

Learners must complete 180 credits to earn an online criminal justice degree, and the school makes courses available both in an entirely online format as well as on campus. CityU considers transfer credits on a case-by-case basis and students should discuss transfer options with admissions advisers prior to enrolling. In addition to online learning opportunities, other vital student services available from CityU include academic credit internships, a career center for students and alumni, a confidential counseling center, and the school's library, which offers digital textbooks and article databases for distance learners.

Program Overview
Department: Division of Arts & Sciences
Program name: Bachelor's of Science in Criminal Justice
Available concentrations: Corporate security & investigation, cyber forensic investigation, justice administration
Accrediting body: NWCCU
Tuition: $378/credit

Delivery
Format: Online
Instruction style: Synchronous

Program Requirements
Credit requirements: 180 credits

Program Length
Program options: Full-time only
Program length: 4 years
Program start dates: Fall, spring, summer

Admission Requirements
Application deadline: Rolling

Contact
Department phone: (888) 422-4898
School email: info@cityu.edu
Social media accounts: Facebook; Twitter

Based in Pennsylvania, Drexel University is a regionally accredited institution that has maintained its status a leading provider of high-quality online education since launching its first distance learning programs in 1996. Since then, the university has grown to become a top-ranked interdisciplinary institution. Drexel offers one of the best accredited online criminal justice programs in the country, and the school aims to provide its students with the skills and knowledge they need to pursue careers in a range of professional areas, including law enforcement, corrections, judiciary, administration, and government agencies.

Drexel's online criminal justice degree program is only available on a part-time basis, which makes the program ideal for prospective students who want to enroll in a full-time higher education program but are limited by finances or other commitments. Students complete courses entirely online and at their own pace throughout the school's four 10-week annual quarters. Over half of the program's required credits, usually from general core classes, can be transferred from any accredited institution, whether regional or national, in order to help fulfill degree requirements. Current tuition for Drexel’s accredited criminal justice degree online program is available at a 40% discounted rate. The school offers additional special rates to military members, Drexel alumni, and to qualifying members of the institution’s educational partner organizations (which includes over 500 corporations, health systems, and school districts).

Drexel's criminal justice degree online program prepares students for a variety of developing career fields. Learners pursue studies in sociology, psychology, information science, biotechnology, legal studies, and political science. Throughout their studies, learners receive support from an award-winning library, writing center, fully equipped career development center, and a diverse network of students, expert faculty, and colleagues from around the globe.

Program Overview
Program name: Bachelor's of Science in Criminology & Justice Studies
Accrediting body: MSCHE
Tuition: $489/credit

Delivery
Format: Online
Instruction style: Asynchronous & synchronous

Program Requirements
Prerequisites: 24 college credits with a grade of C or better
Credit requirements: 182-184 credits

Program Length
Program options: Part-time only
Program length: Varies
Program start dates: Fall, spring, summer

Admission Requirements
Application deadline: Rolling

Contact
Department phone: (877) 215-0009
Online programs email: Duonline@Drexel.edu
Social media accounts: Facebook; Twitter

Concordia University in Saint Paul is a private, Lutheran liberal arts institution that offers a variety of online courses. Concordia crafts its courses for the busy, working adult student, and the school administers one of the best online criminal justice programs in the United States. Associate degree-holders can earn this degree by completing 40 credit hours. For first-time college students, this undergraduate program consists of 128 credits, including general education requirements and major-related coursework.

Earning a criminal justice degree online is a major time commitment, which is why Concordia utilizes a flexible web format to deliver its seven-week courses to students. Additional benefits to enrolling at Concordia include its unique approach to cohort learning and the university’s transfer advantage program. In Concordia's cohort learning program, the school groups students together at the beginning of their degree program. Thereafter they regularly collaborate and communicate until the program ends. This collective experience creates a trusted network, a team in which everyone contributes. As part of Concordia's transfer advantage program, students who complete their associate degree at a Concordia partner institution will receive a $2,000 scholarship in addition to the school's seamless credit transfer.

Upon the completion of required courses, a final portfolio presentation course offers students the opportunity to display their new skills and knowledge. Concordia's regionally accredited criminal justice program online program provides a deep understanding of the administration and organization of criminal justice, and of constitutional law. According to the school, enrollment in Concordia's online criminal justice degree boasts strong student outcomes: 92% of students who earn this degree have received employment offers by the time they graduate. The program prepares students for careers as private investigators, CIA agents, and forensic crime analysts, among others.

Program Overview
Program name: Bachelor's of Arts in Criminal Justice
Accrediting body: HLC
Tuition: $420/credit

Delivery
Format: Online
Instruction style: Synchronous

Program Requirements
Credit requirements: 120 credits

Program Length
Program options: Full-time only
Program length: 4 years
Program start dates: Fall, spring, summer

Admission Requirements
Application deadline: Rolling
GPA: 2.0 minimum
Standardized tests: SAT or ACT

Contact
Department phone: (651) 641-8230
Admissions email: admissions@csp.edu
Social media accounts: Facebook; Twitter