Most Affordable Online Master's in Criminal Justice Programs 2021

CSU offers an online master's in criminal justice through the College of Humanities and Social Sciences. Applicants need an accredited bachelor's degree and must submit their most recent GRE or MAT scores. Applicants with an undergraduate 3.5 GPA or higher may apply for a waiver of the graduate school entry exam requirement.

The program leads to a master of science degree and takes approximately 18 months to complete. Students can choose to pursue a thesis and non-thesis track. The thesis track comprises 33 credits of coursework, plus an additional nine credits for the thesis. Non-thesis students enroll in 36 credits of coursework.

All students enroll in 18 credits of core courses. The core curriculum includes coursework in current legal issues in criminal justice, theories of criminal behavior, ethics, and criminal justice administration. Active and retired public safety personnel and first responders receive a 20% tuition discount.

Charleston Southern University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

Marywood's 30-credit online master's in criminal justice program is the only graduate criminal justice program in northeast Pennsylvania. The program leads to a master of science (MS) degree. While the program allows applicants with a non-criminal justice bachelor's degree, they may need to enroll in an undergraduate criminology course prior to beginning the MS program.

Students take 12 credits (four classes) of core coursework and 18 credits (six classes) of approved electives. Enrollees can choose up to nine credits of electives in a related field, such as business, psychology, or public administration. Students must first secure their advisor's approval before enrolling in a non-criminal justice elective.

Degree-seekers can choose to write a thesis, complete a management project, or participate in an internship as the program's culminating activity. The internship requires at least 240 clock hours in an approved criminal justice agency.

Marywood University is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

Simpson's 36-credit online master's in criminal justice program offers a curriculum with a strong focus on social justice issues. Students enroll in classes that deepen their understanding of the criminal and juvenile justice processes and the U.S. legal system. The program leads to a master of arts degree and accepts applications from graduates of a criminal justice undergraduate program, as well as non-criminal justice degree-holders.

Classes follow eight-week delivery schedules and core courses run fully online. Elective coursework may include on-campus components. The program features several starting dates each year.

The curriculum includes coursework in theories of criminal justice and crime, social justice and human rights issues, standards of behavior, and leadership in the criminal justice system. Each course consists of four credits. Learners complete a capstone project that demonstrates their ability to synthesize and apply key learning outcomes of the program to real-world criminal justice issues.

Simpson College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

Mercer in Macon, Georgia, offers an online master's in criminal justice and public safety leadership through the College of Professional Advancement. The 30-credit program leads to a master of science degree. Students can enroll full time or part time. Most full-time enrollees graduate from the program in 16 months.

The curriculum includes 21 credits of core coursework and nine credits of electives. Students enroll in classes in organizational communication, conflict resolution, and negotiations; leadership and ethics in public safety; multidisciplinary theories and models of leadership; and application of statistical design. The program features five starting dates each year in January, March, May, August, and October. Courses follow eight-week delivery schedules.

Learners must submit a master research report as the program's culminating activity. They must also pass a written comprehensive exam.

Mercer University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

FIU offers an online master's in criminal justice through the Steven J. Green School of International and Public Affairs. Applicants need a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with an upper-division 3.2 GPA or higher. Applicants must complete an undergraduate research methods course with a minimum grade of B prior to applying.

The 36-credit program leads to a master of science (MS) degree. Students enroll in 15 core coursework credits, 12 credits of criminal justice electives, and nine credits of general electives. The curriculum includes courses in criminological theory, research methods in criminal justice, transnational crime and national security, and criminal justice policy analysis. The program offers an optional internship opportunity for students who wish to gain practical experience in the field. MS candidates must maintain a 3.0 GPA throughout the program.

Florida International University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

CSUSB offers a completely online master's in criminal justice consisting of 45 quarter credits (34 semester credits). Enrollees must complete at least 32 quarter credits (24 semester credits) in residence at CSUSB. Applicants need an accredited bachelor's degree with a minimum 3.0 GPA. Applicants who do not meet the minimum GPA requirement must include their latest GRE scores in their application.

The program leads to a master of arts degree and gives students the option of writing a thesis or taking a comprehensive exam as the program's culminating activity. Graduates who plan to pursue further study typically opt to write a thesis. Graduates with management or administrative career objectives often choose to take the comprehensive exam. Learners must maintain a 3.0 GPA throughout the program and not get a grade of C for more than one class.

California State University, San Bernardino is accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission.

The 30-credit online master's in criminal justice at Columbia College takes approximately 20 months to complete, even for students who work full time. The program leads to a master of arts degree and follows a cohort model of education. New cohorts begin every two months.

Courses follow eight-week delivery schedules and must be completed sequentially. Students can transfer up to nine credits from an accredited master's program subject to a review of the admission committee.

The curriculum includes 24 credits of coursework and a six-credit capstone project. Learners enroll in courses in criminological theory, administration of organizations in criminal justice, crime mapping, and diversity in criminal justice. The six-credit capstone project consists of needs assessment research and implementation. The project allows students to apply the program's key learning components to create effective organizational change in a real-world situation.

Columbia College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

Most students admitted to ULM's online master's in criminal justice graduate from the program in 18-24 months. Ideal applicants possess a bachelor's in criminal justice from an accredited institution and an undergraduate GPA of at least 2.75. However, the program welcomes applicants with a non-criminal justice bachelor's degree. Non-criminal justice degree-holders may need to enroll in specific undergraduate courses to remove any deficiencies in their academic background. The program leads to a master of arts (MA) degree.

Enrollees can opt to pursue a thesis or a non-thesis study plan. The thesis plan requires students to complete 33 credits, while the non-thesis plan requires 36 credits. Regardless of their chosen plan, all students complete 18 core coursework credits. The core curriculum includes classes in advanced theories of crime and delinquency; minorities, crime, and criminal justice; the juvenile justice system; and criminal justice administration.

University of Louisiana at Monroe is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

John Jay offers a 36-credit online master's in criminal justice that most enrollees can complete in just one year. Applicants need a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution with an undergraduate 3.0 GPA or higher. The program leads to a master of arts degree.

Students can choose from four specialization areas: criminology and deviance, criminal law and procedure, policing, and terrorism studies. All enrollees complete four core courses regardless of their chosen specialization. They must also take a qualifying exam (after completing the required coursework) before they can proceed with the program. Learners can pursue a dual-specialization program after securing their program coordinator's permission.

The core curriculum includes courses in policing and corrections, research design and methods, using computers in social research, and policy analysis in criminal justice. Courses run asynchronously and follow eight-week delivery schedules.

The John Jay College of Criminal Justice is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

CSP offers a 36-credit online master's in criminal justice leadership that follows a cohort model of education. Although courses run asynchronously, cohort members must nevertheless enroll in classes as the program syllabus sequences them.

Applicants need a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university, preferably with a major in criminal justice. The program reviews applications from non-criminal justice degree-holders on a case-by-case basis. All applicants need an undergraduate 3.0 GPA or higher.

The program leads to a master of arts (MA) degree. The curriculum includes coursework in legal and legislative issues, applied ethics in criminal justice leadership, correctional design in a changing world, and administration of criminal justice. Learners complete a comprehensive capstone project that demonstrates mastery of the program's key learning outcomes and applications to the criminal justice field.

Concordia University, Saint Paul is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

MSU's online master's in criminology and criminal justice offers a thesis and a non-thesis track. The thesis track requires 30 credits for completion, while the non-thesis track requires 36 credits. The program leads to a master of science (MS) and accepts full-time and part-time enrollees. Full-time students can earn the degree in two years, without summer enrollment, and 1.5 years with summer enrollment.

Regardless of their chosen track, all enrollees complete 12 credits of core coursework (four classes). The core classes include criminal justice policy, applied research in criminal justice, crime theory and policy, and leadership and management in criminal justice. The remainder of credits come from graduate-level electives and the culminating activity. Students can take non-criminal justice electives with the program coordinator's approval.

Degree-seekers pursuing the non-thesis track must write an in-depth policy analysis paper under faculty supervision to graduate from the program.

Missouri State University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

UM - Dearborn offers an online master's in criminology and criminal justice comprising 30-32 credits. The total number of credits depends on whether a student decides to pursue the thesis or non-thesis option.

The program does not require the submission of GRE scores. However, applicants need a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution with an undergraduate 3.0 GPA or higher. Applicants must also show completion of an undergraduate introductory class on criminal justice and coursework in criminology and criminal law. Enrollees with unfulfilled prerequisite courses can complete them concurrently with their graduate classes.

The curriculum includes 18-19 credits of core coursework in criminal justice theory, deviant behavior, principles of restorative justice, and criminal procedure and the constitution. Non-thesis enrollees must complete a major essay on the application of criminal justice theories to current practice.

University of Michigan - Dearborn is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

UCF's College of Community Innovation and Education offers a 36-credit online master's in criminal justice. Most students complete the program in two years. The curriculum includes 21 core coursework credits and six and nine credits respectively of restricted and general electives.

Students can pursue a thesis or a non-thesis option. Non-thesis enrollees take a final exam or complete a capstone course. A thesis counts for six credits out of the nine general elective credits.

The program leads to a master of science degree. The core curriculum covers subjects such as the nature of crime, criminal justice organizations, administration of justice, and policy analysis in criminal justice. The college offers all required classes completely online. However, some courses are available on campus. Students who plan to enroll only in online classes may request a reduction in campus-based fees.

University of Central Florida is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

Norwich in Northfield, Vermont, offers a 30-credit online master's in criminal justice that consists of five, six-credit courses. Each course lasts 11 weeks, and students enroll in only one course at a time. Most students graduate after 15 months of continuous enrollment. Although an online program, students must attend a one-week residency at the end of their enrollment period for the culminating experience.

Applicants need an accredited bachelor's degree, preferably in criminal justice or a related social science field, with a minimum 2.75 GPA. Applicants do not need to submit GRE or GMAT scores.

All students enroll in two classes at the start of the program: law enforcement administration and contemporary issues in the criminal justice system. After completing the required coursework, students choose three courses out of the following: international terrorism by non-state actors, international response to transnational terrorism, cyberlaw, and cybercrime.

Norwich University is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education.

Mercyhurst's 30-credit online master's in criminal justice administration offers a thesis and non-thesis track. Students complete 18 credits (six classes) of required core coursework and 12 credits (four classes) of electives. Thesis students enroll in only six elective credits (two classes) since the thesis counts as six credits.

Applicants need a bachelor's degree in any field from an accredited institution with an undergraduate 3.0 GPA or higher. The program leads to a master of science (MS) and accepts full-time and part-time enrollees. Most students graduate in 21 months.

The core curriculum includes courses in criminal justice planning and evaluation, organizational and human behavior, professional ethics, and research methods in criminal justice. Mercyhurst offers many electives that address several emerging criminal justice issues, including political crime and terrorism, organized and white-collar crime, and criminology and crime policy

Mercyhurst University is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.