The List of All U.S. Colleges With a Criminal Justice Major

Is your child considering studying criminal justice? It’s an exciting, rewarding, high-stakes field offering plenty of challenges and intellectual stimulation. Find out why an education in criminal justice can really pay off, as well as how your child can gain admission into a top program.

Why should you study Criminal Justice in college?

Criminal justice is a fast-paced field offering numerous career paths. What are some of the reasons to pursue a degree in criminal justice?

Career Possibilities

There are plenty of ways you can use your criminal justice degree in the public and private sectors. You can choose from a wide range of specialties, from forensic science to court reporting to law enforcement. Just some of the paths for criminal justice majors are:

• Prosecutor
• Forensic Science Technician
• Police Officer
• Detective
• Crime Scene Investigator
• Computer Forensics Specialist
• FBI Agent
• CIA Agent
• Secret Service Agent
• Homeland Security Agent
• Information Security Analyst
• Prison Psychologist
• Court Reporter

(Note: many of these jobs require advanced degrees in criminal justice or other fields.)

Job Stability

Not only are there numerous possibilities for graduates of criminal justice programs, but the industry also offers good job security. There is always a need for law enforcement and protection—and, of course, highly competent professionals working in the field.

Job satisfaction

While a job in the criminal justice field can be demanding, many professionals have high levels of job satisfaction. That’s because they know they’re really making a difference in the lives of others, protecting communities, and helping people. They’re also grappling with real, high-stakes challenges on a daily basis.

Criminal justice professionals must deal with unique demands and dangers. Students looking to go into the field must carefully weigh the pros and cons of a career in the industry to ensure they are prepared. It is important that individuals recognize the risks, as well as appreciate the rewards: employability, exciting work, and good benefits.

How can you increase your chances of acceptance into a Criminal Justice program?

Depending on the school, you may either be accepted directly into a criminal justice program or receive a general offer of admission after which you will go on to declare your major. Either way, you should state your intention of studying criminal justice on your application.

In a bachelor of science (BS) program, you’ll likely study areas like terrorism, criminology, and security. A bachelor of arts (BA) program will focus on criminal law, corrections, and sociology, among other areas. There may some overlap between these two courses of study. Some colleges, such as John Jay College of Criminal Justice, offer both degrees.

Criminal justice students must exhibit strong problem-solving, communication, research, critical-thinking, and technology skills. You should research the requirements of the school’s program to gain a better idea of how you should present yourself on your application. For a BS program, you’ll want to show extracurriculars such as independent research or computer science club, as well as a strong academic record in math and science courses. BA applicants will want to have extracurriculars like mock trial and have high grades in history, English, and science. All criminal justice candidates will need to demonstrate a passion for helping others through community service and similar activities.

It’s also important to note that criminal justice requires certain ethical standards. If you have a criminal record or have displayed dishonesty, you’re unlikely to be able to pursue an education or career in the field.

If you plan to study criminal justice, you should start putting together a list based on the path and specialty you wish to pursue. CollegeVine’s Early Advising program can help 9th and 10th graders understand the grades, test scores, and extracurriculars they’ll need to study criminal justice in college. We’ll pair your child with a mentor from a top 30 college, who will guide her through the process of selecting courses and extracurriculars and creating a strong profile for college admission.

In 11th grade, your child should begin to put together a list of colleges offering a criminal justice program. This list should have a balance of safety, target, and reach colleges and reflect preferences with regard to size, fit, location, and other factors. Through our College Strategy program, we can help your child put together a strong extracurricular and academic profile and hone their application strategy to maximize their chances of gaining admission into a top criminal justice program. 

What colleges have a Criminal Justice major?

How we help students improve their chances

Curious about your chances of acceptance to your dream school? Our free chancing engine takes into account your GPA, test scores, extracurriculars, and other data to predict your odds of acceptance at over 500 colleges across the U.S. We’ll also let you know how you stack up against other applicants and how you can improve your profile. Sign up for your free CollegeVine account today to get started!