Best Criminal Justice Schools in Mississippi
Academic Programs and Career Paths for Criminal Justice Students
Mississippi has a crime rate 10 percent above the national average, making careers in criminal justice in-demand in the state. Those interested in attending criminal justice school in Mississippi can transition into industries such as criminal investigation and prosecution, correctional facility, judicial and legal work or even wildlife and natural resources law enforcement. This page offers information about Mississippi’s best criminal justice schools, as well as state-specific employment, salary and job growth resources for current or prospective students, and anyone interested in exploring a degree in criminal justice.
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Mississippi’s Best Criminal Justice Degree Programs
With a variety of program options, specializations and criminal justice schools spread across Mississippi, the search for the perfect school can be difficult. The list below provides an analysis of which schools offer the best overall value for criminal justice students. Each criminal justice school is scored and ranked by features like tuition cost, acceptance rates and financial aid availability. These variables can help college-bound students efficiently assess Mississippi’s best criminal justice programs.
Mississippi Valley State University
Itta Bena, MS- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$6,726
- Out-of-state$6,726
- In-State$7,560
- Out-of-state$7,560
- Retention Rate61%
- Acceptance Rate65%
- Students Enrolled2,147
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment50%
- AccreditationYes
University of Southern Mississippi
- Hattiesburg, MS
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$8,786
- Out-of-state$10,786
- In-State$8,786
- Out-of-state$10,786
- Retention Rate68%
- Acceptance Rate97%
- Students Enrolled14,133
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment70%
- AccreditationYes
University of Mississippi
- University, MS
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$8,718
- Out-of-state$24,990
- In-State$8,718
- Out-of-state$24,989
- Retention Rate87%
- Acceptance Rate88%
- Students Enrolled21,617
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment38%
- AccreditationYes
Jackson State University
- Jackson, MS
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$8,270
- Out-of-state$8,270
- In-State$8,270
- Out-of-state$8,270
- Retention Rate77%
- Acceptance Rate68%
- Students Enrolled7,020
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment61%
- AccreditationYes
Delta State University
- Cleveland, MS
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$7,501
- Out-of-state$7,501
- In-State$7,501
- Out-of-state$7,501
- Retention Rate67%
- Acceptance Rate94%
- Students Enrolled3,751
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment49%
- AccreditationYes
Top Criminal Justice Careers in Mississippi
A degree in criminal justice may lead to many different careers. Take a look at some of the most common occupations for criminal justice school grads in Mississippi below. Before choosing a specialization within criminal justice, college-bound students can get a feel for what each profession looks like in the state of Mississippi, including average salaries and the level of education required for each profession.
Projected Job Growth and Annual Salaries in Mississippi
When choosing a criminal justice school in Mississippi it may also be important to consider the legal and protective service career options available in the state. With crime rates 10 percent higher than the national average, many criminal justice oriented fields show higher than average job growth projections. Compare Mississippi’s numbers on the graphs below and learn about which degree each specialized position within criminal justice requires, from Doctorate to Associate.
Salary
| Job | National | Mississippi |
|---|---|---|
| Criminal Justice Professor | 63,230 | 64,460 |
| Probation Officer | 31,640 | 54,080 |
| Bailiff | 30,650 | 44,900 |
| Court Reporter | 32,270 | 54,720 |
| Rehabilitation Counselor | 32,220 | 37,330 |
| Forensic Science Technician | 51,420 | 60,090 |
| Administrative Law Judge | 79,280 | 89,970 |
| Gaming Investigators | 32,040 | 34,790 |
Job Growth
| Job | National | Mississippi |
|---|---|---|
| Transportation Security | -0.09 | 0.095 |
| Administrative Law Judge | -0.033 | 0.018 |
| Compliance Officer | 0.033 | 0.055 |
| Correctional Officer | 0.037 | 0.144 |
| Detectives, Criminal Investigator | -0.012 | 0.045 |
| Bailiff | 0.047 | 0.071 |
| Paralegal, Legal Assistant | 0.076 | 0.097 |
| Court Reporter | 0.015 | 0.044 |
Source: Projections Central, 2015
Highest Employment Areas for Criminal Justice in Mississippi
Before enrolling in criminal justice school, students may want to have a better understanding of the most employable areas in the state. Michigan has many large-population cities with criminal justice career opportunities, examples mapped below. Details on common industry careers and the largest employment areas in the state of Michigan are included-scroll over the map to learn about each region.
Largest areas of employment in descending order
Protective service
- Jackson
- Gulfport, Biloxi
- Northeast Mississippi
- Southeast Mississippi
- Northwest Mississippi
Legal service
- Jackson
- Northeast Mississippi
- Gulfport, Biloxi
- Southeast Mississippi
- Northwest Mississippi
Additional Information on Criminal Justice in Mississippi
Business Compliance Resources
Correctional Resources
Court & Judicial Resources
Legal Resources
Law Enforcement Resources
Wildlife & Environmental Resources
