Criminal Justice Schools in Tennessee
Academic Programs and Career Trajectories for Students
Despite being ranked by Law Street Media as one of the most dangerous states in the country in 2015, the law enforcement community has made great strides to reduce crime—thanks in part to the work of graduates from criminal justice schools in Tennessee. According to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, violent offenses in the state dropped 2.1 percent between 2014 and 2015.
Making a difference in the community is why many people pursue criminal justice careers. And whether they want to walk the beat or sit behind the bench, professionals can get a solid foundation for their careers by completing a degree program at one of Tennessee’s colleges. Read this page to find out information about criminal justice schools in Tennessee, as well as the jobs that graduates can obtain and the salaries they earn.
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Tennessee’s Best Criminal Justice Programs
All students want to enroll in the best programs—but they may need help finding them first. To help with this, we’ve analyzed and ranked schools across the state based on factors such as teacher-student ratio, and acceptance and enrollment rates. Use the list below to find the highest ranking criminal justice schools in Tennessee.
Bethel University
McKenzie, TN- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$10,188
- Out-of-state$10,188
- In-State$11,034
- Out-of-state$11,034
- Retention Rate62%
- Acceptance Rate90%
- Students Enrolled3,119
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment51%
- AccreditationYes
East Tennessee State University
- Johnson City, TN
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$7,340
- Out-of-state$25,487
- In-State$8,640
- Out-of-state$23,760
- Retention Rate72%
- Acceptance Rate86%
- Students Enrolled14,191
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment56%
- AccreditationYes
Middle Tennessee State University
- Murfreesboro, TN
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$7,200
- Out-of-state$25,872
- In-State$8,946
- Out-of-state$24,768
- Retention Rate75%
- Acceptance Rate94%
- Students Enrolled21,721
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment36%
- AccreditationYes
University of Memphis
- Memphis, TN
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$8,208
- Out-of-state$12,048
- In-State$9,216
- Out-of-state$12,672
- Retention Rate78%
- Acceptance Rate85%
- Students Enrolled21,685
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment44%
- AccreditationYes
Tennessee State University
- Nashville, TN
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$7,854
- Out-of-state$20,574
- In-State$10,178
- Out-of-state$22,642
- Retention Rate64%
- Acceptance RateN/A
- Students Enrolled8,081
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment23%
- AccreditationYes
Cumberland University
- Lebanon, TN
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$22,950
- Out-of-state$22,950
- In-State$6,600
- Out-of-state$6,600
- Retention Rate60%
- Acceptance Rate61%
- Students Enrolled2,550
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment2%
- AccreditationYes
Freed-Hardeman University
- Henderson, TN
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$22,950
- Out-of-state$22,950
- In-State$10,980
- Out-of-state$10,980
- Retention Rate83%
- Acceptance Rate88%
- Students Enrolled2,117
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment23%
- AccreditationYes
Lincoln Memorial University
- Harrogate, TN
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$22,200
- Out-of-state$22,200
- In-State$18,093
- Out-of-state$18,093
- Retention Rate77%
- Acceptance Rate50%
- Students Enrolled4,867
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment10%
- AccreditationYes
The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga
- Chattanooga, TN
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$7,836
- Out-of-state$23,954
- In-State$8,450
- Out-of-state$16,514
- Retention Rate71%
- Acceptance Rate82%
- Students Enrolled11,651
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment52%
- AccreditationYes
The University of Tennessee-Martin
- Martin, TN
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$8,214
- Out-of-state$14,254
- In-State$9,096
- Out-of-state$15,136
- Retention Rate75%
- Acceptance Rate64%
- Students Enrolled7,280
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment29%
- AccreditationYes
King University
- Bristol, TN
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$28,948
- Out-of-state$28,948
- In-State$19,500
- Out-of-state$19,500
- Retention Rate65%
- Acceptance Rate62%
- Students Enrolled1,968
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment71%
- AccreditationYes
Austin Peay State University
- Clarksville, TN
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$6,720
- Out-of-state$12,264
- In-State$8,100
- Out-of-state$13,086
- Retention Rate66%
- Acceptance Rate95%
- Students Enrolled11,048
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment43%
- AccreditationYes
Bryan College-Dayton
- Dayton, TN
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$27,900
- Out-of-state$27,900
- In-State$9,414
- Out-of-state$9,414
- Retention Rate70%
- Acceptance Rate51%
- Students Enrolled1,447
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment44%
- AccreditationYes
Remington College-Nashville Campus
- Nashville, TN
- 2 year
- Campus
- In-State$14,818
- Out-of-state$14,818
- In-StateN/A
- Out-of-stateN/A
- Retention Rate53%
- Acceptance RateN/A
- Students Enrolled275
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment98%
- AccreditationYes
Trevecca Nazarene University
- Nashville, TN
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$25,198
- Out-of-state$25,198
- In-State$9,917
- Out-of-state$9,917
- Retention Rate76%
- Acceptance Rate62%
- Students Enrolled4,088
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment43%
- AccreditationYes
Tennessee’s Most Popular Criminal Justice Careers
How many criminal justice professionals work in Tennessee? What do these workers earn each year? These questions are normal for anyone interested in attending criminal justice schools in Tennessee to ask. The table below provides that information, as well as the minimum education required for state-specific positions in the field.
Police, Sheriff
- Total Employed in Tennessee: 12,450
- Median Salary in Tennessee: $43,810
- Degree Level Required in Tennessee: Academy Program
Correctional Officer
- Total Employed in Tennessee: 8,990
- Median Salary in Tennessee: $31,770
- Degree Level Required in Tennessee: Certification
Compliance Officers
- Total Employed in Tennessee: 5,010
- Median Salary in Tennessee: $60,450
- Degree Level Required in Tennessee: Bachelor’s
Paralegal
- Total Employed in Tennessee: 3,830
- Median Salary in Tennessee $49,500
- Degree Level Required in Tennessee: Varies; up to Bachelor’s
Detectives, Criminal Investigators
- Total Employed in Tennessee: 1,360
- Median Salary in Tennessee: $69,500
- Degree Level Required in Tennessee: Varies; up to Bachelor’s
Probation Officer
- Total Employed in Tennessee: 1,800
- Median Salary in Tennessee: $38,960
- Degree Level Required in Tennessee Bachelor’s
Judicial Clerk
- Total Employed in Tennessee: 140
- Median Salary in Tennessee: $47,610
- Degree Level Required in Tennessee: Varies; up to Bachelor’s
Career Averages for Criminal Justice Occupations in Tennessee
Students who graduate from criminal justice schools in Tennessee want to be confident in their chosen field’s average salaries and job growth rates. This section provides information on the earnings of specific careers in the criminal justice field, as well as projected job growth in the state compared with the national average.
| Job | National | Tennessee |
|---|---|---|
| Private Detectives and Investigators | $50,430 | $53,530 |
| Lawyers | $127,700 | $139,880 |
| Detectives and Criminal Investigators | $69,500 | $81,490 |
| Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers | $93,140 | $100,250 |
| Bailiffs | $32,260 | $45,740 |
| Paralegals and Legal Assistants | $49,500 | $53,180 |
| Fish and Game Wardens | $54,760 | $60,670 |
| Court Reporters | $56,940 | $63,050 |
| Correctional Officers and Jailers | $31,770 | $46,750 |
| Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists | $38,960 | $54,080 |
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2015
| Job | National | Tennessee |
|---|---|---|
| Animal Control Workers | 0.058 | 0.116 |
| Bailiffs | 0.047 | 0.106 |
| Compliance Officers | 0.033 | 0.12 |
| Court, Municipal, and License Clerks | 0.045 | 0.116 |
| Detectives and Criminal Investigators | -0.012 | 0.041 |
| Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates | 0.006 | 0.083 |
| Lawyers | 0.056 | 0.088 |
| Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists | 0.036 | 0.048 |
| Paralegals and Legal Assistants | 0.076 | 0.2 |
Source: Projections Central, 2015
Tennessee Employment Opportunities with a Criminal Justice Degree
Criminal justice professionals around the state can make a difference in their communities, but some locations in Tennessee have more opportunities to do that than others. This chart provides information on the areas of the states that have the most employment opportunities and the average wages workers earn in these locations.
Protective Services
Potential Employers: Tennessee Administrative Office of the Courts; Tennessee Department of Correction; Nashville Investigative Services Bureau; Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency; City of Kingsport Tennessee Police Department; Metropolitan Government of Nashville; City of Memphis ; Williamson County Animal Center; Montgomery County Animal Control; Nashville Metro Animal Care and Control; King & King Detective Agency; Tennessee Private Investigation and Polygraph Commission; Christian Brothers University; G4S; Dynamic Security, Inc.; Murray Guard; Nashville Metro Police School Crossing Guard Section; AquaMobile Swim School; YMCA of Metropolitan Chattanooga; Lifetime Fitness
Total Number of Employees in Tennessee: 66,000
Legal Occupations
Potential Employers: Private practice law firms; Tennessee Administrative Office of the Courts; Tennessee Supreme Court; Tennessee Court of Appeals; Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals; Tennessee Appellate Court Clerk’s Office; Tennessee General Sessions Court; Tennessee Court Juvenile & Family Courts; Tennessee Chancery Courts; Tennessee Circuit Courts; Tennessee Municipal Courts
