Top 10 Online Master’s in Criminal Justice Programs of 2024

Law enforcement careers span many areas of the field, including investigating crime, protecting against cyberattacks, and coordinating disaster response strategies for local police departments. Earning a master’s in criminal justice online can help you pursue law enforcement jobs with high salaries and leadership potential.

Our guide to criminal justice degrees includes information on coursework, career options, and average salary levels. You’ll also find our list of the top criminal justice master’s programs, which combine expert career training with convenience and affordability.

A criminal justice master’s program builds advanced knowledge of law enforcement theories and practices. You’ll gain specialized criminology, criminal justice administration, and law enforcement leadership skills.

Your training can qualify you for potentially rewarding and in-demand positions, such as the various supervisory roles within law enforcement. These upper-level careers typically often come with a significant pay bump and may allow you to make a bigger difference in your community.

Earning your master’s in criminal justice online provides more flexibility than a traditional degree. You can further your education while continuing your career. An online format also lets you attend a top program without relocating.

In a criminal justice master’s program, you can build a broad knowledge of the justice system, including policing practices and the U.S. court system. Coursework also explores general topics such as law, criminal justice management, and theories of crime.

Many online programs in this field offer concentrations such as cybersecurity, criminology, and homeland security. This section describes four common courses in master’s in criminal justice online programs.

Many factors influence the cost of your criminal justice master’s program, including school type, delivery format, and program length. You can save money by attending an in-state public school. You may spend more on your education if you pursue an online master’s degree in criminal justice from a private or out-of-state school. Fortunately, some online schools charge flat-rate tuition, allowing all learners to pay the same rate, regardless of residency status.

As an online learner, you may save money on commuting and other education-related expenses. However, you should plan for extra costs like graduation and technology fees. You must also buy textbooks and other school supplies. You can save money by buying used or digital books.

Even if you’re pursuing a criminal justice master’s degree online, you may need to complete some in-person components. These requirements may lead to additional travel and lodging expenses.

An online master’s degree in criminal justice can prepare you for many advanced careers in law enforcement and related fields. Most criminal justice careers do not require a master’s degree. That said, the degree can make you more competitive for top positions.

If you are transitioning to law enforcement, know that most careers require a training program before becoming an officer. Other protective and public service roles, such as emergency management, may require certification.

Read on to learn more about potential careers for criminal justice graduates.

These law enforcement specialists conduct investigations of serious crimes at the local, state, and federal levels. Detectives and investigators collect evidence, interview suspects, and examine records to solve crimes. They may work for local or state police departments or national agencies like the FBI, DEA, or ATF.

These directors oversee preparations for emergency scenarios, such as natural disasters and terrorist attacks. They work with government agencies, public safety officials, and other professionals to plan for and respond to disasters. Emergency management directors commonly assess disaster risk factors. They also design safety protocols and lead disaster-response teams.

Probation officers rehabilitate criminal offenders, helping them reintegrate into society after incarceration and avoid re-imprisonment. With a master’s degree in criminal justice, you can pursue more administrative roles in this field, directing overall probation practices and policies. Graduates may also work as treatment specialists to develop rehabilitation plans for clients.

Criminologists take a psychological and sociological approach to criminal justice, working to understand the mental factors that influence crime. They work alongside other law enforcement officials to profile criminals and examine criminal behavior. Criminologists may work with police departments or national law enforcement agencies like the FBI.

After completing your criminal justice master’s degree, you can consider several advanced education options. You might continue in your field with a Ph.D. in criminal justice or a doctor of criminal justice (DCJ). While the Ph.D. typically leads to a postsecondary teaching career, the DCJ tends to lead to more advanced or leadership roles within law enforcement.

You could also pair your criminal justice master’s degree with related programs, such as a juris doctor degree if you wish to practice criminal law. If you want to effect change in communities or policies, you can consider a master’s in public administration or doctorate in public administration.

The interdisciplinary nature of criminal justice allows you to take your education in many directions, depending on your strengths and interests.

Before enrolling in any program, you must check the school’s accreditation status. Institutional accreditation can affect your eligibility for financial aid, credit transfer, and licensure/employment opportunities. Institutional accreditation comes from organizations recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) or the U.S. Department of Education (ED).

Regarding programmatic accreditation, there are currently no CHEA- or ED-recognized accreditors for criminal justice programs. However, the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences certifies programs that meet its academic standards.

Many people find great value in criminal justice master’s programs. These advanced degrees can allow you to pursue leadership roles, boost your earning power, and qualify you for specialist positions in federal agencies. To answer this question for yourself, you need to weigh the benefits against the time, money, and energy it takes to earn a master’s degree.

Graduate degrees that may complement a master’s in criminal justice online include public administration, forensic science, and cybersecurity. These fields can benefit criminal justice professionals through their focus on administration, forensics, or information technology. A master’s in social work or psychology can also be useful if you’re interested in criminal rehabilitation.

According to the BLS, the highest-paid job in criminal justice is criminologist. Sociologists of all types (which includes criminologists) earned an annual median salary of $101,770 as of May 2023. Other high-paying criminal justice jobs include detectives/criminal investigators and emergency management directors.

The FBI does not require agents to hold master’s degrees. However, a master’s in criminal justice builds specialized skills and knowledge that can help you advance faster in your career. A master’s degree can also make you more competitive for highly selective jobs, such as those with the FBI and other elite law enforcement organizations.

While closely related, criminal justice and criminology are different fields of study. Criminology takes a social science approach to crime, studying the sociological and psychological roots of criminal behavior. Criminal justice applies the principles of criminology to real-world law enforcement practices and the justice system. Criminology generally takes a more theoretical approach, while criminal justice takes a more practical approach.