What is Criminal Justice?
A degree in criminal justice opens up many career paths. Some graduates may join their local police academy, while others might train at a federal law enforcement academy to work for agencies like the FBI, CIA, DEA, or DHS. Criminal justice professionals generally focus on investigating, prosecuting, or preventing crime. They may work in corrections, local police departments, or federal agencies, with some specializing in scientific analysis of evidence or working on criminal justice policy.
While most criminal justice majors apply their degrees in the public sector, others work for private concerns. There is strong demand for criminal justice majors as paralegals, private investigators, and independent consultants. A criminal justice degree also is a good foundation for law school.
Arizona offers many excellent criminal justice degree programs. Given the popularity of this academic track, we've dedicated significant effort to ranking the best programs in the state. Students can expect their criminal justice curriculum to reflect local crime trends, as professors often have hands-on experience in fighting crime in Arizona.
Featured Online Programs
Top Ranked Campus & Online Criminal Justice Programs in Arizona
University of Arizona
Score: 82.92
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $13,626
- Out-of-State:$41,095
- Net Price: $17,075
- Acceptance Rate: 87%
- Retention Rate: 86%
- Graduation Rate: 68%
- Total Enrollment: 49,403
- Undergrad Students: 38,751
- Graduate Students: 10,652
- Grads Salary: $80,000
- Student-to-faculty: 17:1
Arizona State University
Score: 81.93
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $12,051
- Out-of-State:$32,193
- Net Price: $14,808
- Acceptance Rate: 90%
- Retention Rate: 85%
- Graduation Rate: 67%
- Total Enrollment: 80,065
- Undergrad Students: 65,492
- Graduate Students: 14,573
- Grads Salary: $77,000
- Student-to-faculty: 19:1
Northern Arizona University
Score: 75.14
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $12,652
- Out-of-State:$28,900
- Net Price: $17,115
- Acceptance Rate: 80%
- Retention Rate: 76%
- Graduation Rate: 59%
- Total Enrollment: 28,086
- Undergrad Students: 23,204
- Graduate Students: 4,882
- Grads Salary: $71,000
- Student-to-faculty: 20:1
DeVry University-Arizona
Score: 68.09
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $17,488
- Out-of-State:$17,488
- Net Price: $30,963
- Acceptance Rate: 53%
- Retention Rate: 100%
- Graduation Rate: 22%
- Total Enrollment: 73
- Undergrad Students: 60
- Graduate Students: 13
- Grads Salary: $89,000
- Student-to-faculty: 4:1
Grand Canyon University
Score: 66.52
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $17,450
- Out-of-State:$17,450
- Net Price: $21,939
- Acceptance Rate: 78%
- Retention Rate: 70%
- Graduation Rate: 45%
- Total Enrollment: 101,816
- Undergrad Students: 66,769
- Graduate Students: 35,047
- Grads Salary: $70,000
- Student-to-faculty: 20:1
University of Phoenix-Arizona
Score: 56.42
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $9,552
- Out-of-State:$9,552
- Net Price: $13,319
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 42%
- Graduation Rate: 18%
- Total Enrollment: 88,891
- Undergrad Students: 69,866
- Graduate Students: 19,025
- Grads Salary: $80,000
- Student-to-faculty: 110:1
Brookline College-Tucson
Score: 51.1
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $31,387
- Out-of-State:$31,387
- Net Price: $20,997
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 76%
- Graduation Rate: 55%
- Total Enrollment: 230
- Undergrad Students: 230
- Graduate Students: N/A
- Grads Salary: $31,600
- Student-to-faculty: 33:1
Brookline College-Tempe
Score: 51.06
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $31,387
- Out-of-State:$31,387
- Net Price: $25,350
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 83%
- Graduation Rate: 61%
- Total Enrollment: 269
- Undergrad Students: 269
- Graduate Students: N/A
- Grads Salary: $31,600
- Student-to-faculty: 45:1
Pima Community College
Score: 49.97
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $2,370
- Out-of-State:$7,686
- Net Price: $3,523
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 68%
- Graduation Rate: 18%
- Total Enrollment: 15,293
- Undergrad Students: 15,293
- Graduate Students: N/A
- Grads Salary: $38,400
- Student-to-faculty: 19:1
Scottsdale Community College
Score: 48.17
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $2,358
- Out-of-State:$8,958
- Net Price: $13,627
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 63%
- Graduation Rate: 22%
- Total Enrollment: 7,065
- Undergrad Students: 7,065
- Graduate Students: N/A
- Grads Salary: $44,000
- Student-to-faculty: 14:1
Chandler-Gilbert Community College
Score: 47.78
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $2,358
- Out-of-State:$8,958
- Net Price: $13,111
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 65%
- Graduation Rate: 17%
- Total Enrollment: 13,775
- Undergrad Students: 13,775
- Graduate Students: N/A
- Grads Salary: $47,100
- Student-to-faculty: 23:1
Rio Salado College
Score: 47.09
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $2,358
- Out-of-State:$8,958
- Net Price: $6,834
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 60%
- Graduation Rate: 10%
- Total Enrollment: 17,078
- Undergrad Students: 17,078
- Graduate Students: N/A
- Grads Salary: $45,300
- Student-to-faculty: 28:1
Estrella Mountain Community College
Score: 46.81
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $2,358
- Out-of-State:$8,958
- Net Price: $11,420
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 71%
- Graduation Rate: 18%
- Total Enrollment: 9,620
- Undergrad Students: 9,620
- Graduate Students: N/A
- Grads Salary: $40,300
- Student-to-faculty: 19:1
Phoenix College
Score: 46.43
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $2,358
- Out-of-State:$8,958
- Net Price: $11,555
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 67%
- Graduation Rate: 12%
- Total Enrollment: 9,649
- Undergrad Students: 9,649
- Graduate Students: N/A
- Grads Salary: $44,700
- Student-to-faculty: 12:1
Paradise Valley Community College
Score: 45.62
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $2,358
- Out-of-State:$8,958
- Net Price: $12,116
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 65%
- Graduation Rate: 13%
- Total Enrollment: 5,676
- Undergrad Students: 5,676
- Graduate Students: N/A
- Grads Salary: $43,100
- Student-to-faculty: 11:1
