What is Criminal Justice?
Illinois criminal justice jobs come in many shapes and sizes. The first thought many have when they hear the term ‘criminal justice’ is of a police officer in a patrol car. While they may have perhaps the highest profile in our lives, these criminal justice professionals are just one part of the whole spectrum. Even in a local police department, there are detectives, corrections personnel, dispatch professionals, and more.
An Illinois criminal justice degree can also help people launch careers in many other areas, some of which might not immediately come to mind. For instance, many paralegals learn about criminal law in their criminal justice degree program prior to working for an attorney. Social workers may also get their academic foundation in a criminal justice department where they learn about the social implications of crime and justice. Even many Illinois attorneys earn their bachelor’s criminal justice degree from an Illinois college or university.
Sadly, Illinois is not immune to the problems associated with crime. Chicago, for instance, is reportedly rife with crime these days and is in need of people to help stem the tide of that social problem. Elsewhere in the state, criminal justice professionals are working hard to safeguard their communities from the ravages of the opioid and methamphetamine epidemics, among other criminal activities.
Thus, colleges and universities throughout Illinois have created criminal justice programs to help populate the state with highly qualified criminal justice professionals. Starting with the community college systems, Illinois students can pursue a diploma that will lead to a career as a police officer, private investigator, probation officer, security professional, or paralegal, among other possible career choices.
Featured Online Programs
Top Ranked Campus & Online Criminal Justice Programs in Illinois
University of St. Francis
Score: 85.35
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $37,000
- Out-of-State:$37,000
- Net Price: $16,455
- Acceptance Rate: 64%
- Retention Rate: 73%
- Graduation Rate: 65%
- Total Enrollment: 3,185
- Undergrad Students: 1,306
- Graduate Students: 1,879
- Grads Salary: $88,000
- Student-to-faculty: 13:1
Millikin University
Score: 83
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $43,670
- Out-of-State:$43,670
- Net Price: $10,078
- Acceptance Rate: 54%
- Retention Rate: 74%
- Graduation Rate: 59%
- Total Enrollment: 1,659
- Undergrad Students: 1,570
- Graduate Students: 89
- Grads Salary: $78,000
- Student-to-faculty: 10:1
University of Illinois Springfield
Score: 80.21
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $12,252
- Out-of-State:$22,017
- Net Price: $9,241
- Acceptance Rate: 84%
- Retention Rate: 81%
- Graduation Rate: 61%
- Total Enrollment: 4,661
- Undergrad Students: 2,342
- Graduate Students: 2,319
- Grads Salary: $75,000
- Student-to-faculty: 14:1
Bradley University
Score: 80.13
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $39,680
- Out-of-State:$39,680
- Net Price: $24,703
- Acceptance Rate: 77%
- Retention Rate: 84%
- Graduation Rate: 72%
- Total Enrollment: 5,217
- Undergrad Students: 3,883
- Graduate Students: 1,334
- Grads Salary: $78,000
- Student-to-faculty: 11:1
Lewis University
Score: 79.67
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $37,882
- Out-of-State:$37,882
- Net Price: $19,472
- Acceptance Rate: 73%
- Retention Rate: 84%
- Graduation Rate: 63%
- Total Enrollment: 6,636
- Undergrad Students: 3,948
- Graduate Students: 2,688
- Grads Salary: $79,000
- Student-to-faculty: 14:1
Saint Xavier University
Score: 79.1
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $36,840
- Out-of-State:$36,840
- Net Price: $11,943
- Acceptance Rate: 86%
- Retention Rate: 74%
- Graduation Rate: 59%
- Total Enrollment: 3,457
- Undergrad Students: 3,039
- Graduate Students: 418
- Grads Salary: $79,000
- Student-to-faculty: 15:1
DePaul University
Score: 76.85
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $44,460
- Out-of-State:$44,460
- Net Price: $32,129
- Acceptance Rate: 74%
- Retention Rate: 87%
- Graduation Rate: 70%
- Total Enrollment: 21,348
- Undergrad Students: 14,374
- Graduate Students: 6,974
- Grads Salary: $80,000
- Student-to-faculty: 17:1
Southern Illinois University-Carbondale
Score: 75.7
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $13,244
- Out-of-State:$13,244
- Net Price: $16,131
- Acceptance Rate: 90%
- Retention Rate: 69%
- Graduation Rate: 56%
- Total Enrollment: 11,359
- Undergrad Students: 8,195
- Graduate Students: 3,164
- Grads Salary: $78,000
- Student-to-faculty: 11:1
Trinity Christian College
Score: 75.15
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $20,325
- Out-of-State:$20,325
- Net Price: $17,218
- Acceptance Rate: 89%
- Retention Rate: 79%
- Graduation Rate: 64%
- Total Enrollment: 883
- Undergrad Students: 827
- Graduate Students: 56
- Grads Salary: $69,000
- Student-to-faculty: 10:1
North Park University
Score: 75.1
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $35,325
- Out-of-State:$35,325
- Net Price: $19,910
- Acceptance Rate: 73%
- Retention Rate: 69%
- Graduation Rate: 56%
- Total Enrollment: 2,624
- Undergrad Students: 1,876
- Graduate Students: 748
- Grads Salary: $77,000
- Student-to-faculty: 11:1
Elmhurst University
Score: 75.05
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $41,628
- Out-of-State:$41,628
- Net Price: $22,760
- Acceptance Rate: 76%
- Retention Rate: 76%
- Graduation Rate: 65%
- Total Enrollment: 3,906
- Undergrad Students: 3,138
- Graduate Students: 768
- Grads Salary: $73,000
- Student-to-faculty: 14:1
Dominican University
Score: 75.03
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $37,844
- Out-of-State:$37,844
- Net Price: $16,969
- Acceptance Rate: 80%
- Retention Rate: 79%
- Graduation Rate: 62%
- Total Enrollment: 3,424
- Undergrad Students: 2,397
- Graduate Students: 1,027
- Grads Salary: $69,000
- Student-to-faculty: 12:1
Loyola University Chicago
Score: 73.87
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $51,716
- Out-of-State:$51,716
- Net Price: $37,592
- Acceptance Rate: 81%
- Retention Rate: 84%
- Graduation Rate: 77%
- Total Enrollment: 17,397
- Undergrad Students: 12,487
- Graduate Students: 4,910
- Grads Salary: $74,000
- Student-to-faculty: 13:1
Illinois State University
Score: 73.86
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $16,021
- Out-of-State:$28,086
- Net Price: $20,871
- Acceptance Rate: 89%
- Retention Rate: 81%
- Graduation Rate: 66%
- Total Enrollment: 20,989
- Undergrad Students: 18,450
- Graduate Students: 2,539
- Grads Salary: $71,000
- Student-to-faculty: 19:1
Olivet Nazarene University
Score: 72.38
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $37,940
- Out-of-State:$37,940
- Net Price: $22,707
- Acceptance Rate: 67%
- Retention Rate: 68%
- Graduation Rate: 60%
- Total Enrollment: 3,275
- Undergrad Students: 2,569
- Graduate Students: 706
- Grads Salary: $71,000
- Student-to-faculty: 14:1
Western Illinois University
Score: 71.57
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $14,952
- Out-of-State:$14,952
- Net Price: $12,168
- Acceptance Rate: 75%
- Retention Rate: 59%
- Graduation Rate: 45%
- Total Enrollment: 7,073
- Undergrad Students: 5,025
- Graduate Students: 2,048
- Grads Salary: $74,000
- Student-to-faculty: 14:1
Taylor Business Institute
Score: 70.66
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $12,000
- Out-of-State:$12,000
- Net Price: $14,735
- Acceptance Rate: 89%
- Retention Rate: 67%
- Graduation Rate: 68%
- Total Enrollment: 172
- Undergrad Students: 172
- Graduate Students: N/A
- Grads Salary: $57,000
- Student-to-faculty: 10:1
Eastern Illinois University
Score: 69.95
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $13,403
- Out-of-State:$15,879
- Net Price: $14,621
- Acceptance Rate: 68%
- Retention Rate: 70%
- Graduation Rate: 45%
- Total Enrollment: 8,804
- Undergrad Students: 6,849
- Graduate Students: 1,955
- Grads Salary: $69,000
- Student-to-faculty: 15:1
Benedictine University
Score: 69.48
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $34,290
- Out-of-State:$34,290
- Net Price: $24,570
- Acceptance Rate: 77%
- Retention Rate: 69%
- Graduation Rate: 51%
- Total Enrollment: 2,989
- Undergrad Students: 1,842
- Graduate Students: 1,147
- Grads Salary: $74,000
- Student-to-faculty: 13:1
Aurora University
Score: 69.4
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $28,220
- Out-of-State:$28,220
- Net Price: $19,220
- Acceptance Rate: 85%
- Retention Rate: 78%
- Graduation Rate: 58%
- Total Enrollment: 5,935
- Undergrad Students: 4,098
- Graduate Students: 1,837
- Grads Salary: $65,000
- Student-to-faculty: 18:1
Quincy University
Score: 69.14
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $35,740
- Out-of-State:$35,740
- Net Price: $17,424
- Acceptance Rate: 50%
- Retention Rate: 64%
- Graduation Rate: 43%
- Total Enrollment: 1,280
- Undergrad Students: 1,130
- Graduate Students: 150
- Grads Salary: $69,000
- Student-to-faculty: 14:1
Blackburn College
Score: 68.05
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $26,758
- Out-of-State:$26,758
- Net Price: $21,349
- Acceptance Rate: 80%
- Retention Rate: 58%
- Graduation Rate: 52%
- Total Enrollment: 389
- Undergrad Students: 389
- Graduate Students: N/A
- Grads Salary: $69,000
- Student-to-faculty: 9:1
Greenville University
Score: 67.28
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $30,598
- Out-of-State:$30,598
- Net Price: $21,442
- Acceptance Rate: 95%
- Retention Rate: 70%
- Graduation Rate: 51%
- Total Enrollment: 1,053
- Undergrad Students: 905
- Graduate Students: 148
- Grads Salary: $69,000
- Student-to-faculty: 12:1
Rockford University
Score: 66.88
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $37,300
- Out-of-State:$37,300
- Net Price: $24,098
- Acceptance Rate: 57%
- Retention Rate: 70%
- Graduation Rate: 38%
- Total Enrollment: 1,249
- Undergrad Students: 968
- Graduate Students: 281
- Grads Salary: $72,000
- Student-to-faculty: 10:1
National Louis University
Score: 66.46
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $12,345
- Out-of-State:$12,345
- Net Price: $15,724
- Acceptance Rate: 93%
- Retention Rate: 56%
- Graduation Rate: 37%
- Total Enrollment: 8,270
- Undergrad Students: 4,239
- Graduate Students: 4,031
- Grads Salary: $77,000
- Student-to-faculty: 17:1
