Overview of an Associates in Criminal Justice & Law
The criminal justice field has relevance for everybody, every day. Every state, city, town, and even neighborhood relies on police officers to help keep the peace. While we often wish we didn’t need them, police officers and the criminal justice system are woven into the fabric of our society. Public Safety is one of their top priorities.
To enter the criminal justice profession and become an officer, you can simply go through the police academy and (hopefully) land a job. So is a degree in criminal justice worth it? Yes. If you first start with a criminal justice associate degree, you might find that your on-the-job experience is heightened by your knowledge and you are able to advance your rank faster. For those already in the work force, leaving their job to earn an associate degree in person can still keep this career out of reach. However, you can earn your criminal justice degree online. These degrees are often available through online learning or hybrid programs, which include some online education and some in-person learning.
A two-year, online or traditional, criminal justice associate degree can help you launch a fascinating and exciting career in law enforcement, criminal investigation, private investigations, or as a security professional. There are plenty of online and campus programs available to criminal justice students with financial aid. Though you can always launch a career in law enforcement without a post-secondary certificate or criminal justice associate degree, when you take the time to study criminal justice curriculum, you will find that you will appreciate your work all the more. With a criminal justice major, you might take courses that evaluate the statistics behind crimes (allowing deeper insight into the people you interact with), criminal justice ethics, criminal law, the entire criminal justice system and law enforcement, along with many other fascinating subjects in your general education courses.
In fact, it’s been shown that law enforcement or criminal justice professionals who have degrees of any kind, whether bachelor's or associate degrees, tend to be more helpful and compassionate towards the citizens they meet. Naturally, there may be times where you need to see a criminal for exactly what he is, but when you can put crime and its perpetrators in a broader context, your approach will reflect your learning.
Top 25 Best Online Associate in Criminal Justice Programs
LeTourneau University
Score: 79.42
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $35,500
- Out-of-State:$35,500
- Net Price: $26,974
- Acceptance Rate: 49%
- Retention Rate: 77%
- Graduation Rate: 67%
- Total Enrollment: 3,536
- Undergrad Students: 3,350
- Graduate Students: 186
- Grads Salary: $87,000
- Student-to-faculty: 13:1
University of Arkansas
Score: 76.71
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $9,748
- Out-of-State:$28,772
- Net Price: $16,208
- Acceptance Rate: 79%
- Retention Rate: 86%
- Graduation Rate: 69%
- Total Enrollment: 30,936
- Undergrad Students: 26,269
- Graduate Students: 4,667
- Grads Salary: $72,000
- Student-to-faculty: 20:1
Ball State University
Score: 74.52
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $10,758
- Out-of-State:$28,766
- Net Price: $12,615
- Acceptance Rate: 69%
- Retention Rate: 73%
- Graduation Rate: 64%
- Total Enrollment: 19,777
- Undergrad Students: 14,416
- Graduate Students: 5,361
- Grads Salary: $67,000
- Student-to-faculty: 15:1
Indiana Wesleyan University
Score: 74.35
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $31,168
- Out-of-State:$31,168
- Net Price: $21,755
- Acceptance Rate: 87%
- Retention Rate: 78%
- Graduation Rate: 67%
- Total Enrollment: 2,603
- Undergrad Students: 2,236
- Graduate Students: 367
- Grads Salary: $75,000
- Student-to-faculty: 13:1
Monroe College
Score: 74.23
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $17,922
- Out-of-State:$17,922
- Net Price: $9,157
- Acceptance Rate: 60%
- Retention Rate: 70%
- Graduation Rate: 56%
- Total Enrollment: 7,011
- Undergrad Students: 5,916
- Graduate Students: 1,095
- Grads Salary: $69,000
- Student-to-faculty: 16:1
Penn State World Campus
Score: 71.83
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $15,204
- Out-of-State:$15,204
- Net Price: $19,551
- Acceptance Rate: 82%
- Retention Rate: 75%
- Graduation Rate: 36%
- Total Enrollment: 13,979
- Undergrad Students: 8,210
- Graduate Students: 5,769
- Grads Salary: $94,000
- Student-to-faculty: 16:1
Trine University
Score: 71.27
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $35,600
- Out-of-State:$35,600
- Net Price: $24,276
- Acceptance Rate: 92%
- Retention Rate: 78%
- Graduation Rate: 65%
- Total Enrollment: 4,088
- Undergrad Students: 3,819
- Graduate Students: 269
- Grads Salary: $74,000
- Student-to-faculty: 16:1
Bismarck State College
Score: 70.9
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $5,195
- Out-of-State:$7,279
- Net Price: $11,309
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 67%
- Graduation Rate: 51%
- Total Enrollment: 3,771
- Undergrad Students: 3,771
- Graduate Students: N/A
- Grads Salary: $74,000
- Student-to-faculty: 14:1
Chaminade University of Honolulu
Score: 69.73
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $29,970
- Out-of-State:$29,970
- Net Price: $27,315
- Acceptance Rate: 93%
- Retention Rate: 71%
- Graduation Rate: 66%
- Total Enrollment: 2,369
- Undergrad Students: 1,583
- Graduate Students: 786
- Grads Salary: $73,000
- Student-to-faculty: 11:1
Ashland University
Score: 69.54
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $28,910
- Out-of-State:$28,910
- Net Price: $20,342
- Acceptance Rate: 72%
- Retention Rate: 70%
- Graduation Rate: 60%
- Total Enrollment: 4,174
- Undergrad Students: 3,083
- Graduate Students: 1,091
- Grads Salary: $67,000
- Student-to-faculty: 11:1
Regent University
Score: 68.63
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $20,686
- Out-of-State:$20,686
- Net Price: $17,341
- Acceptance Rate: 32%
- Retention Rate: 70%
- Graduation Rate: 55%
- Total Enrollment: 10,337
- Undergrad Students: 4,541
- Graduate Students: 5,796
- Grads Salary: $63,000
- Student-to-faculty: 21:1
Drury University
Score: 68.53
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $35,235
- Out-of-State:$35,235
- Net Price: $20,996
- Acceptance Rate: 63%
- Retention Rate: 78%
- Graduation Rate: 64%
- Total Enrollment: 1,595
- Undergrad Students: 1,375
- Graduate Students: 220
- Grads Salary: $59,000
- Student-to-faculty: 12:1
Northern State University
Score: 68.28
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $8,845
- Out-of-State:$11,947
- Net Price: $17,264
- Acceptance Rate: 78%
- Retention Rate: 74%
- Graduation Rate: 51%
- Total Enrollment: 3,344
- Undergrad Students: 2,851
- Graduate Students: 493
- Grads Salary: $70,000
- Student-to-faculty: 16:1
Indiana Tech
Score: 67.32
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $30,446
- Out-of-State:$30,446
- Net Price: $22,179
- Acceptance Rate: 65%
- Retention Rate: 60%
- Graduation Rate: 37%
- Total Enrollment: 2,595
- Undergrad Students: 1,490
- Graduate Students: 1,105
- Grads Salary: $86,000
- Student-to-faculty: 15:1
Colorado Christian University
Score: 67.26
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $39,266
- Out-of-State:$39,266
- Net Price: $23,313
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 83%
- Graduation Rate: 61%
- Total Enrollment: 8,964
- Undergrad Students: 7,602
- Graduate Students: 1,362
- Grads Salary: $67,000
- Student-to-faculty: 16:1
Saint Leo University
Score: 66.24
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $28,360
- Out-of-State:$28,360
- Net Price: $20,390
- Acceptance Rate: 80%
- Retention Rate: 54%
- Graduation Rate: 49%
- Total Enrollment: 10,242
- Undergrad Students: 7,320
- Graduate Students: 2,922
- Grads Salary: $76,000
- Student-to-faculty: 18:1
Campbell University
Score: 65.78
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $40,410
- Out-of-State:$40,410
- Net Price: $24,280
- Acceptance Rate: 89%
- Retention Rate: 75%
- Graduation Rate: 56%
- Total Enrollment: 5,272
- Undergrad Students: 2,965
- Graduate Students: 2,307
- Grads Salary: $68,000
- Student-to-faculty: 13:1
Franklin Pierce University
Score: 65.57
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $44,963
- Out-of-State:$44,963
- Net Price: $28,434
- Acceptance Rate: 93%
- Retention Rate: 74%
- Graduation Rate: 52%
- Total Enrollment: 1,663
- Undergrad Students: 1,118
- Graduate Students: 545
- Grads Salary: $76,000
- Student-to-faculty: 12:1
St. Petersburg College
Score: 65.34
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $2,682
- Out-of-State:$9,286
- Net Price: $2,132
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 74%
- Graduation Rate: 38%
- Total Enrollment: 23,501
- Undergrad Students: 23,501
- Graduate Students: N/A
- Grads Salary: $63,000
- Student-to-faculty: 22:1
Seminole State College of Florida
Score: 64.89
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $3,227
- Out-of-State:$11,447
- Net Price: $3,144
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 66%
- Graduation Rate: 43%
- Total Enrollment: 14,323
- Undergrad Students: 14,323
- Graduate Students: N/A
- Grads Salary: $62,000
- Student-to-faculty: 26:1
University of Maine at Fort Kent
Score: 64.69
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $9,045
- Out-of-State:$14,325
- Net Price: $12,163
- Acceptance Rate: 99%
- Retention Rate: 59%
- Graduation Rate: 37%
- Total Enrollment: 1,210
- Undergrad Students: 1,194
- Graduate Students: 16
- Grads Salary: $75,000
- Student-to-faculty: 17:1
Indian River State College
Score: 64.16
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $2,764
- Out-of-State:$10,201
- Net Price: $5,019
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 58%
- Graduation Rate: 46%
- Total Enrollment: 14,862
- Undergrad Students: 14,862
- Graduate Students: N/A
- Grads Salary: $62,000
- Student-to-faculty: 27:1
PennWest Clarion
Score: 64.02
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $11,388
- Out-of-State:$16,006
- Net Price: $18,527
- Acceptance Rate: 94%
- Retention Rate: 70%
- Graduation Rate: 48%
- Total Enrollment: 12,778
- Undergrad Students: 9,404
- Graduate Students: 3,374
- Grads Salary: $68,000
- Student-to-faculty: 18:1
Mansfield University of Pennsylvania
Score: 63.9
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $10,682
- Out-of-State:$13,248
- Net Price: $13,168
- Acceptance Rate: 94%
- Retention Rate: 70%
- Graduation Rate: 49%
- Total Enrollment: 1,796
- Undergrad Students: 1,783
- Graduate Students: 13
- Grads Salary: $61,000
- Student-to-faculty: 18:1
Berkeley College-Woodland Park
Score: 63.67
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $28,600
- Out-of-State:$28,600
- Net Price: $17,068
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 64%
- Graduation Rate: 44%
- Total Enrollment: 2,078
- Undergrad Students: 1,944
- Graduate Students: 134
- Grads Salary: $70,000
- Student-to-faculty: 14:1
