Top Online Criminal Justice Associate Degrees
Let us introduce you to the very best fully and partially online criminal justice associate degree programs available today. From admissions and accreditation to program length and cost, get the information and advice you need to find and succeed in your criminal justice associate program.
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Pursuing an associate degree in criminal justice is a great first step toward a rewarding career in law enforcement, corrections, or other public safety roles. With the flexibility of online education, students can balance their studies with work or personal commitments, making it easier to achieve their academic and career goals. In this guide, we’ll provide a detailed ranking of the best online associate programs in criminal justice, covering key aspects like accreditation, curriculum focus, and more. Whether you’re just starting out or seeking to advance in the field, our FAQs will also address common questions to help you make informed decisions about your education.
Madonna University
Livonia, Michigan
Private
University of Providence
Great Falls, Montana
Private
Regent University
Virginia Beach, Virginia
Private
Purdue University Global
West Lafayette, Indiana
Public
Ashland University
Ashland, Ohio
Private
Liberty University
Lynchburg, Virginia
Private
Colorado Christian University
Lakewood, Colorado
Private
Campbell University
Buies Creek, North Carolina
Private
Truckee Meadows Community College
Reno, Nevada
Public
Great Basin College
Elko, Nevada
Public
Hawai’i Pacific University
Honolulu, Hawaii
Private
Columbia College
Columbia, Missouri
Private
Idaho State University
Pocatello, Idaho
Public
Utah State University
Logan, Utah
Public
Chaminade University of Honolulu
Honolulu, Hawaii
Private
Western New Mexico University
Silver City, New Mexico
Public
Southern New Hampshire University
Manchester, New Hampshire
Private
SUNY College of Technology at Canton
Canton, New York
Public
Anderson University
Anderson, Indiana
Private
North Central State College
Mansfield, Ohio
Public
Ball State University
Muncie, Indiana
Public
Lackawanna College
Scranton, Pennsylvania
Private
Cameron University
Lawton, Oklahoma
Public
Sinclair Community College
Dayton, Ohio
Public
Park University
Parkville, Missouri
Private
Saint Leo University
Saint Leo, Florida
Private
Northern State University
Aberdeen, South Dakota
Public
Indiana Wesleyan University-National & Global
Marion, Indiana
Private
University of Maine at Augusta
Augusta, Maine
Public
Washburn University
Topeka, Kansas
Public
Keiser University-Ft Lauderdale
Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Private
University of Maine at Fort Kent
Fort Kent, Maine
Public
Maranatha Baptist University
Watertown, Wisconsin
Private
Baker College
Owosso, Michigan
Private
Glenville State University
Glenville, West Virginia
Public
Reinhardt University
Waleska, Georgia
Private
Utah Valley University
Orem, Utah
Public
Central Christian College of Kansas
McPherson, Kansas
Private
Webber International University
Babson Park, Florida
Private
Bethel University
McKenzie, Tennessee
Private
Indiana Tech
Fort Wayne, Indiana
Private
Kent State University at Trumbull
Warren, Ohio
Public
Bismarck State College
Bismarck, North Dakota
Public
Lewis-Clark State College
Lewiston, Idaho
Public
New England College
Henniker, New Hampshire
Private
Toccoa Falls College
Toccoa Falls, Georgia
Private
Tallahassee Community College
Tallahassee, Florida
Public
Franklin Pierce University
Rindge, New Hampshire
Private
Santa Fe College
Gainesville, Florida
Public
Diablo Valley College
Pleasant Hill, California
Public
McLennan Community College
Waco, Texas
Public
Napa Valley College
Napa, California
Public
Northwood Technical College
Shell Lake, Wisconsin
Public
Eastern New Mexico University-Roswell
Roswell, New Mexico
Public
Blue Ridge Community College
Flat Rock, North Carolina
Public
Sandhills Community College
Pinehurst, North Carolina
Public
Roane State Community College
Harriman, Tennessee
Public
Luzerne County Community College
Nanticoke, Pennsylvania
Public
College of the Albemarle
Elizabeth City, North Carolina
Public
Southwestern Oregon Community College
Coos Bay, Oregon
Public
Des Moines Area Community College
Ankeny, Iowa
Public
Arkansas State University-Mountain Home
Mountain Home, Arkansas
Public
Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College
Perkinston, Mississippi
Public
West Virginia Northern Community College
Wheeling, West Virginia
Public
Robeson Community College
Lumberton, North Carolina
Public
Pierpont Community and Technical College
Fairmont, West Virginia
Public
Randolph Community College
Asheboro, North Carolina
Public
Itawamba Community College
Fulton, Mississippi
Public
Nash Community College
Rocky Mount, North Carolina
Public
Marshalltown Community College
Marshalltown, Iowa
Public
Western Texas College
Snyder, Texas
Public
Isothermal Community College
Spindale, North Carolina
Public
Colby Community College
Colby, Kansas
Public
Northeast Community College
Norfolk, Nebraska
Public
South Georgia Technical College
Americus, Georgia
Public
Iowa Central Community College
Fort Dodge, Iowa
Public
Ellsworth Community College
Iowa Falls, Iowa
Public
San Joaquin Delta College
Stockton, California
Public
Mineral Area College
Park Hills, Missouri
Public
Three Rivers College
Poplar Bluff, Missouri
Public
Holmes Community College
Goodman, Mississippi
Public
Lansing Community College
Lansing, Michigan
Public
Wayne Community College
Goldsboro, North Carolina
Public
Sacramento City College
Sacramento, California
Public
Redlands Community College
El Reno, Oklahoma
Public
Fayetteville Technical Community College
Fayetteville, North Carolina
Public
Southern Crescent Technical College
Griffin, Georgia
Public
Oconee Fall Line Technical College
Sandersville, Georgia
Public
Santa Rosa Junior College
Santa Rosa, California
Public
Stanly Community College
Albemarle, North Carolina
Public
Cabrillo College
Aptos, California
Public
New Mexico Junior College
Hobbs, New Mexico
Public
Los Angeles Valley College
Valley Glen, California
Public
Murray State College
Tishomingo, Oklahoma
Public
Albany Technical College
Albany, Georgia
Public
Pasadena City College
Pasadena, California
Public
Copiah-Lincoln Community College
Wesson, Mississippi
Public
San Jose City College
San Jose, California
Public
Getting to Know the Online Associate Degree in Criminal Justice
The criminal justice associate degree is an excellent academic pathway for anyone looking to build a career in law enforcement. Taking around two years to complete, most associate degree programs consist of 60 credits, completed over four semesters.
In addition to taking courses in criminal procedure, constitutional law, and corrections, students can also receive a well-rounded education by taking general education courses, like public speaking, English, and history. Given that the curriculum is easily delivered in a classroom setting, criminal justice degrees are perfect for students seeking the flexibility of distance learning options. Let’s dive into what you can expect from an online criminal justice associate degree program.
Types of Online ACJ (Associate of Criminal Justice) Programs
Students interested in earning an associate degree in criminal justice have two primary tracks to choose from: traditional and online. The traditional track is perfect for those who desire an on-campus experience. However, many who seek a college degree need the flexibility of taking courses remotely and on a schedule that can work around their professional or family obligations. That’s where online degrees come in.
In addition to flexibility, speed of completion is a primary concern for online students. As a result, there are two primary types of online associate degree programs available for those interested in a criminal justice degree: standard and accelerated.
Standard Criminal Justice AS Program Online
Most online criminal justice associate degree programs will have a default timeline of two years for completion. Each year, a student will attend classes for two semesters and take approximately 15 credits per semester. During the semester, they will be able to progress through their coursework at their own pace, from a location and class start time of their choosing.
Standard online criminal justice associate degree programs are best for students who do not need to quickly enter the workforce and would like to have their summers free to work or engage in other, non-academic activities.
Accelerated Criminal Justice AS Program Online
For students wishing to finish their associate degree as quickly as possible, an accelerated program is something to consider. Instead of finishing in two years, students can earn their degree in as little as one year. The specifics of these programs will depend on the school, but it includes acceptance of transfer credits, such as is the case with Colorado Christian University. Other schools may allow students to speed up their learning by taking courses year round or taking a higher than usual course load. Other institutions, such as Purdue University Global, will provide academic credit for prior military or professional experience.
How are Online Associate Programs in Criminal Justice Accredited?
Accreditation ensures a program meets specific standards of academic quality. Therefore, before enrolling, prospective students should ensure their school of choice has been accredited at the regional or institutional level. Keep in mind that most online associate level criminal justice programs will not have accreditation beyond what a school may receive from a regional or institutional accrediting body. However, there is one organization that may come up as a potential accrediting body at the program level.
The Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences: Technically speaking, the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences (ACJS) does not accredit criminal justice programs. Rather, it provides certification to programs that meet the ACJS’ quality standards. As of the time of this writing, no associate degree criminal justice programs have ACJS certification, though approximately 15 bachelor’s and master’s level programs do. The ACJS is no longer certifying any program “until further notice.”
ACJ Curriculum Overview
Each school will have its own unique curriculum, but there will be many similarities in the subjects covered. The following is a list of several courses found in a typical online associate degree program.
The Basics of Criminal Justice
Students will learn about the three components of the criminal justice system: corrections, the courts, and law enforcement. Students will also learn about the imperfections of the current criminal justice system and potential new policies and ideas to improve it.
Criminology
Students will learn the foundational concepts of criminal behavior. These include a review of criminal theory, causation, and the various types of crimes that society recognizes.
Courts
This class will provide an overview of the criminal court system. In addition to an explanation of due process and courtroom procedures, students will examine the differences between the traditional criminal court system and the juvenile court system.
Ethics in Criminal Justice
When theories behind crime and punishment are applied to the real world, they don’t always result in fair or moral results. This course examines these ethical dilemmas commonly faced by criminal justice professionals and different perspectives for solving them.
Policing
Students will learn about the theoretical basis for policing in society, as well as how it’s implemented and performed in real-world situations. Ethical considerations will also be reviewed.
Private Security
It’s not always public law enforcement officers that maintain public order and safety. This class will look deeper into the privatization of security duties for the protection of business and communities, including operational analysis.
Law Enforcement of Different Cultures
The United States is known as a melting pot of different cultures, languages, and religions. This course will take a look at various considerations when engaging in law enforcement services for minority communities and groups.
Introduction to Crime Scene Investigations
Students will learn the proper techniques and procedures when it comes to the investigative stage of the criminal justice process, as well as the constitutional and practical considerations behind these procedures.
What Core Concepts Will You Study?
An associate degree in criminal justice will provide a comprehensive overview of how a justice system works. It starts with generally accepted theories and principles, then moves on to law enforcement, crimes, evidence gathering, the legal court process, and forms of punishment. To help explain and facilitate this process, as well as reduce crime and improve safety, students can expect to learn the following core concepts.
Analyze data
Statistics is a major tool for preventing and fighting crime. Students will learn basic principles for statistical analysis and how to apply them to real-world scenarios such that community safety can be improved while criminal justice resources are reduced.
Predict patterns and criminal behavior
While human behavior is notoriously unpredictable, when examining a large enough group, patterns can emerge that allow criminal justice professionals to anticipate crime and prevent or reduce its negative effects.
Create criminal profiles
To better understand criminals and the crimes they commit, criminal justice students will grasp the theories behind creating a criminal profile. Profiling will help analyze the motives behind a specific individual’s actions and may even allow law enforcement officials to anticipate or predict future criminal behavior.
Establish agency protocols and procedures
To ensure the integrity and reliability of the criminal justice system, certain rules and procedures must be followed. A criminal justice degree will teach students how to follow these protocols to effectively and efficiently operate while still respecting the rights of the accused.
Online Criminal Justice Associates Degree: FAQs
Earning an associate degree in criminal justice online is convenient, but it’s hardly an easy task. It takes plenty of discipline, preparation, and hard work. To help you get the most out of your online degree in criminal justice, take a look at the following FAQs, which address a few of the more critical questions you might have.
Will I Get Accepted into an Online ACJ Program?
Admissions requirements can vary widely. Almost all programs require an application and transcripts, but to ensure you have the highest probability of acceptance, make sure you’re aware of the following points.
What’s the Timeline for an Online Associate in Criminal Justice?
When it comes to an associate degree in criminal justice, students should expect to spend about 2 years working on completing their degree. However, with more online degree options for criminal justice becoming available, it is possible that a student could complete their degree in as little as one year. Below is a look at how Truckee Meadows Community College breaks down their associate in criminal justice degree.
| Term | Course | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Fall 1 | A humanities or diversity course Foreign language English Social Science Introduction to Administration of Justice | 16 |
| Spring 1 | Foreign Language English Composition Mathematics Two required criminal justice courses of the student’s choice | 16 |
| Fall 2 | Criminal justice elective One required criminal justice course of student’s choice Criminal Law and Procedure Foreign language Science | 15 |
| Spring 2 | Fine arts Science Foreign Language Criminal justice elective | 13 |
How Much Does an Online Associate Degree in Criminal Justice Cost?
Earning an online degree isn’t easy. It takes a significant amount of time, effort, and money. Of those three issues, the biggest hurdle might be the financial aspect. It’s vitally important to understand the costs, what financial aid might be available, and the payment expectations of the school before making a final decision on which program is right for you. Let’s take a look at what to expect in terms of tuition.
| School Name | No. of Credits | Cost/Credit | Total Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Texas College | 60 | $164 (in-district); $174 (out-of-district); $250 (out-of-state) | $9,840 (in-district); $10,440 (out-of-district); $15,000 (out-of-state) |
| Clarion University | 60 | $211 (resident); $422 (non-resident) | $12,660 (resident); $25,320 (non-resident) |
| Purdue University Global | 90 (quarter credits) | $371 (per quarter credit hour) | $33,390 |
| Southern New Hampshire University | 60 | $330 | $19,800 |
| Liberty University | 60 | $390 | $23,400 |