Best Online Criminal Justice Degrees in Tennessee (TN)

Serving your community while protecting the rights of individuals: Criminal justice professionals in Tennessee do both. Through careers as police and corrections officers, probation and parole officials, private investigators, security experts, policymakers and more, criminal justice pros are on the front lines of ensuring the public’s safety. Getting started in your criminal justice career, though, requires a formal education, the kind available from degree and certificate programs at criminal justice schools throughout the state.

We’ve created this guide to introduce you to the best criminal justice schools in Tennessee today. You’ll start by exploring the top programs in the state. Then you’ll learn about financial aid options, and we’ll also give you a preview of the job opportunities awaiting you upon graduation. If you’re ready to serve your community by earning your criminal justice degree, keep reading to discover the best Tennessee has to offer.

Financial Aid Opportunities for Criminal Justice Students in Tennessee

If you know where to look, you’ll find plenty of resources out there to help you pay for on-campus and online criminal justice degrees in Tennessee. Your logical first stops are at the financial aid offices at each of the criminal justice schools in Tennessee you’re considering. There you’ll find leads to a full range of funding opportunities, including:

• Student loans, both public and private, including those from Federal Student Aid
• Scholarships and grants available from government and private providers — you’ll also find many Tennessee colleges and universities offer scholarship and grant opportunities exclusive to their criminal justice students (examples: University of Memphis, the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, and Middle Tennessee State University)
• Fellowships and assistantships (mostly for graduate students)
• Work study
• Tuition reimbursement programs
• VA benefits, for current and veteran military service members, and some family members

And be sure to check out this Criminal Justice Scholarships and Resources guide to learn more about how to fund your criminal justice education.

Demand and Earnings for Criminal Justice Professionals in Tennessee

We’ve listed in the chart below recent Tennessee earnings and job growth figures from the U.S. Department of Labor for five common criminal justice positions. In a state with one of the lowest costs of living in the U.S. (45th among all states, according to recent data from Forbes), it’s not surprising that salaries for criminal justice professionals in Tennessee are markedly lower than those for the nation overall. However, according to the most recent Projections Central figures, job growth estimates for many criminal justice-related occupations in Tennessee are in line with — and, in some cases, higher — than for those occupations in the nation as a whole. That’s a positive sign for anyone intending a long career after earning an on-campus or online criminal justice degree in Tennessee.

Keep in mind as you look over these figures that what you actually earn will vary depending on several factors such as your geographic location, specific job title and employer, and your level of professional experience. You can also expect your earnings to be positively impacted by the fact that you hold a degree or certificate from a respected criminal justice program in Tennessee.

Sources: Projections Central;Bureau of Labor Statistics

Resources for Criminal Justice Students and Professionals in TN

• Alpha Phi Sigma: The Criminal Justice Honor Society
  The only criminal justice honor society recognized by the Association of College Honor Societies, Alpha Phi Sigma is a major presence on over 500 campuses in the U.S. and Canada. Alpha Phi Sigma chapters are currently in operation in Tennessee at Austin Peay State University, Tennessee State University, the University of Memphis, and on seven other campuses throughout the state.
• Criminal Justice & Criminology Society (East Tennessee State University)
  This student-run organization is open to ETSU students interested in criminal justice, the law, current issues, and other related topics. Members attend meetings with guest speakers, take field trips to criminal justice and criminology-related agencies and facilities, and participate in charitable/volunteer activities. Similar clubs and organizations are active on many other Tennessee campuses. Examples include Tennessee State University, the University of Memphis, and the University of Tennessee Southern.
• International Association for Identification – Tennessee Division (TNIAI)
  The TNIAI is a professional association of detectives, police officers, forensic scientists, crime scene technicians, and others working in the crime scene processing and forensic identification fields. Student memberships are available, offering access to a range of networking benefits and scholarship opportunities.
• Southern Criminal Justice Association (SCJA)
  Active in 11 southern states (including Tennessee) plus Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, the non-profit SCJA is a professional association that serves students, researchers, educators, and practitioners in the criminal justice field. Student memberships are available, allowing students to participate in a variety of SCJA activities. Graduate student members are additionally eligible for the annual Outstanding Graduate Student award.
• Tennessee Justice Center
  For nearly 30 years, the Tennessee Justice Center has supported and advocated for the rights and well-being of the state’s most vulnerable children and families. Internship and volunteer positions are available to criminal justice students and members of the general public alike.

Top Online Programs in Tennessee

Some criminal justice programs in Tennessee are available online. These programs offer busy students, especially working professionals, the flexibility and convenience of completing some or all criminal justice coursework at home or from anywhere with access to a reliable internet connection. Saving students the added cost of traveling to and from campus to attend classes is another major feature of earning your degree or certificate online.

To learn more about the benefits of online study and to explore online criminal justice programs in Tennessee and other states, be sure to visit our guide to online criminal justice degrees. And here’s our ranking of the top schools in Tennessee: