Best Online Criminal Justice Degrees in Tennessee (TN)
Explore the full range of degrees and certificates, both undergraduate and graduate, offered by the best criminal justice programs in Tennessee today. Discover how an online program can help you launch or advance your career as a law enforcement, security, or legal professional.
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.
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:
Middle Tennessee State University
Murfreesboro, Tennessee
Public
University of Memphis
Memphis, Tennessee
Public
King University
Bristol, Tennessee
Private
Trevecca Nazarene University
Nashville, Tennessee
Private
Remington College-Knoxville
Knoxville, Tennessee
Private
Bethel University
McKenzie, Tennessee
Private
Tennessee State University
Nashville, Tennessee
Public
Bryan College-Dayton
Dayton, Tennessee
Private
The University of Tennessee Southern
Pulaski, Tennessee
Private
Lincoln Memorial University
Harrogate, Tennessee
Private
Roane State Community College
Harriman, Tennessee
Public
Walters State Community College
Morristown, Tennessee
Public
Chattanooga State Community College
Chattanooga, Tennessee
Public
Nashville State Community College
Nashville, Tennessee
Public
Types of Criminal Justice Degree Programs in Tennessee
For each of the many criminal justice career paths available to you, you’ll find specific types of degree or certificate programs that are ideal to get you started. To help you determine the right one for you, here are descriptions of the five most common criminal justice program types, along with real program examples in Tennessee for each.
Associate Degrees
The criminal justice associate degree is primarily for students seeking a foundational education that prepares them for entry-level employment. During your program search, you’ll notice that many criminal justice associate degree programs come with the Tennessee Transfer Pathway (TTP) designation. TTP programs allow students to begin their college education at a more affordable community college (or similar two-year program) and then transfer the credits earned in that program to a four-year college or university to earn their bachelor’s degree. Criminal justice associate degree programs in Tennessee may be campus-based or online and typically require two years of full-time study to complete.
Examples of Accredited Tennessee Colleges with this Criminal Justice Degree
| College | Location | Delivery | Accreditation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bethel University | McKenzie | Online | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) |
| Columbia State Community College | Columbia | On-Campus | SACSCOC |
| Jackson State Community College | Jackson | Online | SACSCOC |
| Northeast State Community College | Blountville | Online | SACSCOC |
| Southwest Tennessee Community College | Memphis | On-Campus; Online | SACSCOC |
Bachelor’s Degrees
While requiring more time than an associate degree program, a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice offers students the advantage of additional general education and major-specific coursework, an attractive feature to many employers. The bachelor’s also prepares students to continue their studies on the graduate level. Bachelor’s degree criminal justice programs in Tennessee are offered by four-year colleges and universities, both public and private, and happen on campus, online, or as a hybrid. Like most bachelor’s programs, students should expect to invest four years of full-time study into earning their degrees.
Examples of Accredited Tennessee Colleges with this Criminal Justice Degree
| College | Location | Delivery | Accreditation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cumberland University | Lebanon | On-Campus | SACSCOC |
| South College | Ashville; Knoxville; Nashville | Online; Hybrid | SACSCOC |
| Tennessee Tech University | Cookeville | On-Campus | SACSCOC |
| Tennessee Wesleyan University | Athens | Online | SACSCOC |
| University of Tennessee Knoxville | Knoxville | On-Campus | SACSCOC |
Master’s Degrees
Master’s degrees in criminal justice are, in most cases, designed to prepare professionals currently employed in any of the many criminal justice-related fields for advanced practice and leadership positions. Master’s programs also provide the academic credential needed to continue on to earn a doctoral degree for those seeking academic careers. You’ll find that many criminal justice master’s programs in Tennessee are available fully online in part-time formats, meant to allow the greatest study convenience and flexibility to working professionals. Program lengths vary as a result, but most students will complete their studies in around 1.5 to 2 years.
Examples of Accredited Tennessee Colleges with this Criminal Justice Degree
| College | Location | Delivery | Accreditation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bethel University | McKenzie | Online; On-Campus; Hybrid | SACSCOC |
| Lincoln Memorial University | Harrogate | Online | SACSCOC |
| Middle Tennessee State University | Murfreesboro | Online; On-Campus | SACSCOC |
| University of Tennessee Chattanooga | Chattanooga | On-Campus | SACSCOC |
| University of Tennessee Southern | Pulaski | Online | SACSCOC |
Doctoral Degrees
A doctoral degree in criminal justice is strictly for professionals seeking the highest tier of practice in the criminal justice field. There are two basic criminal justice doctoral degree types: the PhD in Criminal Justice, which prepares graduates for top-level positions in academic research and teaching; and the less common Doctorate in Criminal Justice, which is geared more toward those interested in leadership positions.
There are, however, currently no criminal justice doctoral degree programs based in Tennessee, though the University of Tennessee, Knoxville does offer a PhD in Sociology with a Criminology specialization (linked below). You can also earn an online PhD or doctoral degree from schools outside of Tennessee.
Examples of Accredited Tennessee Colleges with this Criminal Justice Degree
| College | Location | Delivery | Accreditation |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Tennessee, Knoxville | Knoxville | On-Campus | SACSCOC |
Certificate Programs
Criminal justice certificate programs in Tennessee are available on both the undergraduate and graduate levels. Undergraduate certificates are designed primarily to provide students with a faster and more affordable credential leading to entry-level employment than an associate or bachelor’s degree. Graduate certificates provide current professionals a way to gain additional knowledge and skills in criminal justice generally or in a specific area of the profession without the need to complete an entire graduate degree program. Completion times vary, but most can be earned with six months to one year of part-time study.
Examples of Accredited Tennessee Colleges with this Criminal Justice Degree
| College | Location | Delivery | Accreditation |
|---|---|---|---|
| East Tennessee State University (graduate) | Johnson City | Online | SACSCOC |
| Nashville State Community College (undergraduate) | Nashville | On-Campus; Online | SACSCOC |
| South College (graduate) | Nashville; Knoxville | Online | SACSCOC |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology (undergraduate) | Humboldt | On-Campus | Commission of the Council on Occupational Education (COE) |
| University of Tennessee Martin (graduate) | Martin | Online | SACSCOC |
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.
| Job Growth Rate (2020-2030) | Average Annual Openings (2020-2030) | Annual Mean Wage (2022) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Detectives and Criminal Investigators | 3.3% | 110 | $74,500 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives | 8.2% | 280 | $67,690 |
| Police and Sheriff’s Patrol Officers | 8.8% | 1,120 | $50,020 |
| Private Detectives and Investigators | 5.5% | 70 | $57,620 |
| Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists | 7.3% | 180 | $47,310 |
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.