2024 Best Online Accelerated Criminal Justice Degrees
By Joy Miller
Edited by Briana Sukert
Updated on September 23, 2024
Does the thought of getting your accelerated criminal justice degree online excite you? Do you want to fight crime, catch the bad guys, and ensure justice is served?
Going into criminal justice can help you feel good about the work that you do.
You may also enjoy a growing job market of 8% in the protective service field and an average annual salary of $43,710 (Bureau of Labor Statistics).
Editorial Listing ShortCode:
Methodology: The following school list is in alphabetical order. To be included, a college or university must be regionally accredited and offer degree programs online or in a hybrid format.
American Public University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Anderson is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
ASU is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Ashland is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Aurora is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Bellevue is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
CalBaptist is accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission.
CCU is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Eastern University is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
Faulkner is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
FIU is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
King is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
Lamar is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
Liberty is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
Maryville is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Point Park is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
PSU is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.
Purdue University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.
Rasmussen is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
SEMO is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Stevenson is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
Tiffin is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
OU Norman is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
UWG is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
WVSU is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
The idea of criminal justice is often exciting to people, and the types of degrees you can get in criminal justice can be exciting as well because there is so much variety.
Which of these sounds the most appealing to you?
You don’t have to settle for boring and ordinary. If you have skills that could make the world a safer place, one of these criminal justice degree programs might be the perfect fit for you.
An accelerated criminal justice degree can help prepare you to fight crime and keep the world a safer place. You may already have the raw skills, like:
These are skills that can help make you a great candidate for a criminal justice degree. Also, you need to have a strong desire to help others and enforce the law.
The classes in criminal justice programs will vary, but will likely include options such as:
These classes can help prepare you for the reality of criminal law, security, justice, and crime.
Becoming a police officer is not your only choice for a criminal justice degree. There are many other careers for you to consider, including:
From working in nature to working in a mall, investigating money laundering to investigating a murder scene, the options of what you might do with your criminal justice degree are quite varied. You might be working primarily on a computer screen, or you may be in a federal prison or on the road.
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates an increase of 8% in criminal justice-related jobs over the next decade. Having a bachelor’s degree or previous law enforcement or military experience can help increase your job prospects.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, here are some job titles and average salaries for the industry:
| Careers | Annual Median Salary |
| FBI Agents | $92,080 |
| Detective or Criminal Investigators | $86,940 |
| Transit Police | $72,580 |
| Insurance Investigators | $68,270 |
| Police Officers | $65,540 |
| Forensic Science Technicians | $60,590 |
| Local Probation Officers | $59,690 |
| Fish and Game Wardens | $58,040 |
| State Correctional Officers | $53,430 |
| Private Detective or Investigators | $53,320 |
All of these jobs have entry-level positions, meaning that you may be able to start at the bottom of the ladder and work your way up.
Many students opt to take online accelerated degree programs due to the flexibility and convenience they provide. There can be great benefits to taking online accelerated programs, such as:
Instead of waiting for next semester, you may be able to start right now. Many universities throughout North America offer start dates each month.
Traditional students spend 16 weeks attending class 2-3 times a week, but you can look into accelerated online classes to speed things up. Instead of taking 16 weeks for each class, you may enroll in 8 week accelerated online classes. Accelerated classes still cover the same material, just faster.
Taking classes online often means not having to show up to class at any particular location or time. You may complete your work on your schedule from the comfort of your own home.
Earning a criminal justice degree generally requires the completion of 182 credits. If you take the average 30 credit hours per year and pass all of your classes the first time, you can complete your degree in a little over 6 years.
If you’re currently in a position that has you thinking, I need a degree fast, then entering into an accelerated program and following these three tips may help you cut years off of earning your degree.
You may be able to get credits without going to class. Through the College Level Examination Program, you may earn up to 30 credits. The exams cost $89 each, plus any fees required by the testing center.
If you get 50% of the 95 multiple choice questions right on the exam, you’ll earn credits, usually 3, that many schools will allow you to put toward your degree. If needed, there are study guides available to help you prepare for each exam.
Do you have previous work experience? If you completed a certification or training program, you might be eligible for college credit. Military experience may reward you with a lot of college credit.
The American Council of Education along with the US military recognize and provide credit recommendations for military service. Even your basic training might count as credit. You may apply to have your credit transferred through your Joint Services Transcript.
Even without military experience, many universities will consider your employment and past experiences for credit.
To get this consideration, you will likely need to complete an Experiential Learning Portfolio that demonstrates how you already have the knowledge for the course. Once submitted and approved, you’ll be awarded credit for your experience.
Most universities will allow up to 15 credits for prior training. That’s 5 classes you may not have to take.
The traditional college schedule allows for 30 credit hours to be completed each year. With 182 credit hours for a criminal justice degree, that may equal 6 years of sitting in class.
The trick is to take a higher number of classes. Each semester, you may take 18 credit hours, instead of 15. You may also take classes during the summer, instead of just fall and spring. That route can give you the opportunity to earn up to 54 credits in just 12 months.
You might be able to use pre-existing college credit for your criminal justice degree now. Generally, as long as the program accepts transfer credits, there are just 3 criteria to check:
Sometimes, your classes won’t apply directly to your new degree, but you may be able to use them to fill your elective spots.
Earning your degree can be expensive, but you may be able to cut down on your out-of-pocket costs. Like we mentioned previously, you may use CLEP exams to earn 30 credits.
Each 3 credit exam costs $89, plus any test center fees required, which means for around $890 you could earn up to 30 credits. That’s a lot lower than paying tuition for those 10 classes. You may also be able to earn up to 15 more credits if you have prior training.
You can further lower your expenses by taking advantage of financial aid. Typically, the first step is to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to find out what you qualify for in grants and loans. You can also research university grants and scholarships and other scholarship opportunities.
You might also qualify for state funding or work for a company that offers tuition assistance.
It is important to make sure the school your program is in is accredited by a regional board. You can check on a school’s accreditation by going to the Department of Education website and searching for your school.
If the school you are attending is regionally accredited, you can be more comfortable that your degree will be recognized by employers.
While a criminal justice program does not have to have programmatic accreditation, there are a few accreditations that would be nice to have and further ensure you’ll be receiving a quality education:
Accreditation is a sign that a school and/or program is meeting educational standards.
Yes, there are criminal justice degree bachelor’s degrees, which are often called 4 year degrees. A bachelor’s degree in criminal justice can take more or less than 4 years to complete, though. Criminal justice programs tend to be lengthier and require more classes than many other bachelor’s programs.
You might shorten your time by testing out of classes, submitting a portfolio for prior learning, and taking the max number of accelerated classes per semester.
If 4 years is too long, you may also look into a criminal justice associates degree, which typically only takes 2 years to complete.
On the other hand, you can advance your education beyond a bachelor’s and earn a masters in criminal justice. A master’s normally takes 2 additional years on top of earning your bachelor’s.
If you test out of 30 credits, earn 15 credits from a portfolio for prior learning, and take 18 credits per semester (including summer), you can potentially finish in about 2.5 years.
It depends on your needs as a student. One university may appeal to you over another, but as long as a school is accredited, you can rest assured that it will provide you with an education that employers and other schools will recognize.
There are heroes in real life. There are people who risk their lives to protect and serve others. They are heroes that go to work every day to do a job that makes the world a safer place. Those heroes are real.
That could be you.
Choosing a career in criminal justice doesn’t need to cost you 6 years of your life and more money than it needs to. By following the tips above, you might fly through your degree in 2.5 years and be out on the streets making a difference.
It may be hard, but it may also be worth it. Explore schools and programs tailored to your path—just click “Find My Program.”
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