The Best Criminal Justice Schools
US News and World Report has published its list of the Best Criminal Justice Schools in America which we will get to in just a moment.
First it’s important that you understand the criteria for judging a school or college as “BEST”.
The following criteria is generally used when populating the list of the best criminal justice schools and colleges:
- Its accreditation status by the U.S. Department of Education. There are six regional accreditation bodies:
- Southern Association of Schools and Colleges;
- New England Association of Schools an Colleges;
- North Central Association of Schools and Colleges;
- Middle States Association of Schools and Colleges;
- Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges;
- Western Association of Schools and Colleges.
- The prestige of the school name within its field.
- Department strength in terms of faculty background, learning resources and materials, internship experiences, affiliations, etc.
- The success of the career placement office in locating employment opportunities for new graduates.
List of The “BEST” Criminal Justice Schools & Colleges:
- American University
- Arizona State University
- CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice
- Florida State University
- George Mason University
- Indiana University
- Michigan State University
- Northeastern University
- Pennsylvania State University (University Park)
- Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey (Newark campus)
- Temple University
- Sam Houston State University
- Washington State University
- University of Albany – SUNY
- University of California (Irvine campus)
- University of Cincinnati
- University of Delaware
- University of Florida
- University of Illinois (Chicago campus)
- University of Maryland (College Park campus)
- University of Missouri (St. Louis campus)
- University of Nebraska (Omaha campus)
- University of Pennsylvania (Ivy League School)
Source: US News & World Report
“If You Are Looking For The Best Schools & Colleges That Offer A Particular Type Of Degree – e.g Associates, Bachelors & Masters – Then Please Refer To The Appropriate Pages Linked To From The Top Navigation”
More than half of the above-named schools offer online criminal justice degree programs. This is a great option for those who may be fitting in college study with a full time job or other responsibilities.
Graduating from a prestigious school with high grades can give your job search an important boost in terms of name recognition by potential employers. This is especially the case for coveted positions with such agencies as the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) or Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA). Employers such as these recognize that programs with high standards will graduate students who are expected to excel in the field.
Take caution in choosing programs under the umbrella of one university system as the quality of programs may be very different between campuses. For example, the State University of New York- Plattsburgh (SUNY Plattsburgh) offers a criminal justice program but it pales in comparison with that offered by SUNY-Albany (which made the US News list).
How to Choose From The Best Criminal Justice Schools
Now that you know which schools are the best, we will cover a few tips for selecting the program that is best suited to your needs:
- Cost Considerations: Research what the costs of attendance will be. Consider not only the direct costs such as books and course fees, but also the cost of commuting and dining.
- Scheduling Flexibility: If you plan to continue working while pursuing your degree, determine whether the program offers the option for part time evening and weekend study. Perhaps there is the option to take courses online.
- Contact the school of interest: Once you have narrowed your school choices to between three and five, Request an information pack and contact the schools of interest to arrange a visit (or a telephone consultation if an online program).
- During your visit, be sure to speak with other students to obtain their feedback regarding the quality of instruction. If an online program, try to evaluate its match with your needs by perusing the school’s web site and taking note of the writing style and information included.
- For example, is the site professional, easy to navigate, does it provide all needed information (e.g. tuition costs) or will you need to perform additional research? You can also ask to speak directly with faculty, as well as current students.
Most quality programs, whether traditional classroom or virtually-based, value transparency and will be happy to discuss all aspects of their school in terms of culture, programs, and the full costs of attendance.
If you are thinking about a career in criminal justice then take the time to research the best criminal justice schools to give yourself the greatest opportunity to succeed.
