The world seems to be getting a little bit darker every day but earning an online master's in criminal justice could give you the opportunity to add one more glimmer of light in that darkness. Many people have questions about the nature of the criminal justice system and the career options it offers. This short examination of the subject is designed to help resolve your doubts and decide if a career in criminal just is for you! Put simply, criminal justice can be defined as the system through which crimes and criminals are identified, apprehended, judged, and punished. The criminal justice system is comprised of three parts:
Law Enforcement: Law enforcement can be seen as the front lines of the criminal justice system.
The Courts: The courts can be thought of as the part of the criminal justice system where guilt or innocence of a suspect is assessed at trial.
Corrections: Corrections can be referred to as the administrative part of the criminal justice system due to its application of sentences and enforcement of punishments.
Featured Online Degree Programs
- Boston University: Master of Criminal Justice
- Saint Leo University: Master of Science in Criminal Justice
- Colorado Technical University: MS – Criminal Justice
In this ranking, our editors examine our picks of the top 5 Online Master's for Criminal Justice programs. For more generalized information regarding distance learning visit our ranking of the top online colleges.
Rating and Ranking MethodologyTuition Points:
Under $45,000—1 point
Under $40,000—2 points
Under $35,000—3 points
Under $30,000—4 points
Under $25,000—5 points
Under $20,000—6 points
Under $15,000—7 points
Under $10,000—8 points
Under $5,000—9 points
US News and World Report Recognition as a Top Online School for Master's in Criminal Justice Programs
Top 5— 5 points
Top 10— 4 points
Top 25 —3 points
Top 50 —2 points
Top 75 —1 point
Customization Options
Format Customizations (e.g. Hybrid/Online, Full-time/Part-Time, Accelerated, Degree Completion, etc.)—1 Point Per Customization Option
Content Customizations (e.g. Minors, Concentrations, Specializations, etc.)—1 Point Per Customization Option (5-point cap)
Wow Factor
1 point awarded for each unique feature or program that "wowed" us
Our editor started with a list of 35 colleges and then used our customized ranking methodology to shortlist the TOP 25. We were able to narrow these initial findings by applying a few factors such as affordability (average net price is capped at $35,000), program customization, return-on-investment, and career prospects. Finally, we used information from U.S. News & World Report as well as from each school's website to apply the rating and ranking methodology above. In the event of a tie in points, the school with the lower tuition receives the higher ranking.
Check them out below!
Featured Online Schools
This concludes our ranking of the Top 5 Online Master's in Criminal Justice. Thanks for reading!
