Criminal Justice Administration: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
Criminal Justice Administration equips students with the strategic and managerial expertise needed to lead and oversee public law enforcement agencies. This program integrates core principles of organizational leadership with specialized knowledge in criminal justice systems, preparing graduates for high-impact roles in agency operations and policy implementation.
- Law Enforcement History and Theory: Explores the evolution of policing institutions, foundational philosophies, and theoretical frameworks that shape modern public safety practices.
- Operational Command Leadership: Develops decision-making and crisis management skills essential for leading field operations under pressure and ensuring mission effectiveness.
- Administration of Public Police Organizations: Focuses on the structural, procedural, and ethical dimensions of managing municipal and regional law enforcement agencies.
- Labor Relations in Law Enforcement: Addresses collective bargaining, union dynamics, employee grievances, and strategies for fostering positive workplace environments within public safety agencies.
- Incident Response Strategies: Trains students in planning, coordination, and execution of responses to emergencies, including mass casualty events, civil unrest, and natural disasters.
- Legal and Regulatory Responsibilities: Examines constitutional standards, civil rights obligations, evidentiary procedures, and compliance requirements governing police conduct and accountability.
- Budgeting and Financial Management: Covers resource allocation, fiscal planning, cost analysis, and funding mechanisms critical to sustaining agency operations and programs.
- Public Relations and Community Engagement: Cultivates skills in communication, transparency, media interaction, and building trust between law enforcement and diverse communities.
- Organizational Leadership and Ethics: Emphasizes ethical decision-making, organizational culture, change management, and leadership principles tailored to public safety environments.
Criminal Justice Administration Graduate Trends (2010-2024)
Criminal Justice Administration Career Pathways & Salary Outlook
The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Criminal Justice Administration degrees, including Managers, All Other, First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives and Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Teachers, Postsecondary. These career paths represent common employment outcomes but are not guaranteed for all graduates. Salary ranges vary by location, employer, experience level, and specific role requirements. Nationally, these occupations employ approximately 797,670 professionals.
National Average Salaries
| Occupation | Median Salary | Salary Range | Total Employment | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Managers, All Other 11-9199 | $136,550 | $68,860 - $227,590 | 630,980 | $65.65 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives 33-1012 | $105,980 | $62,370 - $165,050 | 153,130 | $50.95 |
| Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Teachers, Postsecondary 25-1111 | $71,470 | $45,640 - $143,130 | 13,560 | N/A |
Criminal Justice Administration Salary Map by State
Geographic location significantly impacts earning potential for these careers. Average salaries range from $68,523 in Arkansas to $156,573 in California—a 128% difference. The highest-paying states include California, Colorado, and New Jersey. Nationwide, these occupations employ over 797,670 professionals across all states. Explore the interactive map below to compare regional compensation and identify optimal markets for your career goals.
Average Salary Range:
Top Universities for Criminal Justice Administration by Graduate Enrollment
Below are the top 100 institutions offering Criminal Justice Administration programs for the 2023-2024 academic year (the most recent data reported as of 2025), ranked by the number of graduates. The highest graduate enrollment in Criminal Justice Administration is found at CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice (1,432 graduates), University of Phoenix (UOPX), Arizona (849 graduates), The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) (494 graduates), Arizona State University, Digital Immersion (375 graduates), and Santa Rosa Junior College (SRJC) (367 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 16,303 graduates across all degree levels. Program availability varies by award level, including Associate, Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral degrees at participating universities and schools.
| College Name | Award Levels | Graduates | Location | Control | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
1,432 | New York, New York | Public | jjay.cuny.edu |
| University of Phoenix (UOPX) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Other Award
|
849 | Phoenix, Arizona | Private | phoenix.edu |
| The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
494 | Edinburg, Texas | Public | utrgv.edu |
| Arizona State University |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
375 | Scottsdale, Arizona | Public | asu.edu |
| Santa Rosa Junior College (SRJC) |
Associate's
Residency
Other Award
|
367 | Santa Rosa, California | Public | santarosa.edu |
| Utah Valley University (UVU) |
Associate's
Bachelor's
Other Award
|
363 | Orem, Utah | Public | uvu.edu |
| Columbia Southern University (CSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
311 | Orange Beach, Alabama | Private | columbiasouthern.edu |
| East Los Angeles College (ELAC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
303 | Monterey Park, California | Public | elac.edu |
| University of Massachusetts |
Bachelor's
Master's
Other Award
|
300 | Lowell, Massachusetts | Public | uml.edu |
| Arizona State University Campus Immersion (ASU) |
Bachelor's
|
277 | Tempe, Arizona | Public | asu.edu |
| Michigan State University (MSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
263 | East Lansing, Michigan | Public | msu.edu |
| Pennsylvania State University |
Bachelor's
|
253 | University Park, Pennsylvania | Public | psu.edu |
| University of New Haven (UNH) |
Associate's
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
249 | West Haven, Connecticut | Private | newhaven.edu |
| University of Louisville (UofL) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
Other Award
|
239 | Louisville, Kentucky | Public | louisville.edu |
| University of South Carolina (USC) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
233 | Columbia, South Carolina | Public | sc.edu |
| Walden University |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
216 | Minneapolis, Minnesota | Private | waldenu.edu |
| NUC University (NUC) |
Associate's
Bachelor's
|
216 | Bayamon, Puerto Rico | Private | nuc.edu |
| Kean University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
203 | Union, New Jersey | Public | kean.edu |
| Western Illinois University (WIU) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
201 | Macomb, Illinois | Public | wiu.edu |
| Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
199 | Richmond, Virginia | Public | vcu.edu |
| Franklin University |
Associate's
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
186 | Columbus, Ohio | Private | franklin.edu |
| Imperial Valley College (IVC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
174 | Imperial, California | Public | imperial.edu |
| Golden West College (GWC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
171 | Huntington Beach, California | Public | goldenwestcollege.edu |
| Keiser University |
Associate's
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
167 | Fort Lauderdale, Florida | Private | keiseruniversity.edu |
| Triton College |
Associate's
Other Award
|
167 | River Grove, Illinois | Public | triton.edu |
| Eastern Kentucky University (EKU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
161 | Richmond, Kentucky | Public | eku.edu |
| Victor Valley College (VVC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
160 | Victorville, California | Public | vvc.edu |
| Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
159 | Murfreesboro, Tennessee | Public | mtsu.edu |
| University of Colorado Colorado Springs (UCCS) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
157 | Colorado Springs, Colorado | Public | uccs.edu |
| Fresno City College (FCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
152 | Fresno, California | Public | fresnocitycollege.edu |
| Rio Hondo College (RHC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
152 | Whittier, California | Public | riohondo.edu |
| University of Nevada (UNR) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
150 | Reno, Nevada | Public | unr.edu |
| CUNY LaGuardia Community College |
Associate's
|
149 | Long Island City, New York | Public | lagcc.cuny.edu |
| University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
145 | University, Mississippi | Public | olemiss.edu |
| St. John's University (SJU) |
Associate's
Bachelor's
Master's
|
142 | Queens, New York | Private | stjohns.edu |
| Bakersfield College (BC) |
Associate's
|
141 | Bakersfield, California | Public | bakersfieldcollege.edu |
| National University (NU) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Bachelor's
Master's
|
140 | San Diego, California | Private | nu.edu |
| Citrus College |
Associate's
Other Award
|
139 | Glendora, California | Public | citruscollege.edu |
| Ventura College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
139 | Ventura, California | Public | venturacollege.edu |
| Southwestern College (SWC) |
Associate's
|
137 | Chula Vista, California | Public | swccd.edu |
| Broward College (BC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
137 | Fort Lauderdale, Florida | Public | broward.edu |
| Valencia College |
Associate's
Other Award
|
135 | Orlando, Florida | Public | valenciacollege.edu |
| Long Beach City College (LBCC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
132 | Long Beach, California | Public | lbcc.edu |
| CUNY Kingsborough Community College (KCC) |
Associate's
|
132 | Brooklyn, New York | Public | kbcc.cuny.edu |
| Norwich University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
128 | Northfield, Vermont | Private | norwich.edu |
| Sierra College |
Associate's
Other Award
|
126 | Rocklin, California | Public | sierracollege.edu |
| Bluegrass Community and Technical College (BCTC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
125 | Lexington, Kentucky | Public | bluegrass.kctcs.edu |
| Antelope Valley Community College District (AVCCD) |
Associate's
|
124 | Lancaster, California | Public | avc.edu |
| University of Central Missouri (UCM) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Other Award
|
124 | Warrensburg, Missouri | Public | ucmo.edu |
| Roger Williams University (RWU) |
Associate's
Bachelor's
Master's
Other Award
|
122 | Bristol, Rhode Island | Private | rwu.edu |
| Riverside City College (RCC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
119 | Riverside, California | Public | rcc.edu |
| Grand Valley State University (GVSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
117 | Allendale, Michigan | Public | gvsu.edu |
| Park University |
Associate's
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
|
116 | Parkville, Missouri | Private | park.edu |
| Monroe College |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
112 | Bronx, New York | Private | monroecollege.edu |
| Nassau Community College (NCC) |
Associate's
|
112 | Garden City, New York | Public | ncc.edu |
| University of Memphis (UofM) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
112 | Memphis, Tennessee | Public | memphis.edu |
| Columbia College |
Associate's
Bachelor's
Master's
|
110 | Columbia, Missouri | Private | ccis.edu |
| The University of Tennessee (UTC) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
110 | Chattanooga, Tennessee | Public | utc.edu |
| Tidewater Community College (TCC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
110 | Norfolk, Virginia | Public | tcc.edu |
| University of Virginia (UVA) |
Master's
|
109 | Charlottesville, Virginia | Public | virginia.edu |
| Sacramento City College (SCC) |
Associate's
|
108 | Sacramento, California | Public | scc.losrios.edu |
| College of the Sequoias (COS) |
Associate's
|
108 | Visalia, California | Public | cos.edu |
| Ashford University (UAGC) |
Bachelor's
|
106 | San Diego, California | Private | uagc.edu |
| CUNY Bronx Community College (BCC) |
Associate's
|
106 | Bronx, New York | Public | bcc.cuny.edu |
| Fullerton College |
Associate's
|
105 | Fullerton, California | Public | fullcoll.edu |
| Merrimack College |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
105 | North Andover, Massachusetts | Private | merrimack.edu |
| University of San Diego (USD) |
Master's
|
103 | San Diego, California | Private | sandiego.edu |
| Hillsborough Community College (HCC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
103 | Tampa, Florida | Public | hccfl.edu |
| Cerritos College |
Associate's
|
95 | Norwalk, California | Public | cerritos.edu |
| Mt San Jacinto Community College District (MSJC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
95 | San Jacinto, California | Public | msjc.edu |
| Grossmont College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
94 | El Cajon, California | Public | grossmont.edu |
| University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
94 | Denver, Colorado | Public | ucdenver.edu |
| Salem State University (SSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
92 | Salem, Massachusetts | Public | salemstate.edu |
| College of the Desert (COD) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
88 | Palm Desert, California | Public | collegeofthedesert.edu |
| Texas Southern University (TSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
88 | Houston, Texas | Public | tsu.edu |
| San Joaquin Delta College |
Associate's
Other Award
|
87 | Stockton, California | Public | deltacollege.edu |
| Colorado State University Global (CSU Global) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
87 | Aurora, Colorado | Public | csuglobal.edu |
| Allan Hancock College |
Associate's
|
86 | Santa Maria, California | Public | hancockcollege.edu |
| El Camino Community College District (ECC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
86 | Torrance, California | Public | elcamino.edu |
| Santa Ana College (SAC) |
Associate's
|
86 | Santa Ana, California | Public | sac.edu |
| Salve Regina University |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
84 | Newport, Rhode Island | Private | salve.edu |
| East Tennessee State University (ETSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
84 | Johnson City, Tennessee | Public | etsu.edu |
| University of South Carolina (USC) |
Bachelor's
|
83 | Spartanburg, South Carolina | Public | uscupstate.edu |
| Los Angeles Pierce College (LAPC) |
Associate's
|
82 | Woodland Hills, California | Public | lapc.edu |
| University of Georgia (UGA) |
Bachelor's
|
82 | Athens, Georgia | Public | uga.edu |
| College of the Canyons |
Associate's
Other Award
|
81 | Santa Clarita, California | Public | canyons.edu |
| Austin Peay State University (APSU) |
Bachelor's
|
80 | Clarksville, Tennessee | Public | apsu.edu |
| Mt San Antonio College (Mt. SAC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
78 | Walnut, California | Public | mtsac.edu |
| San Diego Miramar College |
Associate's
|
77 | San Diego, California | Public | sdmiramar.edu |
| Barstow Community College (BCC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
76 | Barstow, California | Public | barstow.edu |
| Anna Maria College |
Bachelor's
Master's
Post-Master's
|
76 | Paxton, Massachusetts | Private | annamaria.edu |
| Pikes Peak State College (PPSC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
75 | Colorado Springs, Colorado | Public | pikespeak.edu |
| Texas A & M International University (TAMIU) |
Master's
|
75 | Laredo, Texas | Public | tamiu.edu |
| Wayland Baptist University (WBU) |
Associate's
Bachelor's
Master's
|
75 | Plainview, Texas | Private | wbu.edu |
| Butte College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
74 | Oroville, California | Public | butte.edu |
| Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP) |
Certificate (≥2 yrs)
|
73 | Indiana, Pennsylvania | Public | iup.edu |
| Mercy University |
Bachelor's
|
72 | Dobbs Ferry, New York | Private | mercy.edu |
| Missouri Southern State University (MSSU) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Bachelor's
|
71 | Joplin, Missouri | Public | mssu.edu |
| Northeastern State University (NSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
70 | Tahlequah, Oklahoma | Public | nsuok.edu |
| Universidad Ana G. Mendez (UAGM Carolina) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
70 | Carolina, Puerto Rico | Private | uagm.edu |
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about Criminal Justice Administration programs
How much can I earn with a Criminal Justice Administration degree?
Salaries for Criminal Justice Administration graduates vary by role and location. Managers, All Other earn a median of $136,550 annually, while First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives earn around $105,980. Geographic location significantly impacts earnings—professionals in California average $156,573 compared to $68,523 in Arkansas. Approximately 797,670 professionals work in related occupations nationwide.
Salary data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS program, May 2024. Earnings vary by experience, employer, and market conditions.
Which universities have the largest Criminal Justice Administration programs?
Currently 653 accredited institutions offer Criminal Justice Administration degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice (1,432 graduates), University of Phoenix (UOPX), Arizona (849 graduates), and The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) (494 graduates).
Program size doesn't necessarily indicate quality—consider factors like faculty expertise, production opportunities, location, and available degree levels when choosing a school.
Data based on IPEDS program completions for 2023-2024 academic year. Numbers reflect programs where students graduated.
Is enrollment in Criminal Justice Administration growing or declining?
Graduate numbers have decreased over the past decade, rising from 28,401 in 2010 to a peak of 33,590 in 2020, before declining slightly to 26,997 in 2023-24. This represents a 5% decrease overall from 2010.
The field remains specialized with consistent demand, though opportunities are most concentrated in major metropolitan areas with active arts scenes like New York, California, and Illinois.
Graduate enrollment data from IPEDS, 2010-2024 academic years. Trends reflect reported completions at participating institutions.
What career paths are available with a Criminal Justice Administration degree?
This degree prepares you for roles such as Managers, All Other, First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives, and Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Teachers, Postsecondary. Related occupations employ approximately 797,670 professionals nationwide.
Skills in project management, creative leadership, and collaboration also transfer to event planning, arts administration, marketing, and corporate training roles. Many professionals work freelance or on a project basis across theatre, film, and live events.
Career pathways mapped using CIP-SOC crosswalk from the National Center for Education Statistics. Employment data from BLS OEWS May 2024.
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