Criminal Justice and Police Science: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
Designed for individuals seeking careers in public safety and law enforcement, this program equips students with the foundational knowledge and practical skills required to serve effectively in police and security roles. It emphasizes legal compliance, ethical decision-making, and operational proficiency across a range of public protection responsibilities.
- Police Patrol and Field Operations: Training in mobile and foot patrols, situational awareness, and rapid response protocols to maintain public order and ensure community safety.
- Investigative Techniques: Instruction in crime scene processing, evidence preservation, and investigative methodologies used to support criminal case development.
- Traffic Law Enforcement: Focus on traffic regulation, accident investigation, DUI detection, and enforcement of state and local traffic codes.
- Crowd and Crisis Management: Strategies for de-escalation, public assembly control, and emergency response during civil disturbances or large-scale events.
- Witness Interviewing and Interrogation: Development of communication skills and ethical protocols for gathering reliable statements and information from individuals involved in incidents.
- Evidence Collection and Chain of Custody: Procedures for securing, documenting, and managing physical and digital evidence to ensure admissibility in legal proceedings.
- Crime Prevention and Community Policing: Exploration of proactive strategies to reduce crime through collaboration, neighborhood engagement, and data-driven intervention planning.
- Firearms and Equipment Proficiency: Hands-on training in the safe handling, maintenance, and operational use of standard law enforcement weapons and tactical gear.
- Report Writing and Documentation: Mastery of clear, accurate, and legally sound report creation for official records, investigations, and judicial processes.
Criminal Justice and Police Science Graduate Trends (2010-2024)
Criminal Justice and Police Science Career Pathways & Salary Outlook
The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Criminal Justice and Police Science degrees, including Detectives and Criminal Investigators, Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers 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 846,950 professionals.
National Average Salaries
| Occupation | Median Salary | Salary Range | Total Employment | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Detectives and Criminal Investigators 33-3021 | $93,580 | $54,160 - $159,410 | 110,790 | $44.99 |
| Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers 33-3051 | $76,290 | $47,640 - $115,280 | 666,990 | $36.68 |
| Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Teachers, Postsecondary 25-1111 | $71,470 | $45,640 - $143,130 | 13,560 | N/A |
| Bailiffs 33-3011 | $57,050 | $32,950 - $93,950 | 16,910 | $27.43 |
| Private Detectives and Investigators 33-9021 | $52,370 | $37,250 - $98,770 | 38,700 | $25.18 |
Criminal Justice and Police Science Salary Map by State
Geographic location significantly impacts earning potential for these careers. Average salaries range from $49,620 in Arkansas to $108,498 in California—a 119% difference. The highest-paying states include California, Alaska, and Maryland. Nationwide, these occupations employ over 846,950 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 and Police Science by Graduate Enrollment
Below are the top 99 institutions offering Criminal Justice and Police Science 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 and Police Science is found at Santa Ana College (SAC) (813 graduates), Rio Salado College (453 graduates), George Mason University (331 graduates), San Bernardino Valley College (SBVC) (312 graduates), and Grand Canyon University (GCU) (300 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 12,659 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Ana College (SAC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
813 | Santa Ana, California | Public | sac.edu |
| Rio Salado College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Residency
Other Award
|
453 | Tempe, Arizona | Public | rio.maricopa.edu |
| George Mason University |
Bachelor's
|
331 | Fairfax, Virginia | Public | www2.gmu.edu |
| San Bernardino Valley College (SBVC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Other Award
|
312 | San Bernardino, California | Public | valleycollege.edu |
| Grand Canyon University (GCU) |
Bachelor's
|
300 | Phoenix, Arizona | Private | gcu.edu |
| Camden County College (CCC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
293 | Blackwood, New Jersey | Public | camdencc.edu |
| East Los Angeles College (ELAC) |
Other Award
|
290 | Monterey Park, California | Public | elac.edu |
| Southwestern Illinois College (SWIC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
282 | Belleville, Illinois | Public | swic.edu |
| CUNY Borough of Manhattan Community College (BMCC) |
Associate's
|
247 | New York, New York | Public | bmcc.cuny.edu |
| Sinclair Community College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
247 | Dayton, Ohio | Public | sinclair.edu |
| Broward College (BC) |
Other Award
|
236 | Fort Lauderdale, Florida | Public | broward.edu |
| Rowan University |
Bachelor's
|
230 | Glassboro, New Jersey | Public | rowan.edu |
| Walters State Community College (WSCC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
223 | Morristown, Tennessee | Public | ws.edu |
| Ferris State University (FSU) |
Associate's
Bachelor's
|
207 | Big Rapids, Michigan | Public | ferris.edu |
| Hennepin Technical College (HTC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
190 | Brooklyn Park, Minnesota | Public | hennepintech.edu |
| Columbia Southern University (CSU) |
Associate's
Bachelor's
|
188 | Orange Beach, Alabama | Private | columbiasouthern.edu |
| Fox Valley Technical College (FVTC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
178 | Appleton, Wisconsin | Public | fvtc.edu |
| Texas A & M International University (TAMIU) |
Bachelor's
|
172 | Laredo, Texas | Public | tamiu.edu |
| Pima Community College (PCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
161 | Tucson, Arizona | Public | pima.edu |
| San Jacinto Community College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
159 | Pasadena, Texas | Public | sanjac.edu |
| Fort Myers Technical College (FMTC) |
Other Award
|
145 | Fort Myers, Florida | Public | fortmyerstech.edu |
| Community College of Baltimore County (CCBC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
142 | Baltimore, Maryland | Public | ccbcmd.edu |
| Valencia College |
Other Award
|
140 | Orlando, Florida | Public | valenciacollege.edu |
| Connecticut State Community College (CT State) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
138 | Hartford, Connecticut | Public | ctstate.edu |
| Polk State College |
Other Award
|
138 | Winter Haven, Florida | Public | polk.edu |
| Moreno Valley College (MVC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
130 | Moreno Valley, California | Public | mvc.edu |
| Butte College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
126 | Oroville, California | Public | butte.edu |
| Oakland Community College (OCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
124 | Auburn Hills, Michigan | Public | oaklandcc.edu |
| Wor-Wic Community College |
Associate's
Other Award
|
123 | Salisbury, Maryland | Public | worwic.edu |
| Red Rocks Community College (RRCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
121 | Lakewood, Colorado | Public | rrcc.edu |
| Alexandria Technical & Community College (ATCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
120 | Alexandria, Minnesota | Public | alextech.edu |
| Chaffey College |
Associate's
Other Award
|
116 | Rancho Cucamonga, California | Public | chaffey.edu |
| Tallahassee Community College (TCC) |
Other Award
|
116 | Tallahassee, Florida | Public | tcc.fl.edu |
| Indian River State College (IRSC) |
Other Award
|
115 | Fort Pierce, Florida | Public | irsc.edu |
| Santa Rosa Junior College (SRJC) |
Other Award
|
112 | Santa Rosa, California | Public | santarosa.edu |
| Monroe College |
Associate's
|
107 | Bronx, New York | Private | monroecollege.edu |
| Texas Southmost College (TSC) |
Other Award
|
103 | Brownsville, Texas | Public | tsc.edu |
| Odessa College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
100 | Odessa, Texas | Public | odessa.edu |
| Miami Dade College (MDC) |
Other Award
|
98 | Miami, Florida | Public | mdc.edu |
| Missouri Southern State University (MSSU) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
95 | Joplin, Missouri | Public | mssu.edu |
| Eastern Florida State College (EFSC) |
Other Award
|
90 | Melbourne, Florida | Public | easternflorida.edu |
| Passaic County Community College (PCCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
90 | Paterson, New Jersey | Public | web.pccc.edu |
| Houston Community College (HCC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
88 | Houston, Texas | Public | hccs.edu |
| Palm Beach State College (PBSC) |
Other Award
|
86 | Lake Worth, Florida | Public | palmbeachstate.edu |
| Suncoast Technical College (STC) |
Other Award
|
85 | Sarasota, Florida | Public | sarasotacountyschools.net |
| Seminole State College of Florida |
Other Award
|
85 | Sanford, Florida | Public | seminolestate.edu |
| Fitchburg State University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
85 | Fitchburg, Massachusetts | Public | fitchburgstate.edu |
| Rio Hondo College (RHC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
83 | Whittier, California | Public | riohondo.edu |
| Tulsa Technology Center (Tulsa Tech) |
Other Award
|
82 | Tulsa, Oklahoma | Public | tulsatech.edu |
| Madison Area Technical College |
Associate's
Other Award
|
81 | Madison, Wisconsin | Public | madisoncollege.edu |
| Florida State College (FSCJ) |
Other Award
|
80 | Jacksonville, Florida | Public | fscj.edu |
| Cleveland State Community College (CSCC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
79 | Cleveland, Tennessee | Public | clevelandstatecc.edu |
| St Petersburg College (SPC) |
Other Award
|
78 | St. Petersburg, Florida | Public | spcollege.edu |
| Saint Johns River State College (SJR) |
Other Award
|
77 | Palatka, Florida | Public | sjrstate.edu |
| Century College |
Associate's
Other Award
|
75 | White Bear Lake, Minnesota | Public | century.edu |
| Los Medanos College (LMC) |
Other Award
|
74 | Pittsburg, California | Public | losmedanos.edu |
| Withlacoochee Technical College (WTC) |
Other Award
|
74 | Inverness, Florida | Public | wtcollege.org |
| Erie Community College (SUNY Erie) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
74 | Buffalo, New York | Public | ecc.edu |
| Del Mar College (DMC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
74 | Corpus Christi, Texas | Public | delmar.edu |
| Chippewa Valley Technical College (CVTC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
74 | Eau Claire, Wisconsin | Public | cvtc.edu |
| Lamar Institute of Technology (LIT) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
74 | Beaumont, Texas | Public | lit.edu |
| Black River Technical College (BRTC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
72 | Pocahontas, Arkansas | Public | blackrivertech.edu |
| San Antonio College (SAC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
71 | San Antonio, Texas | Public | alamo.edu |
| Arapahoe Community College (ACC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
70 | Littleton, Colorado | Public | arapahoe.edu |
| Fayetteville Technical Community College (FTCC) |
Other Award
|
70 | Fayetteville, North Carolina | Public | faytechcc.edu |
| Western Connecticut State University (WCSU) |
Bachelor's
|
69 | Danbury, Connecticut | Public | wcsu.edu |
| College of Central Florida (CF) |
Other Award
|
69 | Ocala, Florida | Public | cf.edu |
| Gateway Technical College |
Other Award
|
68 | Kenosha, Wisconsin | Public | gtc.edu |
| Daytona State College (DSC) |
Other Award
|
67 | Daytona Beach, Florida | Public | daytonastate.edu |
| Pasco-Hernando State College (PHSC) |
Other Award
|
67 | New Port Richey, Florida | Public | phsc.edu |
| Washtenaw Community College (WCC) |
Other Award
|
67 | Ann Arbor, Michigan | Public | wccnet.edu |
| County College of Morris (CCM) |
Associate's
|
66 | Randolph, New Jersey | Public | ccm.edu |
| Delaware Technical Community College |
Associate's
|
65 | Dover, Delaware | Public | dtcc.edu |
| Rowan College at Burlington County (RCBC) |
Associate's
|
65 | Mount Laurel, New Jersey | Public | rcbc.edu |
| Rasmussen University |
Associate's
Bachelor's
|
63 | St. Cloud, Minnesota | Private | rasmussen.edu |
| Golden West College (GWC) |
Associate's
|
62 | Huntington Beach, California | Public | goldenwestcollege.edu |
| CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice |
Postbac Cert.
|
62 | New York, New York | Public | jjay.cuny.edu |
| Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
61 | Ankeny, Iowa | Public | dmacc.edu |
| Anne Arundel Community College (AACC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
61 | Arnold, Maryland | Public | aacc.edu |
| Canadian Valley Technology Center (CV Tech) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
61 | El Reno, Oklahoma | Public | cvtech.edu |
| University of Washington (UW Tacoma) |
Bachelor's
|
61 | Tacoma, Washington | Public | tacoma.uw.edu |
| Allan Hancock College |
Other Award
|
60 | Santa Maria, California | Public | hancockcollege.edu |
| Minnesota North College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
60 | Hibbing, Minnesota | Public | minnesotanorth.edu |
| Monroe Community College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
60 | Rochester, New York | Public | monroecc.edu |
| Navarro College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
60 | Corsicana, Texas | Public | navarrocollege.edu |
| Chandler-Gilbert Community College (CGCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
60 | Chandler, Arizona | Public | cgc.maricopa.edu |
| Southern Utah University (SUU) |
Associate's
Bachelor's
|
59 | Cedar City, Utah | Public | suu.edu |
| Georgia Piedmont Technical College (GPTC) |
Other Award
|
59 | Clarkston, Georgia | Public | gptc.edu |
| Lake Technical College (Lake Tech) |
Other Award
|
58 | Eustis, Florida | Public | laketech.org |
| Cochise County Community College District |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
57 | Sierra Vista, Arizona | Public | cochise.edu |
| Austin Community College District (ACC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
57 | Austin, Texas | Public | austincc.edu |
| Caribbean Forensic and Technical College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
57 | San Juan, Puerto Rico | Private | caribbeanforensic.com |
| Nevada State University (NSU) |
Bachelor's
|
57 | Henderson, Nevada | Public | nsc.edu |
| Pueblo Community College (PCC) |
Other Award
|
56 | Pueblo, Colorado | Public | pueblocc.edu |
| Brookdale Community College |
Associate's
|
56 | Lincroft, New Jersey | Public | brookdalecc.edu |
| Essex County College (ECC) |
Associate's
|
56 | Newark, New Jersey | Public | essex.edu |
| Northeast Wisconsin Technical College (NWTC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
56 | Green Bay, Wisconsin | Public | nwtc.edu |
| Colorado Mountain College (CMC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
54 | Glenwood Springs, Colorado | Public | coloradomtn.edu |
| Delta College |
Associate's
Other Award
|
54 | University Center, Michigan | Public | delta.edu |
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about Criminal Justice and Police Science programs
How much can I earn with a Criminal Justice and Police Science degree?
Salaries for Criminal Justice and Police Science graduates vary by role and location. Detectives and Criminal Investigators earn a median of $93,580 annually, while Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers earn around $76,290. Geographic location significantly impacts earnings—professionals in California average $108,498 compared to $49,620 in Arkansas. Approximately 846,950 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 and Police Science programs?
Currently 528 accredited institutions offer Criminal Justice and Police Science degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include Santa Ana College (SAC) (813 graduates), Rio Salado College (453 graduates), and George Mason University (331 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 and Police Science growing or declining?
Graduate numbers have decreased over the past decade, rising from 25,002 in 2010 to a peak of 23,208 in 2020, before declining slightly to 20,474 in 2023-24. This represents a 18% 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 and Police Science degree?
This degree prepares you for roles such as Detectives and Criminal Investigators, Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers, and Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Teachers, Postsecondary. Related occupations employ approximately 846,950 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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