1. Florida State University
Florida State University finishes in the top spot because it offers a leading graduate criminal justice program at an affordable rate. Its program is technically a Master’s in Criminology with a specialization in Criminal Justice Studies. This program requires that students complete 36 credits of coursework to receive their degrees. All the coursework can be completed online, and students never have to visit FSU’s campus in Tallahassee, FL. There is no minimum GPA for applicants, though GRE scores are required.
- Tuition per year: $5,656 in-state; $18,786 non-resident
- Graduation rate: 80%
2. University of Central Florida
The University of Central Florida is well-known for offering leading criminal justice programs, and its online master’s degree is no exception. It offers a Master’s of Criminal Justice. This 36-credit program can be completed in two years. This program is totally online, so students will never have to visit campus in-person. The minimum required GPA is a 3.0 and the GRE is not required to be accepted into the program.
- Tuition per year: $5,891.76 in-state; $20,730.96 out-of-state
- Graduation rate: 75%
3. Florida International University
Florida International University is known for offering excellent online programs, including its online Master’s in Criminal Justice. This 36-credit program takes roughly two years to complete. Applicants must have at least a 3.2 GPA in their upper division courses. However, they do not need to submit GRE scores.
- Tuition per year: $6,565 in-state; $18,963 non-resident
- Graduation rate: 72%
4. California State University – San Bernardino
California State University – San Bernardino is one of the lesser-known campuses in the CSU system, but it has the highest-ranked online Master’s in Criminal Justice. This program requires students to complete 34 credits of coursework. A 3.0 minimum GPA is required for applicants. Applicants can submit GRE scores if they choose, but these scores are not required.
- Tuition per year: $6,886 in-state; $18,765 non-resident
- Graduation rate: 76%
5. University of North Florida
The University of North Florida makes it four out of five Florida-based institutions on our list. UNF offers a top-notch Master’s of Criminal Justice. This 39-credit program takes roughly two years to complete. Applicants must have a 3.0 minimum GPA over their last 60 credits. They are required to submit scores from either the GRE or the GMAT.
- Tuition per year: $6,389 in-state; $20,793 non-resident
- Graduation rate: 61%
6. California State University – Long Beach
California State University – Long Beach finishes behind CSUSB, but it still has one of the best online criminal justice master’s programs in the state. Its program is technically a Master’s of Criminology and Criminal Justice. This 36-credit program takes two years to complete.
- Tuition per year: $6,834 in-state; $18,714 non-resident
- Graduation rate: 68%
If you’re looking for the leading online Master’s in Criminal Justice programs, look no further than our site.
7. Georgia Southern University
Georgia Southern University has the leading graduate criminal justice program in the state. Its Master’s in Criminology and Criminal Justice is composed of 36 credits of coursework. Applicants only need to have a 2.75 GPA.
- Tuition per year: $6,463 in-state; $17,518 non-resident
- Graduation rate: 46%
8. New Mexico State University
New Mexico State University has a unique online Master’s in Criminal Justice. This program requires from 33 to 36 credits and takes two to three years to complete. Applicants must have a 3.0 minimum GPA, though standardized tests are not required.
- Tuition per year: $7,087 in-state; $23,076 non-resident
- Graduation rate: 44%
9. Texas A&M International University
Texas A&M International University is not as well-known as the flagship campus, though its online Master’s in Criminal Justice is rated highly. This 36-credit program can be completed in as little as one year. Applicants must have a minimum 2.8 GPA.
- Tuition per year: $7,348 in-state; $18,666 non-resident
- Graduation rate: 41%
10. Georgia College & State University
Georgia College & State University is one of the leading public universities in the South, and it has a world-class online Master’s in Criminal Justice. This 36-credit program can be completed in four semesters. Students who have at least a 3.0 GPA do not need to submit test scores.
- Tuition per year: $5,184 (18 credits)
- Graduation rate: n/a
11. University of Louisiana – Monroe
The University of Louisiana – Monroe has a leading graduate criminal justice program. This program requires students to complete from 33 to 36 credits of coursework. It can be completed in as little as 18 months.
- Tuition per year: $8,974 in-state; $21,074 non-resident
- Graduation rate: 41%
12. Michigan State University
Michigan State University is known as one of the top public universities in the country, and its graduate criminal justice program is one of its notable offerings. This 30-credit program takes two years to complete. Applicants must have a 3.0 minimum GPA.
- Tuition per year: $11,610 a year
- Graduation rate: 78%
13. Averett University
Averett University is the first private institution on our list. It offers a 36-credit Master’s of Criminal Justice Administration and Leadership. This program can be completed in less than two years.
- Tuition per year: $35,600
- Graduation rate: 41%
14. University of San Diego
The University of San Diego has a respectable online master’s in criminal justice. This program is technically a Master’s in Law Enforcement and Public Safety Leadership. It requires 31 credits of coursework, and can be completed in only 20 months.
- Tuition: $21,669 (full program cost)
- Graduation rate: 78%
15. Boston University
Boston University is very prestigious, but its pricey tuition hurts its ranking. It offers a Master’s in Criminal Justice that can be completed online. This program requires 32 credits of coursework.
- Tuition per year: $55,892
- Graduation rate: 87%
Our Ranking Methodology
We used our formula to rank each of the schools on this list by coming up with a rating. Our formula uses each school’s yearly tuition rate and graduation rate to come up with this rating. It should be noted that some institutions on this list are public and have different tuition rates for resident and non-resident students. We only considered the resident tuition rate for these schools. Our formula works by taking each school’s tuition rate and adding a multiplier that is equal to the percentage of students who enrolled but did not graduate. Example: ABC University has a yearly tuition rate of $50,000 and a graduation rate of 50%. Its rating would be 75,000. Low ratings are desirable when using our formula.
Students who are looking for the leading online Master’s in Criminal Justice programs can find them on our website.
Representatives of the institutions on this list may contact us if they want to request a correction or ask a question.