Master’s Degrees in Criminal Justice & Corrections
Education Levels of Criminal Justice Majors
During the most recent year for which data is available, 6,830 people earned their master's degree in criminal justice. This earns it the #30 spot on the list of the most popular master's degree programs in the nation.
The following table shows the number of diplomas awarded in criminal justice at each degree level.
| Education Level | Number of Grads |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 48,312 |
| Associate Degree | 24,183 |
| Basic Certificate | 17,357 |
| Master’s Degree | 6,830 |
| Undergraduate Certificate | 5,360 |
| Graduate Certificate | 984 |
| Doctor’s Degree | 276 |
Earnings of Criminal Justice Majors With Master’s Degrees
The median salary for graduates holding a master's degree in criminal justice is $50,954. However, this can depend on a number of factors, such as where you live and the number of years experience you have. To get a better picture, earnings for this category of people can range from a low of $45,593 to a high of $58,225.
Student Debt
We do not have the data to calculate the median and range of debt loads for criminal justice students who are master's degree holders.
Student Diversity
More women than men pursue their master's degree in criminal justice. About 59.7% of graduates with this degree are female.
| Gender | Number of Grads |
|---|---|
| Men | 2,752 |
| Women | 4,078 |
The racial-ethnic distribution of criminal justice master’s degree students is as follows:
| Race/Ethnicity | Number of Grads |
|---|---|
| Asian | 185 |
| Black or African American | 1,428 |
| Hispanic or Latino | 1,175 |
| White | 3,272 |
| International Students | 120 |
| Other Races/Ethnicities | 650 |
Most Popular Criminal Justice Programs for Master’s Degrees
There are 319 colleges that offer a master’s degree in criminal justice. Learn more about the most popular 20 below:
Liberty University tops the list of the most popular school in the U.S. for criminal justice majors who are seeking their master's degree. Roughly 93,300 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $15,015 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $7,740 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 494 people received their master's degree in criminal justice from Liberty University. Of these students, 54% were women and 30% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups. Data shows that Liberty University graduates that hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $50,954.
John Jay College of Criminal Justice comes in at #2 on our list of the most popular colleges offering master's degrees in criminal justice. Each year, around 15,700 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $6,930 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $11,090 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 254 people received their master's degree in criminal justice from John Jay. Of these students, 67% were women and 59% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups. Data shows that John Jay graduates that hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $50,954.
Southern New Hampshire University comes in at #3 on our list of the most popular colleges offering master's degrees in criminal justice. Each year, around 134,300 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $15,450 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $19,467 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 222 people received their master's degree in criminal justice from SNHU. About 58% of this group were women, and 43% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group. Southern New Hampshire University criminal justice graduates who receive their master's degree go on to jobs earning a median salary of $50,954.
Saint Leo University is the 4th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a master's degree in criminal justice. Each year, around 9,800 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $26,240 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $15,840 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 210 people received their master's degree in criminal justice from St. Leo University. Of these students, 69% were women and 46% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups. Saint Leo University criminal justice graduates who receive their master's degree go on to jobs earning a median salary of $50,954.
University of Phoenix - Arizona comes in at #5 on our list of the most popular colleges offering master's degrees in criminal justice. Each year, around 89,700 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $9,552 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $16,215 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 185 people received their master's degree in criminal justice from UOPX - Arizona. About 66% of this group were women, and 53% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group. University of Phoenix - Arizona criminal justice graduates who receive their master's degree go on to jobs earning a median salary of $50,954.
The 6th most popular school in the country for criminal justice majors who are seeking their master's degree is University of New Haven. Roughly 6,900 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $44,100 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $18,990 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 172 people received their master's degree in criminal justice from University of New Haven. Of these students, 58% were women and 32% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups. Those who complete their master's degree in criminal justice at University of New Haven make a median salary of 50,954.
Arizona State University - Skysong is the 7th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a master's degree in criminal justice. Roughly 53,900 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $11,308 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $10,170 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 163 people received their master's degree in criminal justice from ASU - Skysong. Around 41% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 50% were women. Data shows that ASU - Skysong graduates that hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $50,954.
The 9th most popular school in the country for criminal justice majors who are seeking their master's degree is American Public University System. Each year, around 50,000 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $8,400 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $7,650 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 148 people received their master's degree in criminal justice from American Military University. About 33% of this group were women, and 36% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group. Those who complete their master's degree in criminal justice at American Public University System make a median salary of 50,954.
The 10th most popular school in the country for criminal justice majors who are seeking their master's degree is University of San Diego. Each year, around 8,800 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $55,690 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $28,854 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 131 people received their master's degree in criminal justice from USD. Around 40% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 22% were women. University of San Diego criminal justice graduates who receive their master's degree go on to jobs earning a median salary of $50,954.
Grand Canyon University is the 11th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a master's degree in criminal justice. Roughly 103,400 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $16,390 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $10,138 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 126 people received their master's degree in criminal justice from Grand Canyon University. About 68% of this group were women, and 69% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group. Grand Canyon University criminal justice graduates who receive their master's degree go on to jobs earning a median salary of $50,954.
Sam Houston State University is the 12th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a master's degree in criminal justice. Roughly 21,900 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $5,856 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $5,765 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 117 people received their master's degree in criminal justice from SHSU. Of these students, 74% were women and 50% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups. Those who complete their master's degree in criminal justice at Sam Houston State University make a median salary of 50,954.
The 14th most popular school in the country for criminal justice majors who are seeking their master's degree is University of Cincinnati - Main Campus. Each year, around 40,800 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $11,228 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $13,224 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 111 people received their master's degree in criminal justice from UC. About 74% of this group were women, and 24% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group. Data shows that UC graduates that hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $50,954.
The University of Arizona Global Campus comes in at #15 on our list of the most popular colleges offering master's degrees in criminal justice. Roughly 31,100 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $12,240 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $12,645 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 107 people received their master's degree in criminal justice from UAGC. Around 57% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 64% were women. Those who complete their master's degree in criminal justice at The University of Arizona Global Campus make a median salary of 50,954.
The 16th most popular school in the country for criminal justice majors who are seeking their master's degree is University of Massachusetts - Lowell. Roughly 18,100 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $15,850 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $15,330 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 98 people received their master's degree in criminal justice from UMass Lowell. About 56% of this group were women, and 27% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group. University of Massachusetts - Lowell criminal justice graduates who receive their master's degree go on to jobs earning a median salary of $50,954.
Lamar University is the 17th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a master's degree in criminal justice. Each year, around 16,600 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $6,228 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $6,471 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 97 people received their master's degree in criminal justice from Lamar University. About 48% of this group were women, and 67% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group. Lamar University criminal justice graduates who receive their master's degree go on to jobs earning a median salary of $50,954.
University of Central Florida is the 18th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a master's degree in criminal justice. Each year, around 71,800 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $4,478 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $6,916 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 87 people received their master's degree in criminal justice from UCF. About 69% of this group were women, and 59% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group. Data shows that UCF graduates that hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $50,954.
The 19th most popular school in the country for criminal justice majors who are seeking their master's degree is Grambling State University. Each year, around 5,400 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $5,140 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $5,110 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 84 people received their master's degree in criminal justice from GSU. Around 88% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 94% were women. Grambling State University criminal justice graduates who receive their master's degree go on to jobs earning a median salary of $50,954.
Explore Major by State
Alabama
Arkansas
Connecticut
Florida
Idaho
Iowa
Louisiana
Massachusetts
Mississippi
Nebraska
New Jersey
North Carolina
Oklahoma
Rhode Island
Tennessee
Vermont
West Virginia
Related Majors
Below are some popular majors that are similar to criminal justice that offer master’s degrees.
| Major | Annual Degrees Awarded |
|---|---|
| Homeland Security | 2,009 |
| 1,986 | |
| Other Homeland Security | 374 |
| Fire Protection | 132 |
References
*The racial-ethnic minority student count is calculated by taking the total number of students and subtracting white students, international students, and students whose race/ethnicity was unknown. This number is then divided by the total number of students at the school to obtain the percentage of racial-ethnic minorities.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
Course Advisor provides higher-education, college and university, degree, program, career, salary, and other helpful information to students, faculty, institutions, and other internet audiences. Presented information and data are subject to change. Inclusion on this website does not imply or represent a direct relationship with the company, school, or brand. Information, though believed correct at time of publication, may not be correct, and no warranty is provided. Contact the schools to verify any information before relying on it. Financial aid may be available for those who qualify. The displayed options may include sponsored or recommended results, not necessarily based on your preferences.
© Course Advisor – All Rights Reserved.