Master’s Degrees in Criminal Justice & Corrections
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Education Levels of Criminal Justice Majors
In 2018-2019, 7,748 master's degrees were awarded to criminal justice majors. This earns it the #31 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 | 55,297 |
Associate’s Degree | 30,792 |
Basic Certificate | 21,156 |
Master’s Degree | 7,748 |
Undergraduate Certificate | 6,694 |
Graduate Certificate | 836 |
Doctor’s Degree | 218 |
Earnings of Criminal Justice Majors With Master’s Degrees
The median salary for graduates holding a master's degree in criminal justice is $42,700. This number may vary for a lot of reasons. For instance, you may decide to move to a location where people with your degree are rare and make more money.
A better approximation of salary is to look at the typical range of salaries. In this case the low is $37,200 and the high is $48,500.

Student Debt
The median student debt for graduates holding a master's degree in criminal justice is $40,550. The school you go to and how long it takes you to graduate, among other things, can cause this number to vary.
The chart below shows the range of accumulated debt loads. On the high side of the range, $44,321 is the debt load, and the debt load on the low side is $31,200.

The median monthly payment of a criminal justice graduate with a 10-year repayment plan is $472.
Student Diversity
More women than men pursue their master's degree in criminal justice. About 56.1% of graduates with this degree are female.
Gender | Number of Grads |
---|---|
Men | 3,403 |
Women | 4,345 |

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 | 1,807 |
Hispanic or Latino | 1,093 |
White | 3,666 |
International Students | 169 |
Other Races/Ethnicities | 828 |

Most Popular Criminal Justice Programs for Master’s Degrees
There are 360 colleges that offer a master’s degree in criminal justice. Learn more about the most popular 20 below:
John Jay College of Criminal Justice tops the list of the most popular school in the U.S. for criminal justice majors who are seeking their master's degree. Roughly 15,300 attend the school each year. 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.
The criminal justice program at John Jay College of Criminal Justice awarded 268 master's degrees during the 2018-2019 school year. About 49% of this group were women, and 55% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.
Liberty University comes in at #2 on our list of the most popular colleges offering master's degrees in criminal justice. Each year, around 79,100 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $15,417 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $7,980 per year.
For the 2018-2019 academic year, 245 master's degrees were handed out to criminal justice majors at Liberty University. Around 28% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 45% were women.
The 3rd most popular school in the country for criminal justice majors who are seeking their master's degree is Saint Leo University. Roughly 11,800 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $23,100 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $7,296 per year.
During the 2018-2019 academic year, 220 people received their master's degree in criminal justice from St. Leo University. Of these students, 59% were women and 51% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.
University of Phoenix - Arizona comes in at #4 on our list of the most popular colleges offering master's degrees in criminal justice. Each year, around 95,700 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 $16,752 per year.
The criminal justice program at University of Phoenix - Arizona awarded 214 master's degrees during the 2018-2019 school year. Of these students, 66% were women and 53% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.
The 5th most popular school in the country for criminal justice majors who are seeking their master's degree is Southern New Hampshire University. Roughly 104,000 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $30,756 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $18,810 per year.
For the 2018-2019 academic year, 189 master's degrees were handed out to criminal justice majors at SNHU. Around 33% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 57% were women.
The 6th most popular school in the country for criminal justice majors who are seeking their master's degree is Arizona State University - Skysong. Roughly 38,500 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $8,867 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $6,384 per year.
During the 2018-2019 academic year, 180 people received their master's degree in criminal justice from ASU - Skysong. Around 37% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 51% were women.
The 7th most popular school in the country for criminal justice majors who are seeking their master's degree is Boston University. Roughly 34,600 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $54,720 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $54,720 per year.
For the 2018-2019 academic year, 176 master's degrees were handed out to criminal justice majors at Boston U. Around 28% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 64% were women.
The 8th most popular school in the country for criminal justice majors who are seeking their master's degree is University of New Haven. Roughly 6,800 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $39,000 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $16,920 per year.
For the 2018-2019 academic year, 168 master's degrees were handed out to criminal justice majors at University of New Haven. About 68% of this group were women, and 27% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.
University of San Diego is the 8th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a master's degree in criminal justice. Each year, around 9,000 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $50,450 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $27,288 per year.
The criminal justice program at University of San Diego awarded 168 master's degrees during the 2018-2019 school year. Of these students, 23% were women and 31% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.
University of Cincinnati - Main Campus is the 10th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a master's degree in criminal justice. Roughly 37,800 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $9,476 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $12,790 per year.
The criminal justice program at University of Cincinnati - Main Campus awarded 144 master's degrees during the 2018-2019 school year. Of these students, 60% were women and 27% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.
Grambling State University is the 11th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a master's degree in criminal justice. Roughly 5,200 attend the school each year. 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 2018-2019 academic year, 136 people received their master's degree in criminal justice from GSU. About 71% of this group were women, and 99% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.
American Public University System comes in at #12 on our list of the most popular colleges offering master's degrees in criminal justice. Roughly 46,000 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $6,804 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $6,615 per year.
For the 2018-2019 academic year, 135 master's degrees were handed out to criminal justice majors at American Military University. About 37% of this group were women, and 33% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.
Ashford University is the 12th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a master's degree in criminal justice. Each year, around 34,700 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $11,640 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $12,060 per year.
For the 2018-2019 academic year, 135 master's degrees were handed out to criminal justice majors at Ashford University. Of these students, 70% were women and 61% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.
The 14th most popular school in the country for criminal justice majors who are seeking their master's degree is University of Maryland Global Campus. Roughly 60,600 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $7,200 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $8,640 per year.
The criminal justice program at University of Maryland Global Campus awarded 125 master's degrees during the 2018-2019 school year. Of these students, 56% were women and 50% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.
Colorado Technical University - Colorado Springs comes in at #15 on our list of the most popular colleges offering master's degrees in criminal justice. Roughly 26,100 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $11,896 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $13,710 per year.
For the 2018-2019 academic year, 106 master's degrees were handed out to criminal justice majors at Colorado Technical University - Colorado Springs. Of these students, 67% were women and 59% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.
The 16th most popular school in the country for criminal justice majors who are seeking their master's degree is Sam Houston State University. Roughly 21,200 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 2018-2019 academic year, 104 people received their master's degree in criminal justice from SHSU. Of these students, 68% were women and 44% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.
The 17th most popular school in the country for criminal justice majors who are seeking their master's degree is Grand Canyon University. Roughly 90,200 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $16,419 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $10,175 per year.
The criminal justice program at Grand Canyon University awarded 101 master's degrees during the 2018-2019 school year. Around 52% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 55% were women.
National University comes in at #18 on our list of the most popular colleges offering master's degrees in criminal justice. Each year, around 16,900 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $13,320 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $15,480 per year.
For the 2018-2019 academic year, 98 master's degrees were handed out to criminal justice majors at National University. Around 48% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 65% were women.
The 19th most popular school in the country for criminal justice majors who are seeking their master's degree is Capella University. Each year, around 37,100 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $14,148 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $14,767 per year.
For the 2018-2019 academic year, 88 master's degrees were handed out to criminal justice majors at Capella University. Of these students, 59% were women and 51% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.
The 20th most popular school in the country for criminal justice majors who are seeking their master's degree is University of Central Florida. Each year, around 68,400 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.
For the 2018-2019 academic year, 82 master's degrees were handed out to criminal justice majors at UCF. Around 49% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 72% were women.
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Related Majors
Below are some popular majors that are similar to criminal justice that offer master’s degrees.
Major | Annual Degrees Awarded |
---|---|
Homeland Security | 2,208 |
Other Homeland Security | 534 |
Fire Protection | 98 |
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.
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