| Rank | School | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice | New York, New York |
| 2 | Arizona State University | Scottsdale, Arizona |
| 3 | Florida State University | Tallahassee, Florida |
| 4 | University of Kansas | Lawrence, Kansas |
| 5 | University of Cincinnati-Main Campus | Cincinnati, Ohio |
| 6 | Purdue University Global | West Lafayette, Indiana |
| 7 | Southern New Hampshire University | Manchester, New Hampshire |
| 8 | Western Illinois University | Macomb, Illinois |
| 9 | Texas A & M University-Commerce | Commerce, Texas |
| 10 | Baker College | Owosso, Michigan |
We have researched the top online bachelor's degrees in Law Enforcement. A degree in Law Enforcement can lead to careers as a police officer or detective.
This article is designed to be a guide for prospective online students, whether they be new high school graduates, adults already working, parents, guidance counselors, or transfer students who want to attend a program that teaches policing and detective work.
Police and Detectives are an essential part of society. This means that there are always needs for police officers and detectives in society, which means that the growth rate and longevity of these positions can be high and enduring.
Most degrees in the policing subject are within Criminal Justice programs at colleges and universities across the United States.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Police and Detectives earn an average median yearly salary of $74,910. The growth rate is projected to be 3%, adding 23,800 new positions over the next ten years.
Having a bachelor's degree is not always required to become a police officer or to work in law enforcement. Check with the state and local agencies in which you want to work to determine the eligibility requirements to become a police officer or a detective. A high school diploma may be sufficient to work in law enforcement.
If the agency in which you want to work does require a bachelor's degree, the degree may not necessarily need to be in Criminal Justice (though a degree that subject may be of benefit in getting hired). Other subject are relevant as well, such as sociology, psychology, forensic science, criminology, emergency management, and others.
This article focuses on Criminal Justice and related fields, such as Criminology and Criminalistics, but with a particular focus on degrees that have specializations or concentrations on Law Enforcement.
Top Online Bachelor's Degrees for Law Enforcement
CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice
New York, New York
John Jay College of Criminal Justice offers an online Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice.
Online students learn from experienced professors with knowledge in public safety, law enforcement, and legal fields.
Length: This degree can be completed and online students can graduate in two years. Students can work at their own pace.
Courses include:
- Criminology
- Victimology
- Sex Offenders in the Criminal Justice System
- Law and Evidence
Students in the online bachelor's can get a minor in these subjects:
- Law
- Anthropology
- Police Studies
- Criminology
This online degree is the same instruction as their on-campus program.
Arizona State University
Scottsdale, Arizona
Arizona State University offers an online Bachelor of Science in Criminology and Criminal Justice with a concentration in Policing degree.
This degree program focuses on the many facets of policing in particular, which includes instruction in these domains:
- Criminal procedure and case law
- Crime mapping and analysis
- How police organizations operate
- The rights of citizens
- Research into Policing
- Police/citizen relations
- Police accountability and management
- Strategies for crime reduction
Courses include:
- Criminal Justice Crime Control Policies and Practices
- Introduction to Policing
- Inequality, Crime and Criminal Justice
- Criminology
Arizona State University's online BS in Criminology and Criminal Justice allows students to earn a master's degree in only one year after obtaining the bachelor's in Criminal Justice, or Crime Analysis.
Florida State University
College of Criminology and Criminal Justice
Tallahassee, Florida
Florida State University’s College of Criminology and Criminal Justice’s faculty members are experts in their field.
The College of Criminology and Criminal Justice offers a number of undergraduate and graduate degree programs, which includes an online Bachelor of Science in Criminology.
They achieved a top ranking in the nation for research productivity. Its faculty serves as editors and co-editors of prominent journals, including Journal of Drug Issues, Criminology, and Social Problems; Criminology and Public Policy (CPP); and Justice Quarterly.
For students who choose to pursue the criminology major, careers to consider include detective, child welfare caseworker, crime intelligence analyst, victim advocate, corporate security specialist, private investigator, fish and wildlife officer, and social services case manager.
FSU
Accreditation: The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) provides Florida State University with accreditation.
University of Kansas
Lawrence, Kansas
University of Kansas offers an online Bachelor of Science or an online Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice with a concentration in Law Enforcement Leadership.
The Law Enforcement concentration is a 12 hours and is designed to give law enforcement officers the education necessary for career advancement. Both the BS and BA degrees have a capstone course.
Courses in the BA include:
- Introduction to Criminal Justice
- Being Deviant in America
- Courts and Sentencing
- Public Service Leadership
- Policing
- Research Methods and Data Driven Decision Making in Criminal Justice
- Violence in Society
- Theoretical and Historical Foundations of Criminology
Courses in the BS include:
- Racial Justice and the Criminal Justice System
- Generating, Allocating and Managing Public Resources
- Managing People in Public Organizations
- Public Service Leadership
- Conducting the People's Business Ethically
- Internship in Law Enforcement
Credits: The BS and BA require 120 credit hours
University of Cincinnati-Main Campus
School of Criminal Justice
Cincinnati, Ohio
With an emphasis on an interdisciplinary approach, the University of Cincinnati's School of Criminal Justice prepares students for a variety of career options in Criminal Justice.
The School of Criminal Justice offers online and on-campus programs leading to undergraduate and graduate degrees.
The University of Cincinnati offers an online Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice.
Accreditation: The Higher Learning Commission (HLC) provides the University of Cincinnati with accreditation.
Purdue University Global
West Lafayette, Indiana
Purdue University Global offers the online Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice with a concentration in Law Enforcement.
One benefit of this online degree is in taking advantage of their ExcelTrack, which allows students to graduate faster and for less money.
ExcelTrack students can demonstrate their knowledge through assessments to accelerate and fast-track their education. The flexibility of ExcelTrack allows students to go through the material either faster or slower, as needed.
Courses include:
- Crime Scene Investigation II
- Family and Domestic Violence
- Drugs and Alcohol in the Criminal Justice System
- Homeland Security
Another benefit to students, is that new online students can try out the program for three weeks with no commitment or financial obligation to see if it is the right choice.
Southern New Hampshire University
Manchester, New Hampshire
Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) is a non-profit, private university.
SNHU offers an online Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice with a concentration in Police Administration and Operations.
This degree is specialized, teaching online students police administration and operations in particular, which means the
Courses: 40
Terms: 8 weeks long
Courses include:
- The United States Judicial System
- Introduction to Criminal Justice
- Criminology
- Victimology
- Research Literacy in Social Sciences
- Communication Skills for Criminal Justice
- Contemporary Issues in Criminal Justice
One reason why SNHU is ranked highly is due to the fact that SNHU has one of the lowest tuitions in the nation - the same since 2012.
Another reason why SNHU is at the top of our list is because online students can complete their bachelor's degree fast, in as short as two years (which is half the time of a traditional degree program).
SNHU accepts transfer credits from Sophia Learning, which offers basic general education courses for flat fees within certain time frames, which allows students to finish the program in two years.
Sophia Learning allows students to take as many online classes as they can finish in one month for $99, four months for $299, or 12 months for $599. The courses are pass/fail, so these courses won't negatively affect your GPA if you barely passed.
Western Illinois University
School of Law Enforcement and Justice Administration
Macomb, Illinois
Western Illinois University offers an online Bachelor of Science in Law Enforcement and Justice Administration.
This online degree is focused on law enforcement - developed collaboratively with corrections, various law enforcement agencies, firemen, public safety and security experts.
Western Illinois University is partnered with over 1,500 law enforcement agencies which accept students to work as interns.
Graduates have worked at federal down to local law enforcement agencies in their careers, which includes correctional facilities, sheriff's offices, and police agencies, across the United States.
Texas A & M University-Commerce
Commerce, Texas
Texas A&M University, Commerce offers an online Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice, Law Enforcement Leadership Emphasis (Competency Based).
This degree focuses on a foundation of philosophical, ethical, and historical developments of policing, and their effects and relevance on modern law enforcement.
Students can complete their degree in two years.
Credits: 120 credit hours
Credit is offered for prior qualifying experience.
Courses include:
- Legal Aspects of Law Enforcement
- Juvenile Justice System
- Correctional Systems
- Criminal Investigation
- Community-Based Corrections
This program is ideal for students who want to work in leadership roles, such as supervisor roles, within police forces after graduation.
Baker College
Owosso, Michigan
Baker College has the online Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice: concentration in Law Enforcement and Police Academy degree.
We partner with several organizations which offer a certified Law Enforcement Academy to provide students with an option to graduate with a degree in criminal justice along with the skills, tools, methods and credentials to pursue a career in law enforcement. Students who successfully complete our criminal justice major along with the Law Enforcement Academy curriculum and program will receive certification as a police officer in the State of Michigan pursuant to the Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards (MCOLES). A student will take most of his/her academic courses during the first year or two before applying for the Law Enforcement Academy.
Baker College
Courses include:
- Evidence Collection and Procedures
- Essential Skills in Criminal Justice
- Diversity in Criminal Justice
- Principles of Policing I
Credits required: 120
Baker College is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission.
Do All Police Officers Have To Attend A Police Academy?
The answer to this question depends on the particular state in which the police force or state agency is located. There are some instances where a degree is needed, and some instances where there are not.
Law enforcement officers are typically trained in a local police academy. While requirements vary by state, most police officers, deputy sheriffs, and state troopers need to attend police academy training in their early careers. For example, the state of Connecticut requires entry-level police officers to complete a Basic Training Program at the Connecticut Police Academy or a state-approved Academy. Some states, however, allow officers to waive the academy training if they have sufficient on-the-job experience or education.
Goodwin University
More resources:
- The Best Homeland Security Colleges Online
- The Fastest Criminal Justice Degrees Online - Bachelor's Programs
- The 50 Best Criminal Justice Degree Programs
- The Best Online Criminal Justice Schools
- Online Forensic Psychology Degree Programs - Best Bachelor's
- The 11 Best Forensic Science Colleges
- The Best College Degrees for Fighting Human Trafficking
- The Best Universities Fighting Human Trafficking