15 Best Affordable Law Enforcement/Criminal Justice Degree Programs (Bachelor’s) 2020

Southern University at New Orleans (SUNO) is a member of the Thurgood Marshall College Fund and part of the Southern University System. It is the country’s only Historically Black College/ University college system. SUNO’s students are predominantly female. SUNO offers a top value bachelor’s degree in criminal justice. SUNO’s programs have been highlighted by Washington Monthly and U.S. News & World Report. Notable SUNO alumni include civil rights activist Oretha Castle Haley . Many SUNO graduates have gone on to become state and local leaders, including a few in the criminal justice field, especially in the New Orleans Police Department .

SUNO offers one of the most affordable associate’s through master’s level degrees, and certificate programs in Louisiana . It has two Criminal Justice or related bachelor’s degrees. The BS in Criminal Justice requires at least 120 credit hours to graduate, with 46 for the major. Key courses and electives include:

• Crime and Social Causation
• Criminal Investigation
• Discretionary Justice; a Criminal Justice Practicum
• Senior Seminar in Criminal Justice capstone

The BS in Forensic Science requires a minimum of 125 credit hours, with at least 34 for Forensic Science specific courses. Key courses and electives include:

• Evidence Collection and Processing
• Forensic DNA Analysis
• Witness Testimony
• Forensic Science Internship
• Senior Comprehensive Exam

SUNO also offers students a low cost online BSCJ.

• • Type: public

• • Net price: $6,967

• • In-state: $6,421 (tuition+fees)

• • Out-of-state: $15,322 (tuition+fees)

• • #students: 2546

• • #undergrads: 2108

• • Graduation rate: 20%

• • Has housing: Yes

• • Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges

California State University-Bakersfield (CSUB) is a Hispanic-Serving Institution that is part of the California State University system. CSUB is known for increasing the social/economic mobility of its students. In 2017, The Equality of Opportunity Project ranked this inexpensive school third best in the nation in economic mobility. Many students moved from the bottom 20% of family incomes to the top 60%. The university’s academic offering enjoys several high rankings in:

• Washington Monthly
• Time Magazine
• U.S. News & World Report
• Regional Universities West

Notable CSUB alumni include author Kathleen O’Neal Gear. CSUB offers bachelor’s through doctorate level degrees. It has one of the best value BA Criminal Justice programs. This degree requires 120 credits to graduate, with 54 credits in the major. Criminal Justice majors can choose to also do a 12-credit minor. Key courses and options include:

• Correctional Counseling
• Criminal Justice Policy Making
• Women and the Criminal Justice System
• Internship in Criminal Justice
• Senior Seminar capstone

Graduates of this top inexpensive program can pursue several career options, including:

• CIA agent
• corrections officer
• crime analyst
• DEA agent
• law enforcement officer
• private investigator
• probation officer
• Secret Service agent

• • Type: public

• • Net price: $6,794

• • In-state: $7,147 (tuition+fees)

• • Out-of-state: $19,027 (tuition+fees)

• • #students: 10131

• • #undergrads: 8814

• • Graduation rate: 41%

• • Has housing: Yes

• • Accreditation: WASC Senior College and University Commission

California State University-Stanislaus (Stan State) is a Hispanic-Serving Institution. It is part of the California State University System. The university is well-ranked on a number of academic metrics, by a variety publications/organizations. These include:

• Washington Monthly 
• Money Magazine
• Princeton Review 
• Time Magazine
• National Public Radio 
• Social Mobility Index

 In its 2019 rankings, US News & World Report listed Stan State as the 10th best public school among Regional Universities in the West. Notable alumni include broadcaster/journalist Brian Nixon and former Congressman Gary Condit.

Stan State offers affordable bachelor’s through doctorate level degrees. It has several low cost Criminal Justice programs, requiring at least 120 credit hours for graduation. Its main BA criminal justice program has five concentration options. The first four are:

• Corrections
• Criminal Legal Studies
• Juvenile Justice
• Law Enforcement

They require at least 56 credits in the major and 19 in the selected concentration.

The fifth concentration, Forensic Science, requires 62-64 credit hours. The Accelerated BA criminal justice program is for those already working in criminal justice who have some or all of an Associate’s degree completed. Stan State also offers a BA in Social Sciences, with a Specialization in Criminal Justice.

• • Type: public

• • Net price: $6,768

• • In-state: $7,038 (tuition+fees)

• • Out-of-state: $18,918 (tuition+fees)

• • #students: 10327

• • #undergrads: 9057

• • Graduation rate: 53%

• • Has housing: Yes

• • Accreditation: WASC Senior College and University Commission

Indiana University-Northwest (IUN) is part of the Indiana University System. IUN’s student body is the most diverse of any IU campus. The university’s student population is 21% Hispanic and 17% African-American. This top affordable bachelor’s program also has a 66% female population. The combination of small class sizes,  affordability, and the quality of education is a big draw for students.  U.S. News & World Report ranked IUN in two of its 2019 college review lists:

• Regional Universities Midwest
• Business Programs.

IUN offers associate’s through master’s level degrees, plus certificate programs. It has two inexpensive Criminal Justice programs. Both require at least 120 credit hours for graduation. The BS criminal justice program requires 36 credits for the CJ concentration and 12 for Public Affairs and Policy courses. Key courses and options include:

• American Policing
• Corrections in the Community
• Murder: Causes and Consequences
• an Internship

For students looking at administrative or managerial roles in criminal justice, IUN also has a BS in Public Affairs with a concentration in Criminal Justice. Key courses and options include:

• Substantive Criminal Law
• The Criminal Courts
• Theoretical Foundations of Criminal Justice Policies
• an Internship.

• Type: public
  • Net price: $6,736

• • In-state: $7,207 (tuition+fees)

• • Out-of-state: $19,038 (tuition+fees)

• • #students: 4055

• • #undergrads: 3700

• • Graduation rate: 28%

• • Has housing: No

• • Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission

Utah Valley University (UVU) is the state’s largest public university. Its dual-mission model allows it to serve as both a community/technical college and a university.  As part of that dual mission, UVU has an open admissions policy and provides a high level of affordability. In the recent past, AffordableSchools.net has ranked several of UVU’s programs as among the most affordable degrees in the country, including several #1 or #2 spots. The university also enjoys rankings in Forbes Magazine and U.S. News & World Report 

Notable alumni from this affordable top university include professional dancer Chelsie Hightower of Dancing with the Stars.

UVU offers one of the most economical associate’s through master’s level degrees, plus certificate programs. It has several Criminal Justice and related programs. The BS in criminal justice requires 120 credits, including 71 for the major. Key courses include:

• Constitutional Criminal Rights
• Crime and Gender
• an Internship
• Criminal Justice Capstone Seminar

 The BS in Forensic Science has two options:

• the Forensic Investigation Emphasis 
• the Forensic Laboratory Emphasis

Both require 126 credits, with 40 for the core and 47 for the emphasis. Key courses and electives include:

• Bloodstain Pattern Analysis
• Forensic Trace Analysis
• Medicolegal Death Investigations
• Forensic Science Internship.

• • Type: public

• • Net price: $6,690

• • In-state: $5,652 (tuition+fees)

• • Out-of-state: $16,066 (tuition+fees)

• • #students: 37282

• • #undergrads: 36868

• • Graduation rate: 30%

• • Has housing: No

• • Accreditation: Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities

Dalton State College (DSC) is part of the University System of Georgia. In 2018 it became the first Hispanic-Serving Institution in the state. More than half of Dalton’s students are the first in their families to pursue a higher education. Affordability is one of the school’s hallmarks. AffordableSchools.net previously ranked DSC’s Criminal Justice program as the fifth most affordable program in the country and its online version as the second most affordable degree program. This top college also appeared on two of U.S. News & World Report’s 2019 college review lists:

• Regional Colleges South
• Business Programs

DSC offers affordable associate’s and bachelor’s degrees, plus certificate programs. The BS criminal justice requires 121-122 credit hours, including 60 hours of upper-level courses for the major. Key courses include:

• Crime and the Media
• Criminal Justice Research Methodology
• Ethical Issues in Criminal Justice
• Profiling the Serial Offender
• The Law of Criminal Evidence
• Internship in Criminal Justice
• Senior Capstone in Criminal Justice

Graduates of this economical bachelor’s degree will be prepared for careers in:

• corrections
• juvenile justice
• probation
• local, state, or federal law enforcement

In addition, students completing the BS criminal justice will have the foundation needed to pursue graduate degrees or law school. Dalton also offers an inexpensive  AS in Criminal Justice that can transfer toward the BSCJ, and an eMajor/online version of the BSCJ.

• • Type: public

• • Net price: $5,768

• • In-state: $4,212 (tuition+fees)

• • Out-of-state: $12,634 (tuition+fees)

• • #students: 5164

• • #undergrads: 5164

• • Graduation rate: 20%

• • Has housing: Yes

• • Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges

Fayetteville State University (FSU) is an Historically Black College or University that is part of the University of North Carolina System. It’s a member of the Thurgood Marshall College Fund. Almost 70% of its students are. Nearly half the students are are over 25 and 25% are active-duty military, veterans, or military family members. FSU has a solid reputation for helping its students. FSU and its programs have collectively been ranked highly by a number of publications/organizations, including several times by this site, AffordableSchools.net. In its 2019 rankings, the U.S. News & World Report ranked the university in four of its college review lists:

• Top Public Schools
• top HBCUs
• top Regional Public Universities South
• top Business Programs

Notable FSU alumni include actor/rapper Affion Crockett (Blackish) and WWE wrestling Hall-of-Famer “Junkyard Dog” (Sylvester Ritter).

FSU offers inexpensive bachelor’s through doctorate level degrees, plus certificate programs. Its BS criminal justice is the first program of its kind in North Carolina to be certified by the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences. It is one of the largest programs at this top affordable university. Graduates are in both traditional careers such as courts, corrections, policing. They are also in such careers as social justice advocacy and victim-offender mediation. The  criminal justice program requires 120 credit-hours with:

• 48 for the major (21 for core courses, 27 for CJ-specific electives)
• 19 for a minor

Key courses and options include:

• Crime Prevention
• Criminological Theory
• Sustainable Justice
• White Collar Crime
• an Internship
• a capstone Seminar in Criminal Justice

The affordable bachelor’s degree program also has an online completion option.

• • Type: public

• • Net price: $5,626

• • In-state: $5,183 (tuition+fees)

• • Out-of-state: $16,791 (tuition+fees)

• • #students: 6226

• • #undergrads: 5393

• • Graduation rate: 33%

• • Has housing: Yes

• • Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges

California State University-Dominguez Hills (CSUDH is an affordable Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) that is part of the California State University system. Although over 60% of its student population is Hispanic/LatinX, the school has a diverse student body overall. It also serves the needs of other under-represented populations. For example, in 2017 it was reported that CSUDH awards more degrees and more STEM teaching credentials to African-American students than any other public institution in California. Also in 2017, The Equal Opportunity Project ranked this university 18th in the nation for the overall mobility of its graduates. U.S. News & World Report ranked CSUDH in two of its 2019 college review lists: Top Public Schools; Regional Universities West. Notable CSUDH alumni include actresses Lela Rochon (Harlem Nights) and Niecy Nash (Claws, Reno 911!).

CSUDH offers low cost bachelor’s and master’s degrees, plus certificate programs. It has two Criminal-Justice-specific bachelor’s degrees. The first, a BS in Criminal Justice Administration requires 120 credits, with 51 for the major. Key courses include:

• Corrections Administration and Policy
• Criminal Justice and Community
• Juvenile Justice Process
• a CJA Capstone

The BS in Public Administration with a CJA Concentration also requires 120 credits, with 48 for the major, including 12 for the concentration. Key courses and options include:

• Criminal Law and Justice Administration
• Restorative Justice and Peace Building
• Statistics in CJA

The first program offers more wide-ranging career options, including the areas of:

• corrections
• homeland security
• intelligence analysis
• juvenile justice
• law
• law enforcement

The BS public administration is for those seeking administrative or managerial positions in public service organizations. Graduates of this high value criminal justice degree will be also be prepared for careers in non-profit organizations or even law.

• • Type: public

• • Net price: $4,957

• • In-state: $6,837 (tuition+fees)

• • Out-of-state: $18,717 (tuition+fees)

• • #students: 16219

• • #undergrads: 13278

• • Graduation rate: 43%

• • Has housing: Yes

• • • Accreditation: WASC Senior College and University Commission

John Jay College of Criminal Justice (John Jay) is part of The City University of New York (CUNY) system. The school is a Hispanic-Serving Institution, and also ranks highly for student diversity in general. The Equality of Opportunity Project reported in 2017 the school was 10th best in the nation for creating intergenerational mobility. This includes students going from the bottom 40% to the top 40% economically. The school’s faculty features:

• two Pulitzer Prize winners
• seven distinguished professors
• three Presidential Scholar

John Jay enjoys additional accolades from the following publications and organizations:

• Forbes Magazine
• Washington Monthly
• The Economist
• U.S. News & World Report
• Regional Universities North 2019
• Top Public Schools 2019
• Payscale/ CollegeNet Social Mobility Index

Notable John Jay alumni include actress Pauley Perrette (NCIS).

John Jay offers affordable associate’s through master’s level degrees, plus certificate programs. As a college largely focused on criminal justice, it has multiple undergraduate programs directly or indirectly related to this area of study. A few of which are:

• BA in Criminal Justice (Crime Control and Prevention)
• BS in Criminal Justice (Institutional Theory and Practice)
• BS in Criminal Justice Management
• BS in Police Studies

Each of these affordable top ranking bachelor’s programs require 120 credits. There are also accelerated options that allow students to complete a bachelor’s and master’s degree together requiring 128-134 credits for the undergrad portion.

• • Type: public

• • Net price: $4,891

• • In-state: $7,070 (tuition+fees)

• • Out-of-state: $14,460 (tuition+fees)

• • #students: 14834

• • #undergrads: 12916

• • Graduation rate: 47%

• • Has housing: Yes

• • Accreditation: Middle States Commission on Higher Education

Texas A and M International University (TAMIU, est. 1969) is a Hispanic-Serving Institution HSI) and member of the Texas A and M University System. Serving as the heart of a multicultural and multilingual community, this school has developed programs with a progressive agenda that provide students with an understanding and connection to the larger world. A 2018 American Council on Education report found that TAMIU had the second highest extended income mobility rate among all minority-serving institutions in the nation. This cheap bachelor’s program rose to 16th in the Top Public Schools category of the 2019 U.S. News and World Report (USNWR) Best Colleges Rankings. Additional USNWR 2019 ranking categories: Best Value Schools; Regional Universities West; Engineering Programs (schools with no doctorate). TAMIU previously ranked as a top business school according to Princeton Review. Notable TAMIU alumni include educator/civil rights expert Esther Buckley.

TAMIU offers bachelor’s through doctorate level degrees. Students of this top affordable school in Texas can choose from three Criminal Justice options, each of which require 120 credit hours, including six credit for a foreign language/study abroad requirement. The BS in Criminal Justice requires 39 hours for the major and 18 for a minor. The BA with Majors in Criminal Justice and Political Science requires 33 hours for each major. The Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences (BAAS) Criminal Justice Concentration requires 33 for the major and 21 in a vocational technical field (which may be satisfied through work experience, police academy training, or courses completed for an Associate of Applied Arts degree). Key courses for all three inexpensive bachelor’s programs can include Ethics in Criminal Justice, Police Systems and Practices, Senior Pro-Seminar, and a Criminal Justice Internship.

• • Type: public

• • Net price: $4,857

• • In-state: $7,143 (tuition+fees)

• • Out-of-state: $17,411 (tuition+fees)

• • #students: 7640

• • #undergrads: 6799

• • Graduation rate: 44%

• • Has housing: Yes

• • Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges

Indian River State College (IRSC) is our top inexpensive BS in criminal justice degree program. It is consistently one of the most affordable institutions nationally on the basis of net price. In 2017, it was chosen as a Top 3 finalist for the prestigious Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence. Chosen as one of the country’s Achieving the Dream Leader Colleges, this member of the Florida College System is focused on helping its students succeed. In addition, IRSC’s open door policy means every high school graduate has a chance to realize his or her college dreams. Amongst IRSC’s notable alumni are several Olympic swimmers and professional baseball players.

IRSC offers associate’s and bachelor’s degrees, plus certificate programs. Its BS in criminal justice is an affordable bachelor’s degree program that requires a total of 120 credits. Applicants are required to have an AA in Criminal Justice or AS in Criminal Justice Technology, both of which are available at IRSC. Courses are taught at the 50-acre Treasure Coast Public Safety Training complex. It’s one of the most comprehensive training facilities of its kind in the United States.  Key subjects include:

• Corrections and Penology
• Criminal Justice Administration and Management
• Police and Society
• a capstone research course

Graduates of this affordable criminal justice program can pursue leadership positions in a number of areas, including:

• corrections
• juvenile justice
• law enforcement
• private security
• probation.
• Type: public
• Net price: $1,064
• In-state: $2,764 (tuition+fees)
• Out-of-state: $10,201 (tuition+fees)
• #students: 17598
• #undergrads: 17598
• Graduation rate: 39%
• Has housing: No
• Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges

Other Rankings of Interest:

• 35 Top Value Affordable Online Bachelor’s Degrees in Criminal Justice Studies
• 15 of the Most Affordable Bachelor’s Degrees in Forensic Science
• 15 of the Most Affordable Bachelor’s Degrees in Public Policy
• The 50 Most Affordable Colleges with the Best Return
• The 20 Most Affordable Online Colleges
• 25 Most Affordable Online Master’s of Criminal Justice Degrees
• Best Affordable Business Degrees