Master’s Degrees in Criminal Justice & Corrections
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Education Levels of Criminal Justice Majors
In 2018-2019, 7,748 earned their master's degree in criminal justice. This makes it the 31st most popular master's degree program in the country.
The following table shows the number of diplomas awarded in criminal justice at each degree level.
Education Level | Number of Grads |
---|---|
Master’s Degree | 7,748 |
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. 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 $37,200 to a high of $48,500.

Student Debt
The median student debt for graduates holding a master's degree in criminal justice is $40,550. The length of time it takes you to graduate and what college you attend can affect this number quite a bit.
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.

Those students who are paying back their debt on a 10-year repayment plan have a median monthly payment of $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:
CUNY 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. Each year, around 15,300 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.
The criminal justice program at CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice awarded 268 master's degrees during the 2018-2019 school year. Of these students, 49% were women and 55% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.
Liberty University is the 2nd most popular school in the nation for students seeking a master's degree in criminal justice. Roughly 79,100 attend the school each year. 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.
During the 2018-2019 academic year, 245 people received their master's degree in criminal justice from Liberty University. About 45% of this group were women, and 28% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.
Saint Leo University comes in at #3 on our list of the most popular colleges offering master's degrees in criminal justice. Each year, around 11,800 students seeking various degrees attend the university. 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.
The criminal justice program at Saint Leo University awarded 220 master's degrees during the 2018-2019 school year. Around 51% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 59% were women.
University of Phoenix - Arizona is the 4th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a master's degree in criminal justice. Roughly 95,700 attend the school each year. 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.
For the 2018-2019 academic year, 214 master's degrees were handed out to criminal justice majors at UOPX - Arizona. Around 53% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 66% were women.
Southern New Hampshire University comes in at #5 on our list of the most popular colleges offering master's degrees in criminal justice. Each year, around 104,000 students seeking various degrees attend the university. 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.
During the 2018-2019 academic year, 189 people received their master's degree in criminal justice from SNHU. About 57% of this group were women, and 33% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.
Arizona State University - Skysong comes in at #6 on our list of the most popular colleges offering master's degrees in criminal justice. Each year, around 38,500 students seeking various degrees attend the university. 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.
The criminal justice program at Arizona State University - Skysong awarded 180 master's degrees during the 2018-2019 school year. About 51% of this group were women, and 37% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.
Boston University comes in at #7 on our list of the most popular colleges offering master's degrees in criminal justice. Each year, around 34,600 students seeking various degrees attend the university. 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.
During the 2018-2019 academic year, 176 people received their master's degree in criminal justice from Boston U. About 64% of this group were women, and 28% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.
University of New Haven comes in at #8 on our list of the most popular colleges offering master's degrees in criminal justice. Each year, around 6,800 students seeking various degrees attend the university. 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.
During the 2018-2019 academic year, 168 people received their master's degree in criminal justice from U of New Haven. Of these students, 68% were women and 27% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.
The 8th most popular school in the country for criminal justice majors who are seeking their master's degree is University of San Diego. Roughly 9,000 attend the school each year. 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.
For the 2018-2019 academic year, 168 master's degrees were handed out to criminal justice majors at U of San Diego. Around 31% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 23% were women.
The 10th 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 37,800 students seeking various degrees attend the university. 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.
For the 2018-2019 academic year, 144 master's degrees were handed out to criminal justice majors at Cincinnati. Around 27% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 60% were women.
The 11th most popular school in the country for criminal justice majors who are seeking their master's degree is Grambling State University. Each year, around 5,200 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.
The criminal justice program at Grambling State University awarded 136 master's degrees during the 2018-2019 school year. Of these students, 71% were women and 99% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.
American Public University System is the 12th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a master's degree in criminal justice. Each year, around 46,000 students seeking various degrees attend the university. 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.
During the 2018-2019 academic year, 135 people received their master's degree in criminal justice from American Military University. Of these students, 37% were women and 33% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.
The 12th most popular school in the country for criminal justice majors who are seeking their master's degree is Ashford University. Roughly 34,700 attend the school each year. 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.
During the 2018-2019 academic year, 135 people received their master's degree in criminal justice from Ashford University. Around 61% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 70% were women.
University of Maryland - University College comes in at #14 on our list of the most popular colleges offering master's degrees in criminal justice. Each year, around 60,600 students seeking various degrees attend the university. 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.
During the 2018-2019 academic year, 125 people received their master's degree in criminal justice from University of Maryland - University College. Around 50% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 56% were women.
Colorado Technical University - Colorado Springs is the 15th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a master's degree in criminal justice. Each year, around 26,100 students seeking various degrees attend the university. 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.
During the 2018-2019 academic year, 106 people received their master's degree in criminal justice from Colorado Technical University - Colorado Springs. Around 59% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 67% were women.
Sam Houston State University comes in at #16 on our list of the most popular colleges offering master's degrees in criminal justice. Each year, around 21,200 students seeking various degrees attend the university. 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.
The criminal justice program at Sam Houston State University awarded 104 master's degrees during the 2018-2019 school year. Around 44% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 68% were women.
Grand Canyon University comes in at #17 on our list of the most popular colleges offering master's degrees in criminal justice. Each year, around 90,200 students seeking various degrees attend the university. 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.
For the 2018-2019 academic year, 101 master's degrees were handed out to criminal justice majors at Grand Canyon University. About 55% of this group were women, and 52% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.
National University is the 18th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a master's degree in criminal justice. Roughly 16,900 attend the school each year. 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.
During the 2018-2019 academic year, 98 people received their master's degree in criminal justice from National University. About 65% of this group were women, and 48% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.
Capella University comes in at #19 on our list of the most popular colleges offering master's degrees in criminal justice. Roughly 37,100 attend the school each year. 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.
During the 2018-2019 academic year, 88 people received their master's degree in criminal justice from Capella University. Around 51% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 59% were women.
University of Central Florida comes in at #20 on our list of the most popular colleges offering master's degrees in criminal justice. Roughly 68,400 attend the school each year. 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 2018-2019 academic year, 82 people received their master's degree in criminal justice from UCF. About 72% of this group were women, and 49% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.
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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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