Why This Matters
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95% OF PROBATION OFFICER JOBS REQUIRE A COLLEGE EDUCATION
95% of probation officer jobs require some form of postsecondary education. While most require a bachelor’s, there are opportunities available for those with an associate degree.
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2,400 NEW JOB OPENINGS ANTICIPATED BY 2032
The demand for probation officers and corrections treatment specialists is rising across the United States, with an anticipated 3% increase in the need for new officers by 2032.
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POTENTIAL TO EARN A SIX-FIGURE SALARY
The median wage for probation officers and corrections treatment specialists in the United States is $59,860, with the highest 10% of workers earning over $101,080.
Our Research
This list features some of the best online associate in criminal justice degree programs at top colleges nationwide. Each school featured is a nonprofit, accredited institution — either public or private — with a high standard of academic quality for post-secondary education.
We evaluated each school’s program on admission, retention, and graduation rates as well as tuition costs, faculty, reputation, and the resources provided for online students. Then, we calculated the Intelligent Score on a scale of 0 to 100. Read more about our ranking methodology.
Next, we compared this comprehensive list of online associate in criminal justice degree programs to a list of aggregated college rankings from reputable publications like U.S. News & World Report, among others, to simplify a student’s college search. We pored through these rankings so students don’t have to.
Why Trust Us
The Intelligent.com Higher Education Team is dedicated to providing students with independent, equitable school and program rankings and well-researched resources. Our expert-driven articles cover topics related to online colleges and programs, paying for school, and career outlooks. We use data from the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard, the National Center for Education Statistics, and other reputable educational and professional organizations. Our academic advisory team reviews content and verifies accuracy throughout the year for the most current information. Partnerships do not influence rankings or editorial decisions.
- Analyzed over 2,000 national, accredited, and nonprofit colleges and universities
- 800+ rankings pages are reviewed and updated yearly
- Content is informed by reputable sources, surveys, and interviews with academic advisors and other experts
- Over 100 data points are reviewed for accuracy and quality throughout the year, including sources
How we rank schools
Our list features the best online Criminal Justice degree programs at top colleges nationwide. Each school featured is a nonprofit, accredited institution — either public or private — with a high standard of academic quality for post-secondary institutions.
We evaluated each school’s program on tuition costs, admission, retention and graduation rates, faculty, reputation, and the student resources provided for online students. We collected data from trusted sources like the National Center for Education Statistics, individual school and program websites, school admissions counselors, and other data sources. Then, we calculated the Intelligent Score on a scale of 0 to 100 based on the following criterion:
Academic Quality:
- Admission rate versus enrollment rate
- Retention rate of students who return after year one
- Accreditation status (regional and programmatic)
- Nonprofit status, both private and public institutions
Graduation Rate
- Overall graduation rate
- Total number of currently enrolled students, including diversity metrics
- Student-to-faculty ratio
Cost and ROI
- In-state and out-of-state per-credit tuition rates and fees
- Required credits to graduate
- Earning potential after graduation
- Availability of federal student loans, scholarships, and other financial aid options
Student Resources
- Available student services for online-only and hybrid programs
- On-campus amenities like tutoring centers and the number of libraries
Read more about our ranking methodology.
- 73 hours to write this article
- 100 universities and colleges we assessed
- 149 education programs we compared
Best 32 Online Associate in Criminal Justice Programs
FiltersInstitution Type
Status
- Intelligent Score
- Alphabetically By University Name
- Acceptance Rate
- Enrollment
- In-state Graduate Tuition
- Out-of-state Graduate Tuition
- In-state Undergraduate Tuition
- Out-of-state Undergraduate Tuition
Trine University
Intelligent Score: 99.91In-state: $32,990
Out-of-state: $32,990
In-state: $41,457
Out-of-state: $41,457
SAT: 1010-1210
ACT: 20-27
$399
Online
Higher Learning Commission
60
Regent University
Intelligent Score: 97.21In-state: $17,220
Out-of-state: $17,220
In-state: $15,552
Out-of-state: $15,552
SAT: 940-1220
ACT: 21-29
$450
Online, On-Campus
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on College
63
Liberty University
Intelligent Score: 96.73In-state: $14,791
Out-of-state: $14,791
In-state: $7,935
Out-of-state: $7,935
SAT: 1040-1250
ACT: 21-29
$275
Online
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on College
60
Saint Leo University
Intelligent Score: 96.04In-state: $23,990
Out-of-state: $23,990
In-state: $14,568
Out-of-state: $14,568
SAT: N/A
ACT: N/A
$410
Online, On-Campus
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on College
60
Northeast Community College
Intelligent Score: 95.9In-state: $16,023
Out-of-state: $17,313
In-state: NA
Out-of-state: NA
SAT: N/A
ACT: 12-29
Resident: $108
Non-Resident: $151
Online, On-Campus
Higher Learning Commission
64
Southern New Hampshire University
Intelligent Score: 94.78In-state: $9,600
Out-of-state: $9,600
In-state: $18,810
Out-of-state: $18,810
SAT: N/A
ACT: N/A
$320
Online
New England Commission of Higher Education
60
West Kentucky Community and Technical College
Intelligent Score: 94.3In-state: $17,008
Out-of-state: $27,928
In-state: NA
Out-of-state: NA
SAT: N/A
ACT: N/A
$182
Online, On-Campus
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on College
61-64
Albany Technical College
Intelligent Score: 94.12In-state: $17,113
Out-of-state: $19,513
In-state: NA
Out-of-state: NA
SAT: N/A
ACT: N/A
$100
Online
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on College
60
Chaminade University of Honolulu
Intelligent Score: 93.64In-state: $26,800
Out-of-state: $26,800
In-state: $24,720
Out-of-state: $24,720
SAT: 960-1140
ACT: 18-23
$585
Online, On-Campus
Western Association of Schools and Colleges
60
Bismark State College
Intelligent Score: 93.19In-state: $17,473
Out-of-state: $19,557
In-state: NA
Out-of-state: NA
SAT: N/A
ACT: 16 and 22
Resident: $174
Non-Resident: $260
Online, On-Campus
Higher Learning Commission
60
Western Wyoming Community College
Intelligent Score: 92.98In-state: $16,847
Out-of-state: $21,887
In-state: NA
Out-of-state: NA
SAT: N/A
ACT: N/A
Resident: $105
Non-Resident: $360
Online, On-Campus
Higher Learning Commission
60
Northampton Community College
Intelligent Score: 91.79In-state: $12,389
Out-of-state: $15,749
In-state: NA
Out-of-state: NA
SAT: NA
ACT: NA
In-County PA Resident: $125-$193 Out-of-County PA Resident: $250
Out-of-State: $375
Online, On-Campus
Middle States Commission on Higher Education
64
South Texas College
Intelligent Score: 91.03In-state: NA
Out-of-state: NA
In-state: NA
Out-of-state: NA
SAT: N/A
ACT: N/A
In-District: $160 Out-of-District: $170
Non-Resident: $250
Online
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on College
60
Central Texas College
Intelligent Score: 90.18In-state: $15,231
Out-of-state: $19,011
In-state: NA
Out-of-state: NA
SAT: 1070
ACT: 19-23
In-District: $100 Out-of-District: $124
Non-Resident: $250
Online
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on College
60
Park University
Intelligent Score: 88.27In-state: $8,251
Out-of-state: $8,251
In-state: $6,224
Out-of-state: $6,224
SAT: N/A
ACT: N/A
$550
Online, On-Campus
Higher Learning Commission
60
Rio Salado College
Intelligent Score: 87.93In-state: $16,881
Out-of-state: $22,665
In-state: NA
Out-of-state: NA
SAT: 720 or more
ACT: 12 or more
Lower Division Courses: County Resident: $97
Out-of-State: $253
Online
Higher Learning Commission
64
St. Petersburg College
Intelligent Score: 86.95In-state: $19,485
Out-of-state: $26,089
In-state: NA
Out-of-state: NA
SAT: Not Required
ACT: Not Required
Resident: $122
Non-Resident: $425
Online
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on College
62
Tyler Junior College
Intelligent Score: 86.37In-state: $20,194
Out-of-state: $20,914
In-state: NA
Out-of-state: NA
SAT: Not Required
ACT: Not Required
In-District: $134 Out-of-District: $194
Non-Resident: $218
Online
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on College
60
What You Should Know About This Degree
Criminal justice is just one field of study; other areas students might want to consider include police science and forensic science. While a criminal justice degree is concerned with corrections, forensic and police science degrees are focused on the science behind studying crime scenes.
Only apply to schools approved by a DOE-recognized accrediting organization, such as the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE) or Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU). If your school isn’t accredited, you may be unable to access financial aid or transfer credits to another institution if needed.
Once your education is completed, the job outlook is relatively good, with the Bureau of Labor Statistics projecting an average rate of growth in this profession. In addition to a college education, those looking for work in this field may need to pass physical and psychological examinations.
What’s Next?
Here are some questions to ask when researching online associate degrees in criminal justice:
- How long does it take to complete this online degree? Most associate degree programs, including those in criminal justice, take about two years to complete, provided students attend classes full time. Many schools offer students the opportunity to fast-track their program and graduate more quickly. Part-time learning may also be available for students with busier schedules — this can take several additional years to complete, depending on the student’s pace.
- What licensing or certifications are required? While corrections workers don’t typically require professional licensing, most do need to have clean criminal records as well as up-to-date CPR and first aid certifications.
Throughout your search for an associate degree program, be sure to consider deadlines and requirements for admission and follow them closely. This information is typically available on the program page of the school’s website. You might also want to consider financial assistance if you can’t fund your program independently. Ask your employer if they offer funding assistance and research other options such as scholarships and grants.
Compare School Options
Related Degrees
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