Key takeaways
- This guide explores the best criminal justice schools in Florida, listing program details and identifying their best features.
- Florida is the third most populous state in the United States and has an expansive criminal justice system to maintain public order, ensure public safety, and more.
- The state has a crime rate lower than the national average, making its criminal justice system one of the best in the United States.
- Of all the criminal justice colleges in Florida, Florida State University is among the best, offering several criminal justice programs you can pursue.
- Other universities with renowned criminal justice schools in Florida include the University of West Florida, Florida Atlantic University, the University of Central Florida, and more.
- Make sure to check for accreditations, faculty qualifications, and expertise before choosing a college to study at.
Florida is one of the most populous states in the US, with a population of over 23 million, ranking third after California and Texas. Naturally, to maintain public order and ensure protection of rights, guarantee security, and ensure efficient criminal justice administration, the state has a robust criminal justice system. Suppose you aspire to pursue a career in criminal justice. In that case, Florida offers a wealth of opportunities and a variety of career paths in criminal justice, including law enforcement, corrections, courts, and so on.
Related: What are the highest paying criminal justice jobs?
This guide explores some of the best criminal justice schools in Florida. Here, you will not only find program details, but also essential information such as college acceptance rate, tuition, and more.
5 of the best criminal justice schools in Florida
The Federal Bureau of Investigation releases an annual crime report each year. As per their 2023 report, the violent crime rate for the said year was 363.8 per 100,000 people. In comparison, the rate of violent crime in Florida is significantly lower at 150.7 per 100,000 people for the same year. The state’s criminal justice departments must be doing something right.
Keeping violent crime rates below the national average in a state as populous as Florida is no easy feat. If you want to learn from industry experts with proven experience, then explore the following criminal justice colleges in Florida.
Related: One-stop-guide to getting a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice
Florida State University
At Florida State University, you can pursue an undergraduate program in Criminology and Criminal Justice. The program is specifically designed to equip students with critical thinking, problem-solving, and analytical skills, making it one of the best in the state. What makes it even more attractive is that it is available online and on campus.
Moreover, aspiring criminal justice professionals can also opt for the accelerated bachelor’s to master’s degree in criminal justice. You get to learn the ropes from industry experts, and obtain an advanced degree in less time than it would take if you complete the two programs if you pursue them individually.
Related: What is the fastest criminal justice degree online?
Additionally, FSU partners with the best criminal justice agencies across the United States. Through the partnership, the faculty at the College of Criminology and Criminal Justice organizes informational seminars to enhance the students’ learning experience and helps them secure job placements at the top criminal justice agencies.
| Location | Acceptance % | Graduation % | Tuition |
| Tallahassee, Florida | 25% | 82.9% | $5,604 in-state
$18,749 out-of-state |
University of Central Florida
The University of Central Florida offers a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Criminal Justice. The program is specifically designed for those who want to make a positive change and a lasting impact through the criminal justice system. The program is designed to provide students with comprehensive knowledge of the criminal justice system. Students are then encouraged to come up with creative solutions to some of the most pressing problems faced by society.
Through the program, you will learn to apply the knowledge gained to different job opportunities within criminal justice, including criminal investigations, law enforcement, corrections, courts, and more. Moreover, you will benefit from practical learning opportunities such as internships, collaborations, and even study abroad opportunities.
Exceptional students who maintain a CGPA of 3.2 and above can opt for the scholars track, where they can choose from advanced courses. They also enjoy the privilege of working closely with professors and obtaining exclusive mentorship from industry professionals. Additionally, those looking for flexibility can also pursue this program online, making it the best criminal justice degree in Florida.
| Location | Acceptance % | Graduation % | Tuition |
| Orange County, Florida | 41% | 75.9% | $5,954 in-state
$20,980 out-of-state |
Florida Atlantic University
If you are looking for criminal justice schools in Florida offering challenging bachelor’s and master’s programs in the field, Florida Atlantic University (FAU) is the ideal criminal justice college in Florida. Its School of Criminology and Criminal Justice offers a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice at the undergraduate level.
Through the program, students will learn the causes and nature of crime, understand the legal system, including laws concerning juveniles, and take courses specific to different careers in the field. You can pursue the program both online and on campus. It is one of the top criminal justice schools in Florida, and exceptional students can also apply to take part in the Honors research in Criminal Justice. However, they must have a GPA of 3.5 in the Core Criminal Justice (CCJ) classes.
Moreover, students who qualify for the Honors research can choose which research they want to be a part of. They must contact the Professors leading the research to determine if they can be a part of the team or not. If you do not want to go into research, then you can opt for a master’s degree in the field. FAU is truly one of the best criminal justice universities in Florida and a leading research institute in the field.
| Location | Acceptance % | Graduation % | Tuition |
| Boca Raton, Florida | 81.3% | 54.9% | $203.29/credit hr in-state
$721.84/credit hr out-of-state |
University of West Florida
The University of West Florida (UWF) is among the renowned criminal justice universities in Florida. The university boasts an inclusive, helpful, and friendly environment, as is evident by many student testimonials. Here, professors go the extra mile to help students with their education and research, and offer their guidance for their future goals.
You can pursue a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, and also have the option to opt for the accelerated bachelor’s to master’s program, completing both programs in one go. Besides educational excellence in the field of criminal justice, you also get to benefit from industry connections and collaborations. UWF partners with over 50 criminal justice organizations to ensure easy access to internship opportunities for its students.
If you are searching for a program where you get knowledge, individual attention, access to research, and hands-on learning opportunities, this is the program for you. All this and more, including its dedication to providing academic excellence and providing individualized attention to each student, is what makes it one of the best criminal justice colleges in Florida.
| Location | Acceptance % | Graduation % | Tuition |
| Ferry Pass, Florida | 48% | 60.1% | $6,360 in-state
$18,628 out-of-state |
Florida Gulf Coast University
If you’re looking for a bachelor’s criminal justice degree in Florida, Florida Gulf Coast University is the ideal option for you. Here, you will undertake a range of core courses in the criminal justice field, where you will develop a deeper understanding of the criminal justice system, its principles, and more. Side by side, you will undertake a variety of hands-on learning opportunities to further enhance your learning of the field.
You can then choose from one of the many available specialization tracks, including law enforcement, corrections, legal studies, juvenile justice system, and more. Moreover, the university has an active internship placement program, making obtaining experiential learning opportunities a breeze. You can also get in touch with an academic advisor and gain the guidance you need to choose a career track, ensure your chosen courses align with your career goals, and more.
Additionally, students benefit from the availability of distance learning opportunities. If you live out of state and cannot afford the move, or are seeking a flexible and convenient learning option, this is the program for you. Here, you will also get distance learning technical support to ensure a smooth learning experience.
Related: Exploring the best online schools for criminal justice.
| Location | Acceptance % | Graduation % | Tuition |
| Lee County, Florida | 74.4% | 55.3% | $6,118 in-state
$25,162 out-of-state |
How to choose a criminal justice college in Florida?
The list of the best criminal justice colleges in Florida is quite extensive, as there are many excellent universities offering amazing criminal justice programs. Moreover, the state’s extensive criminal justice system and its collaboration with educational institutes ensure aspiring professionals learn from industry professionals and get to apply knowledge to real-world scenarios to obtain a more holistic learning experience.
So, how do you choose the ideal criminal justice school in Florida, when there are many that fit the bill? Here are a few pointers to keep in mind.
- Check whether the college is accredited by the relevant higher education accreditation authorities.
- Ensure the faculty includes qualified industry professionals with professional achievements under their belts.
- Browse through the program curriculum to determine which courses and specializations are available and if they align with your career goals or not.
- Make sure the college has an internship placement program or offers hands-on learning opportunities.
- The presence of a career counselor and academic advisor is a plus.
- Online learning opportunities can also be a major plus as they offer flexibility and convenience, even if it’s just for a few courses.
Related: What are the highly rated criminal justice jobs?
Enroll in one of the best criminal justice schools in Florida today!
Criminal justice is a vast yet specialized field. There is so much to understand about crime, criminal behavior, and the criminal mindset, and so many career paths one can explore. Pursuing a criminal justice degree in Florida can be a great option for those who want to learn from industry professionals through a structured learning environment.
There are many great criminal justice universities in Florida, the best of which we have mentioned above. Make sure to give your career aspirations considerable thought when choosing a program. Best of luck in your future endeavors!
You may also be interested in: