Key takeaways
- This guide explores the reasons why students should consider pursuing an online criminal justice degree.
- The online learning industry is growing at an unprecedented rate and is expected to value USD 94.00 billion by 2025.
- Pursuing an online criminal justice degree can be more affordable than an on campus program.
- Online programs are easier to access, especially for international or off campus students.
- You can pursue a full-time job with your online bachelor’s in criminal justice and gain work experience while you get your degree.
- The US Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation publish lists of accredited colleges and universities that you can choose from.
Still on the fence about the viability of an online criminal justice degree? You have come to the right place. It makes sense to doubt a program set to lead primarily to careers in fields such as law enforcement, courts, corrections, probation, and so on. No two days in the field of said career paths are ever the same. Different days bring different challenges, and how does one learn how to deal with them through an online program?
This guide explores why getting an online criminal justice degree can be an excellent choice. Here, you will not only find reasons to pursue a BS Criminal Justice online, but also a guide on how to find accredited online colleges for criminal justice.
6 reasons to get an online bachelors in criminal justice
The online university education market is growing at an unprecedented rate, projected to reach USD 94.00 billion by the end of 2025. The user penetration rate currently stands at 2.6% and is expected to reach 3.6% by 2029. Clearly, there is something the online education market offers that is appealing to students as they increasingly rely on the distance learning module to gain an education.
If you are an aspiring criminal justice professional, here are 8 reasons why you should get a degree in criminal justice online.
Work while you study
The truth is, you can enter the field of criminal justice with a high school diploma. So, if you want to become a police officer, a corrections officer, a probation officer, a Bailiff, or other similar jobs, you can do so after graduating from high school and obtaining the required training. However, if you want to obtain a promotion or aspire to become an FBI Agent, Social Worker, Victim Advocate, or any other role in criminal justice, a bachelor’s degree is the ideal qualification.
But did you know that if you want to become an FBI Agent, prior law enforcement experience counts and can enhance your eligibility?
That is where criminal justice degree programs online come into play. Whether you are already a part of the criminal justice field or aspire to be, an online criminal justice degree offers you the chance to gain an education without having to give up formal employment.
Study at any time and anywhere
In asynchronous online criminal justice programs, you can take your classes at any time that is convenient for you. You are completely in charge of your learning schedule and can choose when and where to take classes. Whether you want to complete a week’s worth of classes on the weekend or cover the course throughout the week, the choice is completely up to you.
Many students value the flexibility and convenience that come with online degrees in criminal justice. So, whether you have a full-time job or simply want to be in charge of your learning schedule, an online degree in criminal justice is the way to go.
Related: How long does criminal justice take?
Save Cost – An online criminal justice degree is cheap
Generally, the cost of attending a criminal justice program involves the tuition, accommodation costs for out-of-state students, transport costs, and other overheads incurred when traveling to and from campus. International students incur a significantly higher cost of attendance than in-state off-campus students, who incur the lowest, generally speaking.
The cost of attendance varies from student to student as it depends on where you live, how far you travel, whether you have your own transport or take the public transport system, and so on. There are truly endless variables for on-campus students.
In contrast, the cost for online criminal justice degrees is minimal. Students only have to pay the tuition and some additional fees for books, supplies, and technical assistance. Thus, distance learning makes obtaining criminal justice degrees more affordable.
Easily accessible for all students
Historically, geographical limitations have hindered access to some of the best educational institutions for the vast majority of students located across borders. Obtaining a visa, arranging accommodation, accounting for traveling expenses, searching for jobs, and trying to settle into a new country and new culture are all very challenging.
The distance learning industry has removed all these barriers. Now, regardless of which side of the border you are on, you can easily access high-quality education from some of the best educational institutions not just in the US, but across the world.
Complete the criminal justice bachelor’s degree faster
Online schools for criminal justice degrees, specifically asynchronous programs, allow students to learn at their own pace. For some students, that could mean completing a semester in around half the time it takes on-campus students to cover the same courses. So, if an on-campus program has a 15-week semester, as an online student, you can complete the same coursework in around 7.5 weeks.
The faster you can complete your bachelor’s degree, the faster you can apply for your dream job or for the promotion you wanted. However, make sure you check the availability of criminal justice courses online to determine whether the accelerated learning option is available to you or not.
Related: What is the fastest criminal justice degree online?
Get better jobs!
Since you can pursue your job and education side by side, you will already have a ton of work experience before you graduate from your online criminal justice BS degree. Besides an educational qualification, relevant work experience works wonders in opening career opportunities for graduates. You will instantly be able to access and be eligible for a higher range of job opportunities.
Moreover, a criminal investigation degree or a criminal justice bachelor’s degree from a US university may actually help international students get better jobs in their hometown, where research or technologies in the field may not be as advanced.
You may also be interested in:
- Highest paying criminal justice jobs?
- The most in-demand criminal justice jobs in Maryland?
- Highly rated criminal justice jobs
How to find the ideal online university for criminal justice?
The world of online learning has come a long way from what it was in the early 2000s. Even before the onslaught of the pandemic pushing toward the widespread adoption of distance learning programs, the world of online learning was growing. Slowly, but steadily, despite the scams and unaccredited programs being offered.
Unfortunately, those still exist, and they specifically target students looking for ‘online criminal justice degree cheap’. Here is how you can ensure you only choose accredited online criminal justice programs that align with your career goals.
Identify your career goals
It is important that you know what your future aspirations are before you start searching for a program. When you search with a clear goal, finding the right option becomes easier.
Search for accredited online criminal justice degree programs
Make searching for accredited online schools for criminal justice your priority. If you search for ‘online criminal justice bachelor programs’ the search results will include colleges that are not accredited and increase your overall search time.
Verify the school’s accreditation
Accreditation authorities publish lists of accredited colleges and universities on their website. Make sure you go through the list to verify that the higher educational institute that you are considering is actually offering an accredited program. Here is a list of accreditation boards listing the names of accredited online colleges:
- US Department of Education – Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs
- Council for Higher Education Accreditation – CHEA Recognized Accredited Organizations
Shortlist colleges by state or by ranking
Sorting through the many available options can prove challenging. You can either start with renowned online colleges for criminal justice. Browsing through leading US educational ranking sites, such as Princeton Review or U.S. World News, is a good starting point. You can also start browsing colleges by state to make your selection process easier.
Consider industry networking opportunities.
When browsing through criminal justice online schools, search specifically for those with industry partnerships. Strategic partnerships between criminal justice organizations and educational institutions significantly enhance a student’s learning experience.
Moreover, these partnerships make available a wide range of internship and job opportunities. Even if you opt for criminal justice classes online, you can still access real-world scenarios and problems and use analytical and problem-solving skills to provide innovative solutions.
Start your career with ease – Pursue an online BS in Criminal Justice!
While searching for a criminal justice degree online, accredited too, can seem like a hassle, it really is not. The majority of leading universities in the United States offer online criminal justice bachelor’s programs. Moreover, an increasing number of students are now switching to online programs as distance learning offers many advantages.
Not having to commute to and from campus or stick to a campus schedule leaves students free to pursue other activities alongside their education. These can include hobbies, full-time or part-time jobs, and more. What makes online criminal justice degree programs so ideal is that you can start working in the criminal justice field right after high school graduation and pursue a Bachelor of Science in criminal justice while working as a professional.
Moreover, criminal justice degrees, whether pursued online or on campus, hold the same value in the job market. So, take the easy route without hesitation. An online criminal justice degree is definitely worth pursuing.