Criminal Justice at HBCUs
Several Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) now offer fully online criminal justice degrees that let students study policing, courts, corrections, and criminology from anywhere.
Some of the strong options include North Carolina A&T State University (online B.S. in Criminal Justice), Southern University at New Orleans (online B.S. in Criminal Justice), Fayetteville State University (online B.S. in Criminal Justice degree completion), Bethune-Cookman University (online M.S. in Criminal Justice Administration), and Albany State University (online M.S. in Criminal Justice).
The criminal justice degree has grown well beyond traditional policing. Today it supports careers in digital forensics, legal research, probation, crime analysis, and public administration. For working adults, transfer students, and those who want the cultural community of an HBCU without relocating, online delivery removes the barrier of distance while keeping the academic rigor intact.
HBCU Online Criminal Justice Programs
North Carolina A&T State University
Online Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice
The North Carolina A&T State University online Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice is designed for learners who want to make an impact across policing, courts, corrections, and the supporting fields that surround them. As the largest public HBCU in the country, N.C. A&T brings a research-driven approach to the degree, blending criminology theory with the analytical skills employers increasingly expect.
The degree requires 120 total credit hours. Of those, 37 credit hours sit in the criminal justice core, 30 credit hours are reserved for criminal justice electives, 32 credit hours cover general education, and 21 credit hours are free electives. Because this is a degree-completion-friendly format, applicants must transfer in with at least 24 credit hours, and additional approved transfer credit can shorten the time to finish.
Students take courses 100% online and finish the program at the same pace their transfer credits and personal schedule allow. A typical full-time learner completes the remaining coursework in roughly two to three years, while part-time students extend that timeline to fit work and family commitments.
What sets this program apart is its emphasis on data. Learners work directly with statistical software such as SPSS and Stata, building the quantitative skills that support evidence-based policy and modern crime analysis. The curriculum also examines crime from the viewpoint of both the offender and the victim, giving students a balanced perspective on the justice system.
In-state tuition is set at $360 per credit hour, with out-of-state students paying $432 per credit hour. The university advertises no additional program fees and offers payment plans, grants, and scholarships to qualifying students, which keeps the online degree accessible for adult learners returning to finish what they started.
Every online student is paired with a dedicated success coach from day one. That coach helps with degree planning, course selection, and time management, which is one reason the program reports strong faculty engagement and student support across the online cohort.
Courses and Curriculum
The criminal justice core at N.C. A&T moves students from foundational concepts toward applied research. Early courses introduce terminology, classification systems, and the major components of the justice system, while writing and communication courses build the professional skills needed for reports, advocacy, and graduate study.
Midway through the program, students examine the three pillars of the system in depth: policing administration, the judicial process from arrest through final appeal, and correctional philosophies and practices. Criminology courses then analyze the origins of crime and the theories that explain criminal behavior.
The upper-division sequence is heavily methods-focused. Students complete statistics with a lab, research methods, and an applied methods course covering hypothesis testing, regression, mapping, and software such as Excel, SPSS, and GIS. The program closes with a capstone that encourages mixed-method, creative approaches to a topic the student studied.
Some of the core courses that you will take include:
- CRJS 100 – Introduction to Criminal Justice
- CRJS 101 – Writing for the Social Sciences
- CRJS 210 – Policing: Administration and Process
- CRJS 220 – Courts and the Judicial Process
- CRJS 230 – Corrections
- CRJS 240 – Criminology
- CRJS 331 – Research Methods in Criminal Justice
- CRJS 332 – Applied Methods (SPSS, Stata, GIS)
Practical Experience
Hands-on learning is woven into the degree through CRJS 498, the internship course, which places students in criminal justice agencies for supervised field experience. Online learners also complete a capstone project that applies their coursework to a real research question, and they have access to virtual forensic and computer labs along with project-based learning modules.
The university opens its widely attended campus career fair to online students and hosts professional development events that connect learners with employers and practitioners.
Learning Outcomes
- Explain the structure and operation of policing, courts, and corrections within the U.S. justice system.
- Apply major criminological theories to explain patterns of criminal behavior.
- Conduct research using qualitative and quantitative methods.
- Use statistical software such as SPSS and Stata to analyze justice data.
- Evaluate crime from both offender and victim perspectives.
- Communicate findings clearly through professional writing and presentations.
- Apply ethical reasoning to discretionary decisions across the justice system.
Career Preparation & Outcomes
The program points graduates toward roles in academia, research, finance, law, government, and military service. Specific job titles include forensic science technician, probation officer, loss prevention specialist, and crime analyst, with strong demand reported across local, state, and federal government in North Carolina.
Career-focused courses, the success coaching model, and the open career fair give online students concrete ways to translate the degree into employment. North Carolina A&T reports a six-year graduation rate of 55%, which is in line with peer research universities and well above several other HBCUs in this list.
Admissions Requirements
- 24 or more hours of transferable college credit.
- Grade of C (2.0) or better in coursework for it to transfer.
- Minimum GPA of 2.5 at the most recent institution attended.
- Completed online application.
Southern University at New Orleans
Online Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice
Southern University at New Orleans (SUNO) delivers a 100% online Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice through its FlexU online platform. The program gives students a working knowledge of the justice system and the legal, legislative, and social processes that influence it, with a clear focus on preparing graduates for entry-level positions in justice agencies.
The online degree is a 120 semester credit hour accelerated program. The credit hours break down into 45 hours of criminal justice core and elective courses, an 18 hour minor or concentration, 39 hours of general education, and 18 hours of general electives. Students must earn a grade of C or better in all major coursework to graduate.
SUNO designed the format around accelerated terms, which lets motivated students move through requirements faster than a traditional semester calendar allows. The structure suits adult learners and working professionals in the New Orleans metropolitan area and beyond who need flexibility.
The curriculum is organized around the operations of the justice system rather than a single specialty. Core areas include the criminal justice and juvenile justice processes, criminology, law enforcement, adjudication, and corrections, giving students a broad base before they choose a concentration or minor.
Research literacy is a thread that runs through the degree. Students study how empirical research informs justice policy and practice, which prepares those who later want to enter a master’s program to compete for admission and assistantships.
As part of the Southern University System, SUNO connects online students to a long tradition of serving diverse and nontraditional learners. The program’s mission centers on building a network of well-educated professionals equipped to serve in justice agencies and related organizations.
Courses and Curriculum
SUNO’s criminal justice core opens with a survey of the system that covers how police, courts, and corrections compete for resources and pursue sometimes-conflicting goals. From there, students move into the substantive law and procedure courses that define what conduct is criminal and how cases move through the system.
The middle of the curriculum examines specialized areas of practice, including private security and crime prevention, corrections, and criminology. These courses connect classroom theory to the day-to-day realities of agencies at the local, state, and federal level.
The upper division emphasizes methods and capstone work. Students complete a methods and statistics course and a senior seminar that pulls together the knowledge gained across the program, alongside their chosen 18-hour concentration or minor.
Some of the core courses that you will take include:
- Criminal Justice I: Introduction to Police, Courts, and Corrections
- Criminal Justice II: Private Security and Public Crime Prevention
- Corrections
- Criminology
- Policing in America
- Criminal Law and Criminal Procedure
- Methods and Statistics in Criminal Justice
- Senior Seminar in Criminal Justice
Practical Experience
SUNO encourages online students to build a professional network early by joining associations, attending conferences, and presenting at regional and national research meetings. The program highlights membership organizations such as the International Association of Chiefs of Police, the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives, and the American Correctional Association as routes into the field.
Students interested in graduate study are urged to take part in faculty research opportunities, and the undergraduate program is structured as a feeder into the system’s master’s offerings.
Learning Outcomes
- Demonstrate the core knowledge, skills, and abilities required in the criminal justice profession.
- Apply critical thinking to solve complex justice problems.
- Communicate effectively for advocacy and career advancement.
- Understand research methodology used in the profession.
- Use the technology tools common to justice agencies.
- Apply the ethical foundation and professional values of justice and service.
Career Preparation & Outcomes
The program prepares graduates for entry-level positions in criminal justice agencies and related organizations, and it positions students who want to continue their education for graduate study. SUNO reports that graduates have been placed in justice agencies and graduate schools, and the curriculum’s research and technology components are designed to make graduates competitive.
Southern University at New Orleans reports a six-year graduation rate of 13%, a figure shaped by the school’s large population of part-time, transfer, and nontraditional students.
Admissions Requirements
- Meet SUNO’s general undergraduate admission standards for first-time freshmen, transfer, or readmitted students.
- Submit official transcripts.
- Complete the online application for admission.
- No separate departmental requirements beyond university admission.
Fayetteville State University
Online Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice (Degree Completion Option)
Fayetteville State University (FSU) offers a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice with an Online Degree Completion option, and it carries a credential few programs can claim: it was the first criminal justice program in North Carolina certified by the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences. With roughly 400 undergraduate majors, the department is among the largest at FSU.
The B.S. requires 120 credit hours in total, divided into 38 credit hours of university core courses and 82 credit hours of criminal justice courses. That heavy major requirement means students graduate with a deep base in the discipline rather than a thin survey.
The online format is specifically a degree-completion track. Students complete their upper-division junior and senior level courses online, which means applicants must already have finished the University College Core Curriculum or be dual-enrolled with a partnering community college that has a signed articulation agreement with FSU.
Transfer policy is generous and built for adult learners. A transfer student must complete a minimum of 30 credit hours at FSU but may apply up to 90 transfer credit hours toward the degree, which makes the online completion path efficient for those who already hold an associate degree.
The department’s mission centers on training students to analyze, communicate, interpret, and ethically confront issues of crime and justice. Faculty are active in research, and students can connect with professors whose work covers policing, corrections, and social justice advocacy.
Courses and Curriculum
FSU structures the major around 21 credits of required criminal justice courses plus 27 credits of criminal justice electives, with the requirement that 18 elective hours come from 300 and 400 level courses. This balance ensures students master the fundamentals before specializing.
The required sequence walks students through the system from multiple angles: an introduction to the justice system, then dedicated introductions to law enforcement, criminal courts, and corrections. Criminological theory and research methods courses build the analytical core.
Electives let students tailor the degree toward their interests, with options covering victimology, drugs and crime, white-collar crime, race and gender in justice, media and crime, and crime prevention. A senior seminar caps the program and synthesizes the learning.
Some of the core courses that you will take include:
- CRJC 200 – Introduction to the Criminal Justice System
- CRJC 201 – Introduction to Law Enforcement
- CRJC 215 – Introduction to Criminal Courts
- CRJC 220 – Introduction to Corrections
- CRJC 304 – Criminological Theory
- CRJC 314 – Criminal Justice Research Methods
- CRJC 313 – Victimology
- CRJC 450 – Seminar in Criminal Justice
Practical Experience
FSU’s program is geared toward applied learning, and the department reports that a substantial number of graduates move into both traditional careers in policing, corrections, and the courts and non-traditional roles such as victim-offender mediation and social justice advocacy.
Students can engage with faculty research projects, and the senior seminar functions as a culminating experience that asks learners to critically analyze and interpret real issues of crime and justice.
Learning Outcomes
- Critically analyze issues of crime and the criminal justice system.
- Communicate clearly about justice topics in writing and discussion.
- Interpret criminological theory and apply it to real situations.
- Confront ethical questions that arise across justice agencies.
- Conduct and evaluate criminal justice research.
- Explain the roles of law enforcement, courts, and corrections.
- Examine how race, class, and gender intersect with justice outcomes.
- Prepare for traditional and non-traditional justice careers.
Career Preparation & Outcomes
Graduates pursue careers across policing, corrections, and the court system, as well as growing areas such as mediation and advocacy. Fayetteville State University reports a six-year graduation rate of 38%, with a sizable transfer student population reflected in that figure.
Admissions Requirements
- Completion of the University College Core Curriculum, or dual enrollment with a partnering community college, to enter the online completion track.
- $50 non-refundable application fee.
- Official high school and college transcripts.
- A roughly 250-word personal statement describing who you are and why you want to attend FSU.
- Minimum of 30 credit hours completed at FSU to earn the degree; up to 90 transfer hours accepted.
Bethune-Cookman University
Online Master of Science in Criminal Justice Administration
Bethune-Cookman University offers an online Master of Science in Criminal Justice Administration (MSCJA) built for professionals aiming at leadership roles. Bethune-Cookman is the only HBCU offering a master’s degree in criminal justice administration in its central and coastal Florida region, which gives it a particular role in supplying a culturally diverse leadership pipeline for the state’s justice agencies.
The degree requires 33 credit hours. Bethune-Cookman offers two routes: a thesis option, where students complete 24 credits of core courses and 9 credits of electives, and a non-thesis option, where students complete 21 credits of core courses and 12 credits of electives. The thesis track suits those headed toward doctoral study, while the non-thesis track fits practitioners who want more applied coursework.
Instruction is delivered fully online across four semesters, each running fifteen weeks. That structure lets working professionals progress steadily without leaving their jobs, and the program uses current learning software to deliver coursework.
The MSCJA is positioned as a rigorous interdisciplinary degree that demands strong reading, writing, and critical reflection. Rather than focusing narrowly on one specialty, it builds the administrative and analytical skills needed to lead within law enforcement agencies, courts, and correctional organizations.
Florida’s central and coastal regions report rising demand for qualified justice professionals, and the program is explicitly designed to meet that need with graduates prepared for administrative responsibility. The interdisciplinary emphasis means students engage with management, policy, and research alongside justice content.
For grandfathered direct online students and active-duty military, the university lists a tuition rate of $250 per credit hour, with course materials included by default, which keeps the leadership credential within reach for service members and continuing students.
Courses and Curriculum
The MSCJA core builds administrative competence layered on top of justice theory. Students study the organization and management of justice agencies, the legal environment they operate in, and the research skills needed to evaluate programs and policies.
Because the program is interdisciplinary, coursework draws on management, policy analysis, and applied research rather than confining students to a single subfield. This prepares graduates to handle the budgeting, personnel, and planning challenges that justice administrators face.
The two tracks shape the back half of the curriculum. Thesis students dedicate credits to original research culminating in a defended thesis, while non-thesis students take additional electives that broaden their applied knowledge of administration and leadership.
Some of the core courses that you may take include:
- Foundations of Criminal Justice Administration
- Organization and Management of Justice Agencies
- Criminal Justice Research Methods
- Statistics for Criminal Justice
- Criminal Justice Policy Analysis
- Legal and Ethical Issues in Justice Administration
- Program Evaluation in Criminal Justice
- Leadership and Personnel Management in Justice Settings
Practical Experience
The MSCJA prepares students for careers in a variety of justice settings, including law enforcement agencies, courts, and correctional agencies, and the thesis option gives research-minded students the opportunity to design and defend an original study under faculty supervision.
Because the program targets working professionals, much of the applied learning comes through coursework that asks students to evaluate real programs and policies and to develop administrative solutions they can carry directly into their workplaces.
Learning Outcomes
- Lead and manage within public and private justice organizations.
- Apply administrative theory to law enforcement, court, and correctional settings.
- Conduct and interpret criminal justice research.
- Evaluate the effectiveness of justice programs and policies.
- Analyze the legal and ethical environment of justice administration.
- Communicate at a graduate level through scholarly writing.
Career Preparation & Outcomes
The program prepares graduates for administrative and leadership positions across the justice system, supporting Florida’s demand for professionally trained, diverse leaders in policing, courts, and corrections. The thesis pathway additionally readies students for doctoral programs.
Admissions Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution.
- Minimum GPA of 2.75 on a 4.0 scale, with 3.0 preferred; a lower GPA may be accepted with strong professional experience, leadership, or recommendations.
- Two letters of recommendation.
- A personal statement describing interest in the program and future goals.
- GRE is not required but may be used to assess academic potential.
Albany State University
Online Master of Science in Criminal Justice
The Department of Criminal Justice at Albany State University offers a Master of Science in Criminal Justice delivered both face-to-face and fully online. The graduate degree is designed to prepare students for professional careers within the justice system, stressing theoretical, methodological, and philosophical understanding of the field.
The program requires only 30 semester hours, one of the leanest master’s requirements among the HBCUs reviewed here. That structure includes core courses, a concentration, and a thesis or non-thesis option, and it can be completed in as little as one year by committed full-time students who follow the term-by-term plan.
Online students choose between two concentrations: corrections and law enforcement. The forensic science and public administration concentrations are offered on campus, so distance learners select from the two specialties available fully online.
A one-year completion plan is published for serious students: twelve hours in the fall across two terms, twelve hours in the spring across two terms, and six hours in the summer. This accelerated map lets professionals earn the credential quickly while maintaining the program’s academic standards.
Albany State sets a high bar for performance. Students must earn a grade of B or better in every course and maintain a 3.0 grade point average to remain in the program, and they must pass a comprehensive examination covering core, statistics and methodology, and their chosen specialty.
The published tuition rate is $300 per credit hour for the online master’s, and the department’s philosophy centers on channeling student talent toward the enrichment of the community, the state, and the nation, reflecting the HBCU’s broader mission of service.
Courses and Curriculum
Albany State’s core sequence grounds students in the foundations, theory, and administration of the justice system before turning to research. The first courses survey crime causation, police, courts, corrections, and juvenile delinquency, then examine the history, philosophy, and ethics of the field.
Two methods courses anchor the research component. One covers theory construction, hypothesis development, operationalization, and data collection, while the other examines parametric and non-parametric statistics, inferential testing, and significance, giving graduates strong quantitative skills.
After the core, students complete nine semester hours in their chosen online concentration. Law enforcement coursework addresses policing in a democratic society, operations, and management science, while corrections coursework covers the foundations of corrections, treatment and rehabilitation, and the management of correctional institutions.
Some of the core courses that you will take include:
- CRJU 5100 – Foundations of Criminal Justice
- CRJU 5110 – Theory and Philosophy of Criminal Justice
- CRJU 5400 – Organization and Administration of the Criminal Justice System
- CRJU 5600 – Research Methodology in Criminal Justice
- CRJU 5610 – Research Statistics in Criminal Justice
- CRJU 6100 – Policing in a Democratic Society (Law Enforcement concentration)
- CRJU 6400 – Foundations of Corrections (Corrections concentration)
- CRJU 6430 – Rehabilitation and Treatment (Corrections concentration)
Practical Experience
The program’s applied focus comes through its concentration coursework and its comprehensive examination, which requires students to demonstrate competence in their specialty before graduating.
The corrections concentration prepares students for roles such as parole officer, corrections supervisor, prison administrator, and case worker in community-based treatment programs, while the law enforcement concentration builds the leadership, planning, and management skills police agencies look for.
Thesis-track students apply theory and research techniques to a real question in policing, courts, or corrections under an advisor’s supervision.
Learning Outcomes
- Demonstrate mastery of subject material across the broad field of criminal justice.
- Show proficiency in at least one specialization, such as law enforcement or corrections.
- Understand statistics and research design.
- Evaluate the quality and implications of scientific research in the field.
- Engage in scholarly writing through papers and final projects.
- Apply administrative theory to the workings of justice agencies.
- Pass a comprehensive examination in core, methodology, and a chosen specialty.
Career Preparation & Outcomes
Graduates are prepared for professional careers across the justice system and for advanced graduate study, with the program noting that its alumni can compete successfully with graduates from other schools and disciplines. The corrections and law enforcement tracks map directly to supervisory and administrative roles in their respective areas.
Admissions Requirements
- Baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university.
- Official transcripts from all institutions attended.
- Two letters of recommendation.
- GRE or MAT accepted; for applicants under a 3.0 GPA, a GRE combined score of 250 or higher or a MAT combined score of 350 or higher for provisional admission.
- Regular admission requires a 3.5 GPA or above; provisional admission requires a 3.0 to 3.4 GPA.
- Applicants whose undergraduate degree was not in criminal justice must complete six semester hours of required undergraduate prerequisites with a B or better.
What is a Good GPA for Criminal Justice?
The minimum GPA requirements for criminal justice degrees typically fall between 2.5 and 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, serving as a baseline standard for admissions.
Do I Need Math For Criminal Justice?
The curriculum of a criminal justice degree, like the career path itself, involves a diverse set of courses. While foundational courses for most degrees include basic English, Math, and Science, more specialized courses in criminal justice follow as students progress through their degrees,
Can You Make Six Figures With a Criminal Justice Degree?
Yes, you absolutely can make six figures with a criminal justice degree. While entry-level salaries often start modestly, reaching the six-figure mark is very common in federal law enforcement, senior municipal leadership, and corporate security as you gain experience.
What Jobs in Criminal Justice Pays the Most?
The highest-paying jobs in criminal justice are Criminal Defense Attorneys and Prosecuting Attorneys, which can yield upwards of $150,000 to over $300,000 annually depending on experience and location. For non-lawyer or criminology-focused roles, Forensic Psychologists and Federal Special Agents (FBI, DEA) are among the most lucrative.