Recently, we discussed why criminal justice is so important, what criminal justice professionals do, and what sort of jobs are available in the industry. Here, we'll discuss why you should consider getting your degree in this field.

As part of our discussion, we'll talk about all the benefits of studying criminal justice, including whether you should choose to pursue a bachelor's or master's degree, and why you should opt for an online course instead of a traditional in-class program. 

Once you've learned everything you need to know about why studying criminal justice is such a great idea, fill out our information request form to receive additional details about our online Bachelor's Degree in Criminal Justice and our online Master's Degree in Criminal Justice. 

If you're ready to get started, submit your application today.

Why Should You Consider a Degree in Criminal Justice?

Criminal justice is an excellent industry to join, especially if you’re aiming to grow a long-term career in a challenging and rewarding field. 

There are several great reasons to pursue a degree in criminal justice, but the most important are:

  1. Demand for criminal justice professionals is projected to continue growing over the next several years.
  2. Criminal justice is an excellent career for anyone who wants to play an important role in public service.
  3. Top positions in criminal justice provide great salaries, making it an excellent field for launching a lifelong career.

Getting a degree in the field is also the best way to ensure that you can develop the skills and abilities needed to launch a successful career in this competitive industry. 

Plus, hiring managers looking for criminal justice professionals typically want to hire people they know can provide real value to the organization from their first day on the job, and earning your degree proves that you’ve got the background and knowledge needed to do just that. 

In short, obtaining a degree increases the chances that you’ll be an effective criminal justice professional, and it also increases the odds that you’ll be able to get a job in the field.

With that said, let’s look at the arguments outlined above in more detail.

Demand For Criminal Justice Professionals is Growing Quickly

According to the BLS, demand for criminal justice jobs is projected to grow steadily over the next decade.

Here are the BLS’s growth expectations for several of the field’s top jobs:

Understanding that demand for criminal justice professionals will continue to rise over the next decade, you can be confident that you’ll have a good chance to find a great job in the industry after completing your training.

Criminal Justice Professionals Play a Critical Role in Modern Society

If you want a career that plays an important role in the community, helping other people on a daily basis, then criminal justice is the perfect field to specialize in.

Anyone looking to have a positive impact on society would be well-suited for a role in this field, as criminal justice professionals have a critical role in upholding the laws, regulations, and processes that guide society.

As part of their vital role, a criminal justice professional may perform any of the following tasks: 

  • Developing organizational policies.
  • Advising on crisis responses.
  • Providing law updates.
  • Managing records.

After completing your education in criminal justice, you’ll gain access to a huge variety of positions in many different fields, such as:

  • Law enforcement.
  • Public- and private-sector agencies.
  • Political science.
  • Research.
  • Social work.
  • Investigations.
  • The military.
  • Military and government contracts.
  • Corporate security.
  • Executive protection.
  • Global security.
  • Loss and asset prevention. 
  • Financial and economic crime. 
  • Cybercrime. 
  • Other related fields.

If you like the idea of working in these fields, then criminal justice could be the right field for you. 

Salaries for Top Roles in Criminal Justice Are Excellent

Highly skilled, experienced, and effective criminal justice professionals are capable of earning excellent salaries.

In fact, according to BLS reports, some of the best jobs for criminal justice graduates provide considerable compensation packages, like:

Keep in mind that manager-level positions with higher salaries may only be available to you after you’ve gained some experience in entry or mid-level roles in criminal justice. 

Also, keep in mind that the roles listed above are just a short selection of some of the many possible positions you can find within the criminal justice industry. 

Getting your degree is likely to qualify you for hundreds of different positions.

Do You Really Need a Degree to Get a Job in Criminal Justice?

While it is possible to gain employment in criminal justice without a degree, it’ll likely be much easier to find a position with a degree. You’ll also have an easier time getting hired in one of the better jobs in criminal justice after obtaining your degree.

Why? Because completing a relevant criminal justice degree will prove to hiring managers that you have developed an understanding of current best practices and that you are up to date on applicable laws and regulations.

With a degree in hand, you'll have a much easier time convincing different organizations that you have what it takes to perform the daily tasks and responsibilities of a criminal justice professional.

In this way, getting your degree in criminal justice will indicate that you are knowledgeable, motivated, and poised to offer immediate value to any organization. 

When it comes time to choose a specific degree program in criminal justice, CSU Global has two great options to help get your career off on the right foot.

Should You Get a Bachelor's or a Master's Degree in Criminal Justice?

As we've established, getting a degree in criminal justice is the best way to start your new career. But how do you know which degree to get? Should you just get a bachelor's, or is it worth it to also earn a master's? 

The answer will depend on your experience, current education, and on your career goals. For example, if you don't yet have a bachelor's degree, then you’ll want to opt for a Bachelor's Degree in Criminal Justice. This degree will give you everything you need to get started in the field. 

However, if you already have a bachelor's degree in any field, and if you’re aiming to land a role in management or leadership, then a master's degree would be a much better option for you.

If you still can't decide whether you should go for a bachelor's degree or a master's degree, contact an Enrollment Counselor by calling 1-800-462-7845, or emailing enroll [at] csuglobal.edu. They can help you evaluate which program best suits your needs, experience, and career goals.

Whichever program you choose to pursue, you can rest assured that getting your degree from CSU Global will help advance your career, as our online programs are designed specifically to provide you with the knowledge, skills, and abilities you need for the workplace.

Should You Get Your Degree in Criminal Justice Online?

Yes, you should consider getting your degree online, especially if you have work and family responsibilities. 

Studying online offers a level of freedom and flexibility that you just won't get with a traditional, in-person degree program, since it allows you to study wherever, and whenever you want.

Studying online with CSU Global ensures that you’ll be able to pursue your degree in the most efficient way, as we also offer:

  • Monthly class starts
  • Accelerated eight-week courses
  • No set class times or physical locations. 

You’re sure to find our online bachelor's and master's degree programs to be a much better option than studying on campus, and this is especially true for anyone who already has a busy schedule.

Why Should You Consider Studying Criminal Justice at CSU Global?

Both of our online degrees in criminal justice are regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, the most respected accreditation body in the country.

Both programs were also specifically designed to provide students with the foundational knowledge and skills needed to build a successful career in criminal justice, and all of our faculty have recent, real-world experience in the industry.

Each program has earned excellent rankings, including:

For our Bachelor’s program:

For our Master’s program:

  • A #1 ranking on 25 Best Online Master’s in Criminal Justice for 2020, Best Masters Programs.
  • A #4 ranking on Best Online Master's in Law Enforcement Administration Programs of 2022, Intelligent.
  • A #4 ranking on The 20 Best Online Master’s in Criminal Justice Degree Programs 2020, Online Course Report.

Furthermore, CSU Global itself has also recently received several distinguished rankings, including:

  • A #1 ranking for Best Online Colleges & Schools in Colorado from Best Accredited Colleges.
  • A #1 ranking for Best Online Colleges in Colorado from Best Colleges.
  • A #10 ranking for Best Online Colleges for ROI from OnlineU.

Finally, we offer competitive tuition rates, and a Tuition Guarantee to ensure your rate won’t increase for as long as you remain enrolled at CSU Global. For details on how our costs stack up against the competition, be sure to review our Cost Comparison Sheet.

Simply put, getting your Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree in Criminal Justice from CSU Global is the best way to advance your career by ensuring that you’re prepared to provide valuable public service.

To get additional details about our fully accredited, online Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice, or our online Master’s Degree in Criminal Justice, please give us a call at 800-462-7845, or fill out our Information Request Form.

Ready to get started today? Apply now!