Criminal Justice Scholarships — The Ultimate Guide

A criminal justice career may begin with at least four years in college, and – in many cases – lifelong education to stay current with trends in the criminal justice field. This education can be very costly unless you pursue grants and scholarships. Fortunately, with the heightened need for criminal justice personnel and agents, the availability of scholarships designed specifically for criminal justice education are fairly easy to find.Scholarships, like grants, do not need to be repaid. And, like grants, scholarships often are awarded based upon financial need or grade point average. But, some scholarships might be awarded based upon a need for specific personnel in a given area. For instance, a shortage of criminologists might generate scholarships from schools or organizations to help fill that need.

One example includes this specific Scholarship for Service (SFS), a program designed to increase and strengthen the cadre of federal information assurance professionals that protect the government’s critical information infrastructure. This is a government scholarship designed for a specific government job, so your educational choices are limited. But, the compensation is great, and you can find other scholarships like this one.

Another resource for various scholarships is offered by the U.S. Department of State. When you read through these scholarships, you’ll discover that many are designed for various groups, such as daughters of foreign service personnel or for African-American scholars. Other scholarships are based upon merit and others are granted to students with disabilities.

You can find many resources for scholarships on the Internet. One site includes Students.gov, another government site that provides student assistance programs, scholarship searches and specific scholarships. Another resource to search includes the college you plan to attend. If you are taking criminology courses, you can look for scholarships provided by that school for a criminology degree.

But don’t limit your search for career-specific scholarships. You can seek out scholarships for high grades (merit) or for financial need. Beware of scholarship scams, though. You should not pay to compete for a scholarship, as this may be a way to solicit your money without any return.

Scholarships are free – all you need to do is apply and wait for an answer. And, don’t limit yourself to one scholarship application. When you find a scholarship you think might work for you, take the time to follow the guidelines. You never know – scholarships might pay for most of your college tuition!

Online Criminal Justice Degree Programs

Criminal justice is a field with a wide range of degree programs, subject specialties and career opportunities--everything from FBI agents to private detectives to bailiffs. Students can pursue degree levels based on their career choice, with associates, bachelors, and masters in criminal justice being popular degrees in this field.

AS in Criminal Justice BS in Criminal Justice MS in Criminal Justice	Kaplan University — Kaplan University is one of the largest accredited online colleges, and it offers a wide range of degree programs in the field of criminal justice. These programs include associates, bachelors, and masters in criminal justice, with possible specialties (depending on degree level) in Computer Crime, Law Enforcement, Corrections, Law, and Global Issues.
AA in Criminal Justice BS in CJ Administration	University of Phoenix — The University of Phoenix is one of the most recognized names in online education, having served hundreds of thousands of students in the past. This colleges offers several degrees for potential students interested in the field of criminal justice: B.S. in Criminal Justice Administration and Associate of Arts in Criminal Justice.
BA in Criminal Justice BACJ in Homeland Security BACJ in Corrections Mgmt BACJ in Forensics BACJ in Government More...	Ashford University — For students seeking a quick way to advance their careers or even start them, Ashford University has recently added several online programs in the field of Criminal Justice. This is in response to growing interest and changing trends in education. Various bachelor degrees are available covering a wide range of specializations, including Criminal Justice, Homeland Security, Corrections Management, Forensics, and Government.
BS in Criminal Justice MS in Criminal Justice BSCJ in Homeland Security	Virginia College — Virginia College has three online Criminal Justice degrees available: BSCJ in Homeland Security, BS in Criminal Justice, and MS in Criminal Justice. All three degrees combine flexibility and convenience with industry-driven curriculum and assignments designed to engage students in their education. The result is a fast-pace course the gives students the skills and knowledge required in the field.
BSCJ in Psychology BSCJ in Admin MPA in Criminal Justice PhD in Criminal Justice PhD CJ in Human Services More...	Walden University — Walden University is one of the largest providers of college education in the country. Walden takes a practical approach to education by developing curriculum that is industry-driven with assignments that engage students in their coursework. WU has several Criminal Justice degrees available, including BSCJ in Psychology or Administration, MPA in Criminal Justice, and PhD in Criminal Justice or Human Services.
AS in Legal Studies BS in Legal Studies BS in Criminal Justice BSCJ in Human Services	Post University — Post University offers several Criminal Justice degrees online in addition to the campus program. These online courses are accredited and can be completed at a pace comfortable to you. More importantly, assignments can be turned in at any time before their deadline from any computer. This makes online degrees a great options for busy students. Post University has online degrees available for AS in Legal Studies, BS in Legal Studies, BS in Criminal Justice, and BSCJ in Human Services programs.
AABA in Criminal Justice BSCJ in Law Enforcement BSCJ in Special Populations	American InterContinental University — American InterContinental University online is one of the most popular online universities for students interested in a criminal justice career. Degree programs at AIU include an A.A.B.A. in Criminal Justice, B.S. in Criminal Justice (Law Enforcement), and B.S. in Criminal Justice (Special Populations).
BS in Criminal Justice	Liberty University — Liberty University is an online university that prepares students for success in their careers following graduation. Liberty University offers two programs in the field, a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Criminal Justice, and a B.S. In Multidisciplinary Studies - Criminal Justice.
AA in Criminal Justice BSCJ in Comp. Security & Forensics BSCJ in Criminal Justice Admin	Strayer University — Strayer University, a highly respected provider of online education, is backed by years of excellence in service to students and working with industry professionals to develop career-oriented curriculum. As a result, students gain key skills and knowledge needed to fulfill core competencies in Criminal Justice positions. SU has an AA in Criminal Justice, BSCJ in Computer Security & Forensics, and a BSCJ in Criminal Justice Administration.
AA in Criminal Justice BA in Criminal Justice BACJ in Criminalistics MS in Criminal Justice MSCJ in Forensic Science More...	Saint Leo University — For years, Saint Leo University has helped students across the county obtain Criminal Justice degrees through online programs. These programs cut many of the costs associated with campus programs and have the added benefit of being accessible from any computer. SLU has several degrees available including an Associates, Bachelors, and Masters in Criminal Justice as well as specialized programs for BACJ in Criminalistics and MSCJ in Forensic Science.
AAS in Criminal Justice BS in Criminal Justice AS in Criminal Psychology BS in Law Enforcement BS in Homeland Security More...	Rasmussen College — Rasmussen College has a huge selection of Criminal Justice programs available through online courses. RC offers a general Associates and Bachelors degree in Criminal Justice as well as associates degrees specializing in Criminal Psychology, Law Enforcement, Homeland Security, and Criminal Corrections. RC also has bachelors degrees specializing in Client Services, Homeland Security, Criminal Offenders, and Law Enforcement.
AS in Criminal Justice BS in Criminal Justice MS in Criminal Justice	South University — South University has three dynamic, engaging criminal justice degree programs. The associate's curriculum explores topics including police, corrections, court, and security operations. The bachelor's degree is a four-year program that offers specialization in Juvenile Justice, Corrections, Law Enforcement, Crime Scene Investigation, and Cyber Crime. The master's program provides training in advanced law enforcement topics.
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