by our College Data Analytics TeamCriminal Justice & Police Science was the 74th most popular major in the 2020-2021 school year. Colleges in the United States reported awarding 22,722 degrees in this year alone. This 510 less than the prior year, a decrease of 2.2%.
Our 2023 Best Criminal Justice & Police Science Schools ranking analyzes 184 of these schools to determine the best overall colleges for criminal justice and police science students. Explore this or one of our many other custom police science rankings further below.
One of the most important skills you will need for a career in criminal justice and police science is talking to others to convey information effectively. Required skills include giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times and using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
New students will need to have completed high school or a GED program and each school will have their own minimum GPA and SAT/ACT test requirements. Once you obtain your degree, additional police science certifications required to pursue a career in this field.
Police Science degree levels vary. You can get anything from a in criminal justice and police science to the highest police science degree, a . Depending on the criminal justice and police science degree you choose, obtaining your diploma can take anwhere from 1 to 4+ years.
| Degree | Credit Requirements | Typical Program Length |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 60-70 credits | 2 years |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 120 credits | 4 years |
| Master’s Degree | 50-70 credits | 1-3 years |
| Doctorate | Program required coursework including thesis or dissertation | At least 4 years |
An associate degree is the most common level of education achieved by those in careers related to police science, with approximately 15.4% of workers getting one. People currently working in careers related to police science tend obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma | 35.8% |
| Associate’s Degree (or other 2-year degree) | 15.7% |
| Post-Secondary Certificate | 14.4% |
| Some College Courses | 13.9% |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 13.0% |
The chart below shows what degree level those who work in criminal justice and police science have obtained.
The education level required is different depending on the police science career you are seeking.
Want a job when you graduate with your police science degree? Criminal Justice & Police Science careers are expected to grow 6.7% between 2016 and 2026.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to criminal justice and police science.
| Occupation Name | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Police and Sheriff’s Patrol Officers | 731,900 | 7.0% |
| Detectives and Criminal Investigators | 115,900 | 4.5% |
| Private Detectives and Investigators | 45,800 | 10.6% |
| Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Professors | 19,400 | 12.1% |
| Bailiffs | 18,200 | -2.2% |
As you might expect, salaries for police science graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.
Salaries for criminal justice and police science graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top highest paying careers police science grads often go into.
| Occupation Name | Median Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Detectives and Criminal Investigators | $85,020 |
| Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Professors | $72,390 |
| Police and Sheriff’s Patrol Officers | $65,400 |
| Private Detectives and Investigators | $56,810 |
| Bailiffs | $49,870 |
With over 1,109 different police science degree programs to choose from, finding the best fit for you can be a challenge. Fortunately you have come to the right place. We have analyzed all of these schools to come up with hundreds of unbiased police science school rankings to help you with this.
One of 13 majors within the Criminal Justice & Corrections area of study, Criminal Justice & Police Science has other similar majors worth exploring.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Criminal Justice Studies | 46,814 |
| Criminal Justice | 32,891 |
| Corrections | 4,039 |
| Other Corrections & Criminal Justice | 3,675 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections, General | 1,133 |
