While a bachelor’s degree is typically sufficient to enter a criminal justice profession, a master’s degree can advance your career and set you apart from other job applicants. Already working? A master’s in criminal justice online program is an easy way to upgrade your credentials while you continue in your current position.
Even with an average salary of about $68,000 for detective or police office positions, it still pays to research your options before making a decision. This ranking compares 169 degree programs offered by a total of 127 different institutions, revealing the most affordable online master’s in criminal justice programs. With a difference of over $38,000 between the cheapest and most expensive programs, choosing a Best Buy program offers quality at a reasonable price.
Average Cost (In-state): ~$19,700.00
Least Expensive: Fayetteville State University ~$6,164.69
Most Expensive: University of Southern California ~$44,959.00
Our data-driven research creates a truly reliable system of scientific rankings. There’s no fancy formulas here. We meticulously calculate total full-time tuition—including any fees—for the most accurate total cost. Our rankings cannot be bought, and therefore factually showcase the cheapest online criminal justice master’s programs. The online criminal justice degrees listed above the gray dividing line are official 2019 “Best Buys” and cost less than the national average.
Best Online Criminal Justice Master’s Programs
| Rank | School / Degree | State | Price | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Fayetteville State University | (NC) | $6,164.69 $14,507.09 | In-State Out-of-State |
2 | Lamar University | (TX) | $8,250.00 | All Students |
3 | Missouri State University | (MO) | $8,850.00 | All Students |
4 | East Carolina University | (NC) | $8,973.36 $32,177.52 | In-State Out-of-State |
5 | Tarleton State University | (TX) | $9,746.70 $22,196.70 | In-State Out-of-State |
6 | Albany State University | (GA) | $10,160.00 | All Students |
7 | University of the Cumberlands | (KY) | $10,215.00 | All Students |
8 | Missouri Southern State University Master of Science in Criminal Justice 14 | (MO) | $11,358.00 | All Students |
9 | Northeastern State University | (OK) | $11,426.40 $22,001.40 | In-State Out-of-State |
10 | University of North Alabama | (AL) | $11,730.00 | All Students |
11 | University of Central Florida | (FL) | $11,783.52 $25,013.52 | In-State Out-of-State |
12 |  William Carey University | (MS) | $11,900.00 | All Students |
13 | Valdosta State University | (GA) | $11,988.00 | All Students |
14 | Texas A & M International University | (TX) | $12,089.16 $35,060.76 | In-State Out-of-State |
15 | University of North Georgia | (GA) | $12,108.00 | All Students |
16 | New Mexico State University | (NM) | $12,114.00 $34,736.40 | In-State Out-of-State |
17 | Western Illinois University | (IL) | $12,330.12 | All Students |
18 |  American Public University System | (WV) | $13,300.00 $11,800.00 | In-State/Out-of-State Military |
19 | Angelo State University | (TX) | $13,313.48 $28,253.48 | In-State Out-of-State |
20 | Prairie View A & M University | (TX) | $13,367.28 $30,616.24 | In-State Out-of-State |
21 | University of Oklahoma | (OK) | $13,468.62 $33,625.02 | In-State Out-of-State |
22 | Auburn University at Montgomery | (AL) | $13,550.00 $14,750.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
23 | University of Arkansas at Little Rock | (AR) | $13,788.00 $11,520.00 | In-State/Out-of-State Military |
24 | University of North Texas | (TX) | $14,076.20 $29,016.20 | In-State Out-of-State |
25 | Jacksonville State University | (AL) | $14,100.00 | All Students |
26 | Indiana State University | (IN) | $14,146.00 $17,941.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
27 | University of Central Missouri | (MO) | $14,352.00 | All Students |
28 | Columbia College - SC | (SC) | $14,400.00 | All Students |
29 | Youngstown State University | (OH) | $14,434.90 $23,680.90 | In-State Out-of-State |
30 | Delta State University | (MS) | $14,492.00 | All Students |
31 | Wichita State University | (KS) | $14,550.84 $30,376.80 | In-State Out-of-State |
32 | Marshall University | (WV) | $14,600.00 | All Students |
33 | Georgia College & State University | (GA) | $14,800.00 | All Students |
34 | Troy University | (AL) | $14,820.00 $7,500.00 | In-State/Out-of-State Military |
35 | Midwestern State University | (TX) | $14,840.40 | All Students |
36 | Mount Mercy University Master of Arts in Criminal Justice 14 | (IA) | $15,000.00 | All Students |
37 | Texas A & M University - Commerce | (TX) | $15,008.80 $29,948.80 | In-State Out-of-State |
38 | University of Nebraska at Omaha | (NE) | $15,161.20 $23,927.20 | In-State Out-of-State |
39 | University of Houston-Downtown | (TX) | $15,304.00 $28,444.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
40 | Indiana State University | (IN) | $15,432.00 $19,572.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
41 | Bowling Green State University | (OH) | $15,775.64 $16,138.64 | In-State Out-of-State |
42 |  Saint Ambrose University Master of Criminal Justice 14 | (IA) | $15,900.00 | All Students |
43 | Florida State University | (FL) | $15,993.36 $38,723.76 | In-State Out-of-State |
44 | University of Alaska Fairbanks | (AK) | $16,370.00 $32,540.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
45 | University of Louisiana at Monroe | (LA) | $16,500.00 | All Students |
46 | Charleston Southern University | (SC) | $16,615.00 | All Students |
47 | Faulkner University | (AL) | $16,680.00 | All Students |
48 | California State University-San Bernardino | (CA) | $16,838.46 $28,718.46 | In-State Out-of-State |
49 | Wayland Baptist University | (TX) | $16,840.00 | All Students |
50 | Florida International University | (FL) | $17,034.84 $36,434.88 | In-State Out-of-State |
51 |  Concordia University-Saint Paul | (MN) | $17,100.00 $12,600.00 | In-State/Out-of-State Military |
52 | McNeese State University | (LA) | $17,346.96 $27,346.96 | In-State Out-of-State |
53 | Wilmington University | (DE) | $17,372.00 $11,000.00 | In-State/Out-of-State Military |
54 | Columbia College - MO Master of Science in Criminal Justice 14 | (MO) | $17,640.00 $11,700.00 | In-State/Out-of-State Military |
55 | Bethel University - TN | (TN) | $17,820.00 | All Students |
56 | Colorado State University-Global Campus Master of Criminal Justice & Law Enforcement Administration 14 | (CO) | $18,000.00 $16,200.00 | In-State/Out-of-State Military |
57 | Mercer University | (GA) | $18,060.00 | All Students |
58 | Sam Houston State University | (TX) | $18,117.00 | All Students |
59 | Eastern Kentucky University | (KY) | $18,330.00 $9,750.00 | In-State/Out-of-State Military |
60 | Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania | (PA) | $18,642.00 | All Students |
61 | Washburn University | (KS) | $18,688.00 | All Students |
62 | Xavier University | (OH) | $18,750.00 | All Students |
63 | Pennsylvania Western University | (PA) | $18,768.00 $19,428.00 $15,258.00 | In-State Out-of-State Military |
64 | Middle Tennessee State University | (TN) | $19,074.00 $26,862.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
64 | Radford University Master of Arts in Criminal Justice 14 | (VA) | $19,074.00 $32,538.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
66 | University of Massachusetts-Lowell | (MA) | $19,095.00 | All Students |
67 | University of Alabama at Birmingham | (AL) | $19,274.00 | All Students |
68 | Indiana University of Pennsylvania | (PA) | $19,532.00 $23,752.40 | In-State Out-of-State |
69 | South College Master of Science in Criminal Justice 14 | (TN) | $19,550.00 | All Students |
70 | University of Toledo Master of Arts in Criminal Justice 14 | (OH) | $19,574.50 $32,504.50 | In-State Out-of-State |
71 | Saint Cloud State University Master of Science in Criminal Justice 14 | (MN) | $19,624.04 $27,077.48 | In-State Out-of-State |
| School / Degree | State | Price | Note | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Trine University | (IN) | $19,800.00 | All Students | |
University of Memphis | (TN) | $19,899.00 $24,915.00 | In-State Out-of-State | |
Excelsior College | (NY) | $20,010.00 $9,510.00 | In-State/Out-of-State Military | |
Franklin University | (OH) | $20,185.00 | All Students | |
University of Wisconsin-Platteville | (WI) | $20,350.00 | All Students | |
McKendree University Master of Arts in Criminal Justice 14 | (IL) | $20,465.00 | All Students | |
Mississippi College | (MS) | $20,586.00 | All Students | |
 Colorado Christian University | (CO) | $20,916.00 | All Students | |
Southern University and A & M College | (LA) | $21,044.00 $33,936.00 | In-State Out-of-State | |
Saint Leo University | (FL) | $21,065.00 | All Students | |
Lewis University | (IL) | $21,180.00 | All Students | |
Western Kentucky University Master of Arts in Criminology 14 | (KY) | $21,210.00 $7,500.00 | In-State/Out-of-State Military | |
 Liberty University | (VA) | $21,236.00 $10,000.00 | In-State/Out-of-State Military | |
University of Colorado Denver | (CO) | $21,261.20 $25,041.20 | In-State Out-of-State | |
Tiffin University | (OH) | $21,600.00 | All Students | |
Regis University Master of Science in Criminology / Cybercrime & Terrorism 14 Master of Science in Criminology / Human Behavior 14 | (CO) | $21,650.00 | All Students | |
University of San Diego | (CA) | $21,669.00 | All Students | |
 Bellevue University Master of Science in Justice Administration & Crime Management 14 | (NE) | $21,700.00 $1,000.00 | In-State/Out-of-State Military | |
Lasell University | (MA) | $21,760.00 | All Students | |
 Seton Hall University Master of Arts in Human Resources Training & Development (Law Enforcement) 14 | (NJ) | $21,816.00 | All Students | |
University of Antelope Valley (School Closed) Master in Criminal Justice 14 | (CA) | $21,825.00 | All Students | |
Johnson & Wales University | (RI) | $22,260.00 | All Students | |
Missouri Baptist University | (MO) | $22,308.00 | All Students | |
 Michigan State University | (MI) | $22,436.00 | All Students | |
University of Colorado - Colorado Springs | (CO) | $22,468.00 $25,824.00 | In-State Out-of-State | |
Western Oregon University | (OR) | $22,485.00 | All Students | |
Wayne State University Master of Science in Criminal Justice 14 | (MI) | $22,575.04 $12,712.54 | In-State/Out-of-State Military | |
Rowan University | (NJ) | $22,680.00 | All Students | |
Kent State University | (OH) | $22,704.00 $23,034.00 | In-State Out-of-State | |
 Southern New Hampshire University | (NH) | $22,722.00 $17,070.00 | In-State/Out-of-State Military | |
Norwich University | (VT) | $22,995.00 | All Students | |
National University (School Merged) Master of Criminal Justice 14 | (CA) | $23,320.00 $11,872.00 | In-State/Out-of-State Military | |
Webster University | (MO) | $23,475.00 $14,175.00 | In-State/Out-of-State Military | |
Tiffin University | (OH) | $23,700.00 | All Students | |
Averett University | (VA) | $23,705.00 $17,810.00 | In-State/Out-of-State Military | |
University of Cincinnati | (OH) | $23,892.00 $24,387.00 | In-State Out-of-State | |
Lynn University | (FL) | $24,150.00 | All Students | |
Mercyhurst University | (PA) | $24,530.00 | All Students | |
Nova Southeastern University | (FL) | $24,570.00 | All Students | |
Walden University | (MN) | $24,990.00 $21,354.00 | In-State/Out-of-State Military | |
Texas Southern University | (TX) | $24,999.84 | All Students | |
University of Louisville | (KY) | $25,704.00 | All Students | |
Saint Joseph's University Master of Science in Criminal Justice / Behavior Management 14 | (PA) | $26,100.00 | All Students | |
Madonna University | (MI) | $26,720.00 | All Students | |
Albertus Magnus College | (CT) | $27,932.00 | All Students | |
University of New Haven | (CT) | $28,530.00 | All Students | |
Saint Joseph's University | (PA) | $31,320.00 | All Students | |
Northeastern University | (MA) | $31,410.00 | All Students | |
Saint Elizabeth University | (NJ) | $31,530.00 | All Students | |
Monroe College | (NY) | $32,512.00 $16,636.00 | In-State/Out-of-State Military | |
Roger Williams University | (RI) | $32,919.00 | All Students | |
University of New Haven | (CT) | $34,280.00 | All Students | |
Boston University | (MA) | $37,840.00 | All Students | |
Alliant International University Master of Science in Applied Criminology 14 | (CA) | $39,940.00 | All Students | |
Chaminade University of Honolulu | (HI) | $43,302.00 | All Students | |
University of Southern California | (CA) | $44,959.00 | All Students |
14 Options for this program have changed since publication.
Rankings Note: These online college rankings are based on a GetEducated Winter 2019 review of regionally accredited master’s in civil engineering online programs. Total cost includes full-time tuition and fees and was valid at the time of collection and specific to the online learning program. School profiles for the online master degree programs in our directory may reflect a slightly different cost based on different editorial update schedules. The published cost is an estimated sticker price for the entire online degree including fees. Actual costs may vary by student. Factors such as transfer credits, prerequisite courses, professional licensing and financial aid availability will affect final cost.
Editorial Note: Online schools do NOT pay to be included in any GetEducated online degree ranking. These rankings are editorially independent, open to any regionally accredited or candidate college that offers a master’s degree that is available at least 80 percent through online learning and that is open to enrollment by the public. If your online college is regionally accredited and not currently reviewed by GetEducated, please contact us for inclusion.
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