A degree in crime analysis might be the perfect path if you enjoy solving problems, working with data, and making a real impact in your community. Whether you’re just starting your academic journey or planning to advance your career, it helps to understand what crime analysis actually involves.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through what a crime analysis degree is, the education you’ll need, the typical salary you can expect, and everything else that can help you decide if this field is right for you. Let’s get started.
Key Takeaways
- A degree in crime analysis provides students with skills to examine criminal trends, apply data to aid in policing, and interpret trends that can be used to minimize and prevent crime.
- Crime analysis encompasses criminology, GIS mapping, statistics, intelligence-led policing, and digital investigations, which offers a solid analytical base.
- There are bachelors, masters and graduate certificate programs and most universities provide flexible online or hybrid programs.
- The best schools that provide crime analysis courses are Arizona State University, Boston University, Tiffin University, SUNY Canton, ECPI, and the University of South Carolina.
- Graduates have the opportunity to work in policing, intelligence units, federal agencies, research institutes, and security or fraud analysis in the private sector.
- Salary opportunities are good, and entry-level analysts earn between $51,000 and $75,000 and senior analysts earn between $90,000 and $110,000 and above based on agency and location.
- Criminal justice, cybersecurity, forensic science, and homeland security are related disciplines that offer more opportunities to students who are interested in crime, data, and public safety.
Why Crime Analysts are Important for Modern Law Enforcement
A crime analyst compiles comprehensive reports based on various sources of information, such as phone calls and incident reports, in order to uncover emerging trends in crime. Crime analysis has become one of the most important areas in modern policing. With the increasing use of technology and the reliance of law enforcement on data, the need to hire skilled crime analysts is increasing rapidly. To be successful in this field, criminal analysts need to be well-versed in criminology and have extensive experience in statistical analysis.
What is a Crime Analysis Degree?
A Crime Analysis degree prepares students to learn about criminal patterns, interpret law enforcement data, and support investigative and strategic policing decisions with reports. It combines criminal justice knowledge with data skills, research abilities, and technology tools.
The program typically covers:
- Criminal behavior and offender typologies
- Crime data collection and analysis
- Statistical methods
- Geographic mapping of crime (GIS)
- Research methods
- Predictive and intelligence-led policing
Crime analysis can be pursued through a criminal justice degree with a concentration in it, or by simply earning a crime analysis degree that only focuses on this topic. You can find both types being offered in different colleges. Some popular crime analysis degree names include:
- Criminal Justice: Crime Analysis Concentration
- Crime & Intelligence Analysis
- Crime Analysis
- Law Enforcement Intelligence & Analysis
How Do Crime Analysts Differ from Intelligence Analysts?
IACA (International Association of Crime Analysts) defines crime analysts as professionals who provide better information to law enforcement organizations (particularly police departments) so they can improve the effectiveness of their operations. Besides reducing and solving crime, crime analysis increases public safety and monitors community initiatives.
In intelligence analysis, professionals have similar skills to crime analysts, but often work for the government or the private sector. They deal with challenges such as counterterrorism and organized crime in the FBI. Their work involves counterintelligence and preventing foreign military threats.
Who Should Get into a Crime Analysis Degree Program?
A Crime Analysis program is ideal for students who like working with information, structured problems, and why people commit crimes. It is a mixture of data analysis, criminal justice, and research; hence, it suits anyone who enjoys finding patterns and making a contribution to the safety of the population.
Ideal for Academically Strong Students
Crime analysis is a good choice for students who are strong in academics and knowledge of processing data, research, and case studies.
Familiarity with figures and statistics
You do not have to be a math genius, but you must be comfortable with working with charts, statistics, and data that can be used to identify patterns.
Problem-solving skills
Analysts are constantly dealing with half-baked information or disorienting data. It is good for those who have a knack for figuring things out.
Rational and critical thinking
The capacity to relate incidents, behaviors, and trends assists in developing meaningful reports to police departments.
Serve the community and prevent crime
Learners who are inspired by the concept of community service and crime prevention will find this degree valuable for their career.
What Colleges Expect from Applicants for Admission
Most colleges expect a solid GPA and some basic coursework in subjects like math, social sciences, and computer skills as admission requirements for crime analysis programs.
It is important for students to be familiar with algebra and introductory statistics, since analysis involves numbers and data. Math skills are not required, but you should be capable of interpreting data using graphs, maps, and chart tools. Here are the main requirements to remember for undergraduate and graduate program applications.
Undergraduate Crime Analysis Program
To apply for an associate’s or bachelor’s degree, you need a high school diploma or a GED. Not all schools require SAT and ACT scores, but there can be exceptions. A good example of a school with clear, realistic requirements is SUNY Canton in New York, which offers a dedicated Bachelor of Science in Crime Analysis.
SUNY Canton requires a minimum high school average of around 75 (a C grade), which gives you a sense of the baseline most colleges look for. In your first year, you will study courses like Composition (ENGL 101) and Algebra (MATH 106) to build strong writing and analytical foundations. These expectations are typical of many crime-analysis and criminal justice programs across the United States.
Crime Analyst Graduate Program
Criminal justice schools require candidates with undergraduate degrees in criminology, criminal justice, or a closely related field to apply for a crime analysis master’s degree. Additionally, schools may ask you to demonstrate knowledge of statistics and research methods, a minimum GPA, and one or two reference letters from peers.
For example, the John Jay College of Criminal Justice’s Advanced Certificate in Crime Prevention & Analysis requires a bachelor’s degree with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher and appropriate letters of recommendation.
Crime Analysis Curriculum Breakdown
The crime analysis degree requirements and the core curriculum focus on a mix of criminal justice, research, and technical training. Students study core subjects that help them understand criminal behavior, victim patterns, and how crime affects communities.
Here is a breakdown of the major courses you can study in undergraduate and graduate programs.
Undergraduate Courses
In a traditional bachelor’s degree, you could be required to complete coursework consisting of these courses:
General Courses
- Quantitative Reasoning & Statistics
- Communication Skills (Writing & Public Speaking)
- Arts, Culture & Humanities
- Science and Mathematics
- Social & Behavioral Studies
- World Languages
Core Criminal Justice Coursework
- Introduction to the Justice System
- Criminal Law & Legal Procedures
- Ethics and Professional Conduct in Justice Agencies
- Police Practices & Community Policing
- Courts, Corrections & Rehabilitation
- Homeland Security Foundations
- Theories of Crime & Criminal Behavior
- Government, Public Policy & Law Enforcement
- Sociology of Crime
- Research Techniques in Criminal Justice
Crime Analysis Concentration Courses
- Analytical Methods for Crime Data
- Practical Crime Analysis Techniques
- Intelligence Gathering & Assessment
- Strategies in Modern Policing
- Spatial Crime Patterns & Mapping
- Cybercrime and Digital Investigations
- Information Systems for Law Enforcement
- Digital Evidence & Forensic Technologies
- Advanced Research for Analysts
- Technical & Computer Science-Related Courses
- Information Systems & Technology Basics
- Programming Logic & Problem Solving
- Database Tools & Data Management
- Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Fundamentals
- Spatial Databases & Geodata Management
- Applied GIS for Crime Analysis
- Designing GIS Databases
Sample Electives
- Advanced Crime Mapping
- Mobile & Digital Device Investigations
- Fraud Analysis & Financial Crime
- Cold Case Review Techniques
- Evidence Law & Courtroom Procedures
- Corporate & White-Collar Crime
- Practicum or Field Internship
Capstone or Final Project
A final hands-on project that brings together classroom learning with real-world experience in partnership with a criminal justice agency or analytical unit.
Master’s Degree
A master’s degree helps you gain advanced analytical skills, deeper knowledge of crime patterns, and specialized training needed for senior or specialized crime analysis roles.
The following is an example of how a 30-credit master’s degree in Crime Analysis offered by Arizona State University (ASU) is:
- Seminar in Crime Analysis
- Social Network Analysis
- Advanced Seminar in Crime Analysis
- Data Management
- Criminal Justice Planning and Program Evaluation
- Criminal Justice Data Analysis
- Seminar in Policing
- Crime Mapping
What Skills Will You Acquire with a Crime Analysis Degree?
Crime analysis programs equip students with a broad scope of analytical, technical and communicational skills that enable them to work in the real world in law enforcement and other associated agencies including:
- Data collection and interpretation: Learning how to collect, organize and analyze crime data and large datasets.
- GIS mapping: The digital mapping tools are used to determine crime hotspots, trends, and patterns.
- Report writing: Understandably reporting the findings through intelligence reports, summations and briefings.
- Critical thinking: Information evaluation and logical, evidence-based decision-making.
- Investigative reasoning: Making links, identifying patterns and reinforcing investigations through analysis.
- Attention to Detail: Looking at the minor but significant details that can affect the results of the case.
- Problem-solving: Assisting agencies to solve crime problems by providing practical solutions that are informed by data.
- Transferable skills: These are skills that are applicable outside policing, such as risk analysis, detecting fraud and corporate security.
Top Universities with Online Programs in Crime Analysis
Several universities in the U.S. offer dedicated crime analysis degrees or certificates. Some schools specialize in criminal justice, while others focus heavily on technology and data science. There are both online and on-campus options available for bachelor’s as well as master’s degree programs. Let’s take a look at both.
Online Bachelor Degrees
1.Southern New Hampshire University
An online Bachelor of Science (BS) in Criminal Justice with a criminal analysis concentration is available at Southern New Hampshire University. In this course, you learn how to apply criminological theory to develop strategies to reduce and prevent crime. There are many faculty members with experience working with law enforcement agencies such as the FBI, the FDEM, and the Homeland Security.
Further, you’ll explore the vital role that criminologists and crime analysts play in developing data-based and proactive policing techniques as well as policing prevention policies through this online degree.
- Name: BS in Criminal Justice – Criminology & Crime Analysis (online)
- Cost: Around $342 per credit, 120 credits total
- Acceptance rate: About 96% overall
2. Canton State University (New York)
Canton State University offers a Bachelor of Science in Crime Analysis program that includes coursework in crime analysis, cyber security, and geographic information systems.
Students in this program will identify solutions to crime problems and develop strategies for preventing crime. Also, students are taught about crime mapping and how statistics can be used to gain a deeper understanding of crime statistics and to provide law enforcement agencies with predictive analytics.
- Name: BS in Crime Analysis
- Cost: On-campus tuition is $11,900 per year, with estimated total cost of attendance (tuition + room/board + fees) around.
- Acceptance rate: Around 95–96%
3. University of Akron
Criminal Intelligence Analysis is an undergraduate degree offered at the University of Akron in Ohio. The goal of this program is to educate you in analytical and technical courses that will cultivate strong theoretical knowledge and applied skills you need to work in the criminal justice field in the 21st century.
You will be trained to investigate crimes and analyze intelligence in the police and homeland security sectors after graduation, but you will also be prepared for work in private companies as an intelligence analyst or operations analyst, or for law school or graduate school.
- Name: BS in Criminal Intelligence Analysis
- Cost: $17,200 per year
- Acceptance rate: 60%.
4. University of South Carolina-Columbia (USC)
A USC Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice, Crime Analysis degree provides students with an extensive toolkit for collecting, analyzing, interpreting, and policing crime data. Following graduation, graduates become crime analysts who contribute to public safety and enhance their agencies’ effectiveness.
In this degree program, students will obtain the basic skills necessary for entry-level positions in local, state, or federal law enforcement agencies as Crime Analysts.
The minimum credit hour requirement for admission to this online degree program is 30 credits earned from a regionally accredited institution, with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 in previous college coursework.
- Name: BS in Criminal Justice – Crime Analysis (Palmetto College online)
- Cost: $12,688 per year, out-of-state about $34,934 per year
- Acceptance rate: 60–61%
5. East Coast Polytechnic Institute (ECPI)
ECPI provides a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice with a focus on Crime and Intelligence Analysis that covers such fields as law enforcement, corrections, the court system, and private security within the US.
Digital Forensics concentrates on understanding how technology can be used to solve crimes. By analyzing and presenting digital evidence, students become proficient at collecting, analyzing, and presenting evidence. A combination of technical skills and legal knowledge prepares students for roles in criminal justice, cybersecurity, and digital forensics. Students at ECPI University can complete their bachelor’s degree in as little as 2.5 years through the university’s year-round accelerated schedule.
- Name: BS in Criminal Justice – Crime and Intelligence Analysis concentration
- Cost: $62,784 for the full program, plus around $3,840 in technology fees
- Acceptance rate: Around 83%
Online Master’s Degree
1.Arizona State University
The online Master of Science in crime analysis program at Arizona State University will help you develop quantitative skills that will assist law enforcement in reducing and solving crimes. This program will provide you with an understanding of crime analysis, a method of assisting law enforcement and other criminal justice groups by analyzing sociodemographic, spatial, and temporal trends.
By completing the coursework, you will gain a solid understanding of the terminology, principles, and techniques crime analysts use on a daily basis. Through crime mapping, you’ll also learn how to predict who will commit crimes and when they will occur. Moreover, you’ll explore crime analysis’ history and role in criminal justice.
- Name: MS in Crime Analysis (online)
- Cost: $550–$560 per credit
- Acceptance rate: 90%
2. Tiffin University
Become a crime analyst with Tiffin University’s crime analysis program, which provides both theoretical and practical knowledge. Through this M.S. in Crime Analysis program online, you will be able to learn theory and gain practical experience to become a crime analyst for a wide range of criminal justice, intelligence, and business organizations.
Moreover, you will gain a deeper understanding of crime analysis basics and purpose. During the course of the course, you will also study why using analysis is cost-effective and can assist criminal justice agencies in solving problems and making citizens safer.
- Name: MS in Criminal Justice – Crime Analysis
- Cost: $755 per credit;
- Acceptance rate: 80%.
3. University of Central Oklahoma
Take advantage of UCO’s Master of Arts in Crime and Intelligence Analysis degree programs for unparalleled academic and professional growth. Among the few American institutions offering a program dedicated to crime and intelligence analysis, this program is among the best. Some core courses of the program include: Design and Analysis in Crime Justice Research,
Crime and Intelligence Analysis, Comparative Criminal Justice Systems, Environmental Criminology.
The program’s core value is to provide students with more than theoretical knowledge, but also practical, real-world skills. Aside from academics, they also offer engaging, hands-on experiences that aren’t just for academics; they can set you apart from the competition.
- Name: MA in Crime and Intelligence Analysis
- Cost: $330 per credit and non-resident about $417 per credit.
- Acceptance rate: 81–82% overall
4. Boston University Virtual
As part of Boston University’s online Master of Science in Criminal Justice (MSCJ) concentration in Crime Analysis, students gain experience analyzing and interpreting data sources to determine investigative strategies and policies.
The program includes core analytical courses such as Research and Evaluation Methods and Applied Analytical Methods, which help students work confidently with crime data. It also offers specialized subjects like Crime and Intelligence Analysis and Foundations of GIS, giving students hands-on skills in crime mapping, intelligence work, and spatial analysis.
- Name: MS in Criminal Justice – Crime Analysis concentration (online)
- Cost: $70,872–$78,98
- Acceptance rate: 11–13%
Crime Analyst Certifications
Crime analyst certifications are different from undergraduate or graduate certificates. These professional certifications are industry-focused qualifications awarded by recognized organizations such as IACA and IALEIA. If you’re just starting out, you can begin by earning:
These certifications show that you meet specific standards and have practical skills used in real-world crime analysis roles.
Career Options for Crime Analysis Graduates
Most graduates start working in local or state police departments as crime analysts or intelligence analysts. These positions involve studying crime reports, running data systems, and preparing daily, weekly, or monthly analysis for officers and commanders. The degree also opens doors to many crime analyst career paths. It is now possible to find crime analysts in:
- Local police departments
- The sheriff’s department
- Public safety departments
- Office of corrections
- Adult Juvenile Probation
- The District Attorney’s Office
- Federal agencies such as the Department of Homeland Security
- Research centers and university-based institutes
- Public safety and community-focused nonprofit organizations
- Emergency response and medical support services
- Investigative divisions within fire departments
- Court systems and judicial offices
- Planning and policy groups, including state criminal justice authorities
- The U.S. Coast Guard
- The Department of Justice
- Government bodies like the Internal Revenue Service
It’s not just public and non-profit sectors you can choose from; several private sector companies seek professionals with experience in white collar crime, fraud, and graft. Consider:
- Banks and financial institutions
- The insurance industry
- Medical care
- The retail sector
- Industrial Security
- Protective services
Crime Analysis Job Titles
- Crime Data Analyst
- Criminal Intelligence Specialist
- Police Intelligence Analyst
- Crime Trends Researcher
- Investigative Analyst
- Senior Intelligence Analyst
- Lead Crime Analytics Officer
- Criminal Investigations Specialist
Salaries, and Job Outlook for Crime Analysis Graduates
Crime Analyst Trainees in most cities who have less than one year of experience receive salaries between $51,000 and 75,000. As an example, trainee jobs in such California counties as San Bernardino and Santa Rosa are in this category.
Analysts having 3-5 years of specialized experience at the senior level usually earn between $87,000 and $111,000, with a few departments in Canada and the U.S. paying slightly higher.
Salary Expectations for Crime Analysis Graduates
| Level | Job role | Salary Expectation |
| Undergraduate / Entry-Level Roles | Crime Analyst Trainee | $51,000 – $75,000 |
| Intelligence Analyst Assistant | $50,000 – $70,000 | |
| Law Enforcement Data Analyst | $52,000 – $72,000 | |
| Public Safety Analyst | $55,000 – $76,000 | |
| Graduate / Advanced Roles | Crime Analyst (Mid-Level) | $70,000 – $90,000 |
| Senior Crime Analyst | $87,000 – $111,000 | |
| Intelligence Analyst (Senior) | $85,000 – $105,000 | |
| Strategic Crime Analyst | $90,000 – $115,000 |
Since the Bureau of Labor Statistics do not specifically follow the salaries of crime analysts, the majority of individuals use actual job listings and websites such as PayScale or Glassdoor to learn the salaries of these positions. Government job boards are particularly handy since agencies tend to provide specific salary ranges, which will provide you with a better idea of what to expect at various experience levels.
Conclusion
The degree of crime analysis would be an excellent option for those students who like to solve problems, work with data, and benefit their communities. It provides a powerful combination of technology, research, and criminal justice, and it is a very thrilling and contemporary career.
Students ought to consider their strengths, goals and the kind of work they desire to undertake in the future before applying. Campus visits, meeting with advisors and researching internship opportunities can assist you in making the most appropriate choice. In case you are curious, analytical, and willing to make a difference, this degree can give you an opportunity to have a rewarding and impactful career.
Frequently Asked Questions
What do crime analysts do?
A crime analyst is a combination of research, data analysis and problem solving. The majority of the work is office-based and is related to the review of crime data, police reports, and intelligence information in order to identify patterns and trends.
What is an FBI technical analyst?
An FBI technical analyst is specialized in digital evidence and intelligence based on technology. These analysts aid in investigations by analyzing electronic information like communication records, electronic files, surveillance information, and technical systems utilized by criminal or terrorist networks.
What is the job of a financial crime analyst?
A financial crime investigator is an investigator of criminal acts related to money, including fraud, money laundering, terrorist financing and financial scams. They examine bank transactions, financial records and suspicious activity reports to detect unusual or criminal activity.
What skills are required to become a crime analyst?
To be a crime analyst, you require good analytical and research skills. The skills that are commonly required are data analysis, critical thinking, report writing, and attention to detail. Statistical knowledge, crime mapping software, and databases are also useful.
Is crime analysis a stressful job?
When dealing with large-scale investigations, crime analysis may be stressful, but it is not as stressful as frontline policing. The job is organized and critical, and the office hours are regular in most jobs.
