Criminal justice is one of the most sought-after fields of work. With an increasing population and more heads needed around the table to tend to law and order, the job outlook is bright for this field.
Besides, it offers job security and a ton of opportunities, particularly in states like New York. So, if you’re looking to pursue this field, you’ll find all the info you need below. Let’s look at some of the best criminal justice schools in New York. many
What Kind of Major is Criminal Justice?
Criminal justice is a multidisciplinary major which focuses on the critical aspects of societal justice and policing. The focus of this discipline is on systems, processes, theories, and practical needs in law enforcement, courts, and corrections.
These degrees, including criminal justice undergraduate programs, focus on:
- Understanding the reasons for criminal behavior;
- Legal frameworks and laws;
- Societal impact of crime;
- Basics of policing and lawmaking;
- And ethics, as well as public safety.
The criminal justice degree would also focus on developing critical and analytical thinking while honing the necessary skills to tackle everyday challenges in the field. So, graduates with criminal justice degrees end up working for the police, federal agencies, courts, crime investigation units, forensic labs, etc.
8 Colleges in New York State with Criminal Justice Majors
Without further ado, let’s explore some of the popular criminal justice colleges in New York—both online and on-campus:
Online Criminal Justice Degree Colleges in NY
1: University at Albany – BA in Criminal Justice
University at Albany is one of the top universities in the SUNY system and offers a few outstanding programs online. The university has a promising acceptance rate and offers a BA in Criminal Justice, which can be taken online or on campus.
- Program: Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice
- Acceptance Rate: 68%
- Average Cost: $17,000
This program is ideal for developing skills regarding policing and understanding the social and political landscape of New York. Besides, it focuses on NY culture, which causes crimes. On top of that, it also teaches you how to tackle crime through courses like Introduction to Criminal Justice and Law and Criminal Justice.
2: The John Jay College of Criminal Justice – BS in Criminal Justice
The John Jay College of Criminal Justice is one of the best colleges for criminal justice programs. The college solely focuses on criminology, as well as other law and order degrees and certifications.
- Program: Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice Online
- Acceptance Rate: 51%
- Average Cost: $3,700
Besides, a middling acceptance rate with affordable average costs makes it an ideal college to earn your online BS in Criminal Justice. The degree will help you understand the basics of policing, as well as American Law & Order. Thus paving your way towards becoming a police detective or crime investigator.
3: State University of New York at Oswego – BA in Criminal Justice
State University of New York at Oswego is another incredible name in the SUNY system and one that offers a top-quality BA in Criminal Justice. The University itself provides an 83% acceptance rate, with a relatively affordable average annual fee of $16,000.
- Program: Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice
- Acceptance Rate: 83%
- Average Cost: $16,000
This BA in Criminal Justice will teach you the nuances of this field by focusing on specific areas like practices, policies, processes, etc. Thus, the university claims it’ll give you career opportunities in law enforcement, court administration, crime investigation, and even federal government.
4: St. Joseph’s University, New York – BS in Criminal Justice Practice and Policy
St. Joseph’s University, New York, is another top NY institution that offers online BS in Criminal Justice. The program focuses on practice and policy, as the title suggests. Thus concentrate on analyzing data, investigating crime and creating prevention strategies.
- Program: Online BS in Criminal Justice Practice and Policy
- Acceptance Rate: 77%
- Average Cost: $32,000
So, careers in police, court, law enforcement, or forensic labs are almost a guarantee. However, compared to other options on the list, the university lands a tad bit on the expensive side. Nevertheless, it’s one of the best online programs you can find today for this field.
On-Campus Criminal Justice Degree In New York
1: Buffalo State University – BS in Criminal Justice
Buffalo State University is another university that stands out because of its extraordinary programs. This university is quite accepting and offers lower average costs. Besides, the BS in Criminal Justice program should be at the top of your list.
- Program: Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice
- Acceptance Rate: 86%
- Average Cost: $14,000
The university also offers a combined pathway, which allows you to take criminal justice in both BS and later MS (Master of Science) in 4 years. Thus, the accelerated program vets you for higher-up positions in police, investigation settings, etc.
2: The State University of New York at Plattsburgh – BA in Criminal Justice
The State University of New York at Plattsburgh is another SUNY university that should be on your list of considerations. The BA in Criminal Justice program is one of the good ones, but it’s the high acceptance rate and affordable tuition that you should look forward to.
- Program: Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice
- Acceptance Rate: 70%
- Average Cost: $17,000
The program focuses on ideals and courses that prepare you for work in the Federal Government, Law Enforcement, Probation/Parole Officer, or Corrections. Besides, you can also pick minors in digital forensics, forensic accounting, etc.
3: Monroe University – BA in Criminal Justice Online
Monroe University is another university that offers a criminal justice program both online and on-campus. The university is relatively easy to get into, with an average $15K yearly cost. The program here is a BS in Criminal Justice.
- Program: Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice
- Acceptance Rate: 60%
- Average Cost: $15,000
The program focuses on courses like Criminal Procedure and Practice, Criminal Investigation Methods and Punishment and Rehabilitation. So, you prepare to work as a police officer, crime scene investigator, or work with victimology departments.
4: Empire State University – BS in Criminal Justice
Empire State University is ideal for candidates looking to get into a criminal justice program without facing much resistance. The university is all-inclusive and accepting, with around 95-100% acceptance rate.
- Program: Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice
- Acceptance Rate: 95-100%
- Average Cost: $9,000
The Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice will teach you nuances of the field through courses like Criminal Law & Procedure, Courts & the Administration of Justice, and Race Crime & Justice. So, you can choose to work in law enforcement, courts, labs, etc.
Criminal Justice Majors in New York Requirements
New York has a ton of universities, including those in the SUNY (State University of New York) system. These universities have varying requirements, but most of them agree on some of the basics of enrolling in criminal justice programs, such as:
- High school diploma or equivalent
- A minimum GPA of 2.5 or above is required
- Completion of 56 college credits 1
- B grade in specific courses (RCRJ 201, 202, or 203)
- Statistics and Research Methods with B grade
- Personal statement or essay submission
However, some colleges or universities might require specific requirements, such as:
| University | Admission Requirements |
| University at Albany |
|
| Touro College |
|
So, we suggest looking through colleges or university requirements before applying.
Why Get a Bachelor’s Degree From a Criminal Justice College in New York?
New York is one of the leading states in the USA. As of this writing, the job outlook for police and detectives hovers around 4%, which is more promising than most other fields in the state. Besides, New York has around 9,000 active employees in this field, with an annual mean wage of around $118,000.
Source: BLS OES
Compared to other states, New York is second only to California in terms of annual wage earned by police workers. Besides being one of the premier states in the USA, New York has plenty of colleges, universities, etc. Thus, giving you a lot of options for education in criminal justice.
Conclusion
There you have it; some vital info and critical things to consider about undergraduate programs in New York. It’s one of the leading places in the US with a ton of colleges and universities that offer degrees in this field.
Besides, job availability in different sectors of law enforcement is not an issue in New York. So, all you have to do is pick the right college/university, degree, and program type for you. Research and weigh each choice against each other before finalizing the one that suits you.
