Those students who want to study criminal justice in Pennsylvania will find this guide very informative, and you’re in the right place. You will explore the top criminal justice colleges in Pennsylvania in this guide, which offer some of the best academic programs and high acceptance rates. If you are searching for law enforcement, legal studies, knowing what colleges are best for criminal justice can shape your future. In this article, you will get to know about the criminal justice colleges and degree options, campus advantages, and acceptance rates so you can choose with confidence.
Why Criminal Justice Colleges in PA
Pennsylvania hosts a variety of criminal justice employers, such as state police, county sheriff’s offices, municipal police departments, and federal agencies. Through such proximity, the students themselves get access to a range of resources and skilled professors from associated colleges.
Additionally, Pennsylvania accommodates regional offices for important agencies, including the FBI, DEA, U.S. Marshals, and ATF, especially in urban areas like Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. These links provide students with important internship and job placement opportunities.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates that careers in criminal justice and protective services are expected to expand consistently until 2033. Positions like police officers, probation agents, and forensic experts continue to be in great demand. Criminal justice colleges in Pennsylvania prioritize immersive experiences. Numerous programs feature field experience, accompanying officers, court viewings, and internships, which are important for job preparedness.
2025 Top Ranking Criminal Justice Colleges in Pennsylvania by Acceptance Rates
1. Indiana University of Pennsylvania – Indiana
Degree Offered: Training in Criminal Justice
Acceptance Rate: 93 %
Program Overview: Indiana University of Pennsylvania’s criminal justice program is focused on preparing students for careers in law enforcement and the legal system. Students complete challenging classwork as well as internships with local law enforcement and legal offices.
2. West Chester University of Pennsylvania
Degree Offered: Minor in Criminal Justice
Acceptance Rate: 89%
Program Overview: Numerous colleges with criminal justice majors in Pennsylvania provide specialized training in law enforcement and criminology. One of them is West Chester University, which has an all-major and minor criminal justice program that focuses on criminology, policing, and social justice. It places special focus on students’ practical training by providing numerous internship placements. They cover areas such as social service and law enforcement agencies, making it perfect for graduates ready to work right away.
3. Slippery Rock University
Degree Offered: Bachelor’s in Criminal Justice
Acceptance Rate: 84%.
Program Overview: Slippery Rock University criminal justice program overview: The purpose of the criminal justice program at Slippery Rock University is to offer students the most elite learning opportunities possible in the fields of law enforcement, corrections, and any associated judicial systems. During the program, students are given both classroom as well as practical training. The program prepares graduates to fill many positions within the criminal justice system, focusing on social justice and public policy.
4. Kutztown University
Degree: Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice
Acceptance Rate: 78%
Program Overview: The overview of the crime justice program at Kutztown University prepares the students with the current concepts of law enforcement, criminology and corrections. There are active partnerships with local law enforcement such that students receive unparalleled internships and on the job training opportunities.
5. Shippensburg University
Degree Offered: Master’s in Criminal Justice
Acceptance Rate: 74%
Program Overview: Shippensburg University offers a comprehensive criminal justice degree, highlighting both the sociological and legal aspects of crime. Moreover, community service and internship participation are encouraged, leading many graduates to pursue careers in social work, law enforcement, or other justice areas.
6. Gannon University – Erie
Degree Offered: B.A in Criminal Justice
Acceptance Rate: 72%
Program Overview: Gannon University’s Criminal Justice program is a program overview of law enforcement, corrections, and legal studies. Gannon University offers a quality education in the areas of law enforcement, corrections, and legal studies. Participants in this program will be prepared for many jobs in the criminal justice system through emphasis on the theoretical and practical aspects of criminal behavior and the justice system.
From an intern with someone on one side of the spectrum to someone on the other, the little classes and internship placements make students learn what it takes by sitting in an office, for example. Graduates can locate employment in law enforcement, correctional institutions, legal practices throughout the region, and across the country.
7. Temple University (Philadelphia)
Degree Offered: Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice
Acceptance Rate: 60%
Program Overview: One major aspect of this university is the Inside Out Prison Exchange Program. It allows students to learn alongside incarcerated individuals in a correctional institute or setting. This nationally recognized initiative enhances students’ understanding of the criminal justice system. It works by offering real perspectives on incarceration, rehabilitation, and justice reform.
Penn State University – University Park
Degree Offered: B.A/B.S in Criminal Justice
Acceptance Rate: 54%
Program Overview: Penn State University is offering a criminology program that covers the entire criminal justice system, such as law enforcement, corrections, and forensic science. Additionally,the program has a wide range of internship placements and a powerful network of graduates in criminal justice professions.
9. University of Pittsburgh (Pittsburgh)
Degree Offered: B.A in Criminal Justice
Acceptance Rate: 50%
Overview of the Program: The University of Pittsburgh’s criminal justice program covers a comprehensive scope of study in criminology, law enforcement, and the judiciary. Students are provided with research and internship opportunities at the various criminal justice facilities in Pittsburgh. Those students who are searching for good colleges in Pennsylvania for criminal justice will find this institute affordable and reputable across both public and private institutions.
10. UPenn (Philadelphia)
Degree Offered: Degree in Criminal Justice and Criminology
Acceptance Rate: 7%
Program Overview: The Criminal Justice and Criminology Program at the University of Pennsylvania is quite comprehensive. They are offering multiple fields of sociology, law, and policy studies. Such multidisciplinary training equips students for upper-level criminology, enforcement, and policy-making positions. This program also focuses on research and offers many practicums where students can work in real-world settings.
Criminal Justice Colleges in Pennsylvania: Admission Criteria
Most of the universities in Pennsylvania have specific admission criteria that prospective students need to meet.
- Students are required to pass standardized test results (like the SAT or ACT) with their high school transcripts and letters of recommendation.
- Some schools, such as the University of Pennsylvania and Penn State may also need interviews or additional essays, which form part of the more competitive admissions process.
- To make sure that they meet every requirement for the application, you should need to look at the official university websites of the respective schools.
Conclusion
Students who are interested in criminal justice degrees have unlimited options in the state of Pennsylvania. The University of Pennsylvania, Penn State, and Temple University have a wide variety of programs that ensure students can achieve their dream career. Most of these colleges offer programs for unique career paths such as law enforcement, criminology, or forensic science. They combine them with the academic experience and professional contacts essential for succeeding in the justice system.
