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Online Associate's Degree in Criminal Justice

Try Classes for 3 Weeks at No Cost

Additional academy training and education not provided by Purdue Global may be required for law enforcement positions.

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Earn Your Degree as Early as:
Admissions
Courses
Ways to Save on Tuition
Career Outlook
18
Total Courses
$371
Cost per Credit
2 years
Average Completion*
15–18 Hours/Week
Course Effort

Associate’s in Criminal Justice Overview

Protecting society is more than a career — it’s a calling. And this is your time to answer that call. Earn your associate’s 100% online from one of the largest providers of public safety programs in the U.S. and move your criminal justice career forward.

  • Start or advance a career in law enforcement, adult and juvenile corrections, courts, public safety, private investigation, and other related areas.
  • Select from a variety of electives to match your degree to your goals and interests.
  • Learn from professionals who are experts in the criminal justice field and bring real-world experience to your classroom.
  • Explore special transfer credit pathways for military servicemembers and veterans, including Army Combat Arms, Army and Marine Corps Military Police, Coast Guard Maritime Enforcement Specialists, and Navy Master-at-Arms (MA) occupations. Your military service counts at Purdue Global.
  • Earn your degree from one of the largest providers of public safety programs in the United States.

Gain the Skills That Employers — and Communities — Need

  • Understand the complexities of the U.S. criminal justice system, including existing issues and challenges.
  • Learn about criminology, criminal investigation, criminal law, terrorism, corrections and rehabilitation, corporate or private security, investigation techniques, evidence collection, diversity, and more.
  • Get practical experience by applying the techniques and skills you’ve learned in school to real-world criminal justice scenarios with our capstone project.

Review College Scorecard data for this program.

View Program Degree Plan and Policies

See Notes and Conditions below for important information.

Military Transfer Credit

Servicemembers and veterans, get the recognition you deserve and earn your degree faster with our PME2Degree® program. Use our Military Transfer Credit Estimator to see how much of your occupational and military training counts as college credit.

Tuition Reductions

We offer significantly reduced tuition rates for servicemembers, including Guard and Reserve, and veterans.

Purdue Global Is Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission

The HLC (HLCommission.org) is an institutional accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Calculate Your Time and Cost

Estimate how much your prior learning credits can reduce your tuition and time to graduation.

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What Courses Will I Take?

Our curriculum offers an in-depth scientific study of criminology, criminal investigation, criminal law, domestic and international terrorism, and counterterrorism.

Courses are taught by knowledgeable and credentialed criminal justice professionals with years of industry experience. Additionally, our state-of-the-art, interactive technology allows for a collaborative and engaging environment with fellow classmates.

Sample Courses

  • Preparing for a Career in Public Safety
  • Introduction to the Criminal Justice System
  • Criminal Investigation
  • Criminal Procedure
  • Associate's Capstone in Criminal Justice
See All Criminal Justice Courses

Program Requirements

3
Core Courses
8
Major Courses
7
Elective Courses
18
Total Courses
90
Total Quarter Credits

1 semester credit hour = 1.5 quarter credit hours

3-Week Trial

Not sure if Purdue Global is right for you? Try an undergraduate program for an introductory 3-week trial period.

There’s no financial obligation and no cost to apply. That’s the Purdue Global Commitment.

How It Works

Students who choose to continue at Purdue Global will be billed for the full first term's tuition, including the 3-week trial. See Notes and Conditions below.

Admissions Requirements

You must be a high school graduate or possess a General Educational Development (GED) certificate or other equivalency diploma. You must also complete orientation before you start classes.

Refer to the University Catalog or speak to an Advisor to learn more.

View Admissions Requirements

Upcoming Start Dates

We offer multiple start dates to give you flexibility in your education, life, and work schedules.

Reach Your Career Goals Sooner

Military Transfer Credit Pathways

If you are a servicemember or veteran, we believe your military training should give you a jump start on your education. Combining your military experience and prior learning makes it easier for you to earn an online associate's degree in criminal justice.

To help you achieve your academic and professional goals, we have evaluated various military occupations to reduce the number of courses required to earn your associate’s degree in criminal justice:

  • Army Combat Arms: 11B, 11C, 19D, 19K
  • Army Law Enforcement: 31B, 31D, 31E, 31K
  • Coast Guard: Maritime Enforcement Specialists (ME)
  • Marine Corps Military Police: 5811
  • Navy: Master-at-Arms (MA)

Get a Head Start on Your Bachelor's Degree

By completing your criminal justice associate’s degree, you’ll not only earn a quality education that immediately impacts your career, but you’ll also lay the groundwork for your next degree.

You can transfer your associate’s-level criminal justice degree into Purdue Global's criminal justice bachelor’s degree, covering half of the program’s requirements.

See Notes and Conditions below for important information

Ways to Save on Time and Tuition

Purdue Global works with students to find ways to reduce costs and make education more accessible. Contact us to learn about opportunities to save on your educational costs.

Transfer Credits

Earn credit for prior coursework completed at eligible institutions, including community colleges.

Prior Work Experience Reduction

You could earn undergraduate credit for your life and professional career experiences.

Financial Aid

Learn about federal financial aid programs available for many of our degree programs.

Grants and Loans

Learn about federal and state grants and loan programs that may be available.

Corporate Partner Benefits

Employees of Purdue Global partner organizations may be eligible for special tuition reductions.

Military Tuition Reduction

Undergraduate tuition savings for military include a 55% reduction per credit for current servicemembers and 38% per credit for veterans.

Prior Military Experience

Earn credit for your military training. The average Purdue Global military student is awarded 54% of the credits needed for an associate's and 45% of the credits needed for a bachelor's.

View the total cost of attendance for your program.

Career Opportunities

Earning an online Associate of Applied Science in Criminal Justice could prepare you for roles in police departments, sheriff’s departments, other law enforcement offices, juvenile detention facilities, jails, prisons, court systems, private-sector and corporate security, government, and private detection or investigation.

If you're in the military, an online associate's degree in criminal justice offers you the potential to move up in the military ranks or prepare for transition into the civilian ranks. Purdue Global offers an extensive selection of degree programs designed for you to advance your career.

Average Salary

Range

General labor market and salary data are provided by Lightcast and may not represent the outcomes experienced by Purdue Global graduates in these programs. Purdue Global graduates in these programs may earn salaries substantially different or less than the amounts listed above. Salary and employment outcomes vary by geographic area, previous work experience, education, and opportunities for employment that are outside of Purdue Global's control.

Purdue Global does not guarantee employment placement, salary level, or career advancement.

Local, state, and federal law enforcement jobs may require additional training or education beyond the associate’s level. Some positions require a 4-year bachelor's degree and/or additional state-approved higher education beyond the Purdue Global degree. This program was not designed to meet any specific state’s requirements, and Purdue Global makes no representations or warranties as to whether the degree or any individual courses meet such requirements. Refer to the University Catalog for additional information. Graduates of Purdue Global criminal justice programs are not eligible to attend police academies in Minnesota.

Get to Know Our Faculty

Purdue Global faculty members are real-world practitioners who bring knowledge gained through the powerful combination of higher learning and industry experience.

99%

Faculty members who have advanced degrees

54%

Faculty members who hold a doctorate

484

Faculty publications in 2022–2023

More Than 40,000

Professional development hours logged by faculty in 2022–2023

Statistics include all Purdue Global faculty members and are not school- or program-specific calculations. Source: Purdue Global Office of Reporting and Analysis, July 2023. 2022–2023 academic year.

Download the Program Brochure

Download our brochure to learn more about the Associate of Applied Science in Criminal Justice and the benefits of earning your degree at Purdue Global. Prepare yourself for success with an associate's degree in criminal justice.

View Brochure

Your Path to Success Begins Here

Connect with an Advisor to explore program requirements, curriculum, credit for prior learning process, and financial aid options.

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NOTES AND CONDITIONS

*Estimated Graduation Date and Average Completion: Estimated graduation date is based on the assumption that you will enroll in time to begin classes on the next upcoming start date, will remain enrolled for each consecutive term, and will maintain satisfactory academic standing in each term to progress toward completion of your program. Completion time is based on a full-time schedule. Programs will take longer for part-time students to complete.

100% Online: Some Purdue Global programs are not 100% online; some programs require you to gain hands-on experience in a real-world work environment. Contact an Admissions Advisor for additional information.

Future Programs: The University cannot guarantee that students will be granted admission to any future programs. Speak to an Advisor about transfer credit opportunities and see the University Catalog for the Prior Learning policy.

Military Credit Awards: Purdue Global does not guarantee the transferability of credit from any of these sources. See the University Catalog for the Prior Learning policy. Credit awards have service-level requirements. Exact transfer amount may vary depending on completed military courses and occupations as listed on your CCAF and official Joint Service Transcript(s). Applicable state-specific program requirements, as listed in the University Catalog, may reduce the available transfer credits. All credits must be validated on official transcript(s) to be eligible for transfer.

Largest Providers of Public Safety Programs: Source: Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), 2021–2022 Total Degrees and Certificates Conferred, First Major, Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting, and Related Protective Services, https://nces.ed.gov/IPEDS. Based on total number of degrees and certificates granted by Purdue Global compared to other degree-granting institutions.

Three-Week Trial: Students who inform Purdue Global they do not wish to pursue the program during the 3-week trial will not be charged. Students who choose to continue at Purdue Global will be billed for the full first term's tuition, including the 3-week trial, and will need to meet other specific requirements. Classes will be applied toward a degree if satisfactorily completed and students select to continue their studies at Purdue Global. No credits are earned if the student withdraws during the introductory period (3 weeks for new qualifying undergraduate students), which begins day one of the first term. Graduate programs and BS in Professional Flight not included. Additional terms may apply to international and non-U.S. citizen students. For further information, see the University Catalog.