The criminal justice system encompasses a wide swath of jobs including lawyers, judges, parole officers, social workers, criminologists, investigators, forensic scientists, and even accountants. Each one of these areas has different educational requirements, but in almost all cases, extensive training and preparation are mandatory. Are the extra time and money worth it? Well, here are 3 reasons that suggest that they are:

1. In Criminal Justice You Help People
You help keep people safe and society secure. Your family, friends, and neighbors may not always thank you face-to-face, but that's the nature of being a hero. Jobs well done often go unnoticed. But it's not about the glory or gratitude. Yours is a higher calling.

2. Criminal Justice Offers Job Stability
As long as crime is on the rise, demand for your skills and expertise should also be high. Equally enticing, however, is the fact that many criminal justice jobs are governmental. Pensions, benefits, and demand my falter for many private sector jobs, but government positions tend to be some of the safest in the country. And because some government jobs have early retirement, you can potentially launch a whole new career at a relatively young age.

3. Criminal Justice Careers Offer Variety
Because criminal activity constantly evolves, so too must your job. You constantly face new threats, new challenges, and different situations. Problem-solving skills and adaptability are incredibly important in the broader criminal justice industry. Rarely will boredom be an issue. Rather, you face each day with a different set of objectives and rules as you help find, prevent, prosecute, or rehabilitate criminals all over the world.

Schools are listed in alphabetical order by state then city.

Colorado Technical University

[Online]

Founded in 1965, Colorado Technical University is the university of choice for today’s motivated professional, offering over 100 Undergraduate and Graduate programs and concentrations in the fields of Business & Management, Computer Science & Engineering, Criminal Justice & Legal Studies, Health Sciences, and Information Systems & Technology.
Programs:
Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice
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Everest University Online

[Online]

Advance your career (or start a new one) without interrupting your life. At Everest University Online, you’ll get the tools to prepare for a better future. Earn your Associate’s, Bachelor’s, or Master’s degree in fields such as Business and Criminal Justice. Take classes at the times and places you choose, balance the demands of family and a career, and get personalized, one-on-one attention from expert instructors in your field of study.
Programs:
  Criminal Justice Associate
  Criminal Justice Bachelor
  Master in Criminal Justice
  Paralegal Associate
  Paralegal Bachelor
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Kaplan University

[Online]

Earn your degree, advance your career, and achieve your goals with an online degree or certificate from Kaplan University. And do it all without missing a day of work. Kaplan University offers accredited online degree programs in Business, Criminal Justice, Technology and Design, and Paralegal Studies. Kaplan also offers Continuing Education, allowing working professionals to earn certificates in Forensic Nursing, Legal Nurse Consulting, Life Care Planning, and Financial Planning.
Programs:
  A.A.S. in Criminal Justice
  A.A.S. in Paralegal Studies
  Advanced Start B.S. in Criminal Justice
  Advanced Start B.S. in Paralegal Studies
  B.S. in Criminal Justice
  B.S. in Paralegal Studies
  Legal Nurse Consulting
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Keiser University eCampus Online

[Online]

For over 30 years, Keiser University has provided student-centered, quality career education. Keiser University eCampus Online offers degree programs online to prepare students for in-demand professions. Degrees are offered with a curriculum that is in pace with technology and workforce demand trends in business, criminal justice, healthcare and computer technology. Our "one-class-at-a-time" approach allows busy students to focus on their education and balance the demands of work and family.
Programs:
  Associate's - Criminal Justice
  Associate's - Paralegal
  Bachelor's - Criminal Justice
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University of Phoenix	[Online]
Whether you’re seeking an associate’s, bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral degree, University of Phoenix can help you reach your goal much sooner than you might expect. Programs: BS in Criminal Justice Administration Request More Information >

Westwood College

[Online]

Think you don't have time to earn the respected degree you need? Think again. Westwood College's online program gives you the flexibility to study at the times and places you choose. You'll also get the opportunity to interact with your instructors and fellow students in real time. Degree programs offered include business, criminal justice, design and technology.
Programs:
Criminal Justice
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Westwood College's online campus is not currently accepting Texas residents for its programs. If you are a Texas resident interested in attending Westwood College and taking some courses online, please select one of our campuses in Dallas, Fort Worth or Houston.