Criminal Justice Degrees Online

With the abundance of reputable online degree programs that offer quality education at a minimal cost, it's no mystery why so many students today are going online for their education.

 

One of the most popular degree programs pursued on the Web is the criminal justice degree. A criminal justice degree offers a rewarding career path, with job opportunities ranging from social work to private investigation and law enforcement. 

In choosing from among the many criminal justice degree programs offered online, one of the most important criteria to consider is whether the program is accredited. Choosing an accredited program will provide you with a higher caliber of education and will also ensure that your degree is recognized by employers when it comes time for you to find a job.

 

Some employers may not recognize degrees received from foreign institutions or unaccredited schools within the U.S. For a list of recognized accrediting agencies, you can visit the U.S. Department of Education's Web site.

Another way to narrow down your search for an online criminal justice degree program is to look for ratings on the Web. Online schools are ranked annually, and the results can be found easily online through a simple Internet search.

 

The most recent rankings for the top ten criminal justice degree programs through online schools include:

For people who wish to continue working while pursuing a degree, online degree programs offer an ideal alternative. If you have a busy home life or can't sacrifice the time or income to attend a traditional campus-based degree program, an online degree may be the perfect fit for you.

 

An online degree is also a more cost-efficient alternative. The average cost of tuition, fees, books and supplies at a public four-year college or university is $20,000. If you plan to attend a private school, the cost can increase to up to $80,000.

 

Although tuition for the same four-year education online may sometimes be comparable in cost, the greatest difference is in the cost of campus-based housing and transportation, which can increase the cost of your education by over $30,000.

 

An online degree is not for everyone, however. Completing coursework online and staying on top of daily assignments without the concentrated environment provided by a classroom can be a challenge for even the most diligent student. It takes a tremendous amount of dedication to pursue a degree online.

 

To ensure success, set a disciplined schedule for yourself and create a study-friendly environment.

Some may wonder whether they will receive the same quality of education from an online institution as from a traditional classroom-based degree program. The Sloan Consortium, an agency that monitors online education, reports that 62 percent of academic advisors believe that the quality of education received through an online degree is as good as or better than a traditional education.

 

Currently, approximately 3.2 million students are earning their degrees through online programs. That number is sure to increase as fuel and housing prices continue to rise.

 

With the flexibility, cost-efficiency and quality education offered by online degree programs, pursuing your degree in criminal justice is easier than ever.

 

 

Bureau of Labor Statistics (n.d.). Occupational Outlook Handbook. Retrieved on March 16, 2008, from the Bureau of Labor Web site.
 
Terrell, Kenneth (2006). How Do I Choose a Program? Retrieved on March 16, 2008, from the U.S. News and World Report Web site.
 
University of Maryland CCJS (n.d.). Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice Home. Retrieved on March 17, 2008, from the University of Maryland Web site.
 
World Wide Learn Web site (n.d.). Online Criminal Justice Degree Programs. Retrieved on March 17, 2008, from the World Wide Learn Web site.