2024’s Most Affordable Online Master’s in Criminal Justice

5 Ways to Save on Paying for Your Online Master’s Degree in Criminal Justice

When calculating the cost of the most affordable online master’s in criminal justice, it’s important to look past the listed tuition price. That’s just a starting point; you can make your master’s more affordable and earn money while getting your degree. These five ways to save money on your online master’s degree are great for your wallet and may also help you build up your experience in the criminal justice field.

Scholarships, Grants, and Fellowships for Criminal Justice Master’s Students

One of the most common ways to lower the cost of your master’s in criminal justice is applying to scholarships, grants, and fellowships. Some scholarships are designed for criminal justice graduate students in particular, such as the Thomas R. Pickering Foreign Affairs Graduate Fellowship. For more scholarships you can apply to and tips on how to make your applications stand out, visit OMD’s scholarships and resources guide.

Work-Study or Assistantships

Another great option for the cheapest online master’s in criminal justice is to apply for a work-study position or assistantship. Work-study programs are run through the federal government and give students the opportunity to make money through an on-campus job. An example might be a job as a criminal justice student assistant providing support to criminal justice faculty and staff. Assistantships are offered through individual departments and are a great way to earn extra money while playing a bigger role in your academic community. They often consist of helping a professor with their teaching or research responsibilities.

Employer Tuition Reimbursement Programs

Some employers offer tuition reimbursement for employees who get master’s degrees relevant to their job. In the criminal justice field these programs are popular, especially if you are employed by the federal or state government. Some departments even have fellowships that offer additional support beyond tuition reimbursement, such as the reimbursement program offered by the CIA. Check with your employer to find out if they offer tuition reimbursement program.

Payment Plans

Let’s say paying a semester of tuition at a time would wipe out your emergency fund, but you could afford to pay your tuition in smaller installments after each paycheck. Luckily, many schools are aware of the heavy burden of paying tuition upfront and offer payment plans so you can pay in monthly installments. For example, Texas A&M International University and Westfield State University both offer payment plans. To find out if this is an option, check with each individual program you’re considering.

Paid Internships

Another option to help fund the cheapest online master’s in criminal justice is a paid internship. This is an especially great opportunity for those who don’t currently have a job or who are looking to get hands-on experience in branches of the federal or state government. Some criminal justice paid internship opportunities also offer tuition reimbursement and academic support as well, such as the Charles B. Rangel International Affairs program.