On this page, we highlight this year’s top 50 most affordable accredited online master’s in criminal justice programs that deliver a high-quality education. Read on to learn if these programs are right for you and discover how to cut costs and fund your master’s degree.
Author: Angela Myers, BA
Expertise: Graduate EducationBusiness AdministrationSocial WorkEditor: Kristin Marino
- Savings Options
5 Ways to Save on Paying for Your Online Master's Degree in Criminal Justice
Read more - FAQs
FAQs: Affordable Master's Programs in Criminal Justice
Read more - Online Programs
Most Affordable Online Master's in Criminal Justice Programs
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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 Master’s Match scholarships and resources guide.
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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.
FAQs: Affordable Master’s Programs in Criminal Justice
What impacts the affordability of an online master’s program?
Whether a school is public or private can greatly impact affordability. In general, public schools with online programs will have the least expensive tuition both because they receive federal funding and because online programs require fewer costly resources than in-person programs.
However, the availability of scholarships, assistantships, and work-study positions also impacts how cheap your online master’s in criminal justice will be. Depending on scholarships and other financial assistance, one program could be more affordable to one student than another.
What is the ROI on an online master’s degree in criminal justice?
Calculating the ROI on a master’s degree in criminal justice can be difficult because there are many career fields one could go into, with salaries ranging from $40,000 to $120,000 a year. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average salary for someone working in the criminal justice field is $67,000 per year.
However, those with a master’s degree make more starting out and usually have more promotions over the course of their career. So, a master’s degree in criminal justice can definitely pay off in the long run.
How can I ensure that an affordable master’s in criminal justice program is high-quality?
One indicator of a high-quality program is how many graduates are employed in the field after getting their master’s. A less expensive online master’s degree in criminal justice isn’t worth a dime if employers don’t value it. Other signs of quality include the resources available to help you with your courses, from tutoring and mentoring to libraries and subscriptions, and how closely the curriculum aligns to your professional goals. A top-ranked program won’t help you if, for example, you want to learn about social justice and the courses barely touch on the topic.
Is an online master’s degree more or less affordable than an in-person program?
An online master’s degree is almost always more affordable than an in-person program. It costs less for a university to run an online degree than to find classroom space and pay utilities and other expenses for in-person classes, and that translates into lowered overall costs for an online master’s in criminal justice. Plus, you’ll spend less on transportation since you won’t have to commute back and forth to campus—a savings for both money and time.
Can job experience count towards your online master’s degree in criminal justice and help cut costs?
This depends on the school and program, though most programs want you to go through their rigorous training instead of counting job experience toward credit hours. If a program has an internship or work experience requirement, current or previous job experience will often fulfill it. That could make one program more affordable than another for your situation.
How can I know if the cheapest online master’s in criminal justice program is right for me?
When looking at different programs, jot down a list of what matters to you. Then, compare the programs and see which offer the most from your list of qualities to find the cheapest online master’s in criminal justice that suits your needs. Whether or not a program is right for you is a highly individual decision.
Most Affordable Online Master’s in Criminal Justice Programs
Wilmington University
Best for: advancement-focused students
Delta State University
Best for: working students
East Central University
Best for: advancement-focused students
Northeastern State University
Best for: advancement-focused students
Arkansas State University
Best for: advancement-focused students
Troy University
Best for: advancement-focused students
Sul Ross State University
Best for: advancement-focused students
Florida Gulf Coast University
Best for: advancement-focused students
Franklin University
Best for: advancement-focused students
Youngstown State University
Best for: advancement-focused students
