If you want an advanced career in criminal justice influencing the future of the field through research, teaching and scholarship, a Ph.D. in criminal justice might be the right fit for you. You can explore several current hot-button issues in the field to become a professional who can think critically and help law enforcement evolve in positive ways.
Ph.D. programs typically include plenty of theory-based coursework and culminate in a dissertation, which usually requires students to contribute to the larger academic conversation in the field. If you pursue your criminal justice degree online, you can complete these requirements from the comfort of your home.
As of October 2023, there is only one school offering a Ph.D. in criminal justice online. Read on to learn more about that program and the degree in general.
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Nova Southeastern University
Headquartered in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Nova Southeastern University reaches students around the nation with its online programs, including its online Ph.D. in criminal justice. The program’s 60-credit curriculum offers three concentration options in organizational leadership, behavioral science and juvenile justice.
Learners can earn this Ph.D. from NSU without completing any in-person requirements. Most full-time students take two courses at a time.
The program typically admits 20 students per year. Incoming learners can begin their coursework each August. Tuition costs $1,277 per credit.
At a Glance
- School Type: Private
- Application Fee: $50
- Degree Credit Requirements: 60 credits
- Program Enrollment Options: Full time, part time
- Notable Major-Specific Courses: Theories of crime, the police and society
- Concentrations Available: Organizational leadership, behavioral science, juvenile justice
- In-Person Requirements: No
How To Find the Right Online Ph.D. in Criminal Justice for You
Consider Your Future Goals
An online Ph.D in criminal justice requires a significant investment of time and money, so it’s important to make sure it’s the right choice for you before enrolling.
A Ph.D. in criminal justice typically leads to careers in policy and academia. Ph.D. degree holders can find jobs as professors, educating the next generation of criminal justice professionals and performing research and scholarship that advances the field.
If you plan to work in law enforcement or a similar field, holding a Ph.D. isn’t necessary, and this degree type does not focus on boots-on-the-ground law enforcement work. Most professorships, on the other hand, do require a terminal degree in the field, such as a Ph.D.
Understand Your Expenses and Financing Options
Nova Southeastern University’s online Ph.D. program in criminal justice—the only qualifying degree in our ranking—charged $1,277 per credit as of October 2023. Over the course of 60 credits, this translates to approximately $77,000 in total tuition.
Make sure to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSAⓇ) to access financial aid opportunities like loans, grants, scholarships and work-study programs. You may also have access to graduate assistantships and other teaching or research opportunities through your school to help offset the cost of your education. These opportunities generally require teaching or serving as a teacher assistant for undergraduate courses.
Should You Earn a Ph.D. in Criminal Justice Online?
Before committing to an online doctoral program in criminal justice, ask yourself a few key questions to make sure it’s the right fit for you:
- What’s your budget? Some Ph.D. programs actually provide students with a stipend in exchange for research or teaching. Regardless, online Ph.D. students can avoid in-person costs like housing and transportation. Some public universities also allow out-of-state students who exclusively enroll in online courses to pay in-state or otherwise discounted tuition rates.
- How do you learn best? Online learning is a good fit for disciplined, organized students who already have advanced time-management skills. If you crave additional structure and guardrails or need the support of a cohort, in-person learning might provide a better fit.
- What are your other commitments? Doctoral students are often older learners who work full time or have children. Online learning is often a good fit for these types of learners, as it provides additional flexibility. For example, asynchronous online courses allow parents and working professionals to complete coursework around their other obligations and responsibilities.
Accreditation for Criminal Justice Doctorates Online
There are two important types of accreditation: institutional and programmatic.
Institutional accreditation is the more important of the two. The U.S. Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation oversee the accrediting agencies that administer this process. These organizations vet schools for the quality of their faculty, student outcomes and finances, among other categories.
You should enroll only at schools with institutional accreditation. Otherwise, you cannot receive federal financial aid, and future employers may not recognize your degree.
Programmatic accreditation, which provides quality assurance in specific fields, is not prevalent at the graduate level among criminal justice degrees. However, some programs hold accreditation through the Academy of Criminal Justice Science.
Our Methodology
We scored one accredited, nonprofit college offering online Ph.D. in criminal justice programs in the U.S. using 15 data points in the categories of credibility, affordability, student outcomes and student experience. We pulled data for these categories from reliable resources such as the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System; private, third-party data sources; and individual school and program websites. Data is accurate as of June 2023.
We scored schools based on the following categories:
Student Outcomes:
- Overall graduation rate
- Median earnings 10 years after graduation
Affordability:
- In-state graduate student tuition
- In-state graduate student fees
- Alternative tuition plans offered
- Median federal student loan debt
- Percentage of students in federal student loan deferment
Student Experience:
- Student-to-faculty ratio
- Socioeconomic diversity
- Availability of online coursework
- Total number of graduate assistants
- More than 50% of graduate students enrolled in at least some distance education
Credibility:
- Fully accredited
- Programmatic accreditation status
- Nonprofit status
We listed the only school in the U.S. that met our ranking criteria.
Find our full list of methodologies here.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Ph.D. in Criminal Justice Online Programs
How many years is a Ph.D. in criminal justice?
Completion timelines depend on your enrollment status and your program’s dissertation and capstone requirements. For example, NSU’s program requires 60 credits, and most students take two three-credit courses at a time to graduate in 10 terms. This might take anywhere from four to six years.
Can I do my Ph.D. online?
Yes, you can earn a Ph.D. in criminal justice online, though very few U.S. universities offer this degree in a fully online format.
What is the fastest Ph.D. in criminal justice?
Given coursework and dissertation requirements, you can expect to spend at least four years completing a Ph.D. in criminal justice. You may finish faster if you find an accelerated program or take a heavy course load.
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