The best criminal justice schools in Massachusetts start with several colleges in the big city of Boston.
In addition, many private universities throughout the state offer bachelor’s and master’s degree programs for criminal justice majors.
You can also earn a graduate certificate online or pursue your PhD in criminal justice in Massachusetts.
Get started with a degree in criminal justice from one of these top-rated online and on-campus programs.
1 Boston University
Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice / Safety Studies
Graduate Certificate in Corrections and Criminal Justice
Boston University is a four-year private research college for undergraduates working toward a certificate or bachelor’s degree.
The university is located in Boston, Massachusetts.
The biggest city in MA, BU is one of the most popular schools in the state.
The school offers on-campus classes, as well as online courses.
In fact, in 2023, Newsweek reported Boston University working with Metropolitan College was ranked 4th in the US for online criminal justice courses.
There are three Boston University campuses in total.
These campuses are located in the South End of Boston and on the Charles River in the Allston and Kenmore communities.
Criminal justice majors have two options at Boston University.
The four-year degree route leads to a Bachelor of Arts or Science in Corrections and Criminal Justice.
You can also pursue a graduate certificate in Corrections and Criminal Justice.
The certificate course is 8 to 12 months long and is offered online and on-campus.
Tuition for in-state students at Boston University is $79,606 per academic year.
If the price tag is too high consider financial aid, which brings the annual tuition down to $26,170 a year.
This tuition is for the traditional bachelor’s degree at BU.
Therefore, you must multiply the annual figure by four years for a more realistic total.
Expect to pay anywhere from $100,000 with aid to $320,000 for a BA at BU.
If you are accepted into the graduate certificate course, the cost is $8,680 to $10,180.
Contact Information
- Address: 233 Bay State Rd., Boston, MA 02215
- Phone: 617-353-2000
- Website: Visit School Website
2 Northeastern University
Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice
Master of Science in Criminology and Criminal Justice
PhD (Doctorate) in Criminology and Justice Policy
Another private four-year school in MA teaching criminal justice is Northeastern University.
This college is also located in Boston. Northeastern University has 13 campuses in Massachusetts, out of state, and abroad in the UK.
Their flagship campus is in Boston.
The School of Criminology and Criminal Justice has three programs of study for criminal justice majors.
Choose to earn a four-year degree with a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice.
From there, pursue a Master’s degree in Criminology and Criminal Justice.
With an optional minor in Cybersecurity, an MS will set you up for success.
Diehard students go on to earn a Doctoral degree in Criminology and Justice Policy.
A PhD provides criminal justice experts with a pathway toward teaching in the field.
Tuition at Northeastern University is around the same price as Boston University.
Look at paying around $78,000 for an academic year if you do not have financial assistance.
With aid, the total comes down to around $34,000.
Contact Information
- Address: 360 Huntington Ave., Boston, MA 02115
- Phone: 617-373-2000
- Website: Visit School Website
3 University of Massachusetts – Lowell
Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice
Master of Arts in Criminal Justice
The University of Massachusetts – Lowell or UMass Lowell has three campuses.
These campuses offer in-person and online courses.
In fact, the school was ranked the Second Best Online Graduate Criminal Justice Program in the US by US News and World Report.
Students can pursue a four-year Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice.
This BS degree is typically followed by a two-year Master of Arts in Criminal Justice at UMass Lowell.
One of the more affordable schools in Massachusetts, UMass Lowell is $31,892 a year before financial aid.
Those students with financial aid packages can reduce the cost of tuition to $14,071 per academic year.
Contact Information
- Address: 220 Pawtucket St., Lowell, MA 01854
- Phone: 978-934-4000
- Website: Visit School Website
4 American International College
Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice
Located in Springfield, Massachusetts is the American International College.
The private school was established in 1885 and has one main campus.
Students can earn a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice in four years at AIC.
Classes available for the criminal justice major include Probation and Parole; Legal Aspects of the Criminal Justice System; and Information and Technology.
Tuition is $57,240 annually before financial aid, and $22,698 after financial aid–for in-state MA students.
Contact Information
- Address: 1000 State St., Springfield, MA
- Phone: 413-737-7000
- Website: Visit School Website
5 Anna Maria College
Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice
Master of Science in Criminal Justice
Attend the private Catholic school of Anna Maria College to earn a degree in criminal justice.
The undergraduate co-ed school is located in Paxton, MA.
While the school has been co-ed since 1973, the school was established as a women’s college in 1946.
At Anna Maria College, students can pursue both a Bachelor’s and a Master of Science in Criminal Justice.
Each of these programs has a standard length of four and two years respectively.
However, at AMC, you are able to go to college on campus or online.
This can save you time and money on getting a degree in criminal justice.
The average price for tuition at Anna Maria College is $57,532 a year.
If you have financial aid, the cost of tuition is approximately $24,185 yearly.
Contact Information
- Address: 50 Sunset Ln., Paxton, MA 01612
- Phone: 800-344-4586
- Website: Visit School Website
6 Westfield State University
Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice
Criminal Justice Minor
Master of Science in Criminal Justice
Graduate Certificate in Homeland Security
Westfield State University was the first New England university to offer a criminal justice degree.
Since 1968, the public institute has provided a four-year undergraduate education in criminal justice.
An internship is also a part of the Westfield State University BS degree in Criminal Justice.
Students can also excel with a criminal justice minor, or go on to pursue a Master of Science in Criminal Justice.
Westfield State University also has a graduate certificate program in Homeland Security available to criminal justice majors.
Before aid, tuition to Westfield State University was $26,978.
After aid, in-state students typically pay around $19,589 per school year for tuition and fees.
Contact Information
- Address: 577 Western Ave., Westfield, MA 01086
- Phone: 413-572-5300
- Website: Visit School Website
7 Western New England University
Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice
At Western New England University, students in Massachusetts can get an immersive hands-on education in criminal justice.
Students at Western New England University who study criminal justice must focus on one area out of three.
These areas of related study include victim studies; homeland security and terrorism; and criminal investigation.
Students in the criminal justice department can study abroad in Sorrento, Italy.
This is a focused program that touches on law and order and how to make gelato in the Italian countryside.
Tuition to WNEU is $57,870 before financial aid for in-state students and $29,806 after financial assistance is applied.
Contact Information
- Address: 1215 Wilbraham Rd., Springfield, MA 01119
- Phone: 413-782-3111
- Website: Visit School Website
8 Curry College
Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice
Certificate in Restorative Justice Practices
Master of Arts in Criminal Justice
In Milton, MA is Curry College, a private four-year institute.
The college was originally the School of Elocution and Expression in 1879 but was renamed six years later into Curry College.
The school provides a four-year Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice.
Students with a BA can go on to earn a Master of Arts in Criminal Justice, as well as a certificate in Restorative Justice Practices.
Criminal justice majors can also minor in many related subjects.
Choose from critical inequality studies, cyber crime, forensic science, law enforcement, law and society, and white-collar crime.
Tuition at Curry College costs $63,505 a year, which is before financial assistance is applied.
Students with financial aid can expect to pay approximately $28,000 a year.
Contact Information
- Address: 1071 Blue Hill Ave., Milton, MA 02186
- Phone: 617-333-0500
- Website: Visit School Website
9 Endicott College
Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice
Master of Science in Homeland Security Studies
Attend Endicott College in Beverly, Massachusetts to set yourself up for success in criminal justice.
This private four-year school was established in 1939 and was previously called Endicott Junior College.
The school has a four-year Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice degree.
In addition, students who are in the BS program can enroll in a 5th year Master of Science in Homeland Security Studies.
This is a supplemental master’s degree for specializations in criminal justice.
Tuition at Endicott for the BS and MS in the field of criminal justice is $56,373 a year before aid and $36,000 on average after financial assistance.
Contact Information
- Address: 376 Hale St., Beverly, MA 01915
- Phone: 978-927-0585
- Website: Visit School Website
10 Bridgewater State University
Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice
Master of Science in Criminal Justice
In Bridgewater, MA is Bridgewater State University, a public four-year educational institution.
Here students can excel in criminal justice in a variety of areas.
Choose to earn a traditional Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice.
Majors in the BS in Criminal Justice program can minor in a number of specialized areas.
This includes earning a minor degree in racial and social justice; victimology; and youth and juvenile justice.
The Master of Science in Criminal Justice is also available in a number of concentrations.
Focus your MS degree on administration of justice; crime and corrections; trauma and victim studies; or restorative and transformative justice.
The cost of tuition for one academic year at Bridgewater State University is $28,664 prior to financial aid.
After assistance, students typically pay about $14,000 per academic year.
Contact Information
- Address: 131 Summer St., Bridgewater, MA 02324
- Phone: 508-531-1000
- Website: Visit School Website
Schools Summary Table
Criminal Justice Salary Information
In Massachusetts, criminal justice majors who have recently graduated can look for entry-level wages at around $28,000 a year.
Experienced criminal justice experts earn over $51,000 annually.
Compare this to the salary of a criminal justice job in the US.
Entry-level CJ positions bring in $32,000 a year on average, reaching up to $80,000 yearly as an expert.
| Item | Percent |
|---|---|
$62K |
|
$82K |
|
$91K |
Average Salary in Massachusetts
| City Name | Salary |
|---|---|
| Boston | $85,898 |
| Worcester | $80,455 |
| Springfield | $79,650 |
| Lowell | $83,169 |
| Cambridge | $85,898 |
| Brockton | $83,252 |
| New Bedford | $81,118 |
| Fall River | $81,118 |
| Lynn | $85,898 |
| Quincy | $85,898 |
Regional Salary
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barnstable Town, MA | 30 | $108,770 | $52.29 | $152,340 | $80,390 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH | 1,110 | $112,300 | $53.99 | $170,810 | $68,840 |
| Springfield, MA-CT | 80 | $101,280 | $48.69 | $161,390 | $66,880 |
| Worcester, MA-CT | 50 | $100,810 | $48.47 | $161,570 | $62,210 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Criminal Justice Schools by State
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Great list! As someone considering a career in criminal justice, this definitely helps narrow down my options.
Interesting to see how these rankings have shifted over the years. It’s a reminder of how dynamic the field of criminal justice education can be.