A criminal justice degree is the first step to a career in criminal justice.
You can work in a variety of fields, including probation and parole, court officers, police officers, investigators, and private security.
If you are interested in law and order, and you want to make a difference in your local community, you should consider a criminal justice career.
1 Franklin Pierce University
About School
Franklin Pierce University is located in the town of Rindge.
It’s a small, private, not-for-profit university.
The college was founded in 1962 and was granted university status in 2007.
The school motto is “Be Frank”.
To “Be Frank” means to be your best.
Franklin Pierce is devoted to their students and diversity.
They also offer Paths at Pierce.
Paths mean that programs are tailored for each student.
You’ll have a plan for your career or graduate study.
You can take classes online, on campus, or both.
You can also accelerate your learning, or slow things down.
Program Name/Courses Offered
Franklin Pierce offers a few criminal justice degree programs.
You can take the Associate of Arts in Criminal Justice online.
It’s designed for working adults and can be tailored to your schedule.
You can also earn a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice.
With accelerated learning options, you can get your associate degree in 18 months, and earn a bachelor’s degree in just 3 years.
Contact Information
- Address: 40 University Dr, Rindge, NH
- Phone: (603) 899-4000
- Website: Visit School Website
2 University of New Hampshire
About School
The University of New Hampshire is a prestigious university that has been providing education for more than 150 years.
The University offers more than 200 programs across 100 majors.
It has the highest sustainability rating from the AASHE.
It’s a Carnegie Tier One Research University.
It also has a 94% student success rate after graduation.
Program Name/Courses Offered
University of New Hampshire offers a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice.
The program will prepare you for a career in law enforcement, corrections, or probation and parole.
You can also pursue a career in domestic violence prevention, mental health, or other community programs.
Courses in the program include Introduction to Criminology, the criminal justice system, introduction to Critical Inquiry, and Crime Prevention and Control.
Contact Information
- Address: 25 Hall St, Concord, NH
- Phone: (855) 472-4255
- Website: Visit School Website
3 Southern New Hampshire University
About School
Southern New Hampshire University is a private non-profit university.
The college offers offers more than 200 career-focused programs completely online and on campus.
Online classes have no set class times, and programs are designed to be flexible for working adults.
Tuition is lower than most universities as well.
U.S. News and World Report rated SNHU The Most Innovative College for 2024.
The college has 3,000 students on campus and 17,000 online students.
Program Name/Courses Offered
Criminal justice is one of the most popular programs at Southern New Hampshire University.
The program prepares you for a variety of careers, including positions in the FBI, administration, and U.S. Marshalls.
Concentrations include Corrections, Substance Abuse, Cybercrime, Crime Analysis and Criminology, Homeland Security, Human Services and Advocacy, and Police Administration and Operations.
You can earn a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice.
This requires 120 credits and typically takes 4 years.
The total cost of the program is about $40,000 without financial aid.
Contact Information
- Address: 2500 N River Rd, Manchester, NH
- Phone: (800) 668-1249
- Website: Visit School Website
4 Great Bay Community College
About School
Great Bay Community College is a community college.
They offer small class sizes of 15 students per teacher, and 70% of students receive financial aid.
You can choose from 63 degree programs and traditional and online formats.
In fact, you can take courses in person, in a hybrid or live online format, or completely online.
This flexibility is particularly helpful for non-traditional students.
The college offers academic advisors, tutors, and admissions counselors.
They have received awards for their Center for Academic Planning and Support department, or CAPS.
They also offer transfer agreements with local four-year universities.
Program Name/Courses Offered
Great Bay Community College offers an Associate of Science degree in Criminal Justice.
Once you complete the program, you can begin a career in law enforcement, corrections, private security or investigations, juvenile justice, court officer, or victim advocacy.
The program requires 68 to 71 credits and typically takes 2 years to complete.
Classes include Intro to Criminal Justice, Criminal Procedure, Ethics, Criminal Law, Sociology, Psychology, Police Operations, and Quantitative Reasoning.
Contact Information
- Address: 320 Corporate Dr Room SW113, Portsmouth, NH
- Phone: (603) 427-7600
- Website: Visit School Website
5 Rivier University
About School
Rivier is a private, catholic university.
The 4-year institution welcomes students from all backgrounds and walks of life.
They seek to give students an educational experience that is transformative and prepares them for life after graduation.
The school was founded in 1933 by the Sisters of the Presentation of Mary and Sister Madeleine of Jesus.
The university is dedicated to educating the whole person, including mind, body, and spirit. Graduates are known to be successful professionally and academically.
They also serve in their communities.
Program Name/Courses Offered
Rivier offers a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice.
The program includes courses in law and behavioral, natural, and social sciences.
You’ll also have courses in the humanities English, and math.
The program will teach students how to conduct criminal investigations, use electronic databases to analyze data, and conduct research.
You’ll also learn about the criminal justice system, and how it affects social justice issues.
In addition to teaching theory and academics, Rivier provides you with hands-on experience.
This includes visiting courtrooms, touring prisons, and going on police ride-alongs.
You’ll also have the opportunity to learn from faculty and lecturers who are currently working in the criminal justice field.
Contact Information
- Address: 420 S Main St, Nashua, NH
- Phone: (603) 888-1311
- Website: Visit School Website
6 Nashua Community College
About School
Nashua Community College offers a total of 33 degree programs and 19 certificate programs.
The community college was founded in 1970.
They have transfer agreements with several other New Hampshire colleges.
Students can begin their studies at Nashua, and enjoy small class sizes and low tuition.
Then they can start their career, or move on to a 4-year university.
Program Name/Courses Offered
Nashua Community College offers two criminal justice programs.
You can choose to earn a criminal justice certificate or an associate’s degree.
The Criminal Justice certificate requires 33 credits and typically takes one year to complete.
After completing the program, you can continue to get your associate’s degree or begin your career.
Courses include English Composition, Intro to Criminal Justice, Introduction to Psychology, Criminology, and Statistics.
You can also earn an Associate of Science degree in Criminal Justice.
This program requires 60 credits and typically takes 2 years to complete.
In the first year, you will take the same courses as the certificate course.
Second-year courses include Criminal Investigation, Law Enforcement Organizations, State and Local Government, Juvenile Justice, Criminal Procedure, and Corrections.
You’ll complete the course with an internship or a Final Project.
Contact Information
- Address: 505 Amherst St, Nashua, NH
- Phone: (603) 578-8900
- Website: Visit School Website
7 Keene State College
About School
Keene State College is a New Hampshire University that focuses on liberal arts education.
The 4-year university offers Associate of Arts, Associate of Science, Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Music, Bachelor of Science, and Master of Education degrees.
The college is set on 170 beautifully landscaped acres.
In addition to academics, Keene offers a dance studio and a Student Center.
They believe that extracurricular experiences are just as important as classroom learning.
They have events, many of which are open to the public, throughout the year.
The school places a high value on diversity and service.
In fact, since the college was founded in 1909, volunteer work and community outreach have been important aspects of the Keene College experience.
Program Name/Courses Offered
The Criminal Justice Studies program at Keene is one of its fastest-growing programs.
One reason for this is that many instructors have had distinguished careers in the field.
Current adjunct professors include the former police chief of Keene, Art Walker, and the former Attorney General of New Hampshire, Peter Heed.
David Forrest, an NH State Circuit Court judge, is also a professor.
Students will study social and behavioral sciences, law and ethics, the criminal justice system, theories of criminal behavior, law, and public policy.
Students will also consider the issues facing the criminal justice system today, and how to navigate these challenges.
Your studies are designed to align with your career goals.
If you plan on going into forensics, you should consider taking biology and chemistry courses as well.
If you lean towards the social aspects of criminal justice, you can get a dual criminal justice and sociology degree by adding a few more courses to your program.
Contact Information
- Address: 229 Main St, Keene, NH
- Phone: (603) 358-2276
- Website: Visit School Website
8 Plymouth State University
About School
Plymouth State University offers more than 100 undergraduate and graduate degrees.
It has a rich history, being founded in 1871.
It has transitioned into a teacher’s college, a state college, and a university since its founding.
Today, it serves nearly 5,000 students.
The school focuses on providing real-world experience along with a solid educational foundation.
Program Name/Courses Offered
Plymouth offers a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice.
This prepares students for a career as a law enforcement officer, parole or corrections officer, juvenile services, or law school.
The school also offers a Bachelor of Science in Forensic Science.
This is the first forensic science program in New Hampshire and prepares students to work as forensic investigators.
The school has a partnership with the New Hampshire Department of Safety.
This allows students to work with sociologists, criminologists, first responders, and those in safety administration.
Contact Information
- Address: 17 High St, Plymouth, NH
- Phone: (603) 535-5000
- Website: Visit School Website
Schools Summary Table
Criminal Justice Salary Information
Your salary will vary based on the career you choose, your location, experience, and education.
Detectives make an average of $72,280 in New Hampshire.
Police officers typically earn $51,000.
Correctional officers in the state have an average salary of $39,220, and security guards make $29,700 a year on average.
| Item | Percent |
|---|---|
$58K |
|
$77K |
|
$85K |
Average Salary in New Hampshire
| City Name | Salary |
|---|---|
| Manchester | $78,431 |
| Nashua | $82,865 |
| Concord | $78,447 |
| Derry | $80,559 |
| Rochester | $78,492 |
| Salem | $81,642 |
| Dover | $80,559 |
| Merrimack | $82,865 |
| Londonderry | $82,865 |
| Keene | $79,231 |
Regional Salary
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manchester, NH | 90 | $116,160 | $55.85 | $175,410 | $65,130 |
| Portsmouth, NH-ME | 50 | $90,740 | $43.63 | $156,960 | $63,270 |
* 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
I’m currently working in law enforcement and considering going back to school to further my career. This list gives me a good idea of which programs in New Hampshire offer the flexibility I need as a full-time professional.
As a parent, I’m so relieved to see this list. My child is interested in criminal justice, and knowing that there are top-rated programs in New Hampshire gives us peace of mind. We’ll definitely be visiting a few campuses soon.
Very helpful! I’ve been looking for criminal justice programs in New Hampshire, and now I have a better idea of which schools to research further. The smaller class sizes sound like a great advantage.
I graduated from Keene State and I can’t recommend it enough! The faculty were knowledgeable, helpful, and considerate, and they had great connections with local law enforcement agencies, which really helped me get my foot in the door.
I’ve been thinking about switching careers to criminal justice, and seeing this list of schools in New Hampshire is a great starting point. I’m especially interested in programs that offer online courses since I’m currently working full-time.