The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that there will be an increase in the jobs available for criminal justice professionals.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) indicates on its hiring page that there may be “limitless opportunities” available for applicants.
There is a great job outlook for future criminal justice professionals.
These best criminal justice programs and schools in Florida prepare students to enter the field of criminal justice as knowledgeable employees who are ready to serve their communities and communities across the country.
1 Florida National University
About the School
Florida National University has campuses in Miami and Hialeah.
The school educates students through a variety of programs, including its Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice program.
Courses Offered
Students complete 120 credit hours to earn a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice at Florida National University.
The program trains students to have excellent communication skills and to develop their critical thinking and analytical thinking skills.
The curriculum prepares students for advanced study in criminal justice or to start working in advanced criminal justice career positions.
Courses include Introduction to Security and Law Enforcement, Psychology Applied to Law, The Law of Evidence, and Ethics in the Criminal Justice System.
Students also complete 24 credits in electives, choosing from options such as White Collar Crime, Terrorism, and Domestic Relations Law.
Contact Information
- Address: 4425 West 20th Ave., Hialeah, Florida, 33012
- Phone: 305-821-3333
- Website: Visit School Website
2 Florida Atlantic University
About the School
Some of the values that define the Florida Atlantic University School of Criminology and Criminal Justice Department include innovation and inspiration, excellence, honesty, and integrity.
Students who complete a criminal justice program at the school are ready for advanced education or to start work immediately after graduation.
Courses Offered
The Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice program at Florida Atlantic University prepares students to work in the adult or juvenile justice system.
Students complete a minimum of 120 credit hours of study.
Some courses in the program include Law, Crime, and the Criminal Justice System, Victimology, Drug Courts, and Gangs, Groups, and Justice.
Some other courses include Criminal Justice Management, Serial Homicide, methods of Research in Criminal Justice, and Elders and the Criminal Justice System.
Students in this program can earn up to 12 credits toward the school’s Master of Science in Criminology and Criminal Justice by enrolling in the Combined Degree Program.
Speak to the advisor to enroll during your senior year.
Contact Information
- Address: 777 Glades Rd., Boca Raton, FL, 33431
- Phone: 561-297-3000
- Website: Visit School Website
3 Florida State University
About the School
Students who want to have options in a criminal justice program may want to consider Florida State University.
The school has campus-based and online undergraduate and graduate criminal justice programs, including the Online Master’s in Criminal Justice Studies program.
Courses Offered
Florida State University offers its Online Master’s in Criminal Justice Studies program for students who have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.
Students complete 36 hours of graduate credits.
Program courses include Survey of Criminal Justice Theory and Research, Computer Applications in Criminal Justice, and Applied Statistics in Criminology.
Students choose their elective courses from options that include Criminal Law, Procedures, Individual Rights, Race, Ethnicity, Crime and Social Justice, and Criminal Justice Administration.
Students who obtain approval may earn elective credits by completing an internship or by writing a paper or thesis.
Contact Information
- Address: 112 S. Copeland St., Tallahassee, Florida, 32306
- Phone: 850-644-4050
- Website: Visit School Website
4 University of Central Florida
About the School
The University of Central Florida is committed to building a better future for students and communities.
The school, founded in 1963, has a commitment to excellence.
One program that prepares students for tomorrow’s challenges is the Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice program.
Courses offered
Students have several options when they enroll in the Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice program at the University of Central Florida.
Complete degree requirements in the traditional campus setting, in an online format, or through the Scholar’s Track.
Courses in the four-year, 120-credit program include Domestic Violence in the Criminal Justice System, Criminal Profiling in Criminal Justice, Data Analysis for Criminal Justice, and Prosecution and Adjudication.
The school offers several other criminal justice programs, including the Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice.
It also offers certificates in Criminal Profiling, Crime Analysis and Crime Mapping, Crime Scene Investigation, Victim Advocacy, and Criminal Justice Management and Leadership.
Contact Information
- Address: 4000 Central Florida Blvd., Orlando, FL, 32816
- Phone: 407-823-2000
- Website: Visit School Website
5 Florida Gateway College
About the School
Florida Gateway College designs programs with students in mind, with the goal of helping every student succeed in achieving their greatest potential.
The accredited school offers more than 60 programs, including the Associate in Science – Criminal Justice Technology program.
Courses Offered
The associate degree in criminal justice program at Florida Gateway College prepares students to start working in entry-level criminal justice positions or to continue their studies by transferring to a four-year institution.
Students prepare for careers in corrections, law enforcement, probation, parole, or the juvenile justice system.
Courses in the 60-credit hour program include Criminal Law, Fundamentals of Criminal Investigation, Constitutional Law, Criminal Law and Process, and Ethics. Elective courses include Probation, Pardons, and Parole, Comparative Legal Systems, and Diversity, Crime, and Society.
Contact Information
- Address: 149 SE College Place, Lake City, FL, 32025
- Phone: 386-752-1822
- Website: Visit School Website
6 Florida State College at Jacksonville
About the School
Florida State College at Jacksonville is an accredited school.
It offers a Criminal Justice Technology Certificate that articulates directly into the school’s Associate of Science in Criminal Justice Technology program.
Courses Offered
Students who enroll in the 24-credit, Online Criminal Justice Technology Certificate at Florida State College at Jacksonville must successfully complete Introduction to Criminal Justice in their first term.
If a student does not complete the course during their first term, they will not be allowed to enroll in other criminal justice programs.
Program courses include Policing, Diversity, Crime and Society, Juvenile Delinquency, Technical Report Writing, and Corrections.
Contact Information
- Address: 101 West State St., Jacksonville, FL, 32202
- Phone: 904-633-8100
- Website: Visit School Website
7 Seminole State University
About the School
Seminole State University is home to a variety of programs that are official Law Enforcement Academy Programs.
The school offers crossover programs for current criminal justice professionals who want to change to another area of criminal justice, such as the Crossover Law Enforcement to Corrections program.
There are programs for students just starting their criminal justice education, including the Associate in Science in Criminal Justice Technology program.
Courses Offered
Gain a strong background in the skills and knowledge that are needed in the ever-expanding field of criminal justice by earning an Associate of Science in Criminal Justice at Seminole State University.
The 60-credit program prepares students who choose to do so to sit for the Florida Department of Law Enforcement Certification Exam.
Students who complete the program and who earn certification will receive both their associate degree and the Law Enforcement Officer Career Certificate.
Students complete courses such as Introduction to Criminal Justice, Criminal Investigation, Criminal Procedure, Introduction to Corrections, and Drugs, Alcohol, and Crime.
Contact Information
- Address: 100 Weldon Blvd., Stanford, FL, 32773
- Phone: 407-708-4722
- Website: Visit School Website
8 Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University
About the School
Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University has been educating students at the historically black university since its founding in 1887.
One program offered at the school is the Bachelor of Criminal Justice program.
Courses Offered
Students who enroll in the Bachelor of Criminal Justice program at Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University study criminal law, theory and research, law enforcement, corrections, and juvenile justice.
Some courses include Theories of Criminal Behavior, American Criminal Law, Juvenile Delinquency, and Contemporary Issues in Corrections.
Students complete electives from courses such as Patterns of Criminal Behavior, Law and Social Control, Juvenile Law, and Women and Crime.
Contact Information
- Address: 1601 S. Martin Luther King Jr Blvd., Tallahassee, FL, 32307
- Phone: 850-599-3000
- Website: Visit School Website
9 Florida State University Doctoral Program
About the School
Florida State University offers undergraduate and master’s degree programs in criminal justice.
Students who want to be a part of the scholarly community of criminal justice professionals may want to complete the Ph.D. in Criminology and Criminal Justice program.
The program is the best doctoral program in the U.S., according to articles in The Journal of Criminal Justice Education.
Courses Offered
The required credit hours for students to complete their doctoral program depend on several factors.
Prior educational experience, the student’s mastery of statistics and theory, research methods, and the student’s level of preparation for the required examinations affect the student’s program.
The doctoral committee determines the required credit hours for each student.
Some courses include Theory in Criminology and Criminal Justice, Data Analysis in Criminology and Criminal Justice, and Professional Development in Criminology.
Elective courses include Political Economy of Crime and Justice, Conduct of Inquiry in Criminology and Criminal Justice, and Seminar in Crime Research.
Contact Information
- Address: 112 S. Copeland St., Tallahassee, FL, 32306
- Phone: 850-644-4050
- Website: Visit School Website
10 Florida Southwestern State College
About the School
Florida Southwestern State College offers an Associate of Science in Criminal Justice Technology program that prepares students to work in entry-level positions in law enforcement or corrections.
Many students continue their education to earn advanced criminal justice degrees.
The program is geared toward students who completed the Florida Department of Law Enforcement’s Criminal Justice Standards & Training Commission Basic Recruit Academies for Law Enforcement Officers and/or Correctional Officers.
Courses Offered
Courses offered in the Associate in Science in Criminal Justice Technology program include Criminal Investigation Techniques, Police Organizations and Administration, Juvenile Delinquency, and Criminal Procedure and Evidence.
Students also complete a Capstone Project.
Contact Information
- Address: 8099 College Pkwy, Fort Myers, FL, 33919
- Phone: 239-489-9300
- Website: Visit School Website
Schools Summary Table
Criminal Justice Salary Information
The salary of criminal justice professionals depends on where the person works, the specialized area, and the professional’s education and experience.
Salary.com lists the median salary for Florida criminal justice professionals at $47,859.
A criminal justice professional working in Altoona, Florida earns a median salary of $46,359, while a criminal justice professional working in Fort Lauderdale is $48,880.
| Item | Percent |
|---|---|
$54K |
|
$72K |
|
$79K |
Average Salary in Florida
| City Name | Salary |
|---|---|
| Jacksonville | $72,488 |
| Miami | $73,990 |
| Tampa | $72,564 |
| St. Petersburg | $72,579 |
| Hialeah | $73,646 |
| Orlando | $72,420 |
| Fort Lauderdale | $74,035 |
| Tallahassee | $68,690 |
| Hollywood | $74,035 |
| Pembroke Pines | $73,555 |
Regional Salary
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL | 100 | $83,240 | $40.02 | $149,410 | $43,940 |
| Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL | 80 | $67,600 | $32.5 | $125,820 | $46,980 |
| Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL | 70 | $53,530 | $25.74 | $65,710 | $41,500 |
| Gainesville, FL | 70 | $72,310 | $34.76 | $149,410 | $50,330 |
| Homosassa Springs, FL | 40 | $49,010 | $23.56 | $53,380 | $45,740 |
| Jacksonville, FL | 460 | $90,740 | $43.62 | $153,340 | $46,200 |
| Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL | 50 | $53,350 | $25.65 | $71,320 | $40,000 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 2,140 | $102,650 | $49.35 | $155,000 | $51,900 |
| Naples-Immokalee-Marco Island, FL | 40 | $57,390 | $27.59 | $69,930 | $48,420 |
| North Port-Sarasota-Bradenton, FL | 110 | $64,660 | $31.09 | $94,080 | $38,150 |
| Ocala, FL | 60 | $60,230 | $28.96 | $86,900 | $38,850 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | 500 | $73,820 | $35.49 | $141,540 | $39,100 |
| Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL | 70 | $93,600 | $45 | $150,450 | $40,290 |
| Panama City, FL | 80 | $67,900 | $32.65 | $133,680 | $40,370 |
| Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL | 130 | $82,180 | $39.51 | $145,480 | $43,660 |
| Port St. Lucie, FL | 80 | $90,850 | $43.68 | $155,000 | $38,150 |
| Sebastian-Vero Beach, FL | 50 | $60,950 | $29.3 | $85,780 | $47,960 |
| Sebring, FL | 70 | $49,500 | $23.8 | $56,240 | $35,810 |
| Tallahassee, FL | 440 | $59,120 | $28.42 | $84,750 | $32,700 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | 1,020 | $87,200 | $41.93 | $145,480 | $47,310 |
* 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
It’s great to see such a diverse range of schools represented here, catering to different interests and career paths within the criminal justice field.
Having attended one of these schools myself, I can say that the hands-on training and internships offered were invaluable in preparing me for a career in law enforcement.