The State of Georgia wants qualified criminal justice professionals who have the education, knowledge, and skills to excel at their jobs.
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation, the State of Georgia, local and state law enforcement, and corrections agencies are examples of where criminal justice professionals find their dream criminal justice career.
Some students go on to work for federal agencies such as the FBI, the Department of Homeland Security, or for international agencies.
These best criminal justice programs in Georgia prepare students to work in criminal justice immediately after they complete the program.
Some students continue their education and earn an advanced criminal justice degree.
1 University of Georgia
About the School
The School of Public and International Affairs at the University of Georgia offers a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice program.
Students complete coursework and an internship.
Some students spend a semester studying abroad at the University of Liverpool in England.
Courses Offered
The Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice program at the University of Georgia prepares students to start their criminal justice career or to complete an advanced criminal justice degree program.
Courses in the 120-credit hour program include Criminal Justice Administration, Criminal Justice Practice, Violence and Society, and Research Methods in Criminal Justice.
Contact Information
- Address: 204 Candler Hall, Athens, GA, 30602
- Phone: 706-542-4114
- Website: Visit School Website
2 Georgia Gwinnett College
About the School
Georgia Gwinnett College is an accredited school that invites students to “Serve Your Community.”
The Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice/Criminology program provides students with the knowledge and skills that they need for a career as a criminal justice professional.
Courses Offered
Learn the components of the criminal justice system. Gain knowledge of the influences of deviant behavior.
Focus on law enforcement, corrections, criminal behavior, probation and parole, white collar crime, and cybercrime by completing a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice/Criminology degree.
Courses in the program include Typologies of Crime and Criminal Behavior, U.S. Courts and the Legal System, Gangs, Organized Crime, and Criminal Violence.
Students also complete White Collar Crime, Homeland Security and Terrorism, and Criminal Law.
Contact Information
- Address: 1000 University Center Lane, Lawrenceville, GA, 30043
- Phone: 678-407-5000
- Website: Visit School Website
3 Georgia Southern University
About the School
Georgia Southern University has three campus locations and online criminal justice programs.
Students can earn a certificate in a criminal justice program or earn a degree, such as a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice and Criminology degree in their choice of on-campus or online format.
Courses offered
Enroll in the Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice and Criminology program at Georgia Southern University if you want to have a career in law enforcement, corrections, victim advocacy, or digital forensics.
Some students complete the Cybercrime degree emphasis, while others choose the traditional degree path.
Program courses include Introduction to Policing, Critical Thinking, Corporate Crime, Hackers, Malware, and Online Economic Crime.
Some other courses include Gangs and Society, Juvenile Justice, and Ethics in Criminal Justice.
Contact Information
- Address: 1332 Southern Dr., Statesboro, GA., 30458
- Phone: 912-478-4636
- Website: Visit School Website
4 Georgia College & State University
About the School
Georgia College & State University is the University System of Georgia’s public liberal arts university.
The school offers students the education that will help them to reach their own potential, including through the Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice program.
Courses Offered
Earn a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and fulfill your career goals to become a criminal justice professional.
Students complete courses such as Criminal Law and Procedure, Correctional Systems and Practice, Criminology, and Research and Analytic Methods in Criminal Justice.
Students also complete a senior capstone project.
Contact Information
- Address: 231 W. Hancock St., Milledgeville, GA, 31061
- Phone: 800-342-0471
- Website: Visit School Website
5 Georgia State University
About the School
Georgia State University works with undergraduate students throughout their enrollment at the school to make sure that students enroll in the courses that they need to complete the program.
Students gain the knowledge and skills that are important for criminal justice professionals.
Courses Offered
Complete courses that prepare you to have the knowledge and skills that criminal justice leaders need to have, whether they work at community agencies, state law enforcement agencies, or at the federal level.
Courses include Policing in America, Social Science and the American Crime Problem, and Research Methods in Criminal Justice.
Some other courses include Ethical Issues in Criminal Justice and the Practicum in Evidence-based Cybersecurity.
Contact Information
- Address: 33 Gilmer St. SE, Atlanta, GA, 30303
- Phone: 404-413-2000
- Website: Visit School Website
6 University of North Georgia
About the School
The University of North Georgia offers several options for students who want to have a career in criminal justice.
One program is the Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice program.
Students attend the program classes at the Dahlonega Campus.
Students also can study abroad for part of their program.
Courses Offered
Build a foundation for the knowledge and skills that are needed for a successful criminal justice career.
Work at the local level, the state level, or at federal law enforcement agencies.
Courses in the program include Corrections, Criminology, Introduction to Law Enforcement, and Research Methods.
Students also complete an internship.
Contact Information
- Address: 82 College Circle, Dahlonega, GA, 30597
- Phone: 706-864-1400
- Website: Visit School Website
7 Mercer University
About the School
Mercer University invites students to lead the way to protect their community.
One criminal justice degree that is offered at the school is the Online Master of Science in Criminal Justice and Public Safety Leadership.
Courses Offered
Students who want to enter the field of criminal justice or who want to advance their career opportunities gain the skills needed in the Master of Science in Criminal Justice and Public Safety Leadership.
Courses in the online program prepare students to assume leadership roles in criminal justice upon graduation.
Some courses in the program include Organizational Communication, Conflict Resolution, and Negotiations, Forensic Psychology, Deviant Behavior: Crime, Conflict, and Interest Groups, and Leadership and Ethics in Public Safety.
Contact Information
- Address: 3001 Mercer University Dr, Atlanta, GA, 30341
- Phone: 678-547-6417
- Website: Visit School Website
8 Georgia State University Online
About the School
Georgia State University Online recognizes that current criminal justice professionals are busy people who work hard in their careers.
They often do not have the time to continue their education in the traditional on-campus setting.
The school offers the Online Criminal Justice Administration, Master of Interdisciplinary Studies degree for students who want to advance their criminal justice career.
Courses Offered
Georgia State University explains that the Online Criminal Justice Administration, Master of Interdisciplinary Studies program blends courses in criminal justice with courses in criminology.
These courses blend with managerial principles and practices in public management.
Students gain the knowledge and skills that are related to current and emerging criminal justice issues and learn how to address them.
They learn how to lead and manage criminal justice institutions and agencies.
Some courses offered in the 30-credit program include Cybercrime and Cybersecurity, Public Management and Democracy, Data Analysis and Visualization, and Ethics in Criminal Justice.
Students also complete a Capstone Project course.
Contact Information
- Address: 55 Park Place NE, Suite 506, Atlanta, GA, 30302
- Phone: 404-413-4393
- Website: Visit School Website
9 Dalton State University
About the School
Dalton State University realizes that students often need flexibility in their studies.
One way that the school meets those needs is by offering the Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice program in both a traditional on-campus format and an online format.
Courses Offered
Students who enroll in the Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice program at Dalton State University gain a strong foundation in communication skills and the analytical, and research skills that they need to work in criminal justice.
The program courses prepare students to work in private security, law enforcement, corrections, probation, or parole.
Some students work in the juvenile justice system or for state or federal agencies.
Courses offered include Introduction to Criminal Justice, Introduction to Law Enforcement, Logical and Critical Thinking, and Criminal Procedure.
Some other courses include Criminology, Crime and the Media, Comparative Criminology, and profiling the Serial Offender.
Contact Information
- Address: 650 College Dr., Dalton, GA, 30720
- Phone: 706-272-4436
- Website: Visit School Website
Schools Summary Table
Criminal Justice Salary Information
Criminal justice professionals in the U.S., and in Georgia, can expect to earn a good starting salary.
The salary that they earn depends on several factors. A student who completes an associate degree program at a Georgia school will likely not earn the same salary as a person who completed a master’s degree in criminal justice program in the State of Georgia.
The length of time that a criminal justice professional has at their current job or in the field of criminal justice affects their salary.
Someone with no previous experience will not earn as much as someone who has 10 years of experience.
The type of setting that a person works at will also affect the salary of a criminal justice professional.
A person who works at a small private security firm, or who works at a small retail store, will likely not earn as much money as someone who works for a large corporation or for a federal law enforcement agency.
The median salary for a criminal justice professional in Georgia is $48,842.
The location where someone works affects their earnings. A criminal justice specialist who works in Albany, Georgia earns a median salary of $46,269.
Salary.com indicates that a criminal justice professional who works in Decatur, Georgia has a median salary of $49,439.
| Item | Percent |
|---|---|
$55K |
|
$73K |
|
$81K |
Average Salary in Georgia
| City Name | Salary |
|---|---|
| Atlanta | $74,881 |
| Augusta | $71,344 |
| Columbus | $69,337 |
| Savannah | $71,638 |
| Athens | $74,347 |
| Macon | $70,816 |
| Roswell | $74,596 |
| Albany | $70,080 |
| Marietta | $74,667 |
| Warner Robins | $70,603 |
Regional Salary
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albany, GA | 50 | $68,290 | $32.83 | $129,750 | $39,720 |
| Athens-Clarke County, GA | 70 | $52,440 | $25.21 | $71,150 | $37,210 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 2,380 | $74,160 | $35.66 | $141,090 | $39,800 |
| Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | 170 | $65,370 | $31.43 | $129,750 | $40,760 |
| Brunswick, GA | 220 | $120,480 | $57.93 | $153,340 | $41,920 |
| Columbus, GA-AL | 60 | $81,560 | $39.21 | $145,480 | $44,720 |
| Gainesville, GA | 70 | $67,980 | $32.69 | $122,880 | $39,070 |
| Macon, GA | 200 | $63,730 | $30.64 | $117,960 | $46,150 |
| Savannah, GA | 150 | $78,470 | $37.73 | $141,540 | $33,280 |
| Valdosta, GA | 50 | $43,770 | $21.04 | $55,700 | $38,580 |
| Warner Robins, GA | 50 | $62,650 | $30.12 | $86,070 | $47,800 |
* 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
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