If you have ever pictured yourself filing motions in the Louisiana Supreme Court or keeping the roads safe by working for the Louisiana State Police — this guide is for you!
This guide provides essential information on some of the best criminal justice schools in Louisiana.
We offer a comprehensive listing of top criminal justice colleges in Louisiana that provide certificate-level and degree-level education options for criminal justice job seekers.
Best Criminal Justice Schools in Louisiana
The best schools provide education for people seeking to work inside of Louisiana’s criminal justice organizations as police officers, corrections officers, paralegals, victims advocates, and forensics experts.
Their faculties are made up of some of America’s top criminal justice educators with years of experience in their relevant fields.
The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools is the official accrediting agency for many of the programs listed below.
1 Loyola University New Orleans
About the Program
Loyola University at New Orleans has one of the most comprehensive criminal justice programs, leading students to earn a Bachelor’s or Master of Criminology and Justice online.
Students working towards becoming corrections officers, fraud investigators, private detectives, and police officers can take their online training courses to learn the fundamentals of how the American criminal justice system impacts criminals, justice administrators, and corrections departments within the state.
Courses Offered
- Introduction to Criminal Justice Systems
- Statistics in Criminal Justice
- Research Methods in Criminology
- Criminology Fundamentals
- Corrections
- Victimology
- Criminology Electives
Average Program Costs: $43,498.00
Contact Information
- Address: 6363 St. Charles Avenue, New Orleans, Louisiana - 70118
- Phone: 504-588-6025
- Website: Visit School Website
2 Southern University and Agricultural College at Baton Rouge
About the Program
The criminal justice training program offered by Southern University Agricultural College at Baton Rouge prepares students to take on support roles within the state’s criminal justice system.
Students can study on campus or online as they work toward satisfying general education requirements and major course requirements needed to earn a bachelor’s degree or a Master of Arts in Criminal Justice.
Graduates will be prepared to continue their CJ education or to begin entry-level careers working in their desired professions.
Courses Offered
- Introduction to Police, Courts, and Corrections
- Policing in America
- Criminal Law
- Criminology
- Criminal Procedure
- Corrections
- Victimology
- African American Experience
- Introduction to Sociology
- Private Security and Public Crime Prevention
- Applied Criminology Theory
- Criminal Justice Electives
Average Program Costs: $475.00 per credit hour plus supplies and fees.
Contact Information
- Address: 801 Harding Boulevard, Baton Rouge, Louisiana - 70807
- Phone: 225-771-4500
- Website: Visit School Website
3 Remington College Shreveport
About the Program
Shreveports’ Remington College has legal and criminal justice programs for Louisiana students seeking an associate’s or bachelor’s degree.
Remington Students interested in taking an administrative or legal track can take online or on-campus classes to earn an associate’s degree with a concentration in Paralegal Studies.
Aspiring criminal justice professionals seeking a more comprehensive criminal justice education and those on a law enforcement or corrections track can work toward their Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice on campus or online.
Courses Offered
- Introduction to Paralegal Studies
- Family Law
- Legal Writing
- Contemporary Corrections Practices
- Criminal Justice Research Methods
- Criminal Justice Management
- Investigative Methods
- Vice, Narcotics, and Crime Intelligence
- Forensic Psychology
- General Education Courses
Average Program Costs: $18,000.00
Contact Information
- Address: 2106 West Bert Kouns Industrial Loop, Shreveport, Louisiana - 71118
- Phone: 318-671-4000
- Website: Visit School Website
4 Louisiana State University Online
About the Program
Busy professionals looking to change careers or to begin their criminal justice education online can enroll in LSU’s web-based criminal justice program.
They provide 100% online options for students to earn a criminal justice bachelor’s degree with a concentration in Criminal Psychology or Forensic Psychology.
LSU students can choose a specialization from a variety of criminal justice electives like Homeland Security, Private Security, or Corrections to supplement their major coursework and degree requirements.
Courses Offered
- Introduction to Criminal Justice
- Forensic Psychology
- Criminal Psychology
- Statistics in Criminal Justice
- Research Methods in Criminal Justice
- Corrections
- Senior Capstone
- Criminal Justice Electives
- Policing
- Terrorism
- Homeland Security
- Private Security
Average Program Costs: $184.00 per credit hour plus textbooks and fees.
Contact Information
- Address: 495 East Parker Boulevard, Baton Rouge, Louisiana - 70808
- Phone: 833-280-5634
- Website: Visit School Website
5 University of Louisiana at Lafayette
About the Program
The Department of Criminal Justice at Louisiana University Lafayette teaches students the fundamentals of the nature of crime and crime prevention techniques.
Students who enroll in their program at Lafayette can earn a minor, undergraduate, or master’s degree in criminal justice to learn about practical applications and theories of criminal justice.
UL offers experiential learning opportunities that allow criminal justice students to immerse themselves in internships where they gain hands-on experience in their respective professions.
Internships provide an excellent opportunity for students to simultaneously earn credit toward completing their mandatory degree requirements while working in their desired fields.
Courses Offered
- Introduction to Criminal Justice
- Forensics
- Juvenile Justice
- Private Security
- Contemporary Issues in Criminal Justice
- The Police Process
- The Offender and Society
- Special Topics in Criminal Justice
- Research Methods
- Internship in Criminal Justice
Average Program Costs: $380.00 – $400.00 per credit hour – flat rate tuition for online students.
Contact Information
- Address: 348 Rougeou Hall, Lafayette, Louisiana - 70504
- Phone: 337 482-6540
- Website: Visit School Website
6 University of Louisiana at Monroe
About the Program
Louisiana-based students interested in entering the field of criminal justice as law enforcement officers, court officials, or corrections officers can take classes at the University of Louisiana Monroe.
They offer two-degree programs for students seeking a bachelor’s or master’s degree.
Their program also provides in-service training and continuing education courses for active law enforcement officers working in Louisiana and nearby states.
Students seeking flexible scheduling options for taking criminal justice classes can choose from a variety of course delivery options and attend evening or online courses.
Courses Offered
- Introduction to Criminal Justice
- Courts and Criminal Justice
- Community-Based Corrections
- Criminal Law
- Juvenile Delinquency and Justice
- The Police
- Management of Criminal Justice Agencies
- Introduction to Sociology
- American National Government
- Theories of Crime and Delinquency
Average Program Costs: $517.58 – $695.43 per credit hour.
Contact Information
- Address: 700 University Avenue, Monroe, Louisiana - 71209
- Phone: 318-342-1440
- Website: Visit School Website
7 Nicholls State University
About the Program
The Department of Social Sciences at Nicholls University operates its criminal justice programs.
Their programs have a curriculum designed to educate Louisiana students on the law enforcement, security, court, and criminal justice needs of the region and state.
NSU’s multidisciplinary program gives students the opportunity to take related coursework in political science and sociology to enhance their criminal justice education with real-life issues concerning the general public.
Nicholls offers introductory education and counseling options for CJ majors interested in pursuing a pre-law track leading to law school enrollment and legal careers.
Courses Offered
- Principles of Criminal Justice
- Criminal Justice Theory
- Juvenile Delinquency
- Maritime Enforcement and Security
- Homeland Enforcement and Security
- The Family and Law
- Constitutional Law
- Commercial Law
- Law and Society
- Criminal Justice Internship
Average Program Costs: $1,078.33 – $1,133.68 per credit hour.
Contact Information
- Address: 207 Peltier Hall
- Phone: 985-448-4610
- Website: Visit School Website
8 Southeastern Louisiana University
About the Program
The Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice delivers the coursework required for Southeastern Louisiana students to earn a degree in criminal justice.
They offer minors, undergraduate, and graduate degree programs along with a variety of interdisciplinary programs in disciplines like sociology and anthropology that intersect with criminal justice majors.
Criminal justice majors at SLU learn about the practical and theoretical applications of criminal justice as they prepare for careers in law enforcement, administration, and corrections.
SLU students participate in hands-on learning processes and experiential learning opportunities where they practice on-the-job training as internships.
Courses Offered
- Introduction to Criminal Justice
- Criminology
- Corrections
- Juvenile Justice
- Contemporary Law Enforcement
- Introduction to Homeland Security
- White Collar Crime
- Criminal Justice Ethics
- Victimology
- Criminal Justice Policy
- Forensic Science
- Criminal Justice Electives
Average Program Costs: $1,459.60 – $1,575.10 per credit hour plus program-specific fees.
Contact Information
- Address: 1205 North Oak Street, Hammond, Louisiana - 70402
- Phone: 985-549-2000
- Website: Visit School Website
9 McNeese State University
About the Program
McNeese University gives prospective students options for getting an evidence-based criminal justice education on campus or online.
They offer Bachelor’s and master’s degree options with entirely online programs where students learn about the fundamentals of how the criminal justice system works and practical solutions for deterring crime.
MSU students prepare for roles working with local governmental agencies like police departments and public service agencies that serve Lake Charles and surrounding areas.
Courses Offered
- Introduction to Criminal Justice
- Introduction to Sociology
- Criminology
- The US Correctional System
- American Government
- Criminal Law
- Introduction to Communication Strategies
- American History to 1877
Average Program Costs: $1,047.55 – $1,415.15 per credit hour.
Contact Information
- Address: 4205 Ryan Street, Lake Charles, Louisiana - 70605
- Phone: 800-622-3352
- Website: Visit School Website
10 Grambling University
About the Program
Students seeking to learn about the inner workings of Louisiana’s criminal justice system as a precursor to employment can take classes at Grambling University and earn a degree.
They offer a minor in criminal justice program for a brief introduction and overview of the causes and deterrents of crime.
Their Bachelor or Master of Science in Criminal Justice and Ph.D. in Criminology present advanced topics in criminal justice and include internships that provide real-life experience.
Courses Offered
- Criminal Justice Research I and II
- Juvenile Justice and Delinquency
- General Psychology
- Practicum in Criminal Justice
- American National Government
- Introduction to Sociology
- Fundamentals of Law Enforcement and Security
- Contemporary Correctional Systems
Average Program Costs: $1,556.00-5,266.00 per credit hour plus supplies and fees.
Contact Information
- Address: 403 Main Street, Grambling, Louisiana - 71245
- Phone: 318-274-3811
- Website: Visit School Website
Schools Summary Table
Criminal Justice Salary Information
If you’re thinking about starting a new career in criminal justice, begin by researching how much Louisiana’s criminal justice professionals earn each year.
Knowing the annual earnings potential of your dream career can help you set realistic expectations for achieving your desired educational and financial goals.
Annual Criminal Justice Salaries by Job Title:
- Probation Officers: $53,036.00
- Parole Officers: $51,425.00
- Criminal Investigator: $67,646.00
- Court Clerks
- Paralegals: $58,873.00
- Crime Analysts: $59,121.00
- Private Defense Attorneys: $94,125.00
Salary earnings reports from Indeed show that Louisiana’s criminal justice professionals can make up to ninety thousand dollars a year or more, depending on their job titles.
| Item | Percent |
|---|---|
$54K |
|
$72K |
|
$80K |
Average Salary in Louisiana
| City Name | Salary |
|---|---|
| New Orleans | $74,640 |
| Baton Rouge | $71,649 |
| Shreveport | $70,094 |
| Lafayette | $69,512 |
| Lake Charles | $69,086 |
| Kenner | $74,599 |
| Bossier City | $70,094 |
| Monroe | $68,660 |
| Alexandria | $67,547 |
| New Iberia | $69,106 |
Regional Salary
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alexandria, LA | 40 | $68,040 | $32.71 | $135,430 | $38,690 |
| Baton Rouge, LA | 270 | $76,460 | $36.76 | $131,310 | $39,330 |
| Houma-Thibodaux, LA | 90 | $53,640 | $25.79 | $74,180 | $40,670 |
| Lafayette, LA | 80 | $70,450 | $33.87 | $135,430 | $41,750 |
| Lake Charles, LA | 70 | $76,570 | $36.81 | $104,920 | $50,550 |
| Monroe, LA | 90 | $54,850 | $26.37 | $69,020 | $23,410 |
| New Orleans-Metairie, LA | 450 | $90,000 | $43.27 | $155,940 | $53,030 |
| Shreveport-Bossier City, LA | 90 | $75,140 | $36.12 | $139,530 | $44,330 |
* 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
The variety of programs and specializations offered by these schools is impressive. It’s evident that Louisiana is committed to producing highly skilled professionals in the criminal justice system.
It’s reassuring to know that these schools are recognized for their excellence in training future professionals in law enforcement, corrections, and related fields.