Protect lives, help crime victims, and make a positive impact on communities in Oregon by earning a criminal justice degree.
There is a need for criminal justice professionals in a variety of settings across the U.S.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates that there is an expected job growth in criminal justice over the next several years.
Police officers, detectives, private investigators, forensic science specialists, probation officers, and parole officers are some careers that are expected to experience job growth.
Most employers in the criminal justice field require that applicants have a college degree.
Start or advance your criminal justice career by completing a program at one of the best criminal justice schools in Oregon.
1 Southern Oregon University
About the School
Southern Oregon University is a liberal arts university that focuses on promoting intellectual growth, excellence, and creativity.
The school serves over 5,000 students, including students in criminal justice programs.
Courses Offered
Students who enroll in a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice program at Southern Oregon University choose between the Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice program or the Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice program.
The program is also offered in a 100 percent online format.
The Bachelor of Science program prepares students to start or advance their criminal justice careers.
The program provides instruction in all areas of criminal justice.
Students also complete a capstone project.
They designed their capstone project with the aid of a criminal justice faculty member.
Some courses in the program include Theories of Criminal Behavior, Criminal Investigation, Criminal Justice Leadership, Hate Crimes, and Crime in Cyberspace.
Students also have the option of taking courses that allow them to study abroad.
Contact Information
- Address: 1250 Siskiyou Blvd., Ashland, Oregon 97520
- Phone: 541-552-6508
- Website: Visit School Website
2 Central Oregon Community College
About the School
Central Oregon Community College has provided students with a quality education since 1949.
The college promotes student success, student completion of academic goals, and community enrichment, including for students enrolled in the Associate of Applied Science in Criminal Justice program.
Courses Offered
The Associate of Applied Science in Criminal Justice program at Central Oregon Community College provides students with knowledge of all areas of criminal justice, including policing, corrections, and the courts.
Students learn the constitutional rights and responsibilities of citizens, victims, and offenders, and how they apply in the local, state, and federal criminal justice system.
Program courses include Judicial Process, Introduction to Juvenile Justice, Corrections, Critical Incident Management for Criminal Justice Professionals, and Introduction to Substantive Law.
Contact Information
- Address: 2600 N.W. College Way, Bend, Oregon 97703
- Phone: 541-383-7700
- Website: Visit School Website
3 Portland Community College
About the School
Portland Community College prepares students for working in criminal justice by providing a comprehensive, rigorous education.
The Associate of Applied Science in Criminal Justice program provides students with the knowledge and skills needed to work in a variety of settings.
Courses Offered
Students complete 90 credit hours to earn the Associate of Applied Science in Criminal Justice degree at Portland Community College.
The program provides an overview of law enforcement, corrections, forensics, criminal investigation, crisis intervention, and other topics.
Some courses in the program include Introduction to the Criminal Justice System, Arrest, Search, and Seizure, Human Trafficking, Police Report Writing, and Tactical Communications in Crisis Incidents.
Contact Information
- Address: 705 N. Killingsworth St., Portland, Oregon 97217
- Phone: 971-722-6111
- Website: Visit School Website
4 Western Oregon University
About the School
Western Oregon University offers several criminal justice graduate programs.
Some students prefer to complete an advanced certificate program, such as the Advanced Juvenile Justice Certificate program.
Many other graduate students choose to enroll in a degree program, such as the Master of Arts in Criminal Justice program.
Courses Offered
The Online Master of Arts in Criminal Justice program prepares students to assume managerial roles or other supervisory roles in criminal justice.
The program also prepares students who are interested in research or academic roles for doctoral study.
Students complete courses such as Theory of Criminal Law, Ethics and Leadership in Criminal Justice Organizations, Advanced Criminology, and Research in Criminal Justice.
The program requires that students complete a thesis or a professional project.
Contact Information
- Address: 345 Monmouth Ave. N., Monmouth, OR 97361
- Phone: 503-838-8000
- Website: Visit School Website
5 Portland State University
About the School
Portland State University recognizes that the school’s criminal justice programs are among the most popular majors at the school.
The university prepares students for a criminal justice career by offering a variety of programs, including the Criminology and Criminal Justice Post-Baccalaureate Certificate program.
Courses Offered
The Criminology and Criminal Justice Post-Baccalaureate Certificate program is designed for students who already hold a bachelor’s degree in another field, and who want to learn about or work in criminal justice.
The program consists of courses such as Theories of Crime, Crime Control Strategies, American Courts, Criminal Law and Legal Reasoning, and Criminal Justice Research.
Contact Information
- Address: 1825 SW Broadway, Portland, OR 97201
- Phone: 503-725-3000
- Website: Visit School Website
6 Chemeketa Community College
About the School
Chemeketa Community College explains that the name Chemeketa means “gathering place.”
It comes from the local Native American language of the Kalapuya.
The school invites students to find their path to success, including students who enroll in the Associate of Applied Science in Criminal Justice program.
Courses Offered
Students who pursue the Associate of Science in Criminal Justice degree develop an individualized program of study with their advisor.
Some program courses include Public Safety Communications and Documentation, Criminal Justice Personal Defense, Corrections Process, and Criminal Investigations.
Students choose electives based on their preferred area of study, including law enforcement or corrections.
Contact Information
- Address: 4000 Lancaster Dr. N.E., Salem, Oregon 97305
- Phone: 503-399-5000
- Website: Visit School Website
7 Klamath Community College
About the School
Klamath Community College offered three one-year certificates to students when the school became the 17th community college in Oregon in July 1996.
The school expanded its programs and became accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.
The college offers several programs including criminal justice certificate programs and the Associate of Applied Science in Criminal Justice program.
Courses Offered
Students who enroll in the Associate of Applied Science in Criminal Justice program gain foundational knowledge and skills related to criminal justice.
The curriculum prepares students to start working in entry-level criminal justice positions or to continue their criminal justice education.
Some program courses include Criminal Law, Introduction to Criminal Justice, Interviewing and Interrogation, Arrest, Search, and Seizure, and Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs.
The school also offers two one-year criminal justice certificate programs.
Contact Information
- Address: 7390 South 6th St., Klamath Falls, OR 97603
- Phone: 541-882-3521
- Website: Visit School Website
8 Corban University
About the School
Corban University has a commitment to see students succeed academically by offering a variety of learning experiences.
Students who enroll in the Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice program learn through coursework, and hands-on, real-world experiences.
Some experiences include tours of criminal justice agencies, tours of crime labs, and tours of correctional facilities.
The program provides students with firearms training and internship opportunities.
Courses Offered
Criminal justice students at Corban University gain communication skills, critical thinking skills, teamwork skills, and knowledge of criminal justice ethics.
Students join the Criminal Justice Student Association.
The membership allows students to complement their studies with networking opportunities, peer support, and lectures from criminal justice professionals.
Program courses include Concepts of Criminal Law, Criminology, Crisis Intervention Strategies, and Legal Aspects of Evidence.
Some program electives include White Collar Crime, Terrorism in the 21st Century, and Serial Violence.
Contact Information
- Address: 5000 Deer Park Dr SE, Salem, OR 97317
- Phone: 503-581-8600
- Website: Visit School Website
9 Southwest Oregon Community College
About the School
Southwest Oregon Community College specializes in providing students with educational programs that help them achieve their goal of obtaining a quality education.
The school offers certificate programs and degree programs, such as the Associate of Science in Criminal Justice program.
Courses Offered
The Associate of Science in Criminal Justice program at Southwest Oregon Community College is offered to students who want to transfer to a four-year university to earn a bachelor’s degree.
It is also designed for students who want to start working after graduation or who want to improve their criminal justice career opportunities.
Some courses include Introduction to Criminal Law, Constitutional Law, Corrections, Criminal Policing in a Diverse Society, and Ethics in Criminal Justice.
Contact Information
- Address: 1988 Newark Ave., Coos Bay, OR 97420
- Phone: 541-888-2525
- Website: Visit School Website
10 Umpqua Community College
About the School
Umpqua Community College has a mission to transform lives and improve communities.
The college provides an affordable, quality education for all students.
The school offers more than 70 academic programs, including three criminal justice programs.
Courses Offered
Students who want a career in criminal justice choose between three programs.
The Police Reserve Academy trains students to earn their certificate in just nine months.
The Associate of Science in Criminal Justice program is designed so that students have the knowledge that is necessary when they transfer to a four-year university.
The program was developed in support of and in cooperation with Southern Oregon University.
Program courses include Introduction to Criminology, Social Aspects of Addiction, Introduction to Parole and Probation, and Criminalistics.
The Associate of Applied Science in Criminal Justice program is offered entirely online.
The program prepares students for a criminal justice career or for advancement in their current criminal justice career.
Some courses in the program include Concepts of Criminal Law, Introduction to the Judicial Process, Diversity Issues in Criminal Justice, and Crisis Intervention Seminar.
Contact Information
- Address: 1140 Umpqua College Rd., Roseburg, OR 97470
- Phone: 541-440-4600
- Website: Visit School Website
Schools Summary Table
Criminal Justice Salary Information
The salary that criminal justice professionals in Oregon earn depends on several factors.
A criminal justice specialist who has a college degree will likely earn more than someone who does not have a degree.
People who have several years of experience in criminal justice earn more than someone who has no experience.
The setting where criminal justice specialists work also affects salary.
The average annual salary for a campus security officer in Oregon is $36,644, while the average salary for a parole officer in Oregon is $63,519.
The average salary for a corrections officer in Oregon is $49,961.
Working in certain cities affects the salary of criminal justice specialists in Oregon.
A criminal justice professional who works in Beaverton earns a median salary of $52,440, while the median salary for a criminal justice specialist who works in Portland is $49,715.
| Item | Percent |
|---|---|
$57K |
|
$76K |
|
$84K |
Average Salary in Oregon
| City Name | Salary |
|---|---|
| Portland | $79,640 |
| Eugene | $75,236 |
| Salem | $75,502 |
| Gresham | $79,538 |
| Beaverton | $79,640 |
| Hillsboro | $79,385 |
| Medford | $74,548 |
| Springfield | $75,068 |
| Bend | $74,388 |
| Corvallis | $74,618 |
Regional Salary
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eugene, OR | 30 | $100,420 | $48.28 | $145,480 | $77,660 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | 340 | $101,420 | $48.76 | $151,470 | $59,990 |
| Salem, OR | 60 | $98,390 | $47.3 | $134,640 | $55,210 |
* 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
It’s great to see my alma mater listed among the top 10! The faculty’s expertise and the hands-on experience I gained really set me up for success in the criminal justice field.
I’m currently researching schools for my criminal justice degree, and this list has been incredibly helpful.