7 Best Criminal Justice Schools in South Carolina

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Criminal Justice schools in South Carolina prepare students to work in a variety of criminal justice settings.

Colleges and universities throughout the state offer undergraduate and graduate programs that provide students with the knowledge and skills to work in entry-level criminal justice settings or to advance their criminal justice careers.

The field of criminal justice has experienced job growth across many areas.

The need for qualified criminal justice professionals expands across law enforcement, corrections, juvenile justice, and criminal justice administration.

Enroll in one of the best criminal justice schools in South Carolina and start or enhance your criminal justice career opportunities.

Are you interested in teaching at the college or university level?

Perhaps your goal is to work in criminal justice administration.

Earn a bachelor’s degree or a graduate degree to achieve your goal of becoming a professional in the field of criminal justice.

1 University of South Carolina

About the School

The University of South Carolina has been educating students for more than 200 years.

The fully accredited school provides students with engaging academic experiences and the opportunity to participate in research.

The university offers the Bachelor of Arts in Criminology and Criminal Justice program for students who are interested in having a criminal justice career.

Courses Offered

Courses in the Bachelor of Arts in Criminology and Criminal Justice program prepare students for criminal justice careers after earning their undergraduate degree or to continue their education by earning a graduate degree.

Students learn critical thinking skills and problem-solving skills as they relate to criminal justice.

They gain research skills and learn criminology theories.

Students also learn writing skills that are needed for criminal justice professionals.

The program encourages students to participate in volunteer work and to complete an internship.

Program courses include Research Methods in Criminology and Criminal Justice, Sociology of Crime, Criminal Procedure, and Criminal Courts.

The school offers the Master of Arts in Criminology and Criminal Justice program for students who hold an undergraduate degree.

Students who want to teach at the university level or who want a career in research or other advanced areas of criminal justice have the opportunity to complete the Ph.D. in Criminology and Criminal Justice program at the University of South Carolina.

Contact Information


2 South Carolina State University

About the School

South Carolina State University invites students to “be a real-world hero” by earning a degree to work in the criminal justice system.

The school offers a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice program that explores the components of crime, the causes of crime, and special topics in criminal justice.

Courses Offered

The courses in the Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice program at South Carolina State University provide students with the knowledge and skills that are required for criminal justice professionals.

Coursework in the face-to-face program culminates with students designing an internship to further develop their interests and career path goals.

Some courses in the Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice program at South Carolina State University include Introduction to Criminal Justice, American Court Systems, Ethical Issues in Criminal Justice, and Applied Psychology for Law.

Contact Information

  • Address: 300 College Street NE, Orangeburg, SC 29117
  • Phone: 803-536-7000
  • Website: Visit School Website

3 Aiken Technical College

About the School

Aiken Technical College offers 45 associate degree programs, in addition to offering several certificate programs and diploma programs.

The college serves an estimated 2,000 students each semester.

Students who are interested in a criminal justice career have the option of completing an associate degree program or a police pre-academy certificate program at the school.

Courses Offered

Aiken Technical College offers an Associate in Arts program for criminal justice students who want to transfer to a four-year university to earn a bachelor’s degree.

The program also focuses on current criminal justice professionals who want to advance their current career in criminal justice.

The Associate in Applied Science in Criminal Justice program at Aiken Technical College is also designed for students who want to start their career after earning their associate degree.

Some program courses include Correctional Systems, Police Community Relations, Juvenile Delinquency, Criminalistics, and Terrorism and Homeland Security.

Contact Information

  • Address: 2276 Jefferson Davis Hwy, Graniteville, SC 29829
  • Phone: 803-593-9231
  • Website: Visit School Website

4 Anderson University

About the School

Anderson University offers undergraduate and graduate programs in the traditional format and in an online format.

The school is a rapidly growing private university.

The school offers the Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice program for students who are interested in pursuing a criminal justice career.

Courses Offered

Students who enroll in the Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice program at Anderson University complete traditional courses that are offered in criminal justice programs.

They also complete courses that are related to current issues in criminal justice.

The school recognizes that in the 21st century, it is important for the school to include topics on issues such as cybercrime, terrorism, and homeland security in the program.

Courses in the program include Criminal Law, Criminal Investigation, Corrections, Judicial Systems and Practices, Research Methods in Criminal Justice, and Contemporary Issues.

Students also complete 24 credit hours of elective courses.

The last semester of courses includes the Senior Seminar in Criminal Justice requirement.

It is a three-credit hour course.

Contact Information


5 Claflin University

About the School

Claflin University strives to educate students to become visionary leaders.

The accredited school challenges students to realize their full potential.

Students have the opportunity to complete program requirements in a traditional on-campus format or in an online format when they enroll in the Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice program.

Courses Offered

Students who enroll in the bachelor’s degree in criminal justice program at Claflin University complete courses that provide them with an overview of all areas of criminal justice.

The curriculum provides students with the knowledge and skills that they need to start or advance their criminal justice career in law enforcement, corrections, or justice administration.

Program courses in the Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice program include Law Enforcement Systems, Judicial Administration, Introduction to Forensic Science, Criminology, and Terrorism.

Elective courses include Legal Research and Records, Cybercrime, and Violent Crime.

Contact Information


6 Limestone University

About the School

Limestone University opened its doors in 1845.

It was the first women’s college in the State of South Carolina and one of the first women’s colleges in the country.

The school became a co-educational university in the 1960s.

It has been educating men and women in several academic areas, including in the field of criminal justice.

One program offered at the school is the Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice – Law program.

Courses Offered

The Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice – Law program that is offered at Limestone University is geared towards students who want to attend law school or who want to have a career in another area of law.

The program consists of 120 credit hours of study.

Some courses in the Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice – Law program include Introduction to Criminal Justice, Law Enforcement Theory, Process, and Practices, Theories of Criminal Justice, and Research Methods in Criminal Justice.

Contact Information


7 Morris College

About the School

Morris College received a Certificate of Incorporation from the State of South Carolina in 1911.

The college grew and began to offer additional educational opportunities for students.

Today, the career-focused, accredited school educates students by offering a variety of programs, including the criminal justice program.

Courses Offered

Students who enroll in the bachelor’s in criminal justice program at Morris College complete 122 credit hours of study.

The program curriculum provides students with the knowledge and skills that prepare them for working across many areas of criminal justice.

Students often choose to continue their education after graduation by earning a graduate degree.

Some courses in the bachelor’s degree program include Law Enforcement Systems, Corrections, Probation, Pardon and Parole Systems, Criminal Investigation, and Criminal Forensics.

Contact Information

  • Address: 100 West College St., Sumter, South Carolina 29150
  • Phone: 803-934-3200
  • Website: Visit School Website

Schools Summary Table

Rank School
#1 University of South Carolina
#2 South Carolina State University
#3 Aiken Technical College
#4 Anderson University
#5 Claflin University
#6 Limestone University
#7 Morris College

Criminal Justice Salary Information

The salary for criminal justice professionals varies, based on the setting where the criminal justice professional works, and the length of time that the person has worked in criminal justice.

A criminal justice specialist who starts their first job in the field is not likely to earn the same salary as someone who has several years of experience as a criminal justice professional.

The anticipated job growth in criminal justice over the next several years means that criminal justice professionals in South Carolina have the opportunity to work at the local, state, or federal level.

The site salary.com indicates that the median salary for a criminal justice specialist who works in South Carolina is $47,522.

The location where a criminal justice professional works within the state also affects their salary.

A person who works as a criminal justice specialist in Anderson earns a median salary of $47,189, while a person who works as a criminal justice specialist in Chester earns a median salary of $49,334.

A criminal justice professional who works in Greenwood, South Carolina earns a median salary of $47,209, while a person who works as a criminal justice specialist earns a median salary of $45,800.

Annual Salary Range:
Item Percent
$53K
$71K
$79K

Average Salary in South Carolina

City Name Salary
Columbia $70,646
Charleston $72,399
North Charleston $72,399
Greenville $72,038
Rock Hill $75,042
Mount Pleasant $72,399
Spartanburg $71,657
Sumter $68,173
Hilton Head Island $71,176
Florence $68,721

Regional Salary

Region Employed Avg. Annual Salary Avg. Hourly Pay Top 10% Annual Salary Bottom 10% Annual Salary
Charleston-North Charleston, SC160$100,970$48.54$160,040$50,090
Columbia, SC420$74,340$35.74$139,530$47,350
Florence, SC70$66,790$32.11$139,530$45,740
Greenville-Anderson-Mauldin, SC200$77,740$37.37$147,740$50,050
Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC-NC120$66,480$31.96$80,280$52,460
Spartanburg, SC50$53,110$25.53$62,730$40,880
* Salary information based on the May 2023 Occupational Employment Statistics (OES) Survey for Detectives and Criminal Investigators, OCC Code 33-3021, BLS.
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.

Criminal Justice Schools by State

Chelsea Wilson

About Chelsea Wilson

Chelsea Wilson is the Community Relations Manager for Washington University School of Law’s distance learning LLM degree program, which provides foreign trained attorneys with the opportunity to earn a Master of Laws degree from a top-tier American university from anywhere in the world.

One Response to 7 Best Criminal Justice Schools in South Carolina

  1. Ted Wiggins #

    I appreciate the detailed descriptions and highlights of each program. It really helps in understanding what makes each school unique.

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