college admissions essay for criminal justice

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Sample Application Essay for Criminal Justice Degree

Instructions :I am seventeen years old and would be the first of 3 brothers including parents to attend a four year college pursuing a degree in criminal justice. Played basketball in as a ninth grader played football in 10th and 11th grade. Community service - special olympics, batter shelter for women clean up, cleanup city etc. Donating to the salvation army and the Cheyenne river Sioux reservation. I am a leader. My father is a retired captain for department of corrections for the state of XX. and now head of security for XX Middle school. My family history has kept me interested in criminal justice. This essay is for admission to XX University. I am in the process of applying but I am stuck on the essay part. I am a senior at high school. The question is why do i want to attend the university. The major I wish to pursue is Criminal Justice. I forgot to mention I have had a part time job since last November and managed to get good grades as a full time senior. Holding a job at the age of sixteen and now I am seventeen shows I am a responsible young man.

Criminal Justice Admissions Essay

Many people have asked me what I want to do with my life and where I see myself in the next five years. I have seen this question put to many of my peers and even my siblings and I have found that most of them have no idea how to answer these question. On the other hand, I have thought much about this and I know exactly what I want to do with my life, especially for the next four years at college. I have chosen Criminal Justice as my choice of study and career and I know that there are no rewards in this field unless I work hard and strive to gain as much information on the subject as I can. This is only possible if I am admitted to the XX University and pursue my studies in Criminal Justice there. I am a highly motivated individual who really have high aspirations in life and I am very much motivated to study at a college level. Me and my family is very proud of my decision to attend college as I would be the first one in my family, including my parents and my three brothers, to attend a four-year college program. I would like to continue my college studies at XX University, as I believe they have a very good curriculum and an excellent faculty where I can learn Criminal Justice. I sternly believe that a person who goes to college and completes his or her education, emerges a better person and is more likely to succeed as he or she is exposed to many new perspectives, many new doors, and many new opportunities. The price of ignorance is much higher than the price of getting an education because if you do not get a college education, you pay for ignorance everyday for the rest of your life.

I want to attend XX University because I believe that college education has a profound effect on a person and his or her life. It helps people choose their careers more wisely and the college experience makes people become more confident and can make better and well judged decisions. To get a higher education is perhaps crossing the biggest milestone of your life. A college education is a very valuable thing and everyone should get one so that we can all be enlightened and help make our society a better place. A college is a place where people come together in an environment that helps nurture their educational and professional curiosities. People learn to read, reflect, explore, listen, argue, and especially, stretch their known boundaries. People who complete their college education can be spotted out from a group instantly. Such people appear more poised and confident in every aspect of their lives. I believe that people who complete their college education are the ones who are most responsible in making a society a better place to live in. If everyone in a society gets a college education, the society can be improved tenfold because of the values and the traditions that a person learns in college. A college education can teach a person about his or her moral obligations and helps the people to realize what it is that is missing from their lives. It has also been noted that people who have had a college education are generally happier in life and that they appear more sophisticated and enlightened. Such people have a better quality of life as they understand more about the world and can appreciate the finer things in life such as art, music and theatre much more than a non-graduate.

I am a hard working and a well-rounded individual and I have been involved in many extra curricular activities along with keeping good grades at school. I have been employed at a part-time job during my senior year and this shows that I am a responsible person who is able to focus on what is important. I played basketball in ninth grade and football in tenth and eleventh grade. I have also done a lot of community service by serving such causes as the Special Olympics, the batter shelter for women, and my city. I have had many leadership positions in these extra curricular activities and I believe that I would be a very good fit as a student at the XX University, especially studying Criminal Justice. This is because I have always had an interest in the subject because of my father, who is a retired captain for the department of corrections for the state of XX and now head of security for XX Middle school. I believe that being intrinsically motivated at learning is one of the key factors of getting educated in a more efficient manner. This, along with the fact that the XX University has a very good program in Criminal Justice, makes this university a perfect fit with my ambitions. This is why I believe that I would be able to do very well at the University and would emerge as a motivated and well-educated person ready to start my career on the right path.

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Home — Application Essay — Law School — Why I Choose Criminal Justice as My Major

Why I Choose Criminal Justice as My Major

University: Pennsylvania State University

About this sample

Words: 564 |

Updated: Nov 30, 2023

Words: 564 | Pages: 1 | 3 min read

My desire to study Criminal Justice at Pennsylvania State University stems from its focus on retribution, rehabilitation, deterrence, and incapacitation. This is an essay about criminal justice where I will explaine why i chose criminal justice as my major. What stimulates me most about Criminology is the interdisciplinary study of crime. The ongoing development and advancement of the government in conjunction with evolution of the institutions, is advancing in ways and taking new measures like direct therapeutic interventions to address the psychological reasons behind criminal behavior, which reduces reoffenders. Culprits engage and enjoy these services. The endless opportunities to help others and ensure justice for them and society inspire me.

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To continue an essay on criminal justice, currently I am studying Business, Computer science and Photography. I am hoping to expand my knowledge on all topics with these learning opportunities. I would love to be part of a society that researches, promotes, and practices justice for those who have committed crimes. I am a strong believer that we will see further. Reformation is the most vital reason prisons are important. Prisons can be effective and ineffective considering education, relationships, and racism. One belief is that prison is an effective deterrent. Prison is a tough type of punishment as it strips your freedom. But, by putting people in prison you are protecting the public by ensuring individuals cannot commit further offences. Prison sentences provide a sense of justice to the victims affected by the crime and the public - the statement that is usually used in criminal justice essays.

We all believe in some form of responsibility and that free will guides us to make the right decisions and to choose between right and wrong. But I believe otherwise; what if free will is an illusion? Our system makes us opinionated that we only punish those who are responsible for their actions. What I want to mention in this criminal justice essay is that on a recent Netflix show Orange Is the New Black, a character called Suzanne has borderline personality disorder (BPD) and gets sentenced to 15 years. Causes of BPD are abuse and trauma. A psychiatric hospital would be ideal. In some cases, yes people with mental disorders are a danger to the public but we need to consider lack of advocacy to treatment and care.

My bilingual ability of being fluent in Turkish, further develops my understanding of the world. I have been working since the age of 14, at first, I only had a weekend job at a hairdresser to working in a restaurant. For the last year I have worked part time in a busy coffee shop. Entering a new school has an unpredictable environment. You never know what each day is going to bring. The skills I have are sufficient and suited to a potential career in criminology, I am good at problem solving, can manage my time, am confident and can handle pressure. I can deal with high pressure situations as I have worked with the public for many years. This has allowed me to think creatively. All my skills I have developed are necessary when completing a criminology degree.

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In conclusion to why do you want to study criminal justice essay, I enjoy the challenging prospect of a career that will immerse me in a world of justice; studying criminal justice would allow me to put my personal skills to the best use.

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Criminology Personal Statement Examples

college admissions essay for criminal justice

What is a criminology personal statement?

Your criminology personal statement is a way to sell yourself to the university admissions tutors, explaining why you want to study this subject and why you would make a great student.

Therefore, it’s vital to spend as much time as possible writing your criminology personal statement.

This means starting early (usually the summer holidays, in July or August), and reading through lots of criminology personal statement examples for inspiration (please see above).

How do I write a criminology personal statement?

As a future crimnology student, it's crucial to provide examples of everything you mention to back up your claims. This includes any skills, experience, academic achievements and relevant hobbies/extracurricular activities.

Most students start their crimonology personal statement with why they want to study this subject, and what makes them passionate about it.

Reading through our crimonology personal statement examples above will help you understand how students have successfully applied for this course in the past.

Try to start your statement with an attention-grabbing opening that will make tutors want to read to the end. Doing some brainstorming and thinking about all your skills and experience will help with this.

What should I include in my criminology personal statement?

It's important your statement covers everything that is appropriate, such as achievements, work experience, personal traits/skills, hobbies and activities outside of school, and career plans.
To make sure you do this, we recommend you brainstorm and write down as many notes as you can before you start writing. This way, you won't miss anything out.
Skills you may want to focus on include analytical, maths, communication and attention to detail.
Talk about what you hope to do with your crimonology degree in the future, e.g. do you want to become a police officer, forensic science technician, or crime scene investigator? Students often tend to round off their statement with their career plans and ambitions once they have completed their studies.

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What can I do with a criminology degree?

There are many different career options available to those wishing to study crimonology, including:

Crime scene investigator
Police officer
Probation officer
Social worker
Youth worker

However, there are other industries and job roles where a crimonology degree could be useful, such as:

Charity officer
Social researcher.

For more information about criminology careers, please see Prospects and the National Careers Service .

What are the best UK universities for criminology?

Currently, the best UK universities for crimonology are:

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

For more information about UK university rankings for criminology, please see The Guardian and UK Uni .

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29 Best Colleges for Criminal Justice – 2024

May 9, 2024

The educational bar for entering the law enforcement field has sharply risen in the last decade. This, in part, explains the exponential growth in criminal justice schools across the country. However, another key factor behind Criminal Justice’s place as the 6th most popular major at U.S. institutions are the associated specialty areas of study that can lead to exciting careers. These include: forensic accounting, counterterrorism, criminal psychology, homeland security, and forensic science. No matter your area of concentration, the schools on our list of Best Colleges for Criminal Justice will help you achieve your career aims in the world of law enforcement.

Methodology

Click here to read our methodology for the Best Colleges for Criminal Justice.

Salary Information

Want to know how much money graduates of the top Criminal Justice schools make when they begin their careers? For each college listed (and hundreds of additional schools), you can view the starting salaries for criminal justice majors .

Best Colleges for Criminal Justice

Here’s a quick preview of the first ten criminal justice institutions that made our list. Detailed profiles and stats can be found when you scroll below.

1) University of California, Irvine

2) Florida State University

3) University of Maryland, College Park

4) University of Pennsylvania

5) Arizona State University

6) Pennsylvania State University

7) Northeastern University

8) American University

9) University of Delaware

10) University at Albany (SUNY)

All of the schools profiled below have stellar reputations in the area of Criminal Justice and commit substantial resources to undergraduate education. For each of the best criminal justice colleges, College Transitions will provide you with—when available—the university’s:

Cost of Attendance
Acceptance Rate
Median SAT
Median ACT
Retention Rate
Graduation Rate

We will also include a longer write-up of each college’s:

Academic Highlights – Includes facts like student-to-faculty ratio, average class size, number of majors offered, and most popular majors.
Professional Outcomes – Includes info on the rate of positive outcomes, companies employing alumni, and graduate school acceptances.

University of California, Irvine

Academic Highlights: UCI offers eighty undergrad programs as well as many opportunities for personal connection; 56% of all sections enroll 19 or fewer students and over 60% of students conduct a research project. The most commonly conferred degrees are the social sciences (16%), business (12%), psychology (11%), and biology (9%). The Samueli School of Engineering has a solid reputation as does the Bren School, the only independent computer science school in the UC system. Programs in public health and biological sciences earn very high marks.

Professional Outcomes: Accounting, aerospace, internet and software, K-12 education, real estate, and retail are among the industries attracting the greatest number of Anteaters. Companies employing large numbers of recent grads include Boeing, the Walt Disney Company, Google, EY, and Microsoft. Hundreds of alumni are also found at Kaiser Permanente, Meta, Apple, Edwards Lifesciences, and Deloitte. The median salary is $69,000, with CS grads earning close to $120k right off the bat. UCI has a very strong reputation for premed.

Enrollment: 28,661 (undergraduate); 7,275 (graduate)
Cost of Attendance: $40,202 (in-state); $72,776 (out-of-state)
Median SAT: Test Blind
Median ACT: Test Blind
Acceptance Rate: 26%
Retention Rate: 91%
Graduation Rate: 87%

Florida State University

Tallahassee, FL

Academic Highlights: A wide range of baccalaureate degrees—103 to be precise—are available at FSU. The student-to-faculty is a 17:1, which translates into somewhat larger class sizes. Ten percent of sections contain more than fifty students, and 4% have more than 100. However, that is balanced by the 66% of sections that contain fewer than twenty students. Twenty-three percent of degrees conferred fall under the business umbrella. The social sciences (15%), psychology (8%), biology (8%), and homeland security (6%) are next in popularity.

Professional Outcomes: Eighty-three percent of job-seeking Seminole grads receive at least one offer of employment within three months of graduation. The top five sectors employing 2022 grads are (in order) finance, technology, marketing, health, and engineering. Roughly one-third of 2022 Florida State grads elected to immediately pursue admission into an advanced degree program; 75% of those who apply receive at least one acceptance. A typical graduating class sees over 100 students accepted into medical schools and over 200 accepted into law schools.

Enrollment: 32,936
Cost of Attendance: $25,762 (In-State); $39,692 (Out-of-State)
Median SAT: 1300
Median ACT: 29
Acceptance Rate: 25%
Retention Rate: 94%
Graduation Rate: 85%

University of Maryland, College Park

College Park, MD

Academic Highlights: Undergraduates can select from 100+ majors across twelve colleges. 18% of degrees are conferred in computer science, followed by the social sciences (13%), with criminology, government and politics, and economics being the most popular majors. Engineering (13%), business (11%), and biology (8%) are next in line. The School of Business, the School of Engineering, and the College of Journalism are all top-ranked, as are programs in computer science and criminology. 46% of sections enroll fewer than twenty students.

Professional Outcomes: Within six months of graduating, 96% of Class of 2022 grads had positive outcomes. 67% found employment; the companies/organizations that hired the greatest number of grads included Northrop Grumman, Deloitte, Amazon, and EY. Meta, Apple, and Google employ more than 200 alumni each. The mid-50% salary range for 2022 grads was $55k-$83k. 21% of the Class of 2022 headed directly to graduate and professional school; 11% entered doctoral programs, 5% entered medical school, and 5% entered law school.

Enrollment: 30,353 (undergraduate); 10,439 (graduate)
Cost of Attendance: $31,540 (in-state); $60,918 (out-of-state)
Median SAT: 1440
Median ACT: 33
Acceptance Rate: 84%
Retention Rate: 95%
Graduation Rate: 89%

University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA

Academic Highlights : 90 distinct degrees are available across four schools: the College of Arts & Sciences, the College of Applied Science and Engineering, the College of Nursing, and the world-renowned Wharton School. The greatest number of students pursue degrees in business (19%), social sciences (14%), biology (11%), health sciences (9%), engineering (9%), and computer science (9%). The university boasts an exceptional 26% of courses with an enrollment under ten and 59% with an enrollment under twenty as well as multiple ways for undergrads to conduct research.

Professional Outcomes: 75% of Class of 2022 grads were employed within six months of graduating, and 18% were in graduate school. Finance attracted the highest percentage of grads (30%) followed by consulting (20%), technology (15%), and healthcare (10%). Employers hiring the greatest number of 2022 grads included JPMorgan, Boston Consulting Group, McKinsey, Bain & Company, Meta, and Goldman Sachs. The median starting salary for all graduates is $80,000. For those continuing their educational journeys, the most popular move is to remain at Penn, followed by Columbia and Harvard.

Enrollment: 9,760 (undergraduate); 13,614 (graduate)
Cost of Attendance: $89,028
Median SAT: 1540
Median ACT: 35
Acceptance Rate: 7%
Retention Rate: 98%
Graduation Rate: 96%

Arizona State University

Academic Highlights: The faculty-to-student ratio is a fairly high 19:1, but not all classes call for stadium seating. In fact, 40% of course sections seat fewer than twenty students. Business is the concentration in which 22% of total bachelor’s degrees are conferred. Engineering (9%), biology (9%), and the health professions (7%) are the next three most popular. The WP Carey School of Business offers many highly ranked programs as does the Fulton Schools of Engineering.

Professional Outcomes: A healthy 83% percent of ASU graduates looking for work are employed within six months of earning their degrees. The median salary for an ASU grad is roughly $55,000. Among the school’s top fifty employers are Amazon, Apple, Intel, The Vanguard Group, and Walt Disney Company. Approximately one-fifth of recent grads enrolled in graduate school. Similar to employment, the size and scope of the university lead to many graduate pathways. Many grads continue at ASU itself, but some continue at various prestigious institutions.

Enrollment: 65,492
Cost of Attendance: $28,142 (in-state); $48,284 (out-of-state)
Median SAT: 1250
Median ACT: 23
Acceptance Rate: 90%
Retention Rate: 86%
Graduation Rate: 69%

Pennsylvania State University — University Park

State College, PA

Academic Highlights: Penn State offers 275 majors and a number of top-ranked programs in a host of disciplines. The College of Engineering is rated exceptionally well on a national scale and is also the most popular field of study, accounting for 15% of the degrees conferred. The Smeal College of Business is equally well-regarded, earning high rankings in everything from supply chain management to accounting to marketing. It attracts 15% of total degree-seekers. 61% of classes have an enrollment below thirty students.

Professional Outcomes: By graduation, 70% of Nittany Lions have found their next employment or graduate school home. 98% of College of Business grads are successful within three months of exiting, flocking in large numbers to stellar finance, accounting, consulting, and technology firms. Hundreds of alumni work at Citi, Salesforce, and Meta, and more than 500 currently work at each of IBM, Deloitte, PwC, Amazon, EY, JPMorgan Chase, Microsoft, Google, and Oracle. 75% of 2022 grads employed full-time earned starting salaries greater than $50k.

Enrollment: 41,745 (undergraduate); 7,020 (graduate)
Cost of Attendance: $32,656 (in-state); $52,610 (out-of-state)
Acceptance Rate: 55%

Northeastern University

Academic Highlights: Northeastern offers 290 majors and 180 combined majors within nine colleges and programs. Experiential learning is had by virtually all graduates, thanks to the school’s illustrious and robust co-op program. The D’Amore-McKim School of Business is a top-ranked school and offers one of the best international business programs anywhere, and both the College of Engineering and College of Computer Science are highly respected as well. Criminal justice, architecture, and nursing are three other majors that rate near the top nationally.

Professional Outcomes: Nine months after leaving Northeastern, 97% of students have landed at their next employment or graduate school destination. Huskies entering the job market are quickly rounded up by the likes of State Street, Fidelity Investments, IBM, and Amazon, all of whom employ 500+ Northeastern alums. Between 200 and 500 employees at Wayfair, Google, Amazon, Oracle, IBM, and Apple have an NU lineage. Starting salaries are above average (55% make more than $60k), in part due to the stellar co-op program.

Enrollment: 20,980 (undergraduate); 15,826 (graduate)
Cost of Attendance: $86,821
Median SAT: 1500
Median ACT: 34
Retention Rate: 97%
Graduation Rate: 91%

American University

Washington, D.C.

Academic Highlights: There are 60+ undergraduate degrees for students to choose from at AU across six colleges. A low 12:1 student-to-faculty ratio allows 58% of offered courses to be capped at nineteen students; the average undergraduate class size is 23. American’s School of International Service (SIS) is one of the top-ranked programs in the country—its Public Affairs program also receives universally high marks. In terms of sheer popularity, the most commonly conferred degrees are in the social sciences (35%), 17% (business), and journalism (11%).

Professional Outcomes: Within six months of graduation, 90% of AU grads have found employment, are enrolled in grad school, or both. Across all graduating years, more than 100 alumni presently work for the US House of Representatives, the US Department of State, Booz Allen Hamilton, Google, EY, IBM, PwC, and Accenture. Many of the most popular grad school destinations are only a Metro stop away. George Washington, Georgetown, Johns Hopkins, and American itself head the list.

Enrollment: 7,917
Cost of Attendance: $76,176
Median SAT: 1360
Median ACT: 31
Acceptance Rate: 41%
Retention Rate: 87%
Graduation Rate: 79%

University of Delaware

Academic Highlights: The University of Delaware offers 150 bachelor’s degree programs. Nearly one-third of students pursue a degree in either business (21%) or engineering (9%), two of the school’s highest-ranked departments. Nursing is popular, with 11% of degrees conferred being in the health professions. Other frequently pursued majors include the social sciences (10%), biology (7%), and education (5%). 62% of courses enroll fewer than 30 students. The university also has the oldest study abroad program in the nation, with 30% of undergrads participating.

Professional Outcomes: 94% of Class of 2022 grads quickly found their next destination. 66% were employed, with 74% taking jobs at for-profit companies, 16% at nonprofits, 7% in K-12 education, and 4% with a government entity. The greatest number of newly minted alums were hired by JPMorgan Chase & Co., KPMG, EY, ChristianaCare, and Deloitte. The median starting salary for this cohort was $62,000. 28% immediately pursued an advanced degree, with 62% entering master’s programs, 20% entering a professional program, and 9% beginning a PhD.

Enrollment: 18,066 (undergraduate); 4,557 (graduate)
Cost of Attendance: $33,718 (undergraduate); $57,358 (graduate)
Median SAT: 1280
Acceptance Rate: 72%
Graduation Rate: 82%

University at Albany (SUNY)

Academic Highlights: Part of the SUNY system, the University of Albany offers more than 125 programs. With a 17:1 student-to-faculty ratio, the university sees 18% of its classes enrolling 50+ students and 31% enrolling fewer than 20. The social sciences (22%) are the most popular set of majors at the University of Albany. Other majors that draw large numbers of students include business (13%), psychology (9%), biology (8%), and computer science (8%).

Professional Outcomes: An exceptional 94% of 2022 graduates were already gainfully employed or enrolled in graduate school within six months of earning their degree. In total, 69% are currently employed and they have a median income between $40,000-$45,000; 83% are working in New York State. Companies presently employing hundreds of alumni include Regeneron, PwC, EY, Citi, IBM, Morgan Stanley, Google, and Deloitte. Among those in grad school, 45% remained at UAlbany.

Enrollment: 12,264
Cost of Attendance: $30,025 (In-State); $48,165 (Out-of-State)
Median SAT: 1220
Median ACT: 27
Acceptance Rate: 68%
Retention Rate: 83%
Graduation Rate: 64%

University of Cincinnati

Cincinnati, OH

Academic Highlights: More than 90 majors await you at the University of Cincinnati and it all unfolds with an 18:1 student-to-faculty ratio. There is a mix of small and large class sections: 32% have 19 or fewer students and 20% have 50% or more. The most frequently conferred degrees in 2022 were business (20%), health professions (14%), engineering (12%), biology (7%), the visual arts (7%), and computer science (6%).

Professional Outcomes: Looking at all graduating seniors in 2022, 83% had obtained employment within six months of earning their degree and 13% were continuing their education. The average starting salary earned was $53,761. Hundreds of Bearcat alumni can be found in the offices of GE Aerospace, Procter & Gamble, Cincinnati Children’s. Fifth Third Bank, Medpace, Apple, JP Morgan Chase, Microsoft, Google, and Amazon Web Services.

Enrollment: 29,989
Cost of Attendance: $26,456 (In-State); $40,066 (Out-of-State)
Median SAT: 1260
Median ACT: 26
Acceptance Rate: 86%
Graduation Rate: 72%

George Mason University

Fairfax, VA

Academic Highlights: Fifty-two percent of class sections at GMU enroll nineteen or fewer students, 13% have fifty or more students, and the remaining sections lie in between. The most popular program is business (20%) and is followed by computer and information sciences (13%), the social sciences (8%), health professions (8%), and homeland security (8%). The Volgenau College of Engineering, which houses a top-tier Information Technology Department, and the School of Business are both extremely reputable in the eyes of prospective employers

Professional Outcomes: Six months after receiving their degrees, 87% of the class of 2022 had accepted a job offer or started work in a graduate program. GMU grads flow into major consulting firms like Booz Allen Hamilton, Deloitte, and Accenture, financial institutions like Capital One and Freddie Mac, and engineering/tech firms like General Dynamics, IBM, and Microsoft. Mason graduates tend to pursue advanced degrees either at Mason itself or at other area schools including George Washington, American University, or the University of Maryland.

Enrollment: 27,014
Cost of Attendance: $28,963 (In-State); $53,127 (Out-of-state)
Median SAT: 1240
Median ACT: 28
Retention Rate: 85%
Graduation Rate: 70%

Rutgers University — New Brunswick

New Brunswick, NJ

Academic Highlights: Rutgers is divided into 17 schools and colleges, collectively offering 100+ undergraduate majors. 41% of class sections have an enrollment of nineteen or fewer students. The greatest number of degrees are conferred in business (20%), computer science (12%), engineering (10%), health professions (10%), biology (9%), and social sciences (7%). Rutgers Business School sends many majors to top Wall Street investment banks, and programs in computer science, public health, and criminal justice have a terrific national reputation.

Professional Outcomes: Upon graduation, 82% of Class of 2022 grads had secured a first job or were heading to an advanced degree program. 67% headed directly to the world of employment, where the companies hiring the largest number of grads included Amazon, Johnson & Johnson, L’Oréal, and JP Morgan Chase. Investment banks like Goldman Sachs and Citi also employ hundreds of alumni, as do companies like Verizon, Bristol-Meyers Squibb, Novartis, Pfizer, and Google. The median starting salary across all majors was $70,000.

Enrollment: 36,344 (undergraduate); 14,293 (graduate)
Cost of Attendance: $37,849 (in-state); $57,138 (out-of-state)
Median SAT: 1370
Acceptance Rate: 66%
Retention Rate: 92%
Graduation Rate: 84%

San Diego State University

San Diego, CA

Academic Highlights: SDSU has nearly 160 undergraduate majors, minors, and pre-professional programs. Classes tend to be on the large side—28% of course sections enroll more than 40 students, and only 31% of sections contain fewer than 20 students. Business/marketing accounts for 21% of the degrees conferred, making it the school’s most popular area of study. Next in line are engineering (9%), psychology (8%), and the social sciences (7%). Engineering and computer science majors tend to fare quite well in the booming local tech and startup scene.

Professional Outcomes: At the time of receiving their degrees, roughly 75% of newly minted SDSU graduates already have their next phase of life planned. 34% of recent grads had secured full-time employment, 21% were engaged in military service/volunteer work/part-time employment, and 17% were entering graduate or professional school. Qualcomm is the largest employer of Aztec alumni, and it is followed by Apple, Amazon, Google, and a number of other Silicon Valley-based tech companies.

Enrollment: 31,724 (undergraduate); 4,913 (graduate)
Cost of Attendance: $34,072 (in-state); $46,952 (out-of-state)
Acceptance Rate: 39%
Retention Rate: 89%
Graduation Rate: 78%

The Ohio State University — Columbus

Columbus, OH

Academic Highlights: There are 200+ undergraduate majors and 18 schools and colleges housed within OSU. Business sees the greatest percentage of degrees conferred at 18% followed by engineering (15%), health professions (10%), and the social sciences (9%). It makes sense that so many flock to the business and engineering schools as they are among the highest-rated undergraduate programs in their respective disciplines. 40% of sections enroll fewer than 20 students, and approximately 20% of students gain research experience.

Professional Outcomes: Upon receiving their diplomas, 56% of Class of 2022 graduates were entering the world of employment while 17% were already accepted into graduate or professional school. Hordes of Buckeyes can be found at many of the nation’s leading companies. More than 2,000 alumni work for JPMorgan Chase, more than 1,000 are employed by Amazon, and more than 600 work for Google and Microsoft. Of the grads who directly matriculate into graduate or professional school, many continue in one of OSU’s own programs.

Enrollment: 45,728 (undergraduate); 14,318 (graduate)
Cost of Attendance: $27,241 (in-state); $52,747 (out-of-state)
Median SAT: 1340-1450
Median ACT: 29-32
Acceptance Rate: 53%
Graduation Rate: 88%

John Jay College of Criminal Justice

New York, NY

Academic Highlights: John Jay College of Criminal Justice is “a community of motivated and intellectually committed individuals who explore justice in its many dimensions.” With a 12:1 student-to-teacher ratio and 36% of courses enrolling under 20 students, 55% of students major in homeland security/law enforcement, and related protective services. Many others study psychology (16%), the social sciences (13%), computer science (6%), and legal professions and studies (4%).

Professional Outcomes: 56% of our graduates secured employment in the field within three months of graduation. Even better, 86% of students were employed within a year after graduation. A solid 90% of alumni respondents indicated they earn between $50,001 to more than $70,000 per year. Large numbers of graduates work for the New York Police Department, the NYC Department of Education, Northwell Health, JP Morgan Chase and Co., NYC Department of Correction, and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

Enrollment: 12,019
Cost of Attendance (Tuition Only): $7,470 (In-State); $19,140 (Out-of-State)
Median SAT: N/A
Median ACT: N/A
Acceptance Rate: 51%
Retention Rate: 76%
Graduation Rate: 54%

George Washington University

Academic Highlights: GW undergraduates choose from 75+ majors spread across nine colleges. The school’s 12:1 student-to-faculty ratio translates to a mix of small, medium, and large undergraduate sections. Twelve percent of courses have single-digit enrollments, 10% have over 50 students, and the majority fall in the 10 to 29 range. The social sciences (31%) are the area in which the greatest number of degrees are awarded followed by health professions (17%), business (15%), biology (5%), and computer science (5%).

Professional Outcomes: Within six months of leaving GW, 96% of the Class of 2022 had found their way to gainful employment or graduate school while 4% were still job hunting. Of the 68% of grads already in the workplace, 68% were in a for-profit industry, 25% had entered a nonprofit position, and 8% were working in government. A healthy 27% of those earning their diplomas in 2022 immediately turned their attention to earning an advanced degree. Among that group were 76% seeking master’s degrees, 11% entering law school, 5% pursuing a medical degree, and 3% entering a doctoral program.

Enrollment: 11,482
Cost of Attendance: $85,740
Median SAT: 1410
Median ACT: 32
Acceptance Rate: 49%
Retention Rate: 90%

Temple University

Academic Highlights: Temple offers 100 undergraduate programs, including those at the well-regarded Fox School of Business. Other programs with strong national reputations include criminal justice, public health, and kinesiology. The most undergraduate degrees are conferred in business (22%) followed by communication/journalism and health professions (tied at 11%), the visual and performing arts (8%), biology (7%), psychology (6%), and computer science (5%). 42% of classes have an enrollment of 19 or fewer students, and 71% contain no more than 29 undergraduates.

Professional Outcomes: 51% of recent grads quickly secured employment and another 18% were enrolled in graduate school. Hundreds of Owl alumni can be found at big-time companies such as Merck, Comcast, Vanguard, GlaxoSmithKline, Johnson & Johnson, JPMorgan Chase, and Bristol Myers Squib. Within six months of graduating, 91% of Fox School of Business 2021 graduates were employed or had started their own businesses. The median salary for all graduates of that school was $57,000.

Enrollment: 24,106 (undergraduate); 9,124 (graduate)
Cost of Attendance: $41,828-$46,866 (in-state); $56,092-$65,618 (out-of-state)
Median SAT: 1245
Acceptance Rate: 80%
Retention Rate: 84%

Indiana University

Bloomington, IL

Academic Highlights: IU offers 200+ majors. The university’s 18:1 student-to-faculty ratio is not bad for a school of Indiana’s size, and it does make an effort to keep undergraduate classes on the small side. While there are a number of introductory courses that transpire in giant lecture halls, 37% of all sections contain no more than 19 students. Business/marketing is the most popular major accounting for 30% of the total degrees conferred and biology is second at 9%. IU’s computer science degree program is the school’s third most frequently conferred degree at 8%.

Professional Outcomes: Class of 2022 grads reached their next employment or graduate school destination at a 94% rate within six months of receiving their degrees. The median starting salary for A&S grads was $41,000. In the Kelley School of Business, 97% were placed successfully within six months, and the median starting salary was $67,000. Among the most frequently attended graduate schools by recent grads are Indiana Bloomington (including its own law and medical schools), Purdue, Loyola Chicago, Northwestern, and Columbia.

Enrollment: 35,660
Cost of Attendance: $25,170 (In-State); $53,860 (Out-of-State)
Median ACT: 30
Acceptance Rate: 82%
Graduation Rate: 81%

University of Miami

Coral Gables, FL

Academic Highlights : Over 100 undergrad programs are offered across nine schools, with the greatest number of degrees conferred in business/marketing (21%), health professions (13%), biology (11%), the social sciences (9%), communication (9%), and engineering (8%). The Miami Business School and the College of Engineering enjoy solid national reputations, and programs in music, marine science, communications, and architecture are also highly ranked. 52% of all course sections contain fewer than 20 students.

Professional Outcomes: Within six months of graduating, 98% of the Class of 2022 had positive outcomes, with 64% employed full-time and 34% in graduate school. Companies employing 2022 grads included Deloitte, Citrix, NBCUniversal, Bank of America, JPMorgan Chase, Citi, and Morgan Stanley. Across all majors, the median starting salary was an impressive $63k. 100+ Canes also can be found in the offices of Google, IBM, PwC, Apple, and Microsoft. The most frequently attended graduate school is typically Miami itself.

Enrollment: 12,883 (undergraduate); 6,710 (graduate)
Cost of Attendance: $93,146
Acceptance Rate: 19%

University of Georgia

Academic Highlights: UGA boasts seventeen distinct colleges and schools that offer 125+ majors. Business is the most commonly conferred undergrad degree, accounting for 29% of diplomas earned. It is followed by biology (10%), social sciences (8%), communication & journalism (8%), and psychology (7%). Top-ranked programs include animal science, business, communications, and public and international affairs. 49% of sections enroll fewer than 20 students, and no matter your major, UGA encourages you to conduct research with a member of the school’s faculty.

Professional Outcomes: 96% of the Class of 2022 was employed or continuing their education six months after graduation. Popular employers include Accenture, PricewaterhouseCoopers, the Walt Disney Company, and Deloitte. Salaries vary between colleges; engineering grads had a median starting salary of $65k while journalism and communication grads reported a $50k median. In 2022, 24% of graduates enrolled directly into a graduate/professional degree program, with the most commonly attended schools including Columbia, Duke, Emory, Georgia Tech, Penn, and UVA.

Enrollment: 30,714 (undergraduate); 9,893 (graduate)
Cost of Attendance: $28,142 (in-state); $48,538 (out-of-state)
Median SAT: 1310
Acceptance Rate: 43%

University of Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh, PA

Academic Highlights: Pitt admits freshmen to the Dietrich School of Arts & Sciences, the College of Business Administration, the Swanson School of Engineering, and the School of Nursing. Pitt’s engineering and business schools are top-rated and among the most commonly chosen fields of study. Premed offerings are also top-notch, with majors in the health professions (12%), biology (11%), psychology (9%), and computer science (9%) rounding out the list of most popular majors. Pitt has a strong 13:1 student-to-faculty ratio; 42% of sections have an enrollment of under twenty students.

Professional Outcomes: Within a few months of graduating, 94% of 2022 grads entered full-time employment or full-time graduate or professional school. Engineering, nursing, business, and information sciences majors had 73-86% employment rates while other majors tended to flock to graduate school in large numbers. Employers scooping up the highest number of grads in one recent year included the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (170), PNC (57), BNY Mellon (36), and Deloitte (19). Median starting salaries fluctuated between $37k-65k depending on major.

Enrollment: 20,220 (undergraduate); 9,268 (graduate)
Cost of Attendance: $38,034-$43,254 (in-state); $56,400-$66,840 (out-of-state)
Acceptance Rate: 50%

University of Washington – Seattle

Seattle, WA

Academic Highlights: 180+ undergraduate majors are offered across thirteen colleges/schools. Personal connections with professors abound as 55% of grads complete a faculty-mentored research project. The College of Engineering, which includes the College of Computer Science & Engineering, is one of the best in the nation; UW also boasts strong programs in everything from business to social work to environmental science. The most popular degrees are the social sciences (13%), biology (12%), computer science (11%), and business (8%).

Professional Outcomes: Within months of graduation, 73% of Class of 2022 grads were employed and 17% were continuing their education. The most popular employers of the Class of 2022 included Google, Amazon, Microsoft, Boeing, and KPMG. Across all living alumni, 6,000+ work for Microsoft, and 4000+ work for each of Boeing and Amazon. Of those headed to graduate/professional school, just over half remain in state, mostly at UW itself. Large numbers of 2022 grads also headed to Columbia, Johns Hopkins, and USC.

Enrollment: 36,872 (undergraduate); 16,211 (graduate)
Cost of Attendance: $34,554 (in-state); $63,906 (out-of-state)
Median SAT: 1420
Acceptance Rate: 48%

The College of New Jersey

Academic Highlights: As one of only eight public colleges in the country to maintain a four-year graduation rate above 75%, TCNJ is in the esteemed company of such institutions as UVA, Michigan, and UNC-Chapel Hill. TCNJ sports a 13:1 student-to-faculty ratio and an average class size of twenty-one; 42% of sections contain fewer than 20 students. Sixteen percent of degrees conferred are in education as many attend TCNJ to become teachers but the most popular degree is actually business/marketing (19%), followed by engineering (9%), and health programs (8%).

Professional Outcomes: Checking in with TCNJ grads one year after receiving their degrees, 93% had entered the working world or started an advanced degree. The list of companies employing significant numbers of recent alumni includes Johnson and Johnson, JP Morgan Chase & Co., Bank of America, Bloomberg LP, MetLife, EY, and PricewaterhouseCoopers. The most frequently attended graduate schools by recent grads included Rutgers, Georgetown, and Stevens Institute of Technology.

Enrollment: 7,039
Cost of Attendance: $34,86 (In-State); $40,710 (Out-of-State)
Acceptance Rate: 64%
Graduation Rate: 86%

Michigan State University

East Lansing, MI

Academic Highlights: This highly regarded state institution boasts over 200 programs—undergraduate, graduate, and professional—across 17 degree-granting colleges. A 17:1 student-to-faculty ratio rates in the average range for public universities of MSU’s size and scope. Class sizes are a genuine mix of small seminars and giant lecture halls. 16% of the degrees conferred in 2022 were in the business/marketing category. The next most common degrees were earned in communication/journalism (12%), engineering (11%), and the social sciences (8%).

Professional Outcomes: Within months of strutting across the graduation stage, 56% of Class of 2022 members had landed full-time employment, 27% were pursuing advanced degrees, and 6% were still looking for a job. The top employers of this group included big names like General Motors, Ford Motor Company, Deloitte, Epic Systems, Target, PepsiCo, and Microsoft. The median starting salary earned was $60,000. Among the grads schools favored by recent alumni are the University of Michigan, New York University, Columbia University, and Boston University.

Enrollment: 39,201
Cost of Attendance: $27,805 (In-State); $55,189 (Out-of-State)
Acceptance Rate:

Marist College

Poughkeepsie, NY

Academic Highlights: Marist offers 47 distinct bachelor’s programs but is ultimately a true liberal arts institution that requires its undergrads to complete a core curriculum. Marist has a 16:1 student-to-faculty ratio—few sections are single-digit seminars or large lectures but 51% of sections are under 20 students. The School of Management and the School of Communication are quite popular as business (33%) and communication (15%) are, by far, Marist’s two most commonly conferred degrees. They are also among Marist’s strongest.

Professional Outcomes: Red Foxes strutting across the graduation stage from 2018-2022 went on to find employment or a graduate school home at a terrific 95% rate by the time they filled out their first-destination survey. Major employers of Marist alums include IBM, which presently employs close to 700 individuals, as well as JP Morgan Chase, EY, Macy’s, Citi, Morgan Stanley, Deloitte, and NBC Universal Media. Turning to grad school results, recent students have gone on to attend a wide range of institutions including elite universities Cornell, Penn, Harvard, Columbia, and Oxford.

Enrollment: 5,475
Cost of Attendance: $70,715
Acceptance Rate: 63%

Appalachian State University

Academic Highlights: Students can select from 150 bachelor’s degrees and 80 graduate programs at App State. A reasonable 16:1 student-to-faculty ratio leads to 39% of all course sections having fewer than 20 students and just 8% enrolling 50 or more. 20% of all 2022 grads earned their degree in business/marketing followed by health professions (10%), education (9%), parks & recreation (9%), journalism (8%), and psychology (7%).

Professional Outcomes: Within one year of graduating, 86% of those surveyed have arrived at their next destination. Undergrads benefit from nine annual career fairs and the 16,000 employers that are approved to recruit on campus. Further, 99% of students find the Career Development Center to be helpful. Alumni go on to work in large numbers for Wells Fargo, Atrium Health, Novant Health, Bank of America, Red Hat, Cisco, and Duke Energy Corporation.

Enrollment: 18,558
Cost of Attendance: $20,339 (In-State); $37,335 (Out-of-State)
Median SAT: 1180
Median ACT: 24
Acceptance Rate: 83%
Graduation Rate: 75%

University of South Carolina

Columbia, SC

Academic Highlights: UofSC is a massive enterprise, with 16 colleges/schools within the larger university. Even so, 70% of all sections contain 29 or fewer students. 32% of students take the opportunity to earn a degree in the business/marketing realm from the superb Darla Moore School of Business. The international business program is also top-ranked. Other popular disciplines include health services (11%), biology (10%), engineering (6%), and communication and journalism (6%). The South Carolina Honors College is extremely hard to get into and is one of the finest in the entire country.

Professional Outcomes: 79% of recent grads landed at their next destination within six months with an average starting salary of over $55,000. Within the School of Business, 87% of 2023 grads were employed within three months and the average starting salary was $69k. Top employers of recent classes included KPMG, IBM, Aramark, Bank of America, Vanguard, PwC, and Marriot. The majority of those continuing their studies in a graduate/professional degree program did so at the University of South Carolina; other popular landing spots are Duke and Wake Forest.

Enrollment: 27,343 (undergraduate); 8,310 (graduate)
Cost of Attendance: $38,696 (in-state); $60,942 (out-of-state)

Florida International University

Academic Highlights: Florida International offers 120 undergraduate degree programs across eight different colleges, from business, engineering, and architecture to hospitality & tourism management. The international business program is especially well-regarded and nationally ranked. Popularity-wise, the most degrees are conferred in business/management/marketing (24%), psychology (13%), multi/interdisciplinary studies (10%), biological sciences (7%), and the social sciences (7%). 37% of classes enroll fewer than 20 students.

Professional Outcomes: Those who graduated in 2024 had largely positive outcomes, with 62% employed, 12% pursuing a volunteer activity, 6% taking additional coursework, and 2% joining the military. Across all majors over the past five years, the most alumni have go on to work in the following sectors: operations, education, healthcare services, sales, administrative, business development, and community and social services. Top employers include Florida International University, Baptist Health, Miami-Dade Public Schools, Amazon, and Apple.

Enrollment: 44,045 (undergraduate); 10,040 (graduate)
Cost of Attendance: $26,016 (in-state); $38,414 (out-of-state)
Median SAT: 1150
Acceptance Rate: 59%

We hope you have found our list of the Best Colleges for Criminal Justice to be useful and informative as you continue your college search process. We also invite you to check out some of our other resources and tools including:

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Andrew Belasco

A licensed counselor and published researcher, Andrew's experience in the field of college admissions and transition spans two decades. He has previously served as a high school counselor, consultant and author for Kaplan Test Prep, and advisor to U.S. Congress, reporting on issues related to college admissions and financial aid.

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John Jay College of Criminal Justice Requirements for Admission

What are John Jay College of Criminal Justice's admission requirements? While there are a lot of pieces that go into a college application, you should focus on only a few critical things:

GPA requirements
Testing requirements, including SAT and ACT requirements
Application requirements

In this guide we'll cover what you need to get into John Jay College of Criminal Justice and build a strong application.

School location: New York, NY

This school is also known as: John Jay College of Criminal Justice (City University of New York), CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice

Admissions Rate: 44.6%

If you want to get in, the first thing to look at is the acceptance rate. This tells you how competitive the school is and how serious their requirements are.

The acceptance rate at John Jay College of Criminal Justice is 44.6% . For every 100 applicants, 45 are admitted.

This means the school is moderately selective . The school expects you to meet their requirements for GPA and SAT/ACT scores, but they're more flexible than other schools. If you exceed their requirements, you have an excellent chance of getting in. But if you don't, you might be one of the unlucky minority that gets a rejection letter.

We can help. PrepScholar Admissions is the world's best admissions consulting service. We combine world-class admissions counselors with our data-driven, proprietary admissions strategies . We've overseen thousands of students get into their top choice schools , from state colleges to the Ivy League.

We know what kinds of students colleges want to admit. We want to get you admitted to your dream schools.

Learn more about PrepScholar Admissions to maximize your chance of getting in.

John Jay College of Criminal Justice GPA Requirements

Many schools specify a minimum GPA requirement, but this is often just the bare minimum to submit an application without immediately getting rejected.

The GPA requirement that really matters is the GPA you need for a real chance of getting in. For this, we look at the school's average GPA for its current students.

Average GPA: 3.24

The average GPA at John Jay College of Criminal Justice is 3.24 .

(Most schools use a weighted GPA out of 4.0, though some report an unweighted GPA.

With a GPA of 3.24, John Jay College of Criminal Justice accepts below-average students . It's OK to be a B-average student, with some A's mixed in. It'd be best to avoid C's and D's, since application readers might doubt whether you can handle the stress of college academics.

If you're currently a junior or senior, your GPA is hard to change in time for college applications. If your GPA is at or below the school average of 3.24, you'll need a higher SAT or ACT score to compensate . This will help you compete effectively against other applicants who have higher GPAs than you.

SAT and ACT Requirements

Each school has different requirements for standardized testing. Only a few schools require the SAT or ACT, but many consider your scores if you choose to submit them.

John Jay College of Criminal Justice SAT Requirements

Many schools say they have no SAT score cutoff, but the truth is that there is a hidden SAT requirement. This is based on the school's average score.

Average SAT: 990

The average SAT score composite at John Jay College of Criminal Justice is a 990 on the 1600 SAT scale.

This score makes John Jay College of Criminal Justice Lightly Competitive for SAT test scores.

John Jay College of Criminal Justice SAT Score Analysis (New 1600 SAT)

The 25th percentile SAT score is 920, and the 75th percentile SAT score is 1060. In other words, a 920 on the SAT places you below average, while a 1060 will move you up to above average .

Here's the breakdown of SAT scores by section:


		440	530
		480	530
		920	1060

SAT Score Choice Policy

The Score Choice policy at your school is an important part of your testing strategy.

John Jay College of Criminal Justice ACT Requirements

Just like for the SAT, John Jay College of Criminal Justice likely doesn't have a hard ACT cutoff, but if you score too low, your application will get tossed in the trash.

Average ACT: 19

The average ACT score at John Jay College of Criminal Justice is 19. This score makes John Jay College of Criminal Justice Competitive for ACT scores.

The 25th percentile ACT score is 17, and the 75th percentile ACT score is 21.

Even though John Jay College of Criminal Justice likely says they have no minimum ACT requirement, if you apply with a 17 or below, you'll have a very hard time getting in, unless you have something else very impressive in your application. There are so many applicants scoring 19 and above that a 17 will look academically weak.

ACT Score Sending Policy

If you're taking the ACT as opposed to the SAT, you have a huge advantage in how you send scores, and this dramatically affects your testing strategy.

Here it is: when you send ACT scores to colleges, you have absolute control over which tests you send. You could take 10 tests, and only send your highest one. This is unlike the SAT, where many schools require you to send all your tests ever taken.

This means that you have more chances than you think to improve your ACT score. To try to aim for the school's ACT requirement of 19 and above, you should try to take the ACT as many times as you can. When you have the final score that you're happy with, you can then send only that score to all your schools.

ACT Superscore Policy

By and large, most colleges do not superscore the ACT. (Superscore means that the school takes your best section scores from all the test dates you submit, and then combines them into the best possible composite score). Thus, most schools will just take your highest ACT score from a single sitting.

We weren't able to find the school's exact ACT policy, which most likely means that it does not Superscore. Regardless, you can choose your single best ACT score to send in to John Jay College of Criminal Justice, so you should prep until you reach our recommended target ACT score of 19.

Download our free guide on the top 5 strategies you must be using to improve your score. This guide was written by Harvard graduates and ACT perfect scorers. If you apply the strategies in this guide, you'll study smarter and make huge score improvements.

SAT/ACT Writing Section Requirements

Currently, only the ACT has an optional essay section that all students can take. The SAT used to also have an optional Essay section, but since June 2021, this has been discontinued unless you are taking the test as part of school-day testing in a few states. Because of this, no school requires the SAT Essay or ACT Writing section, but some schools do recommend certain students submit their results if they have them.

John Jay College of Criminal Justice hasn't reported their stance on SAT Essay/ACT Writing, but most likely they consider it to be optional. Thus you don't need to worry too much about Writing for this school, but other schools you're applying to may require it.

Final Admissions Verdict

Because this school is moderately selective, strong academic performance will almost guarantee you admission . Scoring a 1060 SAT or a 21 ACT or above will nearly guarantee you admission. Because the school admits 44.6% of all applicants, being far above average raises the admission rate for you to nearly 100%.

If you can achieve a high SAT/ACT score, the rest of your application essentially doesn't matter. You still need to meet the rest of the application requirements, and your GPA shouldn't be too far off from the school average of 3.24. But you won't need dazzling extracurriculars and breathtaking letters of recommendation to get in. You can get in based on the merits of your score alone.

But if your score is a 920 SAT or a 17 ACT and below, you have a good chance of being one of the unlucky few to be rejected.

Admissions Calculator

Here's our custom admissions calculator. Plug in your numbers to see what your chances of getting in are. Pick your test: SAT ACT

80-100%: Safety school: Strong chance of getting in
50-80%: More likely than not getting in
20-50%: Lower but still good chance of getting in
5-20%: Reach school: Unlikely to get in, but still have a shot
0-5%: Hard reach school: Very difficult to get in

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Application Requirements

Every school requires an application with the bare essentials - high school transcript and GPA, application form, and other core information. Many schools, as explained above, also require SAT and ACT scores, as well as letters of recommendation, application essays, and interviews. We'll cover the exact requirements of John Jay College of Criminal Justice here.

Application Requirements Overview

Common Application Not accepted
Electronic Application Not available
Essay or Personal Statement
Letters of Recommendation
Interview Not required
Application Fee $65
Fee Waiver Available? Not available
Other Notes Minimum SAT score of 1100 required for freshmen

Testing Requirements

SAT or ACT Required
SAT Essay or ACT Writing Recommended for some
SAT Subject Tests
Scores Due in Office May 31

Coursework Requirements

Subject Required Years
Foreign Language 2
Social Studies 2

Deadlines and Early Admissions

Offered? Deadline Notification
Yes May 31 Rolling, notification begins January 15

Admissions Office Information

Address: 524 New York, NY 10019
Phone: (212) 237-8000
Email: [email protected]

Other Schools For You

If you're interested in John Jay College of Criminal Justice, you'll probably be interested in these schools as well. We've divided them into 3 categories depending on how hard they are to get into, relative to John Jay College of Criminal Justice.

Reach Schools: Harder to Get Into

These schools are have higher average SAT scores than John Jay College of Criminal Justice. If you improve your SAT score, you'll be competitive for these schools.

Location	SAT Avg	ACT Avg
Denton, TX	1160	23
Fullerton, CA	1130	22
San Antonio, TX	1120	22
San Marcos, TX	1080	23
Atlanta, GA	1067	22
El Paso, TX	1040	20
Northridge, CA	1030	19

Same Level: Equally Hard to Get Into

If you're competitive for John Jay College of Criminal Justice, these schools will offer you a similar chance of admission.

Location	SAT Avg	ACT Avg
Fresno, CA	1010	19
Turlock, CA	1000	19
San Bernardino, CA	1000	18
Bakersfield, CA	993	19
Hayward, CA	992	19
Union, NJ	990	20
Los Angeles, CA	985	18

Safety Schools: Easier to Get Into

If you're currently competitive for John Jay College of Criminal Justice, you should have no problem getting into these schools. If John Jay College of Criminal Justice is currently out of your reach, you might already be competitive for these schools.

Location	SAT Avg	ACT Avg
Morristown, NJ	950	16
New Haven, CT	940	24
Houston, TX	912	17
Cheyney, PA	890	18
Pocatello, ID	875	22
Chestnut Hill, MA	870	15
Bloomfield, NJ	629	17

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Top 42 Criminal Justice Scholarships in September 2024

Qiyam Stewart a former Scholarships360 writer who focuses on scholarships and financial aid. As an Admissions Fellow at Kenyon College, Qiyam has worked in the admissions office and interviewed prospective high school students applying to Kenyon. Qiyam currently attends Kenyon College as a Philosophy major and double concentration in Law & Society and African Diaspora Studies.

Learn about our editorial policies

A degree in criminal justice can be a pathway to a variety of careers including police officer, FBI agent, lawyer, forensic psychologist, and a researcher. One of the best ways to pay for your education is with criminal justice scholarships.

Keep on reading to learn everything you need to know about criminal justice scholarships including application deadlines, award amounts, and eligibility requirements.

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The scholarship requires a fee to apply
The scholarship provider’s privacy policy allows for the misuse of student data
The scholarship requires paid membership in an organization (with certain exceptions for reputable trade organizations and others)
Student are required to sign up for a site or service to apply*
The scholarship seems primarily used for lead generation** or idea harvesting purposes***
The scholarship website has many grammatical errors and/or advertisements
The scholarship or scholarship providing organization seem untrustworthy
There is no evidence the scholarship was previously awarded
The scholarship has not been awarded in the past 12 months
There is no available contact information

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* There are certain exceptions to this, for example if the sponsoring organization is a major corporation or nonprofit with its own scholarship application system. ** Lead generation scholarships will require students to sign up for an app or website and require minimal (if any) application requirements. ***Idea harvesting scholarships will require students to submit blog posts or other materials that companies may use for marketing purposes.

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Jump ahead to:

How to win criminal justice scholarships

Resources for students studying criminal justice, frequently asked questions , explore these other scholarships categories.

If you’re applying for criminal justice scholarships, you may be required to submit an essay as part of your application. Your essay can make or break your application! Scholarship committees review huge amounts of submissions, so writing a unique and compelling essay can help send your application to the top of the stack.

Fortunately, we have many resources to help you write a knockout essay!

How to write a 250 word essay
How to write a 500 word essay
How to write an essay about yourself
Overview of common scholarship essay prompts
How to start a scholarship essay (with examples)
How to write a winning scholarship essay
How to end a scholarship essay

Internships

Adding an internship to your resume is an excellent way to boost your chances of securing full-time employment after graduation. Below we’ve listed some federal agencies that offer internships for students pursuing careers in criminal justice. However, you should also expand your search to the state level and seek out internships in your home state and local community.

U.S. Department of Justice Paid Student Internships
National Criminal Justice Association Undergraduate Internship Program
FBI Honors Internship Program

Keep reading : How to get an internship

The following job boards are specifically designed for students seeking careers in criminal justice:

ACJS Career Center
APPA Career Center
Federal Government Jobs, Law Enforcement
NCJA Connect2Justice Jobs

Keep reading: 10 tips for finding your ideal job

Criminal justice associations

Joining a criminal justice association is a great way to connect with industry professionals, find mentors and internships, attend conferences, and gain access to scholarships only available to members. You will have to pay dues, but most associations offer discounted membership rates for students. Here are a few associations worth exploring:

National Criminal Justice Association
Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences
American Society of Criminology
American Correctional Association
American Probation and Parole Association
American Academy of Forensic Sciences

Student open access journals

You’re probably reading a lot of material for class already, so picking up more reading may be the last thing on your mind. However, these open access journals will only make you a better student. You may come across interesting topics to introduce in a classroom discussion, write about in a term paper, or reference in an interview with an employer.

American Journal of Criminal Justice
Justice Research and Policy
Journal of Criminal Justice

Does the FBI offer scholarships?

Yes! Every year, the FBI-LEEDA program awards five $1,000 scholarships to college students. Other opportunities for students interested in the FBI include the FBI Honors Internship Program , the FBI Collegiate Hiring Initiative , and the Visiting Scientist Program .

Also see: How to become an FBI agent

Is criminal justice a good major choice?

A degree in criminal justice opens the door to a variety of careers including law enforcement, legal defense and prosecution, private investigation, forensic accounting, social work, crime scene investigation, and more. As you can see, most of these career paths are well-suited for those who are interested in serving their community and helping others. If that’s what you’re passionate about, then criminal justice could be a good fit for you!

Is criminal justice hard?

Like any field of study, majoring in criminal justice requires hard work and dedication. Students can expect a broad range of coursework covering topics such as constitutional law, criminology theory, criminal investigation, forensic law, judicial process, psychology, sociology, and more. A bachelor’s degree in this field typically requires four years of full-time study.

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304 Criminal Justice Essay Topics & Examples

🏆 best criminal justice topics & essay examples, 👍 good criminal justice topics for essays, 📑 interesting criminal law essay topics, 🔍 social justice topics to write about, 💡 criminal justice persuasive essay topics, ⭐ simple & easy criminology essay topics, ❓ criminal justice research topics for college students.

Importance of Math in the Field of Criminal Justice The work of police officers and other personnel in criminal justice requires proof and accuracy in determining the cause and effects of a crime.
Indian Criminal Justice System Reforms In as much as some human rights activists often complain of the violation of the rights by the justice system, India’s criminal system has faced significant changes since colonial times to the present.
Ethical Dilemmas in Criminal Justice If one is to discuss the issue with the senior management of the organization in which the crime occurred, there is a high chance that the issue will not be taken as seriously due to […]
“Ethical Dilemmas and Decisions in Criminal Justice” by Pollock If hunting is the primary means of survival of a particular society, the euthanasia of the elderly and the sick can be deemed acceptable.
Comparative Criminal Justice System Advantages The central values of the US criminal justice system are to protect the rights of citizens and ensure the safety of a society in which everyone is equal before the law.
Technical Communication Methods and Practices of Criminal Justice It also examines the use of technology in the communication process and further looks at the potential technological advancement that will be used in the communication process in the future.
Theories Required to be Successful in Supervisory Practices in the Criminal Justice Field In the field of criminal justice, it is necessary to understand whether failure to satisfy the following needs may result to the criminal acts.
Criminal Justice Internship Report The primary goals of the course are to expose students to new contexts and environments, broaden and deepen knowledge of key concepts and theories relevant to the field, and improve an overall learning experience.
Effective Communication in Criminal Justice Settings The officer should also package information in a way that it is easy to decode and understand. Such communication enables police officers in charge of the inmates to access important information from them.
Financial Management in Criminal Justice Systems Criminal justice departments are touted to be one of the most inefficient and morally impaired sectors of the government. Therefore, discipline in law enforcement officers and other members of the criminal justice system is essential […]
The Instrumental Theory in Criminal Justice In criminal justice, the instrumental theory is based on the idea that criminal justice and criminology is one of the main tools which help to control the poor.
Criminal Justice as an Open System The same society and government also receive the output of the law enforcement organizations, meaning that the activity of the criminal justice system is never focused unto itself.
Ethics and Professional Behavior in Criminal Justice One of the most important components of the criminal justice system is a code of ethics, which governs the behavior and conduct of professionals working within the system.
Virtue and Stoic Ethics in Criminal Justice The lack of ethical grounds for the behavior of criminal justice officials makes the application of the law unreliable. As an employee of a juvenile correctional colony, I will be guided by the principles of […]
Ethical Issues in Criminology and Criminal Justice Research Investigation officers be committed to obligation of ensuring that the bodily, social and mental health of a person participating in an investigation is not harmful distressed.
Community Corrections and Criminal Justice Community corrections are the topic that has been the easiest to understand because, unlike other aspects of criminal justice, this is the area of the administration of punishment that is the most familiar to me.
Stereotyping Individuals in the Criminal Justice System Cultural Deviance theory is based upon two other theories, which are: Social Disorganization Theory Strain Theory Social disorganization theory focuses on the environment and places it as the main reason for crime.
Cybercrime Impact on Global Criminal Justice System Reports show that the crime is on the rise because more people have access to computers and the internet than ever before.
Stanford Prison Experiment and Criminal Justice The researchers used cameras and microphones to assess the behavior of the correctional staffs and inmates. The capability of managing the correctional facility depends on effective communication between the inmates and the prison guards.
Psychologists’ Role in Criminal Justice In addition to research, the accumulation, and application of knowledge, psychologists can also participate in assessing the effectiveness of legislation. In this setting, basic scientists conduct theoretical research on the effectiveness of police and court […]
Pros and Cons of Using Discretion in System of Criminal Justice The initial stage in which discretion is applied in the system of criminal justice is where police officers make a decision on whether a suspect should be arrested for a particular offense or not., argues […]
The Discipline of Criminal Justice: The Use of Mathematics The knowledge applied here is purely scientific and therefore the police can hire the services of such experts to assist in the investigation of crime.
Report Writing for Criminal Justice Professionals The fifth one includes the targeted issues while the sixth indicates the decisions and actions. It is also appropriate to be aware of the speech mode of the individual being interviewed.
Criminal Justice Ethics of Traffic Police Officers The police officer had the choice to take the children to a juvenile center home and arrange for a person to take care of the baby and then take the woman to jail as she […]
Criminal Justice: Punishment and Sentencing The representatives of the general public got used to the fact that one party is to be punished, and another one is to provide punishment.
Logical Fallacies in Criminal Justice The misrepresentation of the original argument is not taken into account, and the key objective of this fallacy is to confuse the opponent and form one’s opinion on the wrong argument.
Forensic Psychology in the Criminal Justice System To evaluate the competency of a defendant, the forensic psychologist is guided by the scientific principles espoused in the field of psychological science.
The Criminal Justice System On the other hand, the executive branch is mandated with the role of furnishing the criminal justice system with judges and heads of law-enforcing agencies.
Pretrial Procedures in Criminal Justice Therefore, studying the processes that take place before the trial is important for understanding the overall delivery of criminal justice. Before the trial begins, the defense attorney and the prosecutor must prepare for it.
Norwegian Versus Texan Criminal Justice Systems Despite accounting for a small population of the world, the US has the highest number of prisoners globally. As a result, the number of prisoners under solitary confinement is higher than in other states.
Key Elements of Criminal Justice System It is the combination of all the administrative, operational, and technical divisions that are part of the law enforcement agencies. This essay will describe the key elements of law enforcement agencies, the key elements of […]
Crime Scene Investigation in Criminal Justice In the process of controlling the crowd and maintaining order with the aid of the police officers, I took some photographs of the surrounding and then approached the main spot of event. I managed to […]
Domestic Violence Ethical Dilemmas in Criminal Justice Various ethical issues such as the code of silence, the mental status of the offender, and limited evidence play a vital role in challenging the discretion of police officers in arresting the DV perpetrators.
Discretion in Decision Making in Criminal Justice The role of discretion is to provide the capacity to make official judgments based on logic and judgment in the criminal justice system.
Criminal Justice Ethics Definition Criminal justice ethics involves all the codes as well as standards that apply to all the concerned parties in the criminal justice system for example attorneys, prosecutors, and the other entire professionals in the criminal […]
Cosa Nostra and Transnational Criminal Justice As a result of the criminal allure it exudes, the Cosa Nostra maintains connections with all of the major criminal groups, both in Italy and across the world.
Ethical Behavior in Criminal Justice In the CJS, judges are the determinants of the sentencing and verdict of a criminal. Wilson that considers the health of the defendant and the safety of the community.
Stress Among Criminal Justice Workers The criminal justice system is aware of the seriousness of the current problem and is trying to adapt to the emerging trend.
Professional vs. Personal Life Dilemma in Criminal Justice As a member of a police force, Badpenny belongs to the soldier class in Plato’s classification, making courage her virtue. Overall, Badpenny’s decision to hide her boyfriend’s identity can only be morally justified from the […]
Police Culture: Criminal Justice Ethics The set of values and standards in police culture shapes the perceptions of law enforcement officers about policing and the delivery of services. Therefore, police culture is similar to other customs and habits that guides […]
The Byrne Criminal Justice Innovation Program The policy reflects social control, ensuring that members of society are compliant and follow the rules to ensure community safety and sustainability.
Technology and Learning in Criminal Justice It is a two-way avenue that includes both the student and the educator and leads to knowledge and capacity growth. A third and somewhat uncommon motivating method is the inclusion of a genuine chance for […]
Domestic Violence: Criminal Justice In addition, the usage of illegal substances such as bhang, cocaine, and other drugs contributes to the increasing DV in society.
Ethical Dilemma Analysis: Criminal Justice Case The publicity of the case added another layer of complexity to the decision, as either verdict would alienate a part of the population.
Solving Problems of Criminal Justice For example, the theory can be applied to better understand the problem of social inequality problem described in the cited documentary.
The Criminal Justice System Practitioner The practitioner relied on the presented professional values, worldview, and philosophy to identify, handle, and support the rights of the identified clients.
Contemporary Criminal Justice Issues When it comes to the dependent variable, it means the effect, and that means the reduction of infectious diseases will be the effect that the independent variable will determine.
Negligence in the Criminal Justice System The last category of negligence is the most dangerous, and essentially stems to injury or death caused by the actions or lack thereof by the employees of the criminal justice system.
The Youth Criminal Justice Act in Teresa Robinson’s Case 1 of the YCJA is relevant to the article since the offender’s name is still unreported despite the evidence of his involvement in the homicide.
Ethical Obligations in Criminal Justice These criteria also include those that promote the values of honesty and compassion and the rights to life, bodily integrity, and privacy, all of which are defined as ethical standards. Empathy for others is the […]
Research in Criminal Justice: Crime Solvability Factors In the sphere of criminal justice, inquiry can doubtlessly assist in the formulation of improved and more progressive laws and institutions.
Criminal Justice in Relation to the Number of Criminals The main goal of my work is to build evidence that the number of criminals is not proportional to the severity of the crime and that despite a large number of crimes, not all of […]
“The Role of Virtual Reality in Criminal Justice Pedagogy” by Smith The journal is titled “The role of virtual reality in criminal justice pedagogy: An examination of mental illness occurring in corrections”.
Crime Problems and Criminal Justice Notably, except for the last one, all listed procedures can be applied to crime issues discussed above and seem practical in preventing law violations.
COVID-19 and Juvenile, Criminal Justice Legislation The measures may help to reduce overcrowding in prisons, prevent the spread of the disease, and decrease federal and state expenses on COVID-19 preventive measures and protective equipment in correctional facilities.
Criminal Justice Intervention in Case of Elderly However, the government has not been able to respond effectively to the abuse of older adults, with little information and statistics available to show the vulnerability of the elderly to abuse.
Police-Minority Relations: Criminal Justice Occasionally, charges of police misbehavior, such as the tragic killings of Black individuals at the hands of police in Baltimore, Maryland, and Ferguson, Missouri, spark public unrest.
Alexander & Ferzan’s Arguments on Criminal Justice The penal code has evolved in such a way that it only allows the system to blame offenders based on the nature of the eventual result or outcome.
Criminal Justice: Burglary, Theft, and Criminal Trespass According to Section 2C:15-1, robbery is a first-degree crime if, in the course of committing the theft, the actor attempts to kill anyone or purposefully attempts to inflict serious bodily injury.
Code of Criminal Justice: False Imprisonment However, the New Jersey Code interprets it specifically as an unlawful restraint with the risk of serious bodily injury or a goal of holding a victim in involuntary servitude.
Leadership in the Criminal Justice System For example, the criminal justice system uses goals to task the police, correctional agencies, and the court with the strategy to execute, including deterrence, rehabilitation, retribution, restoration, and incapacitation.
The Criminal Justice Core Competency Nowadays, the situation is different, and more women and minorities are encouraged to join law enforcement professions to reduce the impact of bureaucracy and other biases.
Criminology and Its Significance in Criminal Justice Fields Criminologists’ activities include collecting and analyzing data of committed crimes to study the nature of crimes and criminals and identify factors that influence criminals’ motives.
Criminal Justice System Development The sweeping changes impacted all elements of civil litigation and gave criminal justice professionals a stimulus to be more assertive in their cases.
California’s Criminal Justice Realignment The existing experience of reducing the number of prisons in California is of some interest to researchers. The articles attempt to study a number of humanitarian problems of the detention of citizens of California.
Criminal Justice System Deterring Illicit Drug Use The authors describe the history of the appearance of synthetic drugs in the illegal market and mention the difficulties that forensic chemists have faced in identifying the compounds of illicit substances. M, Stogner, J.
The Influence of Wealth and History of the Criminal Justice System The history of the U.S.criminal justice system spans approximately four hundred years, with early beginnings that prioritized the protection of citizens, punishment of criminals, and maintenance of social order. Perhaps the earliest form of criminal […]
Criminal Justice & Security: Measuring Crime Statistics NIBRS is a part of UCR; it has been in place since 1989, and its aim is to ensure the collection of detailed crime reports from law enforcement agencies.
Hypothesis Testing in Criminal Justice and Criminology Two populations that are linked via a dependent variable must be assessed on the subject of dependency to determine a proper test to ensure the validity of the results.
The Modern Criminal Justice System: Discriminatory Practices It is stated that “the experiences of poor and minority defendants within the criminal justice system often differ substantially from that model due to several factors, each of which contributes to the overrepresentation of such […]
Statistics in Criminal Justice and Criminology The author’s primary argument refers to the importance of averages and data distribution types for criminology researchers and practitioners. To conclude, the information provided in the chapter is essential for understanding the measures of central […]
Statistics for Criminology and Criminal Justice The first part of the chapter introduces the three univariate data distribution displays that are frequently used in statistics, such as frequencies, proportions, and percentages.
Deterrence: Reflections on the Economics of Criminal Justice Therefore, deterrence is meant to ensure that punishments are so harsh that members of the public will fear committing a crime that will lead them to the same punishment.
Media and Gender Stereotypes Against Females in Professional Roles Within the Criminal Justice The first and a half of the second episode were chosen as the pilot episode often reflects the essence of the entire show.
Impacts of the Overlaps Between Communication and Criminal Justice for Police-Suspect Interactions The underlying concern raised by the interaction between Floyd and Chauvin as well as the other three police officers is that a breakdown of communication before and during the arrest led to the escalation.
Criminal Justice Inequality in Conflict Theory Other examples of inequality in terms of criminal justice are international corporations’ frauds and embezzlements on a grand scale by politicians that remain even unnoticeable while ordinary people are sentenced to imprisonment for less serious […]
Management of Criminal Justice Agencies Conflict of interests is bound to arise every time the needs of a healthy worker collide with the properties of a formal organization.
The Federal Grand Jury in the Criminal Justice System For instance, the President of the United States of America may not directly request for the formation of a grand jury but can do so by directing the Attorney General to constitute a grand jury.
Criminal Justice Agency Accountability and Liability The Act has set the “minimum pay for employees and the overtime pay has to be between 22 to 25% of the standard pay”.
US Criminal Justice System Analysis It might be assumed, therefore, that the prison had minimum security; however, the guards were heavily armored and conducted regular raids to control the contraband, which is a characteristic of a high-security prison.
Criminal Justice: The Ban-the-Box Law This essay discusses the criminal justice laws of the United States on the hiring of ex-convicts and whether felons should exercise their civil rights of voting or not.
Criminal Justice Career An individual who wants to work in the criminal justice sphere should be ready to overcome different challenges and contribute to the increased efficiency of the legal system.
The Effects of the Criminal Justice System Wilson and Kelling say, “Social psychologists and police officers tend to agree that if a window in a building is broken and is left unrepaired, all the rest of the windows will soon be broken”.
Criminal Justice System: Child Abuse During the consideration of cases as part of a grand jury, citizens perform some functions of the preliminary investigation bodies.
Criminal Justice Standards for the Defense Function In court, defenders can find evidence through discovery, speak with witnesses of the crime, and file pretrial motions.
Criminal Justice & Criminology Research Methods In most cases, operationalizing study variables ensures that a sample representing the entire population is chosen and an appropriate unit of analysis is applied.
Building a Career in Criminal Justice The duty of a correctional officer is to oversee and keep watch of the arrested criminals during their terms in jail.
The Impact of Performance Appraisals on Job Satisfaction of Criminal Justice Personnel Of greater attention in the paper is the exploration of the levels of performance management in criminal justice departments and the impact on the levels of job satisfaction among employees working in these departments.
The Pitfalls of Criminal Justice Budget Cuts: An Administrator’s Perspective Today, in the United States, the diminishing crime rates have created an erroneous perception among state legislatures, key public policy figures, and mainstream commentators that crime and the administration of the criminal justice system are […]
Policing Duties: Criminal Justice Similarly, the police officers are required to evaluate the crime scene based on the evidence received from the witnesses, victims, and the offenders.
Criminal Justice Research: Homicide It also gains capacity with the regulations and reaction of crime from the society and the government. In homicide research, the characteristics and methods of qualitative research are evident.
Communication Within the Criminal Justice System: Probation Organisation An important thing to note here is that the sender and the recipient must be sharing the meaning of the symbols used in communicating; otherwise the meaning of the message will be lost on the […]
Criminal Justice: Racial Prejudice and Racial Discrimination Souryal takes the reader through the racial prejudice and racial discrimination issues ranging from the temperament of racism, the fundamental premise of unfairness, the racial biasness and the causes of racial unfairness to ethical practices […]
Criminal Justice Ethics: Kant’s and Bentham’s Views The following is an essay on criminal justice based on the case of Lieutenant Lotem that has presented moral as well as ethical dilemma on the issue of administrative justice.
“Ethics in Criminal Justice: In Search of the Truth” by Souryal The principle of leading a simple life to achieve mental happiness is in line with the stoicism school of thought which stressed that pleasure and pain are not relevant in attaining the happiness of an […]
New Technology & Criminal Justice From an information perspective, it is clear that new technologies, such as the use of iris recognition solutions, can assist in the effective and efficient management of correctional systems since these facilities are predominantly information-centric […]
Significant Issues in Criminal Justice The society established ways of dealing with these groups of people through the implementation of the rule of law to ensure they account for all their actions.
Criminology: Modern Criminal Justice The criminal justice system is the institution or the criterion that is used to keep all people that are subject to the law in check.
Criminal Justice Professionals: What They Should Know Considering the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights, it is possible to state the information about the adoption history of the documents the criminal justice professionals should know.
Neuroscience and Criminal Justice The viewpoint of several neuroscientists is that expressive biology of behavior will be accessible in the future and is probably to integrate both neuroscientific and genetic understanding.
Criminal Justice: Prosecution & Judicial Proceedings To corroborate scientific, circumstantial and witness evidences, the prosecution needs to examine financial transactions of Roberts to prove that he was truly trafficking dangerous drugs according to the third count of charges.
Criminal Justice: Cases of Offenders in Trafficking Secondly, if in the opinion of the court, a defendant is seen to endanger the lives of others or will interfere with the evidence if granted bail, then the court will not grant bail.
Essentials of Criminal Justice It is imperative to mention that the prominence of wrongful convictions in a topic that is frequently discussed by scholars and has led to many disagreements.
Ethical Observations of Criminal Justice System As the police officer pays for the picked items, the shopkeeper gives the officer a package of free items and a shopping voucher worth $100 as a present for his family and an appreciation note […]
Criminal Justice Ethics: Ethical Observations There are three parties involved in the situation: the victim, the offender, and the company. At the same time, the involvement of Police Officers to the case and the necessity to carry out their daily […]
Criminal Justice Policies and Theories Given the fact that PRPs and DPs are the variants of rehabilitation programs, their correlation is understandable, but their targets determine their differences.
Response Paper on Book “Criminal Justice Management” They believe that the negative implications of the criminal world, on the whole, are transmitted to the activity of criminal justice workers that creates an unfavorable association of the latter in the mind of the […]
Bribery as a Critical Criminal Justice Violation In the overviewed case, the abuse of criminal justice is evident since it is prohibited for the public officials, who are engaged in the investigation, to peer in the confidential affairs of the clients as […]
An Ethical System in Criminal Justice To my firm belief, utilitarian ethical system is more advantageous than the systems proposed by libertarianism and determinism since it accepts human nature and puts the general safety above the individual good.
Need for Policy Reform in the Criminal Justice System They also exposed the deficiencies and shortfalls of the criminal justice system, which has long been a source of disagreement between the Democrats and the Republicans, making any changes to the policy unlikely.
Criminal Law: Media and Its Influence on Criminal Justice Policy Seeing that the opinion of public affects the way, in which the criminal justice policy evolves, it can be assumed that media, which affect people’s viewpoints to a considerable degree, shaping it in accordance with […]
Public Opinion and Criminal Justice Policy Despite the fact that the criminal justice policy is shaped by the bills passed by the Congress, the significance of public opinion on the subject matter is very high.
Jury System in Different Criminal Justice Contexts The first argument to support the idea that the jury system should be spread widely in the world countries is that the jury system is the key to the unbiased and effective court decision-making that […]
An Application of the Criminal Justice System When police have reasonable grounds to believe that William Bloutt and Bertha Bloutt committed the robbery, they have the power, not the obligation, to put them under arrest.
Criminal Justice: Over Institutional Organization This is further worsened by the fact that the number of offenders to be monitored after being released is often higher than the number of officers tasked with the responsibility of following up on them.
Learning Theory Implications on Criminal Justice Practices This will be helpful to them because the civilians have different styles of learning and implementing the rule of law. Understanding the crime learning theories is very important and their impacts determine the destiny of […]
Criminal Justice Workplace Observation Leadership rests in the top management of the prisons who are the decision-makers and lead the prison to attain its objectives.
Deterrence in Criminal Justice Practices The concept of deterrence is the foundation of criminal justice systems in a majority of democratic nations. In my opinion, law enforcement is the second area where the implications of deterrence have more impacts.
Administration of Criminal Justice – Elements of Planned Change Administrators According to Merino, the effects of the implementation of change or change initiating in the criminal justice system extend far beyond the desired change.
Research Process and Terminology: Criminal Justice In addition, it is necessary to edit the research question/hypothesis after reviewing the literature and determining variables; select the research method; sampling methods and control of variables should be thoroughly explained as well; description of […]
Suicide in People With a Criminal Justice History The main questions raised in the study included suicide risk for the Danish population over the past three decades and possible relation of the results with the social and health problems of the suicides.
Criminal Justice System: “Lucky” by Alice Sebold The book “Lucky” by Alice Sebold unfolds the rape ordeal that the author went through at the age of 18 years as well as the aftermath of the heinous act on her personal life.
Positive and Negative of Evidence-Based Criminal Justice Policymaking Evidence-based practice in the criminal justice sector has concentrated on policies that deal with the administration of these sectors based on the correctional process of the incarcerated persons.
Achieving Real Justice: Funding Criminal Justice Reform The article sums up the problems that have enhanced the tribulations of the state’s criminal justice department and point out strategies that have been adapted to solve these challenges. The citizens of California have not […]
The Criminal Justice System in the US The statutes of Texas require the criminal justice system to carry out an inquest into the causes of deaths that occur mysteriously to ascertain the cause of death.
Impact of Diversity on Criminal Justice Police on the other hand think the high crime rates of Blacks and Hispanics only reflects the differences in the crime rates and not the biased justice system.
Ethical Issues in Criminal Justice According to legal ethics, lawyer has ethical duty of ensuring that client’s information is confidential and thus should always advocate for the interests of the client.
A Criminal Justice Approach to Suppressing Terrorism The threat of terrorism substituted communism as the rationale which was used for justifying the state of emergency in America prior to 1990s.
Web Research in Criminal Justice For those desiring a career that upholds the current social system in preventing crime, ensuring that the rule of law prevails and provides a system of rehabilitation for those who have broken the law, the […]
Expected Changes in the Criminal Justice Field Over the Next 50 Years A comfortable conjecture towards development in the criminal justice field will be the use of these social networking sites as an interaction tool with the communities served, for sharing critical information and collecting tips.
Cultural and Racial Prejudices in the Criminal Justice System Simultaneously, whiteness continues to play one of the key roles in the development of cultural and racial prejudices in the criminal justice system.
Criminal Justice Leadership: Strategies and Practice They have to execute good leadership and management in order to provide reforms and change and to affect the kind of justice that the community needs.
Leadership Issue in the Criminal Justice Field The main concerns about the issue of violations are: whether they are common phenomena in the criminal justice field, the reason that propagates them, and the possibility of their prevention with consideration whether they might […]
Changes Introduced to the Inquisitorial Criminal Justice in Italy The inquisitorial system was pioneered by the Roman Catholic Church in the medieval era, where the church used this system in its religious courts for prosecution of offenders and to reform the former system which […]
Impact of Globalization and Neoliberalism on Crime and Criminal Justice Globalization entails the conception of principles, perpetuated by both governments and organizations that have altered the way nations perceive the obligation for a criminal justice system and the ability of the governments to control crime […]
Contemporary Criminology and Criminal Justice Theory The model of a political society in which law restrains and guides the implementation of power by rulers dates from the early stages of systematic thought in the Western world.
Criminal Justice and DNA: “Genetic Fingerprinting” DNA is one of the popular methods used by criminologists today, DNA technique is also known as “genetic fingerprinting”.the name given the procedure by Cellmark Diagnostics, a Maryland company that certified the technique used in […]
Racial Discrimination in the US Criminal Justice System This report argues that when one studies the proportion of blacks in the Cincinnati community and the number of times that they have been stopped for traffic violations, one finds that there is a large […]
Searches in the Criminal Justice System The reasoning behind this lies in the mobility of vehicles which can enable the owners of the vehicles to tamper with the probable evidence should a warrant be necessary to conduct a search of the […]
The Criminal Justice Funnel and Globalization There are several cases in the initial stages of the criminal process which are then eliminated as the process continues to the top.
The History and Transformation of Criminal Justice System The State Police seeks the help of the local police divisions for the search of the criminals and arrest of them to announce sentence according to the Code of |Criminal Procedure applied and observed by […]
How Is the Criminal Justice System Portrayed in the News? In the case it is underrepresented, it means that the news has not been depicted in full and in a truthful manner and in accordance with the wishes of the American people.
Criminal Justice Reform in the Black Community A progressive change of the United States’ drug policy is a fundamental step in the restoration of the criminal justice system.
Key Social Issues Affecting Criminal Justice Professionals The absence of a decline in this percentage suggests that the criminal justice system has not been effective in addressing this issue. The criminal justice system has failed to decrease crime rates due to the […]
California’s Criminal Justice System, Problems and Solutions The attention is focused on the fact that even though the system is designed to lower the recidivism rate and help inmates in the future, rehabilitate, it is still ineffective.
Communication Databases and Criminal Justice System It will also expound on the positive and negative contributions of the databases due to the advancement in technology. Advancement in technology also poses immense challenges to members of the society.
Budget Reduction in Criminal Justice Administrations The mission of the police is to maintain law and order among the citizens. The main positive effect of this training is the ability of some members to provide security to the rest of the […]
Criminal Justice System in the United States Evolution The emergence of English common law in the period of the reign of Henry II had the biggest impact on the development of the criminal justice system in the United States.
Leadership and Management as Applied to Criminal Justice Organizations The differences between them are significant and crucial to understanding for executives to be able to reach the goals of a company.
Integrity and Its Place in Criminal Justice System It is plausible to say that Integrity is truthfulness; the truthfulness of one’s character. The integrity of a professional is not something that is personally his.
Criminal Justice Centralization and Decentralization This assignment briefly examines the issue of centralization and decentralization, overviewing the negative consequences of the attorney’s office funded by the state, as well as the advantages and disadvantages of the commission’s recommendations.
The Effects of Poverty Within Criminal Justice The approach used in this study is deductive since the reasoning in the study proceeds from the general principle regarding the fact that poverty has a role to play in the administering of fairness in […]
Ethics Theories in the Criminal Justice Field The gratuity that the public extend to officers and doormen within the criminal justice system has the capacity to spiral and develop a culture of exchange.
Criminal Justice System: Crime Scene Investigation A gas store employee, who was present in the time of the event, nodded to be the witness of the crime.
Criminal Justice Agency Records, Content & Secondary Data Analysis In this case, there is the need to ensure that the specifics of the statistics are very clear from the start.
Criminal Justice Experimentation: Threats to Validity Therefore it is becoming more and more evident that the threats to validity play a major role in the research and experimental designs.
Criminal Justice System: Halloween Party Accident But from the general point of view of the criminal justice system the main culprits were Tom Randell and Kelly Greene and it is obvious that they should be charged and prosecuted in the eyes […]
Criminal Justice System in Australia There have been fears that the criminal justice system in Australia is not as strong as it should be considering there have been lapses when dealing with gender, social class, and even racial matters.
Management in Criminal Justice and Related Areas One way of overcoming this is that the leaders need to properly hear out and understand the staff members and also listen to them.
The Criminal Justice Ethics Principles
Problem Analysis in the Criminal Justice System
Criminal Justice for Physically Injured Crime Victims
Washington County Court Services
Effects of Technology in Criminal Justice Systems
Research Methods in Criminal Justice and Criminology
Criminal Justice: Race, Age, and Gender Factors
Criminal Justice Agency Organizational Behavior
Determination of Professionalism in Criminal Justice Organizations
Forensic Science in the Criminal Justice System
Ethics in Criminal Justice
Criminal Justice System Representation in Media
Applied Research in Criminal Justice Profession
Diversity Training for Criminal Justice Employees
Criminal Justice Employees’ Rights and Laws
Administration of Criminal Justice Agencies
Policy and Criminal Justice
Criminal Justice Administration and Police Functions
Crime and Criminal Justice News
Women Working in the Criminal Justice System
Criminal Justice System and Inequilty in America
Criminal Justice Systems: Saudi Arabia, Germany and the US
Restorative Justice in the Criminal Justice Process
Gang Violence: Criminal Justice Research
Women and Minorities Recruits in Criminal Justice
Criminal Justice Process in the US
Military Trials: The Criminal Justice Procedures Violations
Criminal Justice Administration Issues
Johnnie Cochran’s Leadership in the Criminal Justice
Criminal Justice System: Racial Policy Change
Leadership Issues in the Criminal Justice System
Criminal Justice System Enforcement Issues
Key Criminal Justice Issues
Criminal Justice From the Historical Perspective
US Criminal Justice System, Theories and Methods
Criminal Justice in the Film “Gideon’s Trumpet”
Criminal Justice Policy in Action
Ethics in Criminal Justice: Moral Aspects
Ethics, Media and Criminal Justice
Psychology in Criminal Justice
Domestic Violence in International Criminal Justice
Criminal Justice Systems in the US, the UK, Norway
Media Influence on Criminal Justice and Community
Criminal Justice Process and Investigation Changes
Psychologist’s Roles in Criminal Justice System
Criminal Justice: Discipline, Liability and Labor Relations
Criminal Justice Policy Formulation Participants
Criminal Justice in Fisher vs. University of Texas
Bureaucracy and Criminal Justice Policies
International Criminal Justice and Atrocity
Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Trends
Criminal Justice From a Global Perspective
Antiterrorism Response Unit in Criminal Justice
Criminal Justice Administration
US Criminal Justice Information System
Technologies in Canadian Criminal Justice System
The Criminal Justice System Network
The Criminal Justice System Effective Communication
Criminal Justice in Canada
Criminal Justice Workplace Management
Organizational Behavior Concepts in the Criminal Justice
Criminal Justice Trends Evaluation
Mental Health Issues in the Criminal Justice System
Criminal Justice System. Deterrence and Incarceration
Forensic Psychology Guidelines for Criminal Justice
Death Penalty Role in the Criminal Justice System
Criminal Justice System Role in Curbing Crime Rates
People With Disabilities and Abuse of People With Disabilities and Criminal Justice
Politicization of Criminal Justice & its Influence on Penal Policy: A Critical Discussion
The Death Penalty in the US Criminal Justice System
Social and Criminal Justice Responses to Sex Work
Foster Care in the Criminal Justice System
Death Penalty: Every For and Against
Racism in U.S. Criminal Justice System
The Many Faces of Criminal Justice: What Concerns Students Face Most Often
Techniques for Influencing Criminal Justice System Change
Criminal Justice Department
Young Offenders and the Criminal Justice System
Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement
A Short Guide to the Criminal Justice System
Delphi Survey Method in the Criminal Justice System
Criminal Justice
What Does the Future Hold for the Criminal Justice System?
How Does the Criminal Justice System Respond to White Collar and Corporate Crime?
What Makes the Criminal Justice System So Slow?
Does the Criminal Justice System Work?
How Are Computers Essential in Criminal Justice Field?
Are Individual Mental Health Issues Treated Fairly by the Criminal Justice System?
What Should the Criminal Justice System Do With Drug Abusers?
How Might Crime Data Be Used as either Predictor for Crime or Used by Criminal Justice Professionals?
Does the Criminal Justice System Depend on the Disparities of the People That It Serves?
How Does Criminal Justice System Work and How Does It Have Problems?
Are Males and Females Treated Differently in the Criminal Justice System?
How Did the Current Criminal Justice System in the US Evolve?
Does the Criminal Justice System Extend More Rights to Criminal Defendants?
How Does Society Shape the Experiences of the Criminal Justice?
Are Youth Offenders Responsive to Changing Sanctions?
How Does the Australian Criminal Justice System Respond to Domestic Violence?
Does the Criminal Justice System Have a Gendered Response Towards Filicide When It Comes to Punishing the Offender?
How Does the Criminal Justice System Respond to Illicit Drugs?
Should the Criminal Justice System Be the Primary Solution to Drug Problems in Australia?
How Does Our Criminal Justice System Reflect the U.S. Constitution?
Should the Death Penalty Be Used in the Criminal Justice System?
How Does Television Depict the Criminal Justice System?
Should the Texas Criminal Justice System Be Legal?
How Does the Criminal Justice System Deals With Sex Offenders?
What Are Effective Writing Principles for Criminal Justice Professionals in Their Respective Communications?
How Does the Criminal Justice System Respond to Organized Crime Within Our Society?
What Are the Major Components of the Criminal Justice System?
How Can the Past Assist the Modern Criminal Justice System?
What Are the Three Most Challenging Issues of Criminal Justice?
Why Are Confidentiality and Ethics Important in Investigating the Legal Concerns of the Criminal Justice and Criminology?
Domestic Violence Paper Topics
Computer Forensics Essay Topics
Drug Trafficking Research Topics
Crime Prevention Research Topics
Forensic Psychology Research Topics
Criminal Procedure Titles
Human Rights Essay Ideas
Mass Incarceration Essay Topics
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Chicago (N-B)

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Graduate Application Guide for Criminal Justice Majors

Criminal justice students explore the creation, interpretation, and implementation of legal systems in the United States. Learners study legal procedures at the local, state, and federal levels. Graduates often work as police officers, lawyers, and forensic investigators.

The guide below includes crucial information on how to apply for graduate school.

While a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice qualifies graduates for most entry-level law enforcement and legal positions, master’s degree holders are more competitive candidates for most roles. The guide below includes crucial information on how to apply for graduate school. Keep reading to learn the basic steps for applying to graduate school, including completing prerequisites, taking the GRE, writing a personal statement, crafting a resume, and securing letters of recommendation.

Criminal Justice Graduate Program Prerequisites

Do i need a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice to earn a criminal justice graduate degree.

Applying to graduate school in any discipline requires a bachelor’s degree. However, most criminal justice programs do not require applicants to have majored in criminal justice. Applicants to criminal justice graduate schools may have bachelor’s degrees in areas such as psychology, information technology, social work, or forensic nursing. Non-criminal justice majors should, however, be proficient in statistics, research methods, public policy, forensic science, and sociology.

Students without sufficient experience in relevant subject areas can typically earn certificates of completion in specific classes to gain the academic experience necessary to attend criminal justice graduate schools. Some online graduate schools and most community colleges offer certificates of completion.

Applicants must hold a bachelor’s degree from a nationally or regionally accredited institution; graduate schools do not recognize degrees earned from schools without accreditation. However, because no professional organizations accredit criminal justice programs, undergraduates only need to ensure their school holds institutional accreditation.

Is Work Experience a Prerequisite to a Criminal Justice Graduate Program?

Although not all criminal justice graduate schools require applicants to have work experience, some do. In any case, professional experience strengthens a student’s application. Many criminal justice master’s programs include fieldwork, during which students work in professional positions related to their career interests; work experience demonstrates an applicant’s ability to succeed in a professional setting. Work experience in criminal justice roles, such as experience as a paralegal, a police officer, or a forensic nurse, is especially valuable for applicants with an undergraduate degree in a discipline other than criminal justice; professional experience in the field illustrates the applicant’s passion and skill for the subject.

Do I Have to Take the GRE to Apply to a Graduate Program in Criminal Justice?

The GRE is the most widely accepted standardized test for students applying to graduate school and comprises three sections: verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, and analytical writing

Most graduate programs, including criminal justice programs, require applicants to submit Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) scores. The GRE is the most widely accepted standardized test for students applying to graduate school and comprises three sections: verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, and analytical writing. Test takers must interpret written material, solve problems using foundational mathematical concepts, and compose analytical essays. The GRE measures each test taker’s readiness for master’s and doctoral programs.

The GRE costs $205 for U.S. applicants. A fee reduction program is available for eligible students who demonstrate financial need. While the GRE is a common admissions requirement, some applicants may qualify for a GRE waiver from their institution.

While graduate programs commonly require applicants to submit GRE scores, most schools recognize that standardized test scores do not perfectly measure an applicant’s ability to succeed in graduate school. An increasing number of schools do not require GRE scores and evaluate applications holistically. Applicants with exceptional GPAs and extensive work experience can sometimes apply to graduate programs without taking the GRE.

Exceptional students who do not perform well on standardized tests or who have extensive professional experience often benefit by applying to a program that offers GRE waivers or to one that does not require GRE scores. A GRE waiver allows students to apply to graduate programs without providing GRE scores. Students applying for waivers must typically document academic and work experience and must often provide a written essay demonstrating their proficiency in analytical and quantitative skills. Schools award waivers on a case-by-case basis, and qualifying for a waiver does not guarantee admission to the program.

Breakdown of GRE Scores

Raw GRE scores range from 130 to 170 for verbal and quantitative reasoning and zero to six for analytical writing. Exam results also include verbal and quantitative reasoning scores presented as percentiles, which indicate the percentage of test takers who earned lower scores. Verbal and quantitative reasoning scores are available immediately after completing the test, while analytical writing scores are available online 10 to 15 days after completing the exam.

Identifying GRE scores that qualify as “good” can be difficult, since program and school requirements vary. According to the Educational Testing Service , which administers the GRE, criminal justice majors earned average scores of 153 in verbal reasoning, 151 in quantitative reasoning, and 3.9 in analytical writing during the 2017–2018 test year. Though most criminal justice programs do not have minimum score requirements, applicants with higher scores are more likely to gain admission. Since criminal justice curricula require proficiency in reading, mathematics, and writing, competitive applicants typically earn quantitative and verbal scores between 155 and 160 and writing scores of at least 3.5.

GRE Score Percentiles for 2017–2018
Scaled Score	Verbal Reasoning Percentile Rank	Quantitative Reasoning Percentile Rank
170	99	97
160	85	76
150	47	39
140	11	8

Graduate Application Requirements

Transcripts.

Transcripts are one of the most important components of a graduate school application. Schools use transcripts to evaluate an applicant’s ability to successfully complete graduate work. Most criminal justice graduate programs require applicants to have a minimum 3.0 GPA, although the top programs may require higher GPAs. Some schools emphasize the applicant’s GPA for their final 60 undergraduate credits, as these credits are often in upper-division major courses.

When students apply to graduate school, they must submit transcripts from all previous academic institutions, including study abroad programs and community colleges. Students can order transcripts through their institution’s registrar, and while some institutions send official transcripts for free, others charge for each copy. Applicants should order transcripts early, as transcripts can take days or weeks to reach the graduate school.

Test Scores

On test day, students can send four free score reports to schools of their choice. Test takers select destinations for reports after completing the exam but before seeing their scores. After test day, sending scores costs $27 per school. Students can send test scores through the Educational Testing Service website by entering the recipient school’s GRE institution code, which is available on most admissions websites. GRE scores are valid for five years.

Most criminal justice graduate schools admit applicants who demonstrate the ability to apply classroom knowledge in professional settings. Ideally, a strong resume for a criminal justice applicant would include experience in a law enforcement or legal profession. A weak resume may lack relevant professional experience, include gaps in work history, or include few supplementary activities, such as collegiate awards, volunteer experience, or publications.

Applicants can strengthen a weak resume by crafting their resume strategically. Those with gaps in employment history can include selected employment experience, rather than listing positions chronologically. Additionally, list only experiences that are relevant to criminal justice, including unpaid internships and volunteer positions. Applicants without sufficient professional experience should consider contacting the criminal justice program directly; some schools allow applicants to compensate for a lack of professional experience by enrolling in a criminal justice internship.

Essays and Personal Statements

A personal statement or admissions essay should illustrate the applicant’s goals for graduate study and describe why they are a good fit for the program. Though personal statements and admissions essays are similar, there are distinctions between them. Personal statements usually describe the applicant’s academic and professional background and explain their personal motivations for pursuing graduate study, while admissions essays generally respond to a specific prompt on a topic such as the applicant’s experience working with diverse populations. Applicants to criminal justice programs must often describe their motivations for pursuing graduate work, specific topics of interest within the criminal justice field, and faculty members with whom they want to work.

In essays and personal statements, applicants should demonstrate critical-thinking skills, self-awareness, and a passion for the field. To write an engaging essay, avoid general, vague statements. Consider telling a story illustrating your passion for criminal justice. An applicant may describe an experience working in the criminal justice field, how this experience clarified their professional goals, and how they plan to achieve these goals through graduate studies.

Applicants should complete the essay, even if it’s optional; a personal statement is a valuable opportunity for applicants to describe their strengths. California State University provides examples of successful criminal justice personal statements.

Letters of Recommendation

Letters of recommendation provide objective opinions on an applicant’s academic, professional, and personal achievements. Letters typically come from former professors or employers, but many schools have specific instructions regarding who can submit recommendations. Applicants should choose recommenders who can provide specific examples of their success as a student or employee in areas relevant to criminal justice, such as psychology professors or heads of law offices. Friends or relatives are never acceptable recommenders.

A recommender should write about the applicant’s accomplishments that are most relevant to criminal justice. For instance, a recommender who is a lawyer the applicant worked under as a paralegal should focus on how the applicant succeeded in that specific role and how the experience prepared the applicant for graduate studies. Since writing these letters takes time, students should approach prospective recommenders early in the application process; a last-minute request can result in a refusal or a poor recommendation.

English Proficiency Tests

English proficiency tests measure a test taker’s ability to comprehend written and spoken English and to communicate with native English speakers. Most programs require international applicants from non-English-speaking countries to complete an English proficiency test.

The most widely accepted English proficiency tests are the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), and the Test of English for International Communication (TOEIC). Each test includes listening, speaking, reading, and writing components. The TOEFL is designed to evaluate the test taker’s ability to communicate in academic and classroom settings, while the TOEIC tests English proficiency in professional environments. The IELTS includes an academic test and an exam for general immigrants. The academic-focused IELTS requires test takers to participate in classroom scenarios, performing tasks such as listening to a lecture, engaging in discussion, and interpreting written passages.

Background Check and Drug Screening

Criminal justice master’s programs often require applicants to successfully pass drug tests and/or background checks. Usually, students must do so to participate in field experience internships or clinical courses. This measure not only ensures the ability of each student to act responsibly—internships, for instance, often place students in law enforcement roles, while labs can deal with illicit substances—but also simulates the real-world background checks and drug tests that most criminal justice jobs require.

How Do You Apply to Graduate School in Criminal Justice?

Knowing how to apply to graduate school can be difficult, as each school has unique requirements. However, the application processes for most schools have some similarities.

Typically, application deadlines are between November 1 and January 31 the year before enrollment. However, many criminal justice master’s programs offer multiple deadlines for start dates in the fall, winter, spring, and summer. Since there is no common application for graduate school and each application requires individual attention, applicants should begin writing personal statements and requesting letters of recommendation and transcripts at least four months before the application deadline. Additionally, applicants should register for standardized tests four to six months before the application deadline to ensure scores arrive on time.

Most applications are available online. Criminal justice programs typically charge application fees between $30 and $50, although many offer free applications or fee waivers for students who demonstrate financial need. Graduate schools usually allow college seniors to apply before completing their final semester of undergraduate coursework and occasionally accept letters of recommendation after the submission deadline.

Rolling Admissions

Rolling admissions refers to an application evaluation style in which colleges consider applications as they receive them, rather than waiting until after a deadline. Generally, colleges with rolling admissions accept and evaluate applications until the program is full. For some schools, rolling admissions is a year-long process; others accept candidates on a rolling basis until a final deadline; still others have multiple rolling deadlines for various start times. The most consistent rule for rolling admissions is to apply as early as possible, when competition is less intense and more financial aid is available.

The flexibility of rolling admissions is convenient for applicants with full-time jobs or family obligations. Also, many programs with rolling admissions offer multiple start dates, allowing students to begin classes at the most convenient time for them. Rolling admissions is the most common evaluation method for criminal justice programs, although some schools use rounds admissions.

Rounds Admissions

Colleges that use a rounds admissions process consider applications in stages. Programs evaluate and accept applications submitted before an initial deadline and then repeat the process for subsequent deadlines. The rounds admissions process usually involves three deadlines; however, some schools offer only two deadlines, and others offer five or more.

Programs that use a rounds admissions process fill the majority of spots and offer the bulk of available financial aid during the first two rounds. The odds of acceptance decrease with each round, so students who apply early are at an advantage. Applying during the first round can be difficult, as the deadline may be in early September; second rounds often have deadlines in January.

Applying to a school that uses rounds admissions can be challenging, as applicants feel pressure to apply by set deadlines. However, the firm deadlines motivate some applicants. The rounds admissions process is most common for business schools; criminal justice programs are more likely to use rolling admissions.

The decision timelines for criminal justice graduate schools vary; some programs notify students within four to six weeks, while others require months. Prospective students who apply in December or January typically receive decisions by March.

Students should consider how their academic interests align with each program’s curriculum and faculty.

Students accepted by multiple schools should take their time choosing the best program for their needs. Students should consider how their academic interests align with each program’s curriculum and faculty. They should also evaluate available financial aid packages.

Often, criminal justice programs require students to concentrate in a field such as behavioral science, substance abuse, or conflict and crisis management, and many criminal justice students must complete an internship or field experience. Students should contact the department for information about specific program requirements.

Rejection can be disappointing and frustrating, but it is also a valuable learning opportunity. Applicants who do not receive admission can show their personal statement to professors and mentors for constructive feedback. They may also consider and refine their academic and career goals and establish a firm timeline for their next round of applications.

Take the next step toward your future in criminal justice.

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CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice

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Guide to the master’s essay in criminal justice

A master's essay is a scholarly paper demonstrating a student's understanding of the issues and research surrounding a particular topic in criminology and criminal justice. The essay follows the completion of all coursework and is guided by a faculty advisor. The finished product is an essay that displays a thorough understanding and mastery of the research topic.

After consultation with your faculty essay advisor, you should submit the master's essay form to the academic services officer, who will then complete an override allowing you to register for three essay credits (CRJ 7999).

Choosing an essay topic and advisor

Students choosing the essay option should approach a faculty member regarding essay advising the semester prior to beginning work on the essay. Choose up to three areas of criminology/criminal justice that you would like to investigate in-depth. You will eventually choose only one and narrow that topic in consultation with your essay advisor. Think about topics in your classes that interest you and begin reading articles and books on the topics.

Knowledge of current research in the area will help you narrow your topic and present a more coherent proposal to prospective advisors. Students who wish to pursue a topic on which they have had no coursework should consider working with a faculty member on the topic through a Directed Study (CRJ 7990) before beginning the essay.

Contact a faculty member whose area of specialization most closely matches your preferred topic. Describe your plans and ask if he or she would be willing to work with you on the project. If he or she accepts, you will begin negotiating the terms of the essay. After submitting your essay form you will be able to register for CRJ 7999 for three credits. If the faculty member declines, contact another professor or begin the process again with a different topic. Students unsure of whom to approach should consult with the graduate director regarding potential faculty advisors.

The essay advisor-student relationship is an agreement between the student and the faculty member. You will negotiate the topic, scope, approximate length, due dates, and any other aspects of the essay deemed necessary.

Writing your essay

Researching and writing the essay typically requires students' complete commitment without other coursework for at least one full semester. Follow the plan agreed upon with your essay advisor. Keep in contact, letting your advisor know of your progress, difficulties, and successes. Work on the essay requires intensive research and writing, revision, and refinement. Follow the American Psychological Association (APA) style guidelines for formatting your essay. The essay is complete when the essay advisor determines that the finished product displays a thorough understanding and mastery of the research topic and is of sufficient quality to warrant the awarding of a master's degree.

You must receive a grade of B- or better on the essay.

Important deadlines/submitting your essay

Be sure to apply for your degree on Academica by no later than the fourth week of classes in the semester you expect to complete your essay.

Check with the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (313-577-5188) regarding their deadline for submission of the essay . Then contact your essay advisor to determine his/her deadline, allowing sufficient time for him/her to read and grade the essay by the college deadline. The deadline is usually several weeks before the end of the semester, so you must work with your advisor to plan your timeline accordingly.

Make sure your essay conforms to the American Psychological Association (APA) style guidelines.

Make sure your essay's format, binding and cover page conform to the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences guidelines for the master's essay .

Submit two copies of your essay (one for the college and one for the department) to your essay advisor.

Your essay advisor will grade your essay.

Other resources

If you have difficulties with your writing, you may want to work with a copy editor or visit The Writing Center .

The department recommends the following book as a guide to writing an essay: W.A. Johnson, Rettig, R.P., Scott, G.M., and Garrison, S.M. (2005). The Criminal Justice Student Writer's Manual (3rd ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.

Sample essays are available for review by arrangement with the academic services officer at 313-577-0772.

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Sample Application Essay for Criminal Justice Degree
Sample Application Essay for Criminal Justice Degree. Instructions:I am seventeen years old and would be the first of 3 brothers including parents to attend a four year college pursuing a degree in criminal justice. Played basketball in as a ninth grader played football in 10th and 11th grade. Community service - special olympics, batter ...
Why I Chose Criminal Justice [Admission Essay Example]
Why I Chose Criminal Justice. The decision to choose a major that aligns with one's passions and aspirations is of paramount importance. For me, the choice was crystal clear - Criminal Justice. This unique discipline captivates my interest due to its multifaceted nature, societal relevance, and potential to effect positive change.
Why I Choose Criminal Justice as My Major
This is an essay about criminal justice where I will explaine why i chose criminal justice as my major. What stimulates me most about Criminology is the interdisciplinary study of crime. The ongoing development and advancement of the government in conjunction with evolution of the institutions, is advancing in ways and taking new measures like ...
Prepare Your Application
To submit a competitive application: Consider the wants/needs of the opportunity you're applying to. Identify the values and mission of the organizations you are applying to. This info is often on the opportunity posting, but if not, you'll want to conduct additional research about the organization. Read the position posting very carefully.
Freshman Application
Step 2. Submit Your Non-refundable Application Fee or Waiver. Submit your non-refundable $65 application fee online with a credit or debit card or by sending a check or money order to CUNY/UAPC. Students sending a check or money order, may submit a money order payable to "CUNY" to the address listed below. Write your CUNYfirst ID number on ...
Criminology & Criminal Justice Personal Statement Example
Criminology & Criminal Justice Personal Statement Example
Undergrad Application and Transfer Guide
Applying to criminal justice college programs can be a lengthy and stressful process for both first-time and transfer students. Before applying, aspiring students should determine what they want in a school, and seek out institutions that fit their needs, taking into account geographic location, online options, academic programs, tuition and financial aid opportunities, and overall ...
Criminal Justice Application Essay Sample
Decent Essays. 610 Words. 3 Pages. Open Document. Once I decided to continue my education I begun seeking colleges here in New Orleans. I always worked in the law enforcement field so I decided to major in Criminal Justice. During my search for best college I realized that Southern University at New Orleans had an incredible Criminal Justice ...
Crimonology Personal Statement Examples
Common App Essay Examples . Universal College Application Guide . How To Write A College Admissions Essay. In this section. College Rankings. ... Thinking about humanity nowadays and people's preoccupations made me realise the huge impact that crimes and criminal justice have on their decisions and the way they receive and react at the details ...
SAT Guide
Most college-bound high school students in the United States who aspire to study criminal justice must take the SAT or the ACT, or both, as part of their college application process. These exams measure students' college readiness and play a role in the admissions process. Still, students should remember that universities also consider grades, personal ...
What You Need to Know About Becoming a Criminal Justice and Corrections
What You Need to Know About Becoming a Criminal ...
PDF Applying to John Jay College of Criminal Justice
If you applied to more than one CUNY college, you will receive a "letter of acceptance" from each college that accepts you. Next, you will receive a "letter of commitment" from these colleges. At this point, you will have to choose the college that you wish to attend. APPLYING TO JOHN JAY COLLEGE OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE A GUIDE
29 Best Colleges for Criminal Justice
Here's a quick preview of the first ten criminal justice institutions that made our list. Detailed profiles and stats can be found when you scroll below. 1) University of California, Irvine. 2) Florida State University. 3) University of Maryland, College Park. 4) University of Pennsylvania. 5) Arizona State University.
John Jay College of Criminal Justice Admission Requirements
The average SAT score composite at John Jay College of Criminal Justice is a 990 on the 1600 SAT scale. This score makes John Jay College of Criminal Justice Lightly Competitive for SAT test scores. John Jay College of Criminal Justice SAT Score Analysis (New 1600 SAT) The 25th percentile SAT score is 920, and the 75th percentile SAT score is 1060.
Apply
Spring applicants: September 15. The Macaulay Honors College: November 16. International students may apply after these deadlines. Please contact [email protected]. Note: Applications will not be reviewed until the application, application fee (or waiver) and supporting documents are submitted.
Top 41 Criminal Justice Scholarships in September 2024
Niche $25,000 "No Essay" Scholarship. Offered by Niche. Easy Application. 1 award worth $25,000. Deadline Sep 30, 2024. Grade Level All Grade Levels. Apply. Easy scholarship open to all high school and college students, as well as anyone looking to attend college or graduate school in the next year!
Accepted Freshmen
To enroll as a Freshman, follow the steps below: 1. Accept our Offer of Admission. To ensure that you have a seat, you must accept our offer of admission in CUNYfirst and submit a non-refundable, non-transferable $100* commitment deposit. This deposit will be applied toward your tuition charges.
304 Criminal Justice Essay Topics & Examples
Criminal Justice: Burglary, Theft, and Criminal Trespass. According to Section 2C:15-1, robbery is a first-degree crime if, in the course of committing the theft, the actor attempts to kill anyone or purposefully attempts to inflict serious bodily injury. Code of Criminal Justice: False Imprisonment.
CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice Admission Requirements
1090. SAT 25th-75th. 1020 - 1160. Students Submitting SAT. 97%. Math. Average (25th - 75th) 510 - 580. Reading and Writing.
Freshman Admission Requirements
Freshman Admission Requirements. All incoming freshmen are required to obtain their diploma from an accredited high school, equivalency diploma, or from a United States Armed Forces Institute. Freshmen applicants are considered for admission based on their: High school academic average. College readiness in reading, writing and mathematics.
Graduate Application Guide for Criminal Justice Majors
Criminal justice students explore the creation, interpretation, and implementation of legal systems in the United States. Learners study legal procedures at the local, state, and federal levels. Graduates often work as police officers, lawyers, and forensic investigators. The guide below includes crucial information on how to apply for graduate school. While a bachelor's degree in ...
CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice
Admissions; Essay prompt; Your chances- ... Admission policy. Co-ed. International students. 3%. Enrolled breakdown by gender. Women: 68%. Men: 32%. Race & ethnicity diversity ... CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice is a public school in New York with 13,100 total undergraduate students
Guide to the master's essay in criminal justice
A master's essay is a scholarly paper demonstrating a student's understanding of the issues and research surrounding a particular topic in criminology and criminal justice. The essay follows the completion of all coursework and is guided by a faculty advisor. The finished product is an essay that displays a thorough understanding and mastery of ...