Criminal Justice Schools in New Jersey

Schools, Careers and Criminal Justice Resources for Students

Students looking to earn their degree from a criminal justice school in New Jersey have a multitude of career paths to pursue. From making sure underserved individuals are well-represented in court to investigating the cause of crimes and fires, a degree in criminal justice can get New Jersey students on their way to fulfilling careers in the legal and protective services industry. Prospective students can use this guide to find the best New Jersey criminal justice schools, learn about the state’s fastest growing careers and access additional resources to help inform them on various criminal justice fields.

Best Criminal Justice Schools in New Jersey

OUR METHODOLOGY+

To be considered for this ranking, schools were required to meet the following criteria:

  • Accredited at the institutional level
  • Private nonprofit or public school
  • Minimum of 1 bachelor’s or master’s degree in subject area for 4-year schools
  • Minimum of 1 associate degree or certificate program in subject area for 2-year schools

Schools were then scored on factors such as:

  • Cost & Financial Aid
  • Number and variety of program offerings
  • Student-teacher ratios
  • Graduation rates (4-year schools only)
  • Placement and support services offered
  • Academic/Career counseling services
  • Employment services
  • Loan default rates

These factors were assembled for each school and rated using a peer-based-value (PBV) calculation. PBV compares the cost of a program to the cost of other programs with the same (or similar) qualitative score and cost. PBV denotes the overall value or “bang for your buck” of a college or degree program.

New Jersey may look small, but the state offers many colleges where students can earn a criminal justice education. Prospective students can reference this rankings list to find the best criminal justice schools in New Jersey. These schools were chosen based on a combination of multiple factors, like tuition, student-teacher ratio, acceptance rate and total enrollment.

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MOST POPULAR CRIMINAL JUSTICE CAREERS IN NEW JERSEY

Whether graduates are interested in pursuing legal careers, like paralegal work, or protective services careers, like joining New Jersey’s police force, New Jersey there are an array of career opportunities for students who earn their degrees in criminal justice. The table below details the most popular criminal justice careers in New Jersey and the minimum education needed to pursue them.

Police, Sheriff & Highway Patrol Officers

  • Total Employed in New Jersey22,810
  • Median Salary in New Jersey$93,590
  • Degree Level Required in New JerseyVaries; up to Bachelor’s

Correctional Officer

  • Total Employed in New Jersey10,610
  • Median Salary in New Jersey$73,760
  • Degree Level Required in New JerseyCertification

Compliance Officer

  • Total Employed in New Jersey8,770
  • Median Salary in New Jersey$75,170
  • Degree Level Required in New JerseyBachelor’s

Paralegal and Legal Assistant

  • Total Employed in New Jersey7,090
  • Median Salary in New Jersey$55,300
  • Degree Level Required in New JerseyAssociate

Court, Municipal and License Clerks

  • Total Employed in New Jersey4,630
  • Median Salary in New Jersey$46,850
  • Degree Level Required in New JerseyVaries; up to Bachelor’s

Detectives and Criminal Investigators

  • Total Employed in New Jersey3,000
  • Median Salary in New Jersey$100,850
  • Degree Level Required in New JerseyAssociate

Probation Officer

  • Total Employed in New Jersey2,880
  • Median Salary in New Jersey$73,800
  • Degree Level Required in New JerseyBachelor’s

WHERE TO GET HIRED FOR CRIMINAL JUSTICE IN NEW JERSEY

New Jersey’s highly concentrated population calls for many qualified criminal justice professionals. Perhaps unsurprisingly, most legal and protective services professionals find work in Newark, New Jersey’s largest city. However, other parts of the state also show high employment numbers for criminal justice school grads. Take a look at the map bellow to find which areas of New Jersey employ the most legal and protective service workers and the average wages in each.

  • Protective Services
    Potential Employers
    Camden Courthouse; New Jersey Department of Corrections; Ocean County Sheriff’s Office; New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection’s Division of Fish and Wildlife; Newark Parking Authority; New Jersey State Troopers; New Jersey Transit; East Newark School District; Union County Parks and Recreation; Newark Liberty International Airport
    Total Number of Employees in New Jersey: 106,490
  • Legal Occupations
    Potential Employers
    Middlesex County Courthouse; New Jersey Office of Administrative Law; New Jersey Mediation Group; private law firms; corporate offices; William Brennan Courthouse
    Total Number of Employees in New Jersey: 31,220

PROFESSIONAL RESOURCES FOR CRIMINAL JUSTICE IN NEW JERSEY

BUSINESS COMPLIANCE RESOURCES

CORRECTIONAL RESOURCES

COURT & JUDICIAL RESOURCES

LEGAL RESOURCES

LAW ENFORCEMENT RESOURCES

WILDLIFE & ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES