Criminal Justice Schools in Virginia

Schools, Career Options and Resources for Students in Virginia

The criminal justice field is made up of many rewarding jobs—some of which students can begin training for by obtaining a degree from criminal justice schools in Virginia. From police patrolmen to state Supreme Court justices and everyone in between, each professional plays a role in making the system work, and criminal justice programs can lay the founded students need to fulfill that role. Continue reading this page to find out which careers are popular among graduates, as well as their earning potential and projected job growth.

Sponsored Criminal Justice Programs

Explore programs of your interests with the high-quality standards and flexibility you need to take your career to the next level.

VIRGINIA’S TOP-RANKING CRIMINAL JUSTICE SCHOOLS

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.

Wondering which criminal justice schools in Virginia are among the best? Use the ranking tool below to find out. This resource allows users to find the most reputable programs based on tuition rates, teacher-student ratios, and enrollment numbers. Explore the top criminal justice schools in the state for 2017 below.

POPULAR CRIMINAL JUSTICE JOBS IN VIRGINIA

Salaries and job opportunities are huge considerations for students earning degrees from criminal justice schools in Virginia. The table below provides that information by outlining how many people are employed in specific criminal justice jobs and the average median salaries for these positions. Also, there is information on the level of education required to obtain employment in different careers.

Police, Sheriff & Highway Patrol Officers

  • Total Employed in Virginia17,920
  • Median Salary in Virginia$49,860
  • Degree Level Required in VirginiaAcademy Program

Correctional Officer

  • Total Employed in Virginia13,780
  • Median Salary in Virginia$35,030
  • Degree Level Required in VirginiaCertification

Paralegal and Legal Assistant

  • Total Employed in Virginia8,370
  • Median Salary in Virginia$49,520
  • Degree Level Required in VirginiaVaries; up to Bachelor’s

Compliance Officer

  • Total Employed in Virginia7,070
  • Median Salary in Virginia$67,990
  • Degree Level Required in VirginiaBachelor’s

Detectives and Criminal Investigators

  • Total Employed in Virginia3,380
  • Median Salary in Virginia$86,720
  • Degree Level Required in VirginiaVaries; up to Bachelor’s

Probation Officer

  • Total Employed in Virginia2,930
  • Median Salary in Virginia$42,560
  • Degree Level Required in VirginiaBachelor’s

Court, Municipal and License Clerks

  • Total Employed in Virginia1,970
  • Median Salary in Virginia$34,000
  • Degree Level Required in VirginiaVaries; up to Bachelor’s

VIRGINIA VERSUS NATIONAL AVERAGES: CRIMINAL JUSTICE CAREER STATISTICS

Students attending criminal justice schools in Virginia need to have confidence that they’ll get a return on their tuition investment. The good news is, some of the most popular careers command salaries that rival national averages and have stronger growth potential. Review the tables below for more information on national and state-specific salary statistics and job growth projections.

[chart block]

EMPLOYERS IN VIRGINIA LOOKING TO HIRE CRIMINAL JUSTICE GRADUATES

Wondering where the jobs are? Want to know which areas of Virginia pay the highest wages? The table below provides that information. Find out which locations have the most employees and the highest salaries for protective service and legal positions. In addition, there is a list of some organizations where criminal justice graduates may be able to find employment.

LARGEST AREAS OF EMPLOYMENT IN DESCENDING ORDER

Protective service

Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News

Richmond

Southwest Virginia nonmetropolitan area

Roanoke

Southside Virginia nonmetropolitan area

Legal service

Richmond

Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News

Roanoke

Charlottesville

Southwest Virginia nonmetropolitan area

PROFESSIONAL RESOURCES FOR CRIMINAL JUSTICE IN VIRGINIA

BUSINESS COMPLIANCE RESOURCES

CORRECTIONAL RESOURCES

COURT & JUDICIAL RESOURCES

LEGAL RESOURCES

LAW ENFORCEMENT RESOURCES

WILDLIFE & ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES