Best Criminal Justice Schools in Washington
Academic and Professional Resources in Washington for Criminal Justice Students
Start making changes in your career and your community with a degree from a criminal justice school in Washington. Employers in every corner of Washington, from Spokane to Walla Walla to the Olympic Peninsula, are looking for qualified individuals with strong backgrounds in criminal justice. A degree from a criminal justice school in Washington can help new applicants stand out and can improve a current employee’s qualifications and performance. Continue reading to learn what schools best fit your needs and to explore the different career fields available.
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WASHINGTON’S BEST 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.The criminal justice field encompasses a wide variety of professions that call for different academic requirements. To help students narrow down this search and find the best school or program for them, we have ranked schools across the country based on a variety of current criteria important to students, such as up-to-date tuition costs, total enrollment, student-to-teacher ratio, and acceptance rates. Explore the top-ranking criminal justice schools and programs for 2017 here.
PREVALENT WASHINGTON CRIMINAL JUSTICE CAREERS
A degree in criminal justice can help you join a variety of careers in Washington, from vital law-enforcement jobs to fields related to the function of the state’s court system. Start exploring your options by looking at the most popular jobs in Washington’s criminal justice fields; the table below shows some of these careers with along with the number of individuals working in Washington, the median salary, and the degree level typically required.
Police, Sheriff & Highway Patrol Officers
- Total Employed in Washington8,770
- Median Salary in Washington$74,950
- Degree Level Required in WashingtonAcademy Program
Correctional Officer
- Total Employed in Washington6,470
- Median Salary in Washington$46,790
- Degree Level Required in WashingtonCertification
Compliance Officer
- Total Employed in Washington6,300
- Median Salary in Washington$68,970
- Degree Level Required in WashingtonBachelor’s
Paralegal and Legal Assistant
- Total Employed in Washington5,160
- Median Salary in Washington$56,080
- Degree Level Required in WashingtonVaries; up to Bachelor’s
Court, Municipal and License Clerks
- Total Employed in Washington3,270
- Median Salary in Washington$44,890
- Degree Level Required in WashingtonVaries; up to Bachelor’s
Detectives and Criminal Investigators
- Total Employed in Washington2,350
- Median Salary in Washington$79,550
- Degree Level Required in WashingtonVaries; up to Bachelor’s
Probation Officer
- Total Employed in Washington2,100
- Median Salary in Washington$53,750
- Degree Level Required in WashingtonBachelor’s
SIDE BY SIDE: HOW WASHINGTON COMPARES FOR CRIMINAL JUSTICE CAREERS
Criminal justice graduates in Washington are greeted with an exceptionally strong job market in a large range of careers. Indeed, Forbes named Washington the second-best state to make a living in for 2015. That comes as no surprise when you consider that many Washington careers have annual salaries and growth rates above the national average.
Salary
| Job | National | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Police, Sheriff’s Patrol Officers | 62,760 | 76,340 |
| Correctional Officers | 46,750 | 52,930 |
| Fire Inspectors and Investigators | 61,660 | 87,690 |
| Paralegals | 53,180 | 59,590 |
| Detectives, Criminal Investigators | 81,490 | 83,050 |
| Transit and Railroad Police | 47,610 | 67,850 |
| Judicial Law Clerks | 58,920 | 59,840 |
| Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers | 93,140 | 100,120 |
| Bailiffs | 45,740 | 52,170 |
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2015
Job Growth
| Job | National | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Court Reporters | 0.015 | 0.242 |
| Court, Municipal, and License Clerks | 0.045 | 0.138 |
| Police, Sheriff’s Patrol Officers | 0.05 | 0.11 |
| Private Detectives and Investigators | 0.011 | 0.081 |
| Paralegals and Legal Assistants | 0.076 | 0.084 |
| Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers | -0.036 | 0.025 |
| Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists | 0.011 | 0.066 |
| Lawyers | 0.056 | 0.095 |
| Judges, Magistrates, and Magistrates | 0.006 | 0.106 |
| Animal Control Workers | 0.058 | 0.167 |
Source: Projections Central, 2015
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS WITH A CRIMINAL JUSTICE DEGREE IN WASHINGTON
Criminal justice graduates have a wide range of options in Washington state for potential careers, from patrol officers on quiet streets of Davenport to paralegals in downtown Seattle. Some of these careers are on the protective services side, while others are more closely involved with the court system. Overall, there are a variety of ways to put a criminal justice degree to work in Washington.
LARGEST AREAS OF EMPLOYMENT IN DESCENDING ORDER
Protective service
Seattle-Bellevue
Vancouver
Tacoma-Lakewood
Spokane-Spokane Valley
Southwest Washington nonmetropolitan area
Legal service
Seattle-Bellevue
Vancouver
Tacoma-Lakewood
Spokane-Spokane Valley
Olympia-Tumwater
PROFESSIONAL RESOURCES FOR CRIMINAL JUSTICE IN WASHINGTON
BUSINESS COMPLIANCE RESOURCES
CORRECTIONAL RESOURCES
COURT & JUDICIAL RESOURCES
LEGAL RESOURCES
LAW ENFORCEMENT RESOURCES
WILDLIFE & ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES