Criminal justice can most simply be defined as a system of government institutions, laws, procedures, and policies that respond to crime and aim to deliver justice. Its role is not limited to prosecuting offenders; it also includes preventing crime, supporting victims, and, in many systems, rehabilitating people who have committed crimes.
Below, we will be discussing some notable criminal justice and criminology schools in the world.
Top Criminal Justice Schools in the World
1. John Jay College of Criminal Justice
- Study Program
- Location: USA | Degrees Offered: Bachelor’s, Master’s, and PhD
John Jay College of Criminal Justice is a public college of the City University of New York (CUNY). Its roots go back to a police science program established in 1954, and the college is now known for justice-centered education and liberal arts study. John Jay focuses heavily on criminal justice and related fields while emphasizing values such as diversity, equity, integrity, and respect.
This college offers undergraduate and graduate pathways related to criminal justice, criminology, forensic science, forensic psychology, public administration, and related areas. Students can pursue bachelor’s and master’s degrees at John Jay, while the CUNY Graduate Center’s PhD Program in Criminal Justice is housed at John Jay.
2. Liberty University
Liberty University is a private Christian university in Lynchburg, Virginia, founded in 1971. This university offers criminal justice programs at several levels, including associate, bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral, and certificate options, depending on the program. Students can also find transfer-oriented and online pathways in the field of criminal justice.
When it comes to undergraduate criminal justice studies, this university provides a foundation for understanding major issues that affect the U.S. criminal justice system. Its graduate and doctoral criminal justice programs focus more deeply on research, policy, practice, and leadership. Liberty lists criminal justice options in both residential and online formats, while several graduate and doctoral criminal justice programs, including the PhD in Criminal Justice, are offered online.
3. University of California – Irvine
The School of Social Ecology is a school at the public University of California, Irvine, where its Department of Criminology, Law and Society can be found. This criminal justice and criminology-related school offers undergraduate and graduate study options, including undergraduate study in Criminology, Law and Society, primarily online master’s programs, and a PhD in Criminology, Law and Society.
The department’s undergraduate studies offer an understanding of the social, cultural, political, and economic forces that interact with the law, giving students a strong foundation for later studies in criminology, criminal justice, or law. Its graduate programs are designed for students and professionals who want to apply criminological and legal knowledge in research, public policy, government, education, and related fields.
4. Florida State University
The College of Criminology and Criminal Justice is one of the colleges of Florida State University. It is one of the most established programs in this field, and Florida State states that it is home to the nation’s oldest PhD program in criminology, founded in 1958. This college offers campus-based bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral study options, as well as online bachelor’s and master’s programs.
Undergraduate studies at this college are flexible, as students can pursue criminal justice coursework on campus or online, depending on their needs and program. These studies provide knowledge that can support a diverse range of career options. Graduate studies, on the other hand, are more focused on research, criminal behavior, criminological theory, public policy, and the public’s response to crime.
5. Northeastern University
Northeastern University is a private university in Boston, founded in 1898, where its School of Criminology and Criminal Justice can be found. Through its undergraduate and graduate studies in criminology and criminal justice, this school prepares students to understand the complexities of crime, help make communities safer, and examine questions of justice.
Through its undergraduate studies, this school offers a BS in Criminology and Criminal Justice, combined majors that connect criminal justice with fields such as psychology, political science, journalism, and cybersecurity, and a related minor. Graduate options include an MS in Criminology and Criminal Justice and a PhD in Criminology and Justice Policy. The MS program is offered online and on campus in Boston, with Northeastern also listing an in-person Arlington, Virginia, option beginning in fall 2026. Students can study specialized topics such as victimology, security management, juvenile law, and cybersecurity while developing analytical and research skills.
6. Pennsylvania State University
The Pennsylvania State University is a public university in Pennsylvania, founded in 1855. At this university, students can study criminology or criminal justice through options such as the online BS in Criminal Justice, the University Park BS in Criminology, and the online MPS in Criminal Justice Policy and Administration.
Penn State’s online BS in Criminal Justice covers areas such as criminology, ethics, policing, legal foundations, and research methods. Its online MPS in Criminal Justice Policy and Administration is a 30-credit professional master’s program focused on criminal justice policy, research, and administration, and Penn State World Campus also lists related graduate certificates that can be stacked toward the master’s degree.
7. University of Miami
The University of Miami is a private university in Coral Gables, Florida, where the College of Arts and Sciences and its Department of Sociology and Criminology can be found. This department offers a BA in Criminology, an MS in Criminology and Criminal Justice, an online MS option, and related certificate study.
By majoring in Criminology, students at the University of Miami learn about crime, the criminal justice system, and major institutions such as law enforcement, courts, and corrections. The graduate program offers an MS degree in Criminology and Criminal Justice, providing students with training in the fundamentals of the criminal justice system, criminological theory, research methods, and statistics.
These are some notable universities for students interested in criminal justice and criminology. As an international student, you have plenty of other options when it comes to studying criminal justice. There are excellent universities in Europe and Asia, and you can learn more about these institutions by checking 5 Best Countries to Study Criminal Justice Abroad. It is important to choose a university that meets your personal and academic needs in terms of tuition fees, location, quality of teaching, delivery format, and student support. These factors are sometimes overlooked, but they can contribute to your overall satisfaction with your university experience and, subsequently, to your success.
We hope this article on criminal justice schools in the world was helpful. Make sure to check out the Available Programs for International Students!
