Indiana·Educational Instruction and Library Occupations·SOC 25-1111

Best Criminal Justice programs in Indiana, ranked by enrollment

Teach courses in criminal justice, corrections, and law enforcement administration.

37 schools in Indiana run programs that feed this job, graduating 2,837 people a year. The job pays a median of $68,340 in Indiana across about 170 jobs (BLS OEWS May 2025).

Also calledProfessorAssistant ProfessorAssociate ProfessorCriminal Justice ProfessorInstructorPenology TeacherAdjunct ProfessorCollege Professor
Graduates / yr
2,837
in Indiana
Median pay · Indiana
$68,340
BLS OEWS May 2025
Jobs in state
170
people employed
Schools
37
with a feeder program
Avg graduation rate
50%
across those schools
Median net price
$19,930
per year, IPEDS

Fields of study in Indiana that lead to this job

Grouped at the 4-digit CIP level. Numbers are graduates per year in this state.

14 programs in Indiana that lead to this job

Ranked by graduates per year in Indiana (IPEDS completions). Graduate earnings and debt are national College Scorecard figures reported at the 4-digit CIP level, so specializations within one field share a figure. Each program also links to its own Indiana page.

Degree programs that lead to this occupation, ranked by graduates per year
#ProgramGraduates / yrShare of pipelineSchoolsGrad earnings (1 yr)Median debt
1
CIP 43.0104In Indiana
1,671
58.9%
25$37,408$24,069
2
CIP 43.0100In Indiana
545
19.2%
5$37,408$24,069
3
CIP 43.0404In Indiana
151
5.3%
1$40,889$25,000
4
CIP 45.0401In Indiana
127
4.5%
6$37,366$25,000
5
CIP 43.0103In Indiana
114
4.0%
7$37,408$24,069
6
CIP 43.0406In Indiana
71
2.5%
4$40,889$25,000
7
CIP 43.0107In Indiana
55
1.9%
4$37,408$24,069
8
CIP 43.0112In Indiana
41
1.4%
1$37,408$24,069
9
CIP 43.0199In Indiana
28
1.0%
2$37,408$24,069
10
CIP 43.0403In Indiana
28
1.0%
2$40,889$25,000
11
CIP 43.0102In Indiana
3
0.1%
1$37,408$24,069
12
CIP 43.0109In Indiana
1
0.0%
1$37,408$24,069
13
CIP 43.0401In Indiana
1
0.0%
1$40,889$25,000
14
CIP 43.0402In Indiana
1
0.0%
1$40,889$25,000

Top 25 schools in Indiana

Ranked by graduates per year into this job. Graduate earnings are reported for 26 of the 37 schools in this state.

Schools ranked by graduates per year into this occupation
#SchoolGraduates / yrTop feeder programGrad earnings (1 yr)Grad rateNet priceAcceptance
1Purdue University Global
West Lafayette, IN Public · 5 feeder programs
949Criminal Justice/Safety Studies$45,98450%
2Ivy Tech Community College
Indianapolis, IN Public · 6 feeder programs
883Criminal Justice/Safety Studies$34,29940%
3Indiana University - Indianapolis
Indianapolis, IN Public · 3 feeder programs
120Criminal Justice/Safety Studies$44,01654%76%
4Indiana University - Bloomington
Bloomington, IN Public · 2 feeder programs
108Criminal Justice/Safety Studies$35,57280%78%
5Ball State University
Muncie, IN Public · 1 feeder programs
98Criminal Justice/Safety Studies$39,99162%85%
6Indiana State University
Terre Haute, IN Public · 2 feeder programs
90Criminology$39,76943%81%
7Vincennes University
Vincennes, IN Public · 2 feeder programs
60Securities Services Administration/Management$46,64439%
8Indiana Institute of Technology - College of Professional Studies
Fort Wayne, IN Private not-for-profit · 5 feeder programs
44Criminal Justice/Safety Studies$36,51028%$19,930
9Calumet College of Saint Joseph
Whiting, IN Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs
43Criminal Justice/Safety Studies$55,58723%$21,408
10Indiana Institute of Technology
Fort Wayne, IN Private not-for-profit · 3 feeder programs
38Criminal Justice/Safety Studies$36,51048%$20,66170%
11Indiana University - East
Richmond, IN Public · 1 feeder programs
36Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement Administration$45,20440%67%
12Indiana Wesleyan University - National & Global
Marion, IN Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs
35Criminal Justice/Safety Studies$43,44835%$18,316
13University of Southern Indiana
Evansville, IN Public · 2 feeder programs
34Criminal Justice/Safety Studies$39,38448%96%
14Trine University - Regional/Non - Traditional Campuses
Angola, IN Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs
28Criminal Justice/Safety Studies$31,1140%$21,97640%
15Trine University
Angola, IN Private not-for-profit · 2 feeder programs
26Criminal Justice/Safety Studies$31,11464%$22,26985%
16Indiana University - South Bend
South Bend, IN Public · 1 feeder programs
25Criminal Justice/Safety Studies$35,46240%84%
17Indiana University - Kokomo
Kokomo, IN Public · 1 feeder programs
22Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement Administration$39,83346%86%
18Purdue University Northwest
Hammond, IN Public · 1 feeder programs
22Criminal Justice/Police Science43%72%
19Indiana University - Southeast
New Albany, IN Public · 2 feeder programs
21Criminal Justice/Safety Studies$41,89839%84%
20Purdue University Fort Wayne
Fort Wayne, IN Public · 1 feeder programs
17Criminal Justice/Safety Studies$36,05936%84%
21Indiana University - Northwest
Gary, IN Public · 1 feeder programs
15Criminal Justice/Safety Studies$41,29537%73%
22Saint Mary - of - the - Woods College
Saint Mary of the Woods, IN Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs
14Criminology47%$43,85772%
23Butler University
Indianapolis, IN Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs
13Criminology80%$35,69685%
24Indiana Wesleyan University - Marion
Marion, IN Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs
13Criminal Justice/Safety Studies$43,44867%$21,35189%
25University of Indianapolis
Indianapolis, IN Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs
13Criminal Justice/Police Science$44,41856%$18,93066%

All 37 schools in Indiana

Every school in Indiana with a program that feeds this job, ordered by graduates per year. Earnings are shown for the ranked schools above; open a school profile for the rest.

All schools in Indiana that feed this occupation
SchoolCityControlGraduates / yrFeeder programs
Purdue University GlobalWest LafayettePublic9495
Ivy Tech Community CollegeIndianapolisPublic8836
Indiana University - IndianapolisIndianapolisPublic1203
Indiana University - BloomingtonBloomingtonPublic1082
Ball State UniversityMunciePublic981
Indiana State UniversityTerre HautePublic902
Vincennes UniversityVincennesPublic602
Indiana Institute of Technology - College of Professional StudiesFort WaynePrivate not-for-profit445
Calumet College of Saint JosephWhitingPrivate not-for-profit431
Indiana Institute of TechnologyFort WaynePrivate not-for-profit383
Indiana University - EastRichmondPublic361
Indiana Wesleyan University - National & GlobalMarionPrivate not-for-profit351
University of Southern IndianaEvansvillePublic342
Trine University - Regional/Non - Traditional CampusesAngolaPrivate not-for-profit281
Trine UniversityAngolaPrivate not-for-profit262

What criminal justice and law enforcement teachers, postsecondary earn in Indiana

What people already working in this job earn (BLS OEWS May 2025). Not graduate earnings.

Median annual in Indiana
$68,340
Mean annual
$74,640
Jobs in state
170
What the range looks like
10th pct$50,290Median$68,34090th pct$102,880
Versus the national median
-10.8%

U.S. median $76,590. Indiana pays below the national figure.

Job concentration
0.61×

1.00× means the state has its expected share of these jobs.

Job outlook

Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections, 2024 to 2034.

Projected growth 2024–34
+2.0%
About as fast as average
Openings per year
1,200
new jobs plus replacements
Employment change
300
16,200 → 16,500
Typical entry education
Doctoral or professional degree

Growth and openings are national. The Bureau of Labor Statistics does not publish employment projections at state level, so these figures describe the occupation across the whole U.S., not this state alone.

How to get in

The full skills, tools, and day-to-day breakdown lives on the national Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Teachers, Postsecondary page.

How to become a Criminal Justice

Job zone 5 of 5 · SVP 8.0 and above
Typical entry education
Doctoral or professional degree

Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).

Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.

Employees may need some on-the-job training, but most of these occupations assume that the person will already have the required skills, knowledge, work-related experience, and/or training.

Top skills

SpeakingActive ListeningCritical ThinkingActive LearningLearning StrategiesReading Comprehension

The same job in other states

Where else this occupation employs the most people, and what it pays there.

Related careers in Indiana

Every major mapped to this job

The official federal mapping behind the rankings above.

All 25 majors mapped to Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Teachers, Postsecondary21 of them graduated someone in the latest IPEDS year. NCES CIP 2020 → SOC 2018 crosswalk.+
  • 03.0208Environmental/Natural Resources Law Enforcement and Protective Services
  • 43.0100Criminal Justice and Corrections, General
  • 43.0102Corrections
  • 43.0103Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement Administration
  • 43.0104Criminal Justice/Safety Studies
  • 43.0107Criminal Justice/Police Science
  • 43.0109Security and Loss Prevention Services
  • 43.0110Juvenile Corrections
  • 43.0112Securities Services Administration/Management
  • 43.0113Corrections Administration
  • 43.0114Law Enforcement Investigation and Interviewing
  • 43.0115Law Enforcement Record-Keeping and Evidence Management(no graduates reported)
  • 43.0119Critical Incident Response/Special Police Operations
  • 43.0120Protective Services Operations
  • 43.0121Suspension and Debarment Investigation(no graduates reported)
  • 43.0122Maritime Law Enforcement(no graduates reported)
  • 43.0123Cultural/Archaelogical Resources Protection(no graduates reported)
  • 43.0199Corrections and Criminal Justice, Other
  • 43.0304Terrorism and Counterterrorism Operations
  • 43.0399Homeland Security, Other
  • 43.0401Security Science and Technology, General
  • 43.0402Criminalistics and Criminal Science
  • 43.0403Cyber/Computer Forensics and Counterterrorism
  • 43.0404Cybersecurity Defense Strategy/Policy
  • 43.0405Financial Forensics and Fraud Investigation

Common questions

Answers for people weighing criminal justice and law enforcement teachers, postsecondary programs in Indiana.

What degree do you need to become a Criminal Justice?+

Doctoral or professional degree is the typical entry-level education BLS reports for this occupation. The most common program people actually graduate from is Criminal Justice/Safety Studies, which awarded 1,671 degrees in Indiana in 2024-25, 58.9% of everyone graduating from a program that feeds this career.

Which college majors lead to becoming a Criminal Justice?+

The NCES CIP-to-SOC crosswalk maps 14 programs to this occupation. The largest are Criminal Justice and Corrections, Security Science and Technology, Criminology. Together they graduate about 2,837 people a year in Indiana.

How much do criminal justice and law enforcement teachers, postsecondary earn in Indiana?+

The median is $68,340 a year (BLS OEWS May 2025). That is 10.8% below the U.S. median of $76,590. This is pay for people already working in the occupation, not the same thing as graduate earnings one year after finishing a degree.

Is demand for criminal justice and law enforcement teachers, postsecondary growing?+

BLS projects a +2.0% change in employment between 2024 and 2034, about as fast as average, with roughly 1,200 openings a year nationally once retirements and job changes are counted.

How many schools offer programs for this career in Indiana?+

37 institutions in Indiana reported graduates from at least one of the 14 programs that feed this occupation in IPEDS 2024-25. Rankings on this page use graduates per year, because the federal data publishes no enrollment count by program.

What other job titles do criminal justice and law enforcement teachers, postsecondary work under?+

Employers advertise this work under many names. O*NET records Professor, Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, Criminal Justice Professor among the most commonly reported, all mapping to SOC 25-1111.

Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Teachers, Postsecondary in other statesCaliforniaTexasFloridaArizonaNew YorkVirginiaNorth CarolinaGeorgia

About the data on this page

Rankings use IPEDS completions 2024–25, degrees awarded per year. That is the closest federal measure of how many people a program puts into a career, because no federal dataset publishes enrollment by program. Wages and employment come from BLS OEWS May 2025, growth and openings from BLS Employment Projections 2024-34, and which majors lead to which jobs from the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk. Occupation descriptions, tasks, skills and tools are O*NET 30.3 (CC BY 4.0, U.S. Department of Labor/ETA).

  • BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics

    May 2025

    Wages, employment counts, location quotients and metro breakdowns.

  • BLS Employment Projections

    2024–34

    Projected growth, annual openings and typical entry-level education.

  • IPEDS Completions

    2024-25 (provisional)

    Graduates per year by program and institution — the ranking metric.

  • College Scorecard, Field of Study

    2020-21 cohorts

    Median graduate earnings one year after completion, and median debt.

  • Census Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes

    latest available

    Graduate earnings 1/5/10 years out, where the state participates.

  • NCES CIP 2020 and the CIP-to-SOC 2018 crosswalk

    CIP 2020 / SOC 2018

    Which college programs officially lead to this occupation.

  • O*NET Database 30.3

    30.3

    Tasks, skills, knowledge, tools, job zone and alternate job titles.

    Official source →CC BY 4.0, U.S. Department of Labor / ETA

All Clema data sources and release dates →

Explore every U.S. college in one conversation

Clema turns plain-language questions into sourced answers across every U.S. institution — earnings, aid, acceptance, graduation, safety, and athletics from IPEDS, College Scorecard, and 10+ federal datasets, built in.

Free for teams up to 3 · No credit card