Best degree programs for Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Teachers, Postsecondary, ranked by enrollment
26 college programs and 1,984 schools train Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Teachers, Postsecondary. Compare graduates per year, cost and pay, $76,590 median wage, 13,150 U.S. jobs. Federal data.
26 college programs at 1,984 schools train criminal justice and law enforcement teachers, postsecondary, graduating 120,495 people a year (IPEDS completions). The largest is Criminal Justice/Safety Studies. The job pays a median of $76,590 (BLS OEWS May 2025).
About criminal justice and law enforcement teachers, postsecondary
Teach courses in criminal justice, corrections, and law enforcement administration. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.
Fields of study that lead to this job
Grouped at the 4-digit CIP level, the tier our program pages are built on. Numbers are graduates per year.
26 degree programs that lead to this job
Ranked by graduates per year (IPEDS completions). Graduate earnings and debt are College Scorecard figures for people who finished the program, reported at the 4-digit CIP level, so specializations within one field share a figure. That is a different measurement from the occupation-wide wages further down this page.
| # | Program | Graduates / yr | Share of pipeline | Schools | Grad earnings (1 yr) | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CIP 43.0104 | 40,687 | 33.8% | 824 | $37,408 | $24,069 |
| 2 | CIP 43.0103 | 26,068 | 21.6% | 650 | $37,408 | $24,069 |
| 3 | CIP 43.0107 | 19,975 | 16.6% | 540 | $37,408 | $24,069 |
| 4 | CIP 45.0401 | 10,118 | 8.4% | 230 | $37,366 | $25,000 |
| 5 | CIP 43.0406 | 5,008 | 4.2% | 239 | $40,889 | $25,000 |
| 6 | CIP 43.0199 | 4,734 | 3.9% | 94 | $37,408 | $24,069 |
| 7 | CIP 43.0102 | 3,804 | 3.2% | 147 | $37,408 | $24,069 |
| 8 | CIP 43.0403 | 2,457 | 2.0% | 126 | $40,889 | $25,000 |
| 9 | CIP 43.0100 | 2,344 | 1.9% | 75 | $37,408 | $24,069 |
| 10 | CIP 43.0404 | 1,710 | 1.4% | 66 | $40,889 | $25,000 |
| 11 | CIP 43.0112 | 678 | 0.6% | 28 | $37,408 | $24,069 |
| 12 | CIP 43.0402 | 622 | 0.5% | 31 | $40,889 | $25,000 |
| 13 | CIP 43.0109 | 497 | 0.4% | 24 | $37,408 | $24,069 |
| 14 | CIP 43.0114 | 310 | 0.3% | 14 | $37,408 | $24,069 |
| 15 | CIP 43.0399 | 285 | 0.2% | 17 | $46,281 | $23,250 |
| 16 | CIP 43.0405 | 284 | 0.2% | 29 | $40,889 | $25,000 |
| 17 | CIP 43.0408 | 223 | 0.2% | 15 | $40,889 | $25,000 |
| 18 | CIP 03.0208 | 222 | 0.2% | 21 | $37,946 | $24,125 |
| 19 | CIP 43.0304 | 178 | 0.1% | 14 | $46,281 | $23,250 |
| 20 | CIP 43.0113 | 84 | 0.1% | 8 | $37,408 | $24,069 |
| 21 | CIP 43.0401 | 60 | 0.0% | 6 | $40,889 | $25,000 |
| 22 | CIP 43.0110 | 56 | 0.0% | 15 | $37,408 | $24,069 |
| 23 | CIP 43.0120 | 42 | 0.0% | 6 | $37,408 | $24,069 |
| 24 | CIP 43.0119 | 29 | 0.0% | 2 | $37,408 | $24,069 |
| 25 | CIP 43.0407 | 19 | 0.0% | 6 | $40,889 | $25,000 |
| 26 | CIP 43.0499 | 1 | 0.0% | 1 | $40,889 | $25,000 |
Top 50 schools by graduates into this job
Counting every feeder program a school offers, not just its largest one.
What criminal justice and law enforcement teachers, postsecondary earn
What people already working in this job earn (BLS OEWS May 2025). Not graduate earnings.
Top-paying states
Top-paying metro areas
Job outlook
Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections, 2024 to 2034.
Where the jobs are, state by state
Pick a state for in-state pay, the schools there, and the programs they run.
| State | Median pay | Jobs | Concentration | Schools | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | $139,720 | 1,460 | 0.95× | 162 | 16,333 |
| Texas | $77,270 | 1,150 | 0.96× | 113 | 9,780 |
| Florida | $61,550 | 840 | 1.00× | 75 | 9,548 |
| Arizona | $71,230 | 310 | 1.12× | 29 | 7,283 |
| New York | $82,770 | 880 | 1.08× | 99 | 6,792 |
| Virginia | — | 270 | 0.77× | 54 | 4,864 |
| North Carolina | $63,020 | 1,220 | 2.92× | 97 | 4,200 |
| Georgia | $71,510 | 320 | 0.77× | 63 | 4,013 |
| Pennsylvania | $94,710 | 790 | 1.54× | 106 | 3,723 |
| Ohio | $76,610 | 420 | 0.90× | 94 | 3,206 |
| Illinois | $66,040 | 480 | 0.94× | 76 | 3,004 |
| New Jersey | $71,610 | 530 | 1.46× | 44 | 2,851 |
| Indiana | $68,340 | 170 | 0.61× | 37 | 2,837 |
| Maryland | $99,600 | 220 | 0.94× | 31 | 2,690 |
| Massachusetts | $79,500 | 380 | 1.24× | 52 | 2,494 |
| New Hampshire | $79,190 | 40 | 0.70× | 14 | 2,369 |
| Michigan | $76,770 | 360 | 0.96× | 56 | 2,233 |
| Colorado | $122,050 | 370 | 1.52× | 27 | 2,116 |
| Wisconsin | $81,890 | 300 | 1.19× | 42 | 2,040 |
| Alabama | $65,280 | 130 | 0.73× | 30 | 1,847 |
| Minnesota | $83,060 | 100 | 0.39× | 40 | 1,826 |
| West Virginia | $76,730 | 90 | 1.44× | 26 | 1,824 |
| Connecticut | $73,090 | 200 | 1.38× | 15 | 1,730 |
| Missouri | $70,500 | 360 | 1.45× | 46 | 1,564 |
| Oklahoma | $62,990 | 90 | 0.62× | 48 | 1,560 |
| Kentucky | $60,280 | 100 | 0.59× | 33 | 1,404 |
| Tennessee | $62,090 | 190 | 0.70× | 48 | 1,374 |
| South Carolina | $76,960 | 150 | 0.75× | 40 | 1,260 |
| Utah | $76,650 | 80 | 0.52× | 11 | 1,252 |
| Louisiana | $82,100 | 70 | 0.42× | 27 | 1,117 |
| Arkansas | $62,380 | 60 | 0.50× | 37 | 1,038 |
| Nevada | $67,440 | 60 | 0.49× | 8 | 825 |
| Washington | $72,700 | 120 | 0.41× | 30 | 825 |
| Iowa | $79,690 | 80 | 0.61× | 32 | 804 |
| Nebraska | $61,650 | 70 | 0.76× | 18 | 804 |
| Mississippi | $78,520 | 110 | 1.12× | 21 | 797 |
| Kansas | $50,270 | 70 | 0.58× | 32 | 544 |
| Rhode Island | $84,270 | 70 | 1.56× | 8 | 476 |
| Delaware | $80,510 | 40 | 0.93× | 6 | 347 |
| Oregon | $93,960 | 70 | 0.45× | 17 | 344 |
| North Dakota | $67,720 | 40 | 1.22× | 11 | 243 |
| Wyoming | $69,530 | 40 | 1.65× | 8 | 158 |
Skills and tools
From O*NET, the U.S. Department of Labor's occupational database. Importance is a 1 to 5 scale.
What they do day to day
- Prepare and deliver lectures to undergraduate or graduate students on topics such as criminal law, defensive policing, and investigation techniques.
- Initiate, facilitate, and moderate classroom discussions.
- Evaluate and grade students' class work, assignments, and papers.
- Compile, administer, and grade examinations, or assign this work to others.
- Keep abreast of developments in the field by reading current literature, talking with colleagues, and participating in professional conferences.
- Maintain student attendance records, grades, and other required records.
- Prepare course materials, such as syllabi, homework assignments, and handouts.
- Plan, evaluate, and revise curricula, course content, course materials, and methods of instruction.
Skills
- Speaking4.8
- Active Listening4.1
- Critical Thinking4.1
- Active Learning4.0
- Learning Strategies4.0
- Reading Comprehension4.0
- Writing4.0
- Monitoring3.9
Knowledge areas
- Education and Training4.5
- English Language4.5
- Law and Government4.5
- Public Safety and Security4.4
- Customer and Personal Service3.9
- Computers and Electronics3.8
Abilities
- Oral Expression4.1
- Written Expression4.0
- Written Comprehension4.0
- Speech Clarity4.0
- Oral Comprehension4.0
- Inductive Reasoning3.9
Core activities
- Working with Computers4.5
- Training and Teaching Others4.3
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge4.3
- Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work4.3
- Thinking Creatively4.2
- Documenting/Recording Information4.2
Tools and technology
hotmarks an O*NET hot technologyHow to get in
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.
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
Related careers
Jobs O*NET identifies as close to this one, with their own pay and outlook.
Common questions
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 40,687 degrees in 2024-25, 33.8% 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 26 programs to this occupation. The largest are Criminal Justice and Corrections, Security Science and Technology, Criminology, Homeland Security, plus 1 more. Together they graduate about 120,495 people a year.
How much do criminal justice and law enforcement teachers, postsecondary earn?+
The median is $76,590 a year (BLS OEWS May 2025). The middle range runs from $45,000 at the 10th percentile to $140,240 at the 90th. 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?+
1,984 institutions reported graduates from at least one of the 26 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.
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 2025Wages, employment counts, location quotients and metro breakdowns.
BLS Employment Projections
2024–34Projected 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 cohortsMedian graduate earnings one year after completion, and median debt.
Census Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes
latest availableGraduate earnings 1/5/10 years out, where the state participates.
NCES CIP 2020 and the CIP-to-SOC 2018 crosswalk
CIP 2020 / SOC 2018Which college programs officially lead to this occupation.
O*NET Database 30.3
30.3Tasks, skills, knowledge, tools, job zone and alternate job titles.
Official source →CC BY 4.0, U.S. Department of Labor / ETA
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