So you’re obsessed with true crime podcasts, and you’ve been guessing the ending before the big reveal. If you’ve developed a strong interest in criminal justice and you’re ready to take it to the next level, an online criminal justice associate degree may be perfect for you.

An associate degree in criminal justice can be excellent preparation for your next step — whether that’s earning a more advanced degree in criminal justice or going straight into a law enforcement-related career.

We’ve found one nonprofit, accredited U.S. school that meets our rigorous ranking criteria for online programs. Read on to find out more about how you can earn a criminal justice associate degree online.

Why You Can Trust Forbes Advisor Education

Forbes Advisor’s education editors are committed to producing unbiased rankings and informative articles covering online colleges, tech bootcamps and career paths. Our ranking methodologies use data from the National Center for Education Statistics, education providers, and reputable educational and professional organizations. An advisory board of educators and other subject matter experts reviews and verifies our content to bring you trustworthy, up-to-date information. Advertisers do not influence our rankings or editorial content.

  • 6,290 accredited, nonprofit colleges and universities analyzed nationwide
  • 52 reputable tech bootcamp providers evaluated for our rankings
  • All content is fact-checked and updated on an annual basis
  • Rankings undergo five rounds of fact-checking
  • Only 7.12% of all colleges, universities and bootcamp providers we consider are awarded

Central New Mexico Community College

Central New Mexico Community College (CNM) in Albuquerque, New Mexico, offers an online criminology associate degree. CNM offers its criminology program entirely online, but the school offers optional in-person labs.

The criminology program costs $179 per credit and requires 58 credits. This brings your total cost to $10,382. Tuition at CNM includes all textbooks, materials, access to online resources and tutoring.

This degree may work for the person who wants to prepare for a criminology or sociology bachelor’s degree program in the future. It can also help you make progress if you are interested in a career in law enforcement.

At a Glance

  • School Type: Public
  • Application Fee: $50
  • Degree Credit Requirements: 58 credits
  • Program Enrollment Options: Accelerated, part time, full time
  • Notable Major-Specific Courses: Intro to criminology, contemporary social problems
  • Concentrations Available: N/A
  • In-Person Requirements: No

How To Find the Right Online Criminal Justice Associate Degree for You

Consider Your Future Goals

Higher education is an investment in your future. Consider your long-term goals as you pursue your associate degree in criminal justice. An associate degree can help you get a job as a corrections officer, crime scene technician, probation officer, investigator, police officer or paralegal, among other roles. This two-year degree is also a great place to start if you plan to pursue a bachelor’s in criminal justice or sociology.

Though many criminal justice careers have their own training processes, an associate degree can give you more perspective on the field and allow you to differentiate your résumé as you pursue your career. Your higher education plans may vary depending on your unique career plans since not all law enforcement jobs require a criminal justice degree.

Understand Your Expenses and Financing Options

You want to prepare for your future with the right degree, but you don’t want to burden yourself with too much student loan debt. Online degree programs can help lower your expenses in the following ways:

  • Save on transportation costs. You’re not required to commute to campus daily, and you don’t have to pay for parking.
  • Fit your degree around your work schedule. Online degree programs are more flexible, and you can work as you earn your degree, meaning you may not have to deal with any income losses.
  • In-state savings: In-state public institutions often offer a discount on tuition rates.

According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), tuition and fees from a public, two-year college cost $3,564 per year on average, or just over $7,000 for two years of study. For comparison, CNM’s online criminology degree costs $10,382 for 58 credits.

Your first step for qualifying for financial aid is through the FAFSA®. But student loans are not your only option; you can apply for grants and scholarships for your online criminal justice associate degree. Grants and scholarships are more competitive than loans but do not require repayment.

Should You Enroll in an Online Criminal Justice Associate Program?

Online degree programs are more popular than ever, and they’ve become the norm for obtaining an associate degree. NCES reports that more than 65% of students at two-year colleges take at least some distance learning courses.

That said, distance learning isn’t for everyone. Consider your strengths and weaknesses as a student before enrolling:

  • What learning environment works for you? Online learning may not be a great fit for you if you need a classroom’s energy to stay engaged. Distance learning is great for self-starters.
  • Do you need to stick to a schedule? Online learning offers the most flexibility, but it’s often up to you to stick to a schedule. It’s perfect for individuals who are busy but want to have more control over their time.

Accreditation for Online Criminal Justice Associate Degrees

The accreditation process ensures the standards for both in-person and online colleges remain high. When a school goes through the accreditation process, an accrediting body examines the quality of student resources, faculty, curricula and other critical factors.

Institutional accreditation matters for the following reasons:

  • You can qualify for federal student aid only if you are enrolled at an accredited college or university.
  • Your credits will transfer to an accredited four-year university only if your associate degree comes from an accredited college.
  • Many employers and professional credentialing bodies don’t recognize degrees from unaccredited colleges and universities.

Programmatic accreditation applies to specific degree programs and departments. Criminal justice degrees do not have programmatic accreditation, however.

To verify a prospective school’s or program’s accreditation status, use the Council for Higher Education Accreditation’s online directory.

Our Methodology

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Criminal Justice Associates Degree

Is a criminal justice associate degree worth it?

It depends on your career goals. Many advanced law enforcement jobs require a college degree, but others require you to complete internal training.

How long does it take to get a criminal justice associate degree online?

Most associate degrees take about two years to complete. However, online degrees offer flexibility. So you can complete the degree in more or less time.

What kind of job can you get with an associate degree in criminal justice?

You can use your associate degree in criminal justice to get a job as a law enforcement officer, evidence technician, probation officer, private investigator, prison officer or investigator.