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CIP 43.0103 Homeland Security and Law Enforcement

Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement Administration

IPEDS Completions, US Department of Education · 2025

中文

Total graduates

22,921

2025 · 625 schools

International share

0.9%

210 international students

Bachelor's degrees

11,798

1.0% international

Master's degrees

2,470

1.4% international

Overview

Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement Administration is a multifaceted field that focuses on the systematic study of crime, its causes, effects, and the societal responses to it. This discipline encompasses a broad range of topics, including law enforcement, criminal law, corrections, and the judicial process. Students in this program typically learn about criminology theories, the functioning of the criminal justice system, and the ethical implications of law enforcement practices.

The curriculum often includes courses on criminal investigation, crime scene analysis, public policy, and management principles specific to law enforcement agencies. Students develop critical thinking and analytical skills, which are essential for effective decision-making in law enforcement environments. Practical experience is often emphasized, with internship opportunities available in police departments, correctional facilities, and community organizations.

Graduates of this program can pursue various career paths, such as police officers, detectives, probation officers, or roles in federal agencies. Additionally, they may find opportunities in criminal justice policy analysis, research, and academia. As issues of crime and justice continue to evolve, professionals in this field must stay informed about new laws, technologies, and societal attitudes toward crime and punishment.

Overall, a degree in Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement Administration prepares individuals to navigate and contribute to the complex landscape of criminal justice, ensuring public safety while promoting justice and ethical law enforcement practices.

Graduates by year

Graduates by degree level (first and second majors)

AssociateBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral

From 2002 to 2025, graduates grew 84% and the international share went from 0.4% to 0.9%.

International share (%)
Graduates by group, 2025
White
37.2%
Asian
3.0%
Hispanic
35.3%
Black
15.3%
Other
8.3%
Intl.
0.9%

Colleges that award this degree

In 2025, 625 schools awarded this degree as a first major. The table lists those in the 2027 U.S. News National or Liberal Arts rankings, plus the unranked schools with the most graduates.

RankSchoolStateGraduatesInternational
#26 University of Virginia-Main Campus Virginia 135 2
#52 University of Georgia Georgia 76 0
#55 The Pennsylvania State University Pennsylvania 250 5
#69 Michigan State University Michigan 227 4
#73 Indiana University-Bloomington Indiana 3 0
#95 Rochester Institute of Technology New York 14 0
#100 University of San Diego California 121 0
#100 University of South Florida-Main Campus Florida 16 0
#100 Creighton University Nebraska 6 0
#116 University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus Oklahoma 26 0
#121 Arizona State University-Tempe Arizona 287 7
#121 University of South Carolina-Columbia South Carolina 220 2
#121 George Mason University Virginia 16 1
#133 Thomas Jefferson University Pennsylvania 1 0
#137 St John's University (NY) New York 139 2
#148 Mercer University Georgia 7 0
#148 University of Massachusetts-Lowell Massachusetts 241 1
#156 Seton Hall University New Jersey 12 0
#156 Virginia Commonwealth University Virginia 150 0
#169 Bradley University Illinois 12 0
#179 University of Louisville Kentucky 146 1
#179 University of Mississippi Mississippi 160 1
#191 Florida Atlantic University Florida 16 1
#219 Indiana University-Purdue University-Indianapolis Indiana 7 0
#219 University of Nevada-Reno Nevada 149 1
#219 Robert Morris University Pennsylvania 22 1
#236 University of Colorado Denver Colorado 85 0
#250 Pace University-New York New York 44 0
#250 University of Texas-Rio Grande Valley Texas 480 2
#262 Aurora University Illinois 13 0
#276 Northern Arizona University Arizona 3 0
#276 California Baptist University California 65 0
#276 University of New Haven Connecticut 241 13
#276 University of St. Francis Illinois 8 0
#276 Widener University Pennsylvania 12 0
#276 Marymount University Virginia 19 1
#288 University of Memphis Tennessee 79 1
#288 Texas State University Texas 23 2
#288 Shenandoah University Virginia 20 0
#299 Azusa Pacific University California 19 0
#299 Concordia University Wisconsin Wisconsin 7 0
#308 North Carolina Central University North Carolina 22 0
#308 Abilene Christian University Texas 15 0
#308 University of the Incarnate Word Texas 11 0
#317 Ferris State University Michigan 22 0
#317 Kean University New Jersey 153 6
#328 East Tennessee State University Tennessee 92 0
#332 University of South Alabama Alabama 39 0
#332 Mercy University New York 54 1
#332 University of Findlay Ohio 11 0
#342 Mississippi College Mississippi 18 0
#342 Campbell University North Carolina 27 0
#342 University of Akron Ohio 4 0
#342 Lincoln Memorial University Tennessee 19 0
#342 Kennesaw State University Georgia 15 1
#353 University of West Georgia Georgia 3 0
#353 Trevecca Nazarene University Tennessee 11 0
#365 Troy University Alabama 22 0
#365 Gardner-Webb University North Carolina 19 0
#376 Concordia University-Saint Paul Minnesota 12 0
#376 Tennessee State University Tennessee 39 1
#382 University of Alaska Fairbanks Alaska 1 0
#382 Grand Canyon University Arizona 1 0
#382 National University California 186 0
#382 University of Colorado--Colorado Springs Colorado 133 0
#382 Wilmington University Delaware 68 1
#382 Saint Leo University Florida 30 0
#382 Northeastern State University Oklahoma 60 1
#382 Tarleton State University Texas 29 0
#382 Texas Southern University Texas 105 2
#382 Regent University Virginia 15 0
#382 Universidad Ana G. Mendez-Gurabo Campus Puerto Rico 55 0
LAC #119 Meredith College North Carolina 5 0
LAC #184 Indiana University-Southeast Indiana 2 0
LAC #184 CUNY Medgar Evers College New York 1 0
LAC #184 Allen University South Carolina 7 0
LAC #184 West Virginia State University West Virginia 7 0
— CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice New York 1,196 22
— University of Phoenix Arizona 839 1
— Columbia Southern University Alabama 363 0
— Arizona State University Digital Immersion Arizona 357 0
— East Los Angeles College California 240 0
— Walden University Minnesota 237 0
— NUC University Puerto Rico 188 0
— Western Illinois University Illinois 184 1
— Utah Valley University Utah 179 1
— Bakersfield College California 165 0
— Keiser University Florida 165 3
— Imperial Valley College California 159 0
— Antelope Valley Community College District California 153 1
— Long Beach City College California 139 0
— Eastern Kentucky University Kentucky 136 0
— CUNY Kingsborough Community College New York 134 8
— CUNY LaGuardia Community College New York 133 9
— Southwestern College California 129 0
— Fresno City College California 125 0
— The University of Arizona Global Campus Arizona 123 0
— Monroe University New York 122 6
— Fullerton College California 120 0
— Sierra College California 113 0
— Grand Valley State University Michigan 109 0
— Nassau Community College New York 108 0
— Roger Williams University Rhode Island 108 1
— Citrus College California 107 0
— University of Tennessee--Chattanooga Tennessee 107 1
— Rio Hondo College California 106 0
— University of Central Missouri Missouri 104 0

Purple: international students are 25% or more of the school's graduates.

Related jobs and pay

OccupationUS employmentMean hourly wageMean annual wage
Managers, All Other 622,190 $73.99 $153,890
First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives 154,610 $53.94 $112,190
Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Teachers, Postsecondary 13,150 — $87,550

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025.

Graduate counts: IPEDS Completions, US Department of Education, 2002–2025. Rankings: 2027 U.S. News.