Criminal justice schools in Georgia can train students for the careers that keep Georgia residents safe. According to the Federal Bureau of Investigations, Atlanta has a violent crime and homicide rate lower than most other cities in the U.S. of similar size, and with the median household income in the state set at $49,342 in 2014, many criminal justice professionals can make lucrative salaries. Learn more about the field of criminal justice in Georgia, including which criminal justice schools provide different types of degrees for aspiring legal and protective service professionals.
Georgia's Best Criminal Justice Schools
Finding more information on the best criminal justice schools in Georgia is made easy with the following list. Using a wide collection of data, this chart has identified some of the most important factors students look at when selecting a training program, such as tuition rates, student-teacher ratios and graduation rates, and given each a grade. This breakdown provides students a closer look at the criminal justice schools that come out on the top of the list in Georgia.
4-Year Schools
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Albany State UniversityLocation
Albany, GA
Graduation Rate39%
After receiving a bachelor's degree in criminal justice from Albany State University, students will be able to pursue local, state, and federal jobs. Albany State University also offers a master's level degree in criminal justice for students who are looking to further their education in the field. To help students succeed after graduation, the university offers career services to help prepare graduates for life after college and assist in searching for the right job. Students have access to on campus tutoring, as well as academic advisors to help them stay on track with their degree.
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Mercer UniversityLocation
Macon, GA
Graduation Rate63%
Students at Mercer University will graduate with a bachelor's degree in criminal justice leadership where they will be able to create a defend opinions about criminal justice, develop and critique crisis situations, and evaluate and apply theories about criminal behavior. For the students who are looking to further their knowledge about criminal justice, Mercer University also offers a master's degree in criminal justice. For those who are looking to get involved on campus, there are organizations ranging from academic, to programming, to multicultural available for students to join. The Student Health Center is also available at Mercer University for all students to use, regardless of insurance coverage.
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Georgia Southern University-Armstrong CampusLocation
Savannah, GA
Graduation Rate31%
At Armstrong State University, students can earn a bachelor's degree in criminal justice to pursue careers at organizations like the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Agency, or local police departments. Students who want to further their education can also pursue a master's in criminal justice at Armstrong University completely online. Armstrong University also hosts academic, faith based, special interest, and sports clubs and organizations for students to get involved and complement their education. The University Counseling Center offers a place for students to seek help with topics like time management, stress, and relationships.
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University of North GeorgiaLocation
Dahlonega, GA
Graduation Rate53%
With a bachelor's degree in criminal justice from University of North Georgia, students will be able to develop into leaders of the field. For those who are interested, the university offers a concentration in forensics, as well as a master's degree in criminal justice. University of North Georgia Career Services can help students explore and prepare for career opportunities. Students can also use the school counseling center to get help with issues like, anxiety, depression, and addiction. Other on campus resources include a financial aid office, student health services, and student run clubs and organizations.
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Columbus State UniversityLocation
Columbus, GA
Graduation Rate34%
The criminal justice program at Columbus State University offers students the opportunity to pursue careers at the local, state, and federal levels. The university also offers a graduate degree for those students who are looking to further their studies. Students can get involved in organizations on campus ranging from academic, to recreation, to honor societies. The Center for Career Development is available to help students find the right career and prepare for the job search. Columbus State also provides medical care and counseling to students to enable them to succeed. Free tutoring is also available to all students through the Academic Center for Tutoring.
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Kennesaw State UniversityLocation
Kennesaw, GA
Graduation Rate42%
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Point UniversityLocation
West Point, GA
Graduation Rate37%
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Shorter UniversityLocation
Rome, GA
Graduation Rate47%
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Reinhardt UniversityLocation
Waleska, GA
Graduation Rate28%
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Valdosta State UniversityLocation
Valdosta, GA
Graduation Rate41%
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Georgia State UniversityLocation
Atlanta, GA
Graduation Rate51%
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Georgia College and State UniversityLocation
Milledgeville, GA
Graduation Rate57%
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Clark Atlanta UniversityLocation
Atlanta, GA
Graduation Rate39%
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Clayton State UniversityLocation
Morrow, GA
Graduation Rate28%
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University of GeorgiaLocation
Athens, GA
Graduation Rate81%
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Atlanta Metropolitan State CollegeLocation
Atlanta, GA
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Savannah State UniversityLocation
Savannah, GA
Graduation Rate32%
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Fort Valley State UniversityLocation
Fort Valley, GA
Graduation Rate29%
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Georgia Southern UniversityLocation
Statesboro, GA
Graduation Rate50%
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Dalton State CollegeLocation
Dalton, GA
Graduation Rate15%
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Augusta UniversityLocation
Augusta, GA
Graduation Rate27%
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Thomas UniversityLocation
Thomasville, GA
Graduation Rate14%
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Piedmont CollegeLocation
Demorest, GA
Graduation Rate52%
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Emmanuel College-GeorgiaLocation
Franklin Springs, GA
Graduation Rate39%
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Georgia Gwinnett CollegeLocation
Lawrenceville, GA
2-Year Schools
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Central Georgia Technical CollegeLocation
Warner Robins, GA
Students at Central Georgia Technical College have the opportunity to enter or advance a career in various criminal justice areas such as justice administration, corrections, and law enforcement and protection services. This program consists of 60 credit hours where students will learn a curriculum based on theory and hands-on application of area-specific skills. Courses cover various topics of criminal justice including ethics and cultural perspectives, legal standards and criminal procedure. In order to qualify for the program, prospective students must be at least 16 years of age and a high school graduate or GED recipient.
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Augusta Technical CollegeLocation
Augusta, GA
Students seeking to enter or advance a career in a criminal justice field may consider enrolling in the criminal justice technology program at Augusta Technical College. By blending theory and hands-on application of criminal justice professions, this program should equip students with the necessary skills to succeed in this field. Upon successful program completion, graduates may be eligible to enter various careers in protection, security and correctional fields within criminal justice. For help planning their courses, academic advisors are appointed to criminal justice diploma and degree program participants.
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Southern Regional Technical CollegeLocation
Thomasville, GA
Prospective students interested in entering a career in criminal justice can complete their Associate of Science degree in the field at Southern Regional Technical College. This program is designed to enhance students' understanding and ability to perform necessary career requirements for positions in areas of focus such as law enforcement, correctional, justice administration or investigative fields. Students can typically graduate in four semesters after successful completion of the 67 minimum required credit hours. Academic advisors are assigned to students to help formulate their academic path.
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South Georgia Technical CollegeLocation
Americus, GA
Criminal justice offerings at South Georgia Technical College can lead to associate degrees, certificates or diplomas. The online DegreeWorks platform allows both students and their advisors track the student's progress toward program completion to anticipate and prevent problems before they arise. Students will also have access to the Life Lab, which includes a range of resources. One of those resources is Student Success Services (SSS), which includes tools designed to help students in all aspects of their academic pursuits. SSS programs include advising, career development, advocacy, special programs and campus involvement. SSS tutors are available to all students.
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Ogeechee Technical CollegeLocation
Statesboro, GA
Students in the field of criminal justice can pursue certificates, diplomas and degrees through Ogeechee Technical College. No matter which track they choose, students will learn a combination of theory and practical application. There are courses available for both current working professionals and students seeking entry level positions after graduation. Courses are offered online, at varied times on campus and in the hybrid format to offer maximum flexibility to working students. The college stands out by offering a warrantied guarantee for the diplomas, certificates and degrees they award. All students will undergo an orientation and have the opportunity to meet with faculty.
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Wiregrass Georgia Technical CollegeLocation
Valdosta, GA
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Georgia Piedmont Technical CollegeLocation
Clarkston, GA
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Savannah Technical CollegeLocation
Savannah, GA
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Albany Technical CollegeLocation
Albany, GA
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Chattahoochee Technical CollegeLocation
Marietta, GA
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Athens Technical CollegeLocation
Athens, GA
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Columbus Technical CollegeLocation
Columbus, GA
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Georgia Northwestern Technical CollegeLocation
Rome, GA
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Atlanta Technical CollegeLocation
Atlanta, GA
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North Georgia Technical CollegeLocation
Clarkesville, GA
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Oconee Fall Line Technical CollegeLocation
Sandersville, GA
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West Georgia Technical CollegeLocation
Carrollton, GA
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Coastal Pines Technical CollegeLocation
Waycross, GA
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Southeastern Technical CollegeLocation
Vidalia, GA
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Andrew CollegeLocation
Cuthbert, GA
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Georgia Military CollegeLocation
Milledgeville, GA
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Lanier Technical CollegeLocation
Oakwood, GA
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Gwinnett Technical CollegeLocation
Lawrenceville, GA
Most Popular Criminal Justice Careers in Georgia
Most jobs associated with criminal justice require some level of higher education, from an academy program to a bachelor's or doctoral degree in criminal justice. For a look at the most popular criminal justice careers in Florida scroll over the tabs below. Click each occupation to show the degree requirements, the median salary for each occupation in Georgia specifically, and how many people are employed each profession across the state.
Career | Total Employed in Georgia | Median Salary | Degree Level Required |
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Police, Sheriff and Highway Patrol Officers | 24,670 | $38,430 | Academy Program |
Correctional Officer | 16,710 | $28,520 | Certificate |
Paralegal and Legal Assistant | 7,750 | $49,980 | Associate |
Compliance Officer | 6,960 | $58,030 | Bachelor's |
Court, Municipal and License Clerks | 3,560 | $30,330 | Associate |
Detectives and Criminal Investigators | 3,370 | $47,480 | Academy Program + experience |
Probation Officer | 3,310 | $35,200 | Bachelor's |
Where to Get Hired After Criminal Justice School in Georgia
There are many opportunities to work in the criminal justice field in Georgia once school is over. Data below shows opportunities and places where a criminal justice school graduate can apply. These departments are also additional resources for future career openings or to find out what are requirements and benefits for different agencies.
Protective Services Potential Employers
- High Council of Justice of Georgia
- Georgia Department of Juvenile Justice
- Georgia Department of Natural Resources
- City of Atlanta
- Georgia Department of Public Safety
- State of Georgia Police
- Georgia Bureau of Investigation
- Henry County Police Department
- American Pool Georgia
- Georgia Recreation and Park Association
- Georgia Transportation Security Administration
Total Number of Employees in Georgia: 106,450
Legal Occupations Potential Employers
- Georgia State Bar Association
- Georgia Attorney Generals Office
- Georgia Secretary of State
- Supreme Court of Georgia
- Judicial Council of Georgia
- Private practice law firms
- Georgia Association of Paralegals
- Georgia Department of Revenue
- Georgia Chamber of Commerce
Largest Areas of Employment in Descending Order
Protective service
- Atlanta, Sandy Springs, Roswell
- Southern Georgia Non-Metro Area
- Augusta, Richmond County
- Middle Georgia Non-Metro Area
- Savannah
Legal service
- Atlanta, Sandy Springs, Roswell
- Savannah
- Augusta, Richmond County
- Macon
- Southern Georgia, Non-Metro Area
Profesional Resources for Criminal Justice in Georgia
Business Compliance Resources
Correctional Resources
Court and Judicial Resources
Legal Resources
Law Enforcement Resources
Wildlife and Environmental Resources
Expert Advice on Criminal Justice in Georgia: Dean Dabney
Dean Dabney
Dean Dabney is an Associate Professor in the Department of Criminal Justice and Criminology at Georgia State University. His scholarly interests include the organizational culture within law enforcement agencies, forms of deviance and/or criminal behaviors that occur in organizational settings, and qualitative research methods. He has published 4 books, including the recently released Speaking Truth to Power: Confidential Informants and Police Investigations and several dozen articles appearing in such outlets as British Journal of Criminology, Criminal Justice & Behavior, Punishment & Society and Justice Quarterly.
Q. What skills do students gain in a criminal justice degree program in Georgia?
The substantive emphasis of criminal justice programs varies somewhat across schools. For instance, some emphasize a more applied approach, while others are more liberal arts focused. Generally speaking, research universities exemplify the latter while two- and four-year schools the former. Regardless, they will tend to provide substantive content in police, courts, corrections and crime. This provides basic background understanding for folks entering the criminal justice system as a practitioner or prepares them for law or graduate studies.
Q. How can these programs prepare students to superficially work in Georgia's criminal justice field?
The substantive coverage of police, courts, corrections and crime provides background understanding on how their practitioner oriented job will work. Perhaps more importantly, a liberal arts emphasis will prepare them as better communicators (written and verbal) and help them understand cultural differences that are central to the job.
Q. Some students may be interested in a criminal justice career because they are fans of shows life CSi and Criminal Minds. What would you tell those prospective students about the realities of the criminal justice field?
Most undergraduate criminal justice programs are generalist in nature and do not prepare them for these specific jobs. They should seek out a program specifically designed to provide forensic science content and/or plan to attend graduate school in a hard science area.
Q. If there are Georgia students who are not sure whether criminal justice is the right degree for them, what would you tell them?
They should contact the undergraduate coordinator or academic assistance professional at prospective schools to get a sense of the substantive emphasis of the program and sorts of job placements that they yield.