Online Degree in Criminology & Crime Analysis BS in Criminal Justice Concentration

Flexible

With no set class meeting times, you can learn on your schedule and access online course materials 24/7.

Affordable

As part of our mission to make higher education more accessible, we’re committed to keeping our tuition rates low. In fact, we offer some of the lowest online tuition rates in the nation.

Prior coursework could also help you save time and money. SNHU’s transfer policy allows you to transfer up to 90 credits toward your bachelor's degree and 45 credits for an associate degree from your previous institutions—that means you could save up to 75% off the cost of tuition. You could also save time and money by getting college credit for previous work experience, or by taking advantage of military discounts and employer tuition assistance if available to you.

Respected

Founded in 1932, Southern New Hampshire University is a private, nonprofit institution with over 160,000 graduates across the country. SNHU is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE), a regional accreditor, which advocates for institutional improvement and public assurance of quality. 

Recently, SNHU has been nationally recognized for leading the way toward more innovative, affordable and achievable education:

• U.S. News & World Report named SNHU the 2021 Most Innovative University in the North and one of the nation's "Best Regional Universities"
• Awarded the 21st Century Distance Learning Award for Excellence in Online Technology by The United States Distance Learning Association (USDLA)
• A $1 million grant from Google.org to explore soft skills assessments for high-need youth

Network

At Southern New Hampshire University, you'll have access to a powerful network of more than 300,000 students, alumni and staff that can help support you long after graduation. Our instructors offer relevant, real-world expertise to help you understand and navigate the field. Plus, with our growing, nationwide alumni network, you'll have the potential to tap into a number of internship and career opportunities.

93.6% of online students would recommend SNHU (according to a 2022 survey with 17,000+ respondents). Discover why SNHU may be right for you.

Expanding access to quality higher education means removing the barriers that may stand between you and your degree. That’s why you can apply at any time and get a decision within days of submitting all required materials:

• Completed free undergraduate application
• Prior transcripts, which we can retrieve at no cost to you
• Test scores are not required as part of your application

Acceptance decisions are made on a rolling basis throughout the year for our 6 (8-week) undergraduate terms.

If you’re ready to apply, follow these simple steps to get the process going:

• Complete a free undergraduate application
• Submit any additional documents required
• Work with an admission counselor to explore financial options and walk through the application process

If you have questions or need help filling out your application, call 1.888.387.0861 or email enroll@snhu.edu.

Notes: 

• Laptop or desktop?  Whichever you choose depends on your personal preference and work style, though laptops tend to offer more flexibility. 

• Note:  Chromebooks (Chrome OS) and iPads (iOS) do not meet the minimum requirements for coursework at SNHU. These offer limited functionality and do not work with some course technologies. They are not acceptable as the only device you use for coursework. While these devices are convenient and may be used for some course functions, they cannot be your primary device. SNHU does, however, have an affordable laptop option that it recommends: Dell Latitude 3301 with Windows 10. 

• Office 365 Pro Plus is available free of charge to all SNHU students and faculty. The Office suite will remain free while you are a student at SNHU. Upon graduation you may convert to a paid subscription if you wish. Terms subject to change at Microsoft's discretion. Review system requirements for Microsoft 365 plans for business, education and government. 

• Antivirus software: Check with your ISP as they may offer antivirus software free of charge to subscribers. 

You can, and there are plenty of reasons you should. Flexibility might be the biggest if you’re working in the criminal justice field full time – especially if you’re doing shift work.

Even if you’re not working full time, online education offers many benefits. That’s one of the reasons so many people opt to become online students. Our online criminology and crime analysis courses follow our undergraduate schedule of six 8-week terms per year. You'll take one or two courses per term. At SNHU, the majority of your classmates will be working students.

The online criminology and crime analysis degree, like all of our online degrees, gives you the flexibility to create your own schedule. That’s because there’s no set time you need to be in front of your computer to participate in class. Each week, you log in when you can and complete your assignments on your schedule. Then, you simply turn them in by your weekly deadlines – typically Thursday and Sunday nights.

Shelly Villa ’19, a military spouse and mother of four girls, chose SNHU’s online criminology degree to finish what she’d started after high school. She knew that by attending school online, she could still be there for her daughters. 

“I knew I didn’t have to worry about babysitters or getting to campus or finding parking or anything that comes with going to a traditional school,” she said. Villa was able to fit coursework in around her schedule, not the other way around.

She also liked the program’s diverse array of classes.

“I had never really thought about the juvenile court system before,” Villa said. “Then I took the class for the juvenile system, and I said, ‘Hey, this is something I’m actually really interested in.’”

Intrigued by his wife’s passion for the program, Sal Villa enrolled in the AS in Criminal Justice program with plans to complete his bachelor’s degree in criminology next. After nearly 15 years of active military duty, he wanted a career in law enforcement and knew a degree would give him the edge he needed.

“Having my bachelor’s degree by the time I retire from active duty will definitely put me ahead of the game,” Villa said.

With hopes of becoming a police officer, Villa felt drawn to the criminology and sociology aspects of the criminal justice system. His motivation: to study the mind and help minimize the number of criminals in society.

What’s motivating you? Whether you want to get into law enforcement, corrections, social services or go on to teach criminal justice, SNHU’s criminology degree is worth a closer look.

Whether your goal is to break into the criminal justice field or you’re looking to advance in your current role, you have lots of options.

Earning your criminology and crime analysis degree online at SNHU can help you grow specialized skills that can make you stand out to employers. By combining a foundation in criminal justice with the data-savvy skills of crime analysis, you'll be positioned for success in a diverse array of career paths, including:

• Police and detectives: The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) cites five main areas of responsibility for detectives and criminal investigators. They interview people to gather information, search records to uncover clues, conduct surveillance, collect evidence for clients, and check for civil judgments and criminal history. The BLS projects 3% growth for this area of law enforcement through 2031.¹
• Probation officers and correctional treatment specialists: Probation officers oversee people on probation. Correctional treatment specialists create rehabilitation plans for those on probation or parole. The BLS estimates about 8,000 openings each year, on average, for these roles through 2031.¹
• Social and community service managers: Whether serving children, the homeless, older adults, veterans, or people with substance abuse or mental health needs, these roles focus on public well-being. The BLS sees 12% growth in this category through 2031 and reported a median annual salary of $74,000 in 2021.¹

Kelcey Kennedy '19 '21G went on to earn a master's in psychology after finishing her criminology program to position herself for her dream career.

"I want to be able to work with inmates to rehabilitate them back into society," she said. "Upon completing my degrees, I now have that opportunity."

Many schools offer criminology programs, but only you can decide which one is best for you. You’ll need to consider whether the program fits your budget, your schedule and your career plans, among other things.

SNHU’s criminology and crime analysis degree is one of the most affordable in the nation. It also offers the flexibility of an online degree. Combined enrollment in our criminal justice college degrees – including associate, bachelor's and master's programs – currently tops 7,000 students. Our faculty members bring real-world experience from all aspects of law enforcement to the classroom.

The program is also notable for its curriculum, which marries the latest criminology theory with practical crime analysis skills. This prepares graduates with an education that can set them apart in a competitive market.

Southern New Hampshire University also gives you access to online student groups like the Law and Disorder Club. The club hosts networking and educational events like Serial Killer Month, featuring trivia about serial killers, and a Cold Case Mystery Party.

Kristine Ducote, one of the founders of the club, said the networking between members and criminal justice professionals is one of the main advantages of joining the club.

“We meet different professionals in the field,” Ducote said. “You start networking (and) it can help you land a job you want (or) get your career going in the direction you want to go.”

Ducote started the club to help students get more from their programs and, ultimately, land a job in criminal justice.

“I want these students to go out and succeed, and I want them to go out and have what they need before they graduate,” she said. “It’s very important to me because we address issues that really need addressing.”

That depends partly on your career plans and partly on your ultimate educational goals.

Want to use your bachelor’s in criminology to pursue a traditional path in law enforcement as a detective? According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), police and detectives made median annual wages of $66,020 in 2021.¹

If you want your criminology degree to lead to work in the prison system as a probation officer or correctional treatment specialist, know that the BLS reported median annual wages of $60,250 in 2021.¹

Is working for the public well-being what you aspire to? Social and community service managers made a median annual wage of $74,000 in 2021.¹

Is victim advocacy where your passion lies? The BLS reported a median annual wage of $50,390 for social workers who help victims of crimes in 2021.¹

Of course, an advanced law enforcement degree can increase your earning potential. SNHU offers the MS in Criminal Justice with 2 concentrations – counterterrorism & homeland security and public administration.

If you're not ready to take on a full graduate program, you can also strengthen your resume – and collect credits you can later apply to your master's degree – with a graduate certificate in counterterrorism or public administration.

The criminology degree is versatile and meaningful. You can take it in a number of directions, from traditional law enforcement roles to working in the prison system or social services.

As you complete your criminology and crime analysis courses, you’ll develop the skills and knowledge to succeed in law enforcement, social services and related fields. And you’ll gain something just as vital – a better understanding of people.

Ian Moffett, retired chief of the Miami-Dade school system, spoke about the importance of empathy in criminal justice after the death of George Floyd in May 2020. Lending his expertise on a panel hosted at SNHU, Moffett said, “Studies show that people with higher education, people who have degrees, have better problem-solving skills. They’re more empathetic.”

As a leader in the field of criminal justice, SNHU is re-imagining the skills and experiences our criminology degree students will need as they enter the workforce. Part of that effort is our Contemporary Justice Series, which brings in national voices to help students succeed as public servants.

“We have a bigger responsibility than to just deliver content,” said Dr. Jeff Czarnec, associate dean of criminal justice and social science programs. “Our biggest responsibility is to add value to the program by looking to develop culturally competent public safety people.”

Regardless of your career goals, the empathy and communication skills at the core of this program will help you achieve them.

Criminology is a great career choice, especially if you’re passionate about protecting the nation’s citizens from crime or serving the public good.

After completing his associate degree in criminal justice, Sal Villa plans to go on to earn his bachelor’s degree in criminology. Currently serving in the military, Villa hopes to become a police officer someday. He’s interested in criminology not only because he wants to study the criminal mind. His higher purpose is to help reduce criminal behavior in society.

Laurie Nuzzo, SNHU criminal justice faculty and FBI Investigative Specialist, said a degree in criminology can help lead to a more fulfilling career. She has many students who believe they’ve learned how to communicate better with people through their studies.

SNHU's online Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice with a concentration in Criminology and Crime Analysis is uniquely designed to help prepare you for success as a crime analyst.

Developed by industry experts who understand the demands of today's workforce, this specialized degree offers a perfect path for a crime analyst – whether you're just starting your career or ready to make a change.

Becoming a crime analyst requires the right balance of criminal justice, research and data analytics skills. To this end, a bachelor's degree – while not always required – may be a powerful way to break into the field.

SNHU's online criminology and crime analysis degree is uniquely designed to help grow this very specific skillset. On one hand, you'll get the foundation you need to succeed in a protective service occupation. On the other, you'll gain competence with data analytics – which is itself a high-demand skill in just about every imaginable industry.

Real-world experience and on-the-job training are also helpful. Those with a background in law enforcement, for example, can gain practical knowledge that may position them for successful crime analysis careers.

Plus, those with law enforcement training can transfer their experience for up to 12 college credits at SNHU – saving you time and tuition.

Put simply, crime analysis is designed to predict and prevent criminal behavior. It achieves this goal through the analysis of a wide variety of data – which then informs strategic solutions to help reduce crime and protect communities.

"[Crime analysts] need to learn quantitative and qualitative techniques, to analyze data and develop crime prevention and intervention models," said Mahmut Cengiz, an SNHU adjunct professor and senior data analyst.

"Crime has a pattern. Crime analysis, instead of relying on law enforcement approximations, uses statistical prediction to identify the most probable areas for urgent police intervention," he said.

¹Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, on the internet at:

• https://www.bls.gov/ooh/protective-service/home.htm (viewed Oct. 20, 2022)
• https://www.bls.gov/ooh/community-and-social-service/home.htm (viewed Oct. 20, 2022)
• https://www.bls.gov/ooh/protective-service/police-and-detectives.htm (viewed Oct. 20, 2022)
• https://www.bls.gov/ooh/community-and-social-service/probation-officers-and-correctional-treatment-specialists.htm (viewed Oct. 20, 2022)
• https://www.bls.gov/ooh/management/social-and-community-service-managers.htm (viewed Oct. 20, 2022)
• https://www.bls.gov/ooh/life-physical-and-social-science/sociologists.htm (viewed Oct. 20, 2022)
• https://www.bls.gov/ooh/community-and-social-service/social-workers.htm (viewed Oct. 20, 2022)

Cited projections may not reflect local or short-term economic or job conditions and do not guarantee actual job growth.