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2023 Best Criminal Justice Associate Degree Colleges for Veterans

128 Ranked Colleges
12,208 Degrees Awarded
$24,900 Avg Cost*
Most Veteran Friendly for Criminal Justice for an Associate

When it comes to choosing a college, veterans have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Most Veteran Friendly for Criminal Justice for an Associate” ranking is part of that endeavor.

Criminal Justice is the 27th most popular major in the country with 32,891 degrees awarded in 2020-2021.

At the associate degree level specifically, there were 12,208 criminal justice graduates with average earnings and debt of $35,806 and $19,336 respectively.

This year’s “Most Veteran Friendly for Criminal Justice for an Associate” ranking analyzed 128 colleges that offered a degree in criminal justice. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great criminal justice programs and a strong support system for veterans and active service members.

When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the criminal justice program at the school, veteran affordability, and veteran satisfaction. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Rankings by Degree Other Award Levels
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The criminal justice school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Most Veteran Friendly for Criminal Justice for an Associate”.

To further help you make the college decision, we’ve developed a unique tool called College Combat that allows you to compare schools based on the factors that matter the most to you. Test it out when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.

Most Veteran Friendly for Criminal Justice for an Associate

The colleges and universities below are the best for associate degree vets studying criminal justice.

Top 25 Best Criminal Justice Associate Degree Colleges for Veterans

1
Keiser University - Ft Lauderdale crest
Keiser University - Ft Lauderdale
Fort Lauderdale, Florida

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Keiser University - Ft Lauderdale. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Most Veteran Friendly for Criminal Justice for an Associate list. This fairly large school is located in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and it awarded 68 associates’s criminal justice degrees in 2020-2021.

Keiser University - Ft Lauderdale also took the #2 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice Associate Degree Schools” ranking.Our most recent data shows that 75 of the 20,330 students enrolled at Keiser University - Ft Lauderdale were GI Bill® students, of which 56 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $17,004. In addition to receiving other benefits, 21 students received scholarships through the Yellow Ribbon Program. Keiser University - Ft Lauderdale does offer credit for military training for eligible students.

Read More…

2
Park University crest
Park University
Parkville, Missouri

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Park University. The school came in at #2 for the Most Veteran Friendly for Criminal Justice for an Associate. Park University is a medium-sized school located in Parkville, Missouri that handed out 34 associates’s criminal justice degrees in 2020-2021.

Park University not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #21 on our “Best Criminal Justice Associate Degree Schools” list.Our most recent data shows that 5 of the 10,165 students enrolled at Park University were GI Bill® students, of which 8 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $2,501. On top of their other funding sources, 0 students received funds through the Yellow Ribbon Program. Students may be able to receive credit for their military training, depending on their background.

Full Park University Veteran Student Life Report

3
Columbia College Missouri crest
Columbia College
Columbia, Missouri

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Columbia College. The school came in at #3 for the Most Veteran Friendly for Criminal Justice for an Associate. Columbia College is a medium-sized school located in Columbia, Missouri that handed out 31 associates’s criminal justice degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on this list, Columbia College Missouri is in the top on our “Best Criminal Justice Associate Degree Schools” list. It’s in the top 20% of all schools reviewed in that analysis.According to our most recent data, Columbia College Missouri supports 8,347 students, and 6 of those are GI Bill® students, of which 1 are Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $750. To help with additional expenses, 0 students qualified for the Yellow Ribbon Program. Students may be able to receive credit for their military training, depending on their background.

[Read full report on veteran student life at Columbia College Missouri]](/colleges/columbia-college-missouri/student-life/veterans/)

4

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Hillsborough Community College. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Most Veteran Friendly for Criminal Justice for an Associate list. HCC is a fairly large school located in Tampa, Florida that handed out 114 associates’s criminal justice degrees in 2020-2021.

HCC also made our “Best Criminal Justice Associate Degree Schools” list, coming in at #4.Of the 19,532 students enrolled at Hillsborough Community College, 2 were GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 3 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $332. To help with additional expenses, 0 students received funds through the Yellow Ribbon Program. Students may be able to receive credit for their military training, depending on their background.

Full HCC Veteran Student Life Report

5

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Northern Virginia Community College. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Most Veteran Friendly for Criminal Justice for an Associate list. Northern Virginia Community College is a large public school situated in Annandale, Virginia. It awarded 35 associates’s criminal justice degrees in 2020-2021.

Northern Virginia Community College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #5 on our “Best Criminal Justice Associate Degree Schools” list.Of the 52,873 students enrolled at Northern Virginia Community College, 3 were GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 2 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $3,267. In addition to receiving other benefits, 0 students qualified for the Yellow Ribbon Program. Students may be able to receive credit for their military training, depending on their background.

Read More…

6

With a ranking of #6, Tidewater Community College did quite well on the 2023 Most Veteran Friendly for Criminal Justice for an Associate list. Tidewater Community College is a fairly large public school situated in Norfolk, Virginia. It awarded 78 associates’s criminal justice degrees in 2020-2021.

Of the 16,769 students enrolled at Tidewater Community College, 49 were GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 45 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $5,391. To help with additional expenses, 0 students received funds through the Yellow Ribbon Program. Students may be able to receive credit for their military training, depending on their background.

[Read full report on veteran student life at Tidewater Community College]](/colleges/tidewater-community-college/student-life/veterans/)

7
Georgia Military College crest
Georgia Military College
Milledgeville, Georgia

Georgia Military College landed the #7 spot on the 2023 Most Veteran Friendly for Criminal Justice for an Associate ranking. Milledgeville, Georgia is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s criminal justice degrees to 107 students in 2020-2021.

Of the 7,501 students enrolled at Georgia Military College, 88 were GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 53 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $4,244. To help with additional expenses, 0 students qualified for the Yellow Ribbon Program. Georgia Military College does offer credit for military training for eligible students.

Full Georgia Military College Veteran Student Life Report

8

With a ranking of #8, Utah Valley University did quite well on the 2023 Most Veteran Friendly for Criminal Justice for an Associate list. Orem, Utah is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s criminal justice degrees to 76 students in 2020-2021.

On top of its placing in this ranking, UVU also did well on our “Best Criminal Justice Associate Degree Schools” list. It’s in the top 20% of all schools in this category.Among the 40,936 students enrolled at UVU, 813 are GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 379 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $4,550. On top of their other funding sources, 0 students qualified for the Yellow Ribbon Program. Eligible students may be able to receive credit for their military training.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is [DEFAULT_RATE_STRING]%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

[Read full report on veteran student life at Utah Valley University]](/colleges/utah-valley-university/student-life/veterans/)

9
Northern Michigan University crest
Northern Michigan University
Marquette, Michigan

With a ranking of #9, Northern Michigan University did quite well on the 2023 Most Veteran Friendly for Criminal Justice for an Associate list. Northern Michigan University is a medium-sized public school situated in Marquette, Michigan. It awarded 6 associates’s criminal justice degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our associate degree vets studying criminal justice list, Northern Michigan University has also earned the #17 rank in our “Best Criminal Justice Associate Degree Schools” ranking.Our most recent data shows that 337 of the 7,368 students enrolled at Northern Michigan University were GI Bill® students, of which 136 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $8,630. On top of their other funding sources, 0 students received funds through the Yellow Ribbon Program. Eligible students may be able to receive credit for their military training.

Full Northern Michigan University Veteran Student Life Report

10
Lake Superior State University crest
Lake Superior State University
Sault Ste Marie, Michigan

With a ranking of #10, Lake Superior State University did quite well on the 2023 Most Veteran Friendly for Criminal Justice for an Associate list. This small school is located in Sault Ste Marie, Michigan, and it awarded 28 associates’s criminal justice degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our associate degree vets studying criminal justice list, Lake Superior State University has also earned the #14 rank in our “Best Criminal Justice Associate Degree Schools” ranking.Among the 1,909 students enrolled at Lake Superior State University, 86 are GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 47 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $7,934. In addition to receiving other benefits, 0 students received scholarships through the Yellow Ribbon Program. Lake Superior State University does offer credit for military training for eligible students.

Read More…

11
SWIC crest
Southwestern Illinois College
Belleville, Illinois

Southwestern Illinois College did quite well in the 2023 Most Veteran Friendly for Criminal Justice for an Associate ranking, coming in at #11. Located in Belleville, Illinois, this medium-sized public school handed out 17 degrees to qualified associates’s criminal justice students in 2020-2021.

According to our most recent data, SWIC supports 6,906 students, and 492 of those are GI Bill® students, of which 271 are Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $3,194. In addition to receiving other benefits, 0 students qualified for the Yellow Ribbon Program. SWIC does offer credit for military training for eligible students.

Full Southwestern Illinois College Veteran Student Life Report

12
Valencia College crest
Valencia College
Orlando, Florida

Valencia College ranked #12 on this year’s Most Veteran Friendly for Criminal Justice for an Associate list. Located in Orlando, Florida, this large public school handed out 91 diplomas to qualified associates’s criminal justice students in 2020-2021.

Valencia College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #6 on our “Best Criminal Justice Associate Degree Schools” list.Among the 45,949 students enrolled at Valencia College, 1,809 are GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 965 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $1,696. During this same period, 0 students received funds through the Yellow Ribbon Program. Valencia College does offer credit for military training for eligible students.

[Read full report on veteran student life at Valencia College]](/colleges/valencia-college/student-life/veterans/)

13

York College of Pennsylvania landed the #13 spot on the 2023 Most Veteran Friendly for Criminal Justice for an Associate ranking. YCP is a private not-for-profit institution located in York, Pennsylvania. The school has a small population, and it awarded 3 associates’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Of the 4,039 students enrolled at York College of Pennsylvania, 135 were GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 91 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $14,343. During this same period, 5 students received scholarships through the Yellow Ribbon Program. Students may be able to receive credit for their military training, depending on their background.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of [DEFAULT_RATE_STRING]% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read More…

14
Ashland crest
Ashland University
Ashland, Ohio

Ashland University ranked #14 on this year’s Most Veteran Friendly for Criminal Justice for an Associate list. Ashland, Ohio is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out associates’s criminal justice degrees to 4 students in 2020-2021.

According to our most recent data, Ashland supports 4,447 students, and 105 of those are GI Bill® students, of which 88 are Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $14,554. To help with additional expenses, 4 students received scholarships through the Yellow Ribbon Program. Eligible students may be able to receive credit for their military training.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of [DEFAULT_RATE_STRING]% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full Ashland University Veteran Student Life Report

15

With a ranking of #15, University of Akron Main Campus did quite well on the 2023 Most Veteran Friendly for Criminal Justice for an Associate list. University of Akron Main Campus is located in Akron, Ohio and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 6 associates’s criminal justice degrees to qualified students.

According to our most recent data, University of Akron Main Campus supports 16,094 students, and 2 of those are GI Bill® students, of which 1 are Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $3,240. During this same period, 0 students qualified for the Yellow Ribbon Program. Eligible students may be able to receive credit for their military training.

Read More…

16
Monroe Community College crest
Monroe Community College
Rochester, New York

Monroe Community College came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Most Veteran Friendly for Criminal Justice for an Associate ranking. Monroe Community College is a public institution located in Rochester, New York. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 50 associates’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Monroe Community College also took the #22 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice Associate Degree Schools” ranking.Of the 10,161 students enrolled at Monroe Community College, 301 were GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 195 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $2,794. To help with additional expenses, 0 students received funds through the Yellow Ribbon Program. Eligible students may be able to receive credit for their military training.

[Read full report on veteran student life at Monroe Community College]](/colleges/monroe-community-college/student-life/veterans/)

17
Nassau Community College crest
Nassau Community College
Garden City, New York

Nassau Community College landed the #17 spot on the 2023 Most Veteran Friendly for Criminal Justice for an Associate ranking. Nassau Community College is located in Garden City, New York and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 171 associates’s criminal justice degrees to qualified students.

According to our most recent data, Nassau Community College supports 13,864 students, and 217 of those are GI Bill® students, of which 141 are Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $3,692. On top of their other funding sources, 0 students received funds through the Yellow Ribbon Program. Students may be able to receive credit for their military training, depending on their background.

Full Nassau Community College Veteran Student Life Report

18
MDC crest
Miami Dade College
Miami, Florida

Miami Dade College did quite well in the 2023 Most Veteran Friendly for Criminal Justice for an Associate ranking, coming in at #18. Miami Dade College is a large school located in Miami, Florida that handed out 14 associates’s criminal justice degrees in 2020-2021.

MDC excels when it comes to criminal justice quality. It’s in the top 20% of all schools reviewed in that analysis.According to our most recent data, MDC supports 46,523 students, and 907 of those are GI Bill® students, of which 607 are Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $2,371. In addition to receiving other benefits, 0 students received scholarships through the Yellow Ribbon Program. Students may be able to receive credit for their military training, depending on their background.

[Read full report on veteran student life at MDC]](/colleges/miami-dade-college/student-life/veterans/)

19

Seminole State College of Florida ranked #19 on this year’s Most Veteran Friendly for Criminal Justice for an Associate list. This fairly large school is located in Sanford, Florida, and it awarded 32 associates’s criminal justice degrees in 2020-2021.

Seminole State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #23 on our “Best Criminal Justice Associate Degree Schools” list.Among the 16,298 students enrolled at Seminole State College of Florida, 737 are GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 369 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $1,468. In addition to receiving other benefits, 0 students qualified for the Yellow Ribbon Program. Eligible students may be able to receive credit for their military training.

Full Seminole State Veteran Student Life Report

20
HACC crest
Harrisburg Area Community College
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

Harrisburg Area Community College came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Most Veteran Friendly for Criminal Justice for an Associate ranking. HACC is a fairly large public school situated in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. It awarded 60 associates’s criminal justice degrees in 2020-2021.

Of the 15,376 students enrolled at Harrisburg Area Community College, 624 were GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 367 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $3,537. On top of their other funding sources, 0 students qualified for the Yellow Ribbon Program. Eligible students may be able to receive credit for their military training.

Full HACC Veteran Student Life Report

21
RWU crest
Roger Williams University
Bristol, Rhode Island

Roger Williams University came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Most Veteran Friendly for Criminal Justice for an Associate ranking. Roger Williams University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Bristol, Rhode Island. It awarded 4 associates’s criminal justice degrees in 2020-2021.

RWU also took the #16 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice Associate Degree Schools” ranking.Of the 4,702 students enrolled at RWU, 95 were GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 48 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $8,342. On top of their other funding sources, 0 students received scholarships through the Yellow Ribbon Program. Students may be able to receive credit for their military training, depending on their background.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is [DEFAULT_RATE_STRING]%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read More…

22
SWC Chula Vista crest
Southwestern College
Chula Vista, California

Southwestern College did quite well in the 2023 Most Veteran Friendly for Criminal Justice for an Associate ranking, coming in at #22. Southwestern College is a fairly large public school situated in Chula Vista, California. It awarded 184 associates’s criminal justice degrees in 2020-2021.

SWC Chula Vista also made our “Best Criminal Justice Associate Degree Schools” list, coming in at #7.Of the 17,621 students enrolled at SWC Chula Vista, 941 were GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 562 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $427. In addition to receiving other benefits, 0 students qualified for the Yellow Ribbon Program. Students may be able to receive credit for their military training, depending on their background.

Read More…

23

Delaware Technical Community College - Terry landed the #23 spot on the 2023 Most Veteran Friendly for Criminal Justice for an Associate ranking. Delaware Tech is located in Dover, Delaware and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 11 associates’s criminal justice degrees to qualified students.

Delaware Tech not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #8 on our “Best Criminal Justice Associate Degree Schools” list.According to our most recent data, Delaware Technical Community College - Terry supports 12,955 students, and 203 of those are GI Bill® students, of which 140 are Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $2,025. To help with additional expenses, 0 students received scholarships through the Yellow Ribbon Program. Eligible students may be able to receive credit for their military training.

Read More…

24
Excelsior College crest
Excelsior College
Albany, New York

Excelsior College landed the #24 spot on the 2023 Most Veteran Friendly for Criminal Justice for an Associate ranking. This fairly large school is located in Albany, New York, and it awarded 21 associates’s criminal justice degrees in 2020-2021.

Excelsior College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #11 on our “Best Criminal Justice Associate Degree Schools” list.Of the 21,974 students enrolled at Excelsior College, 2,603 were GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 2,449 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $5,255. In addition to receiving other benefits, 0 students received scholarships through the Yellow Ribbon Program. Students may be able to receive credit for their military training, depending on their background.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of [DEFAULT_RATE_STRING]% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

[Read full report on veteran student life at Excelsior College]](/colleges/excelsior-college/student-life/veterans/)

25

Colorado Christian University did quite well in the 2023 Most Veteran Friendly for Criminal Justice for an Associate ranking, coming in at #25. Located in Lakewood, Colorado, this medium-sized private not-for-profit school handed out 10 diplomas to qualified associates’s criminal justice students in 2020-2021.

Of the 7,839 students enrolled at Colorado Christian University, 574 were GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 446 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $7,761. On top of their other funding sources, 11 students qualified for the Yellow Ribbon Program. Students may be able to receive credit for their military training, depending on their background.

[Read full report on veteran student life at CCU]](/colleges/colorado-christian-university/student-life/veterans/)

Notes and References

References

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

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