Cheapest Online Criminal Justice Degrees in 2026
Criminal justice is one of the most affordable fields to study online - no labs, no clinical placements. But for-profit schools aggressively market to this audience. Here's how to find the legitimate cheap options.
Why Criminal Justice is Genuinely Cheap to Study Online
Unlike nursing (clinical placements), engineering (labs), or education (student teaching), criminal justice requires no special facilities. That makes the real cost of delivery much lower - and legitimately cheap programs can exist without cutting corners on quality. The key is finding regionally accredited options at public or non-profit schools.
Cheapest Accredited Online Criminal Justice Programs
| School | Per Credit | Total Cost | Accred. | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Georgia Military College B.A. Criminal Justice | ~$150 | ~$18,000 | SACSCOC | Exceptionally low cost. Military-affiliated; accepts JST transfer credits. |
Kennesaw State University B.S. Criminal Justice | ~$159 in-state | ~$19,080 | SACSCOC | Georgia public university. Affordable in-state rates. Strong law enforcement network. |
CSU Global B.S. Criminal Justice | ~$320 | ~$38,400 | HLC | Colorado State system. 100% online. No semester schedule. |
Southern New Hampshire University B.S. Criminal Justice | $342 | $41,040 | NECHE | Forensics, cybercrime, and homeland security concentrations available. |
Liberty University B.S. Criminal Justice | $390 | ~$46,800 | SACSCOC | Large program. Faith-based institution. Military benefits accepted. |
Penn Foster University B.S. Criminal Justice | N/A (program price) | $13,100-$13,700 | DEAC | National accreditation only. Check employer acceptance before enrolling. |
Note: Penn Foster holds DEAC (national) accreditation, not regional accreditation. This affects credit transferability and some employer recognition. Verify before enrolling.
For-Profit Warning: Criminal Justice Attracts Aggressive Marketing
Criminal justice is one of the fields most aggressively marketed by for-profit schools because it sounds specific and career-focused, and many students don't comparison shop. Avoid schools with:
- !National-only accreditation (DEAC, ACICS) rather than regional accreditation
- !Per-credit rates above $500 for a criminal justice bachelor's
- !Admission policies that accept everyone regardless of academic background
- !High-pressure enrollment advisers who call daily
- !Degree costs exceeding $60,000 for a field where starting salaries are $40,000-$55,000