Is criminal justice a useless degree?
Mia Phillips
Updated on March 30, 2026
Answer: Yes, it’s worth it! There seems to be a perception out there that those pursuing a criminal justice degree are spending their hard earned money on a degree that’s going to be worthless. The truth is that it’s a desirable degree when coupled with a quality program at a reputable college or university.
Is it better to get a BS or BA in criminal justice?
While schools most commonly offer BS degrees in criminal justice, some schools offer BAs. A BS in criminal justice is typically a more precise, technical program than the broader BA degree.
Are criminal justice degrees good?
Pursuing a Criminal Justice major in college, from the get-go, is one of the best ways to put yourself at an advantage when seeking a job. But a criminal justice associate degree alone can help you land a job as a police officer, private detective or investigator, along with other, impactful criminal justice careers.
What can you do after graduating with a criminal justice degree?
What can you do with a criminal justice degree?
- Corrections manager. What you’d do: Corrections managers supervise employees at a prison or other correctional facility.
- Crime scene investigator.
- Emergency management coordinator.
- FBI agent.
- Forensic accountant.
- Forensic psychologist.
- Paralegal.
- Police officer.
Can you be a lawyer with a criminology degree?
Absolutely. You can become a lawyer with any type of accredited degree, you do not have to follow an undergraduate legal track.
Is criminal justice an easy major?
A criminal justice degree is a great degree to have if you’d like to work in safety and security. Criminal justice majors command an average salary of $49,000+ a year. Criminal justice degrees are typically not reading or writing intensive, making them easier than other majors.
What can you do with Bachelors in criminal justice?
Both the Bachelor of Arts or Science in Criminal Justice will increase employment opportunities and possible advancement, as well as salary. For example, Dallas PD automatically gives officers with a bachelor’s degree an additional $300 per month. There are programs with cognates or related specialty areas within the criminal justice program.
Can you get a job with a bachelor’s degree?
A bachelor’s degree is statistically more recession-proof. According to the Georgetown University study referenced above, during the 2008 economic recession, bachelor’s degree holders suffered far fewer job losses overall, while the unemployment for high school graduates dropped sharply and showed little improvement in the recovery.
Do you need a bachelors degree to be a police officer?
More education means more opportunities for advancement. While on-the-job experience is a valuable career asset, police officers hoping to transition and advance to more decorated leadership positions are often required to possess a bachelor’s degree for consideration.
How many people work in the Criminal Justice Field?
More importantly, careers in criminal justice are found at the federal, state, county, and local levels, as well as in the private sector. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, as of 2016, the criminal justice field employed roughly three million workers.
