2025 Best Online Law Enforcement Degrees
Our list of the very best online law enforcement degrees highlights accredited schools graduating the most students in this field, helping you see where future professionals are succeeding due to well-supported online environments.
Key Takeaways:
- #1 Southern New Hampshire University Online leads with 895 graduates.
- Nelson University, last on our list, is still a solid pick because it earns a 100% recommendation rate from surveyed graduates.
See our methodology for details about how we choose the best bachelor's degree in law enforcement. Expert commentary follows our ranking discussion. With nearly 30 years in law enforcement, retired Supervisory Special Agent Brian Townsend shares candid advice for students pursuing online law enforcement degrees.
2025 Best Online Law Enforcement Degrees
| Rank | School | Graduates | Annual Tuition | Median Salary | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southern New Hampshire University Online | 895 | $9,900 | $67,442 | 69% | |
| Arizona State University, Online | 238 | $24,780 | $56,419 | 93% | |
| Western Illinois University | 197 | $10,095 | $65,120 | 91% | |
| Columbia Southern University | 181 | $8,100 | $61,453 | 79% | |
| Franklin University | 149 | $11,940 | $54,310 | 85% | |
| University of Colorado Colorado Springs | 128 | $20,492 | $53,733 | 85% | |
| Middle Tennessee State University | 126 | $17,760 | $52,140 | 86% | |
| UMass Global | 39 | $15,000 | N/A | 70% | |
| The University of Tennessee - Martin | 30 | $14,520 | $43,797 | 93% | |
| Regent University Online | 15 | $10,880 | $61,409 | 83% | |
| Reinhardt University | 13 | $28,420 | N/A | 100% | |
| Culver-Stockton College | 11 | $11,850 | $50,911 | 100% | |
| Union Commonwealth University | 8 | $6,750 | N/A | 100% | |
| Nelson University | 6 | $12,900 | N/A | 100% |
What Makes These The Best Online Law Enforcement Degrees?
The online law enforcement bachelor's programs from the schools listed above are ranked by the number of graduates in this field to show you which ones are thriving with the most successful graduates. These are well-established pipelines that hundreds of students trust each year.
Larger cohorts often mean:
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Course consistency: Classes run every term, reducing bottlenecks.
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Network effects: More alumni = more mentors, more internship leads, more hiring opportunities.
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Employer recognition: Agencies notice programs they鈥檝e seen on resumes before.
That鈥檚 why Southern New Hampshire University (895 graduates) and Arizona State University (238 graduates) sit at the top of the list. When your goal is to step into a competitive field like policing or investigations, it's helpful to know the likelihood of where you'll be the most successful.
We also want to dig into more of the data so you can get the full picture of these offerings. So, below we also discuss program-specific earnings data (where available) as well as satisfaction scores based on more than 75,000 student surveys that we've collected over the years.
Earnings Four Years Out: A Critical Metric for Law Enforcement Degrees
The median salaries for law enforcement graduates at these universities is for four years after graduation. These numbers stand out as some of the most meaningful metrics.
At Western Illinois University, for example, graduates of the online Bachelor of Science in Law Enforcement and Justice Administration report a median salary of $65,120, while those from Southern New Hampshire University average an even higher $67,442. These figures put both programs toward the top tier nationally, signaling that graduates are not only finding jobs but translating their degrees into well-paying roles.
Earnings data acts as a proxy for return on investment. Since law enforcement is a field where many entry-level salaries are fairly standardized by region or agency, higher median earnings often point to faster promotions, specialized roles, or broader career options.
We think that a degree program that consistently produces alumni with higher-than-average salaries may be doing more than just teaching fundamentals. It seems that these schools' law enforcement programs are better at preparing graduates for leadership tracks, investigative roles, or federal placements that carry higher pay scales.
Students often weigh tuition carefully, but what matters just as much is what happens after graduation. A $10K difference in median earnings four years out can compound quickly across a career, translating into greater financial stability, mobility, and freedom of choice in where and how you serve.
Would You Choose It Again? What Students Really Say About Their Schools
Recommendation rates answer the question every prospective student cares about: 鈥淚f you could do it all over again, would you still pick this school?鈥�
Looking across the data, some clear trends emerge. Public universities with large-scale online ecosystems, such as Arizona State University (93%) and Western Illinois (91%), tend to earn consistently high marks. These schools combine reputation with strong virtual infrastructure, and students appear to value this stability and the credibility that comes with a recognizable name.
At the other end, some of the highest ratings actually come from smaller, private institutions. Nelson University posts a perfect 100% recommendation rate 鈥� albeit with a smaller graduating class 鈥� suggesting that a highly personal, tightly mentored experience can resonate just as strongly as the reach of a big-name school.
Law enforcement students are often balancing demanding jobs, unpredictable shifts, or even academy training alongside their online courses. The schools that earn the highest recommendation rates are the ones that provide clear pathways for students. The students we surveyed finished their degree with enough conviction to recommend their school to others.
Comparing Law Enforcement Program Design and Special Features
The law enforcement bachelor's programs hosted by the schools above make unique design choices, which often fall into the following themes:
Career-Aligned Credentials
SNHU integrates a Criminal Justice Communication Certificate directly into the degree and allows students to earn up to 12 credits for prior academy training (a meaningful shortcut for working officers).
Reinhardt University connects its online criminal justice program with a Georgia POST鈥揷ertified police academy, creating a direct route to professional law enforcement training.
Nelson University combines its online bachelor鈥檚 with a police academy certificate, so graduates walk away with both academic and professional credentials in one track.
Accelerated Pathways
ASU offers 7.5-week courses across its criminology and policing degree, letting students make faster progress.
Western Illinois allows students to pursue a combined bachelor鈥檚-to-master鈥檚 pathway, reducing your overall time in college.
Ethics and Worldview Integration
Regent University weaves a Christian worldview into its courses on investigation, ethics, and constitutional law, offering a values-driven approach to law enforcement education.
Nelson University also reflects this theme by requiring a pastoral recommendation, emphasizing both skill development and character formation.
Specialized Training
Columbia Southern offers a unique Arson Investigation specialization.
UMass Global builds its program around faculty who are attorneys, litigators, and prosecutors. The curriculum spans gangs, domestic violence, immigration, and national security, mirroring the challenges law enforcement professionals face on the job.
UT Martin prioritizes hands-on readiness, integrating firearms familiarization, fitness, and de-escalation strategies into its criminal justice curriculum.
Veteran Federal Agent on Training the Next Generation of Officers
Supervisory Special Agent, DEA
What do you see as the biggest benefits of earning a law enforcement degree online?
"Flexibility. When pursuing a degree online, you can create a schedule based on your other responsibilities or commitments, like family or work. You always don鈥檛 need to commute to a campus."
Some students worry that online programs lack the hands-on training law enforcement requires. What do you think online students should do to fill that gap?
"Look for internships or volunteering opportunities with your local law enforcement. You can also do ride-alongs and start meeting and interacting with your local law enforcement. Also look for seminars, workshops, or training opportunities."
Any advice for someone considering a career in law enforcement or public safety?
"It鈥檚 a noble profession - remember that. Ask yourself why you want to work in law enforcement.
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Find work/life balance. (The only person who will ever take care of your mental and physical health is yourself.)
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Never stop learning.
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Find good mentors. Stick to good people."
Do you feel having a degree meaningfully improves promotion opportunities or access to specialized roles in law enforcement?
"Many departments will reward degree-holders with more money, and some require for promotion. If you decide to work in federal law enforcement, like with DEA or FBI, a degree is required."
What should students look for when comparing online law enforcement programs?
"For me, it鈥檚 faculty credentials. If it鈥檚 100% academic backgrounds and no experience in law enforcement, I am not interested. And sadly, I see that a lot."
What skills do you think are most important for those entering the field today?
"Communication. You must be able to clearly and calmly communicate with people from all walks of life. You also must be able to write reports. Emotional intelligence is important as well. How to understand emotions and how you react and resolved differences."
EXPERT TIP
"Set realistic expectations. You will likely work with toxic bosses, lazy employees, bad judges, bad prosecutors; and you will see more trauma in the first few years of your career than most people will ever see in their lifetime, but set realistic expectations."
FAQs About an Online Law Enforcement Degree
What Can You Expect from an Online Law Enforcement Degree?
Want a profession where you are protecting your community? If so, an online bachelor鈥檚 degree in law enforcement is a great starting point. Prospective students can expect to explore topics such as law, government, forensics, and more.
Obtaining a law enforcement degree is a great stepping stone for those interested in a career in criminal justice. Prospective students can expect each program鈥檚 curriculum to cover topics such as law, criminology, and forensics. In addition, the best degrees for law enforcement provide an abundance of career opportunities. While a career in law enforcement can be stressful and physically demanding, it鈥檚 a rewarding field that aims to protect lives.
Typically, an online degree in law enforcement can last four years for full-time students, though the projected graduation date may be extended for part-time students.
The standard admission requirements for online law enforcement degrees are an online application, an application fee, a high school diploma or GED, a minimum GPA, and ACT or SAT scores. In addition, some of the best colleges for law enforcement may require a letter of recommendation and a personal essay for admission.
Employers and professional schools typically accept an online degree from an accredited college or university as 100% valid. An accredited institution implies that the school meets the minimum requirements to deliver high quality education to its student body.
At OnlineU, we provide the best degrees for law enforcement from accredited institutions only.
Still undecided? Check our similar undergraduate degrees: criminal justice degrees, law programs, and criminology bachelor's degrees.
What Courses Do You Take in an Online Law Enforcement Degree Program?
Most online colleges for law enforcement provide curricula for students that include many introductory courses. These introductory courses may cover criminal justice, law, psychology, cybersecurity, and forensics. Prospective students who want to dive deeper into a specific topic may be able to add a concentration to their online law enforcement degrees.
Consider the following core courses required among most law enforcement degrees online:
- Report Writing: Law enforcement professionals often write reports from crime scenes, court cases, and interviews. With this in mind, these professionals must have strong writing skills. This course helps students develop report writing skills for different contexts. Prospective students can expect to examine crime reports, learn the narrative rules of investigative reporting, and discuss the qualities of an investigator.
- Introduction to Law Enforcement: This course looks at the history of the policies enacted by local, state, and federal agencies. In addition, it鈥檒l cover the general responsibilities of law enforcement officers.
- Introduction to Criminal Justice: This course provides an overview of the criminal justice process, from law enforcement to corrections. Students learn the history and philosophy of these systems, as well as potential career opportunities within criminal justice.
- Introduction to Corrections: In this course, students learn about the major programs within the corrections area of the criminal justice system. Some of the topics that the course covers include probation, parole, community correction, and institutional treatment. Students are expected to understand the components of corrections, discuss the differences between jail and prison, and identify ethical issues within the corrections systems.
- Criminal Investigation: This course examines the concepts and theories surrounding criminal investigation. Students learn about criminal investigators and their job responsibilities. The course also covers investigators' methods and strategies when analyzing a criminal case.
- Criminology: Students generally explore the concepts of crime and criminal behavior in this course. Specifically, they examine the cause of various crimes, reactions of victims and criminals, and different types of criminal behavior. By the end of the course, students should have the skills to thoroughly investigate and analyze the people, behaviors, and crimes within a case.
What Careers Can You Pursue With an Online Law Enforcement Degree?
An online law enforcement degree opens the door to many opportunities in the field. Whether you want to be out in the field or working in a forensics lab, graduates who obtain a law enforcement degree online can choose from several career options:
Police and Detectives
are on the front line to handle emergencies and solve crimes. Police officers aim to protect people and property, while detectives gather information to solve crimes. These professionals often work in a police department and frequently travel for their duties.
Forensic Science Technicians
If you prefer to be on the back end of a criminal investigation, then a career as a may be a great fit. These professionals collect and analyze evidence from a crime scene. In addition, they may work outside business hours to visit crime scenes and gather evidence. You may also check out the best online degrees in forensic science if this career goal interests you.
Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists
Those interested in helping individuals get back on the right track may find roles as very fulfilling. These professionals assist criminals in rehabilitating while they are in custody, on probation, or on parole.
Emergency Management Directors
plan, design, and implement procedures that address natural disasters and other emergencies. They are often the leaders who help with the response during and after emergencies. Potential work settings for these professionals include hospitals, the government, colleges, or private businesses.
Private Detectives and Investigators
search and collect information to solve crimes and other matters. These professionals often work irregular hours, as they may be required to work early in the day or late at night. The standard work settings for private detectives and investigators are in the police department, a private office, or home.
What Degrees Does the CIA Look For?
Students that aspire to work for the CIA may want to obtain degrees that are popular for the agency. For example, a bachelor's degree in data science, a finance degree, a business program, or a law enforcement degree are all acceptable majors for a career in the CIA.
In general, any relevant bachelor鈥檚 degree opens the door for entry-level positions in the CIA. However, those aiming for mid and senior-level positions in the CIA may want to acquire at least a master's degree to accelerate advancement.
What Should I Major in if I Want to Work for the FBI?
While there isn鈥檛 a specific major you must have to be eligible to join the FBI, it鈥檚 recommended that aspiring agents pursue a degree related to criminal justice in some capacity, such as law enforcement. This degree sets a solid foundation for obtaining an entry-level FBI position.
Is a Law Enforcement Degree Worth It?
The best online colleges for law enforcement degrees are a solid foundation for a career in criminal justice. With a bachelor鈥檚 degree alone, graduates have various career options. However, there are a few downsides to consider with this degree.
Check out the following pros and cons of an online law enforcement degree:
Pros
- Health and retirement benefits: If you鈥檙e looking for a job with great benefits, a career in law enforcement may be the best fit. Aside from a solid annual salary, law enforcement employees receive excellent health and life insurance and retirement benefits.
- Variety of career professions: As mentioned earlier, graduates with a law enforcement degree can choose from several professions. With a bachelor鈥檚 degree, graduates can pursue a career as a law enforcement officer, detective, and corrections officer, to name a few possibilities.
- High job growth: There will always be a need for criminal justice professions, so there isn鈥檛 much concern about losing your job in this industry. The majority of the careers listed above are significantly above the 8% average of growth across all U.S. jobs, meaning that those working in this field can expect to have high job growth through 2030.
Cons
- A job in law enforcement can affect your mental health: Whether you鈥檙e in an active shoot-out or working long hours in a lab examining a body, a job in law enforcement can take a toll on your mental health. Research has revealed that at least a large percentage of police officers will .
- A bachelor's isn't enough to get you jobs in federal agencies: As mentioned earlier, those looking to get into mid- and senior-level jobs in the CIA may need to acquire a graduate degree in a more niche field. While it鈥檚 possible to get a higher-level position with a bachelor's degree in law enforcement, it may take additional time to gain the necessary experience and skills.
- Law enforcement careers require working long hours: Criminal justice professionals typically work long hours throughout the work week. For example, law enforcement officers, corrections officers, and deputies often work a rotating 12-hour shift. In addition, these professionals are responsible for constructing incident reports that occur throughout the day, which can be time-consuming.
Student Reviews of Online Law Enforcement Programs
I attended the University of Phoenix and completed the Associates Degree Program. Overall, I would rate the Associates Degree program as acceptable, although it too was expensive.
Financial aid department is actually pretty good, and very helpful. I never had any trouble with obtaining financial aid.
Academic advisers are also helpful, however, I believe they call a little too often. There might be some people who need that to keep them motivated, but I was not one of them. I maintained a great GPA... Read More
My biggest complaints with the UOP are the astronomical costs associated with the degree programs. The Bachelor degree program charges around $550/credit hour and you need 120 credit hours, so that equates out to around 66,000 dollars for an online education (I am not sure how this website determined that tuition was only 9,000).
The second biggest complaint is the over-reliance on learning teams in the Bachelor Degree program (this is not an issue in the Associates Degree program). The learning team assignments equal 30-40% of your grade in each class. The main problem is that there is an overwhelming amount of incompetent and lazy team members who put forth next to not effort and do not complete their fair share of the workload. I am not a hard person to please but it is incredibly frustrating to have 3-4 team members who do not participate in any group or assignment discussions and then turn in sloppy work that will ultimately bring your own grade down, unless you are willing to re-do all of their work on top of your own (which you are forced to do unless you are ok with getting bad grades).
Review Date: 5/2/2013
Would Recommend: No
Helpful for Career: Yes
Okay so I attend Ashford University and have for two years now. Since my start of the school I have had to repeat my needs and requirements of what i wanted from them as per my scheduling of classes, veteran affairs, and financial aid needs.
For the military I am allotted Tuition Assistance which requires me to be full time to get everything paid for and my Gi bill/kicker. I have explained that to my advisor too many times, and i am pretty sure it happened every few months. Basically i need to have... Read More
As for financial aid it has been a year and a half and i still have not received my stipend, and they seemed to try to hold on to it or use it for other means than to give it to me. So i ended up using some of it towards two classes due to the fact that two classes that go 5 weeks long with a maximum 4,500 TA basically ends with more than half the year left and no classes.
Overall it has cost me alot of time, wasted energy, i have had to repeat myself i swear probably almost a 1,000 times to them, and i have lost a lot of money and almost went into collections due to not knowing I had a balance for VA.
Review Date: 4/21/2013
Would Recommend: No
Helpful for Career: No
Going to college was one of the best decisions I ever made. I learned to be independent and made friends from all over while living in the dorms. It not only helped me in my career but for success in life in general.
Review Date: 8/19/2015
Would Recommend: Yes
Helpful for Career: Yes