Find Atlanta Criminal Justice Schools Near You

How can you get ready for a criminal justice career in Atlanta? There are many public and private schools in the area where you can earn an Associate’s degree or Bachelor’s degree in criminal justice. Check out our list of schools below; you can ask for information from as many schools as you want. The more you know, the more of an informed decision you can make.

Getting around Atlanta is easy, thanks to the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority. They have an active rail and bus system that you can use to get to and from school, as well as around the city. This can also be helpful if you end up taking an internship elsewhere in Atlanta.

Read about Criminal Justice Education in Atlanta

The state of Georgia understands that good police officers and criminal justice professionals come from strong educational backgrounds. As a result, there are several different schools you can look into attending in the Atlanta area. Tuition costs vary between public and private schools, so it’s important to look at all your choices.

There are different degree levels, and the degree you earn can affect what salary you earn. An Associate’s degree in criminal justice is the shorter option, and you can plan on dedicating two years of full-time study to your education. A Bachelor’s degree is a more comprehensive option, and it requires four years of study.

For both degree options, you have to take a selection of general education courses. A strong knowledge base is important in any criminal justice career, so you can plan on taking math, English, science, and humanities courses in addition to your criminal justice courses.

Atlanta criminal justice sources are designed to give you a thorough education in every aspect of this field. You may take a wide variety of classes, including courses in these areas:

• Criminal justice ethics
• Policing and corrections procedures
• Criminology
• Victimology

With so many schools in Atlanta, it’s clear that tuition rates do vary significantly between schools. For example, tuition at Georgia State University is approximately $3,492 per semester for residents and $10,921 per semester for non-residents.

Joining criminal justice organizations, particularly career-specific ones, can help you prepare for your post-graduate work life. There are several Atlanta branches of the American Criminal Justice Association. Other foundations include the Atlanta Police Foundation and the Georgia Association of Paralegals.

Job Outlook for Criminal Justice Graduates in Atlanta

One of the most exciting parts of graduating with a criminal justice degree is getting to finally start your career. The skills you glean from this type of program can serve you well in a variety of settings and positions.

Earning an Associate’s degree can qualify you for many different entry-level positions. Popular job titles include security guards, who earn an average salary of $33,320 per year in Atlanta, and correctional officers, who earn an average salary of $44,070 per year according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). You may also be able to work as a patrol officer, although you may start out at a lower salary than someone with a Bachelor’s degree. If you work for the Atlanta Police Department, you can earn a starting salary of $54,100 per year with an Associate’s degree.

With a Bachelor’s degree, you can work in many different settings. You may become a private detective, a job title that earns an average salary of $58,910 per year in Atlanta as noted by the BLS. You may also qualify for supervisor/management roles. First-line supervisors of correctional officers in the Atlanta area earn an average salary of $60,100 per year. If you work for the Atlanta Police Department, you can earn a starting salary of $57,065 per year with a Bachelor’s degree.

2022 US Bureau of Labor Statistics salary and employment figures for Atlanta, Sandy Springs, and Roswell, GA positions contained here reflect national data, not school-specific information. Conditions in your area may vary. Data accessed November 2023.