Criminal Justice Programs in Indianapolis, IN

There are a variety of educational opportunities in and around Indianapolis. If you want to earn a degree in criminal justice, you can choose from the city’s two-year and four-year schools. We have information on schools in this area—check out our list below to contact any schools you may be interested in attending.

Some people worry about attending school in Indianapolis because of how large the city is. However, it’s easy to get around this big city, thanks to IndyGo, the Indianapolis public transportation system. They offer bus service all over the cities. With a variety of pass options, it is easy to choose the option that meets your needs as a student.

Criminal Justice Education in Indianapolis

When you decide to pursue a criminal justice degree in Indianapolis, you are setting yourself on a career path that can be extremely rewarding. One of the first decisions you have to make is which degree you want to earn: a two-year Associate’s degree or four-year Bachelor’s degree. While an Associate’s degree allows you to get started in the field faster, a Bachelor’s degree can give you more career options. Keep financial aid and tuition in mind as you evaluate different schools, as costs vary widely between schools. For example, tuition at the University of Indianapolis is $310 per credit hour.

You can plan on tackling a variety of fields throughout the course of your degree, including corrections, juvenile delinquency, criminology, and policing procedures. You may have to select a concentration in a field like Internet crime, forensic science, policing, or corrections. A concentration can have significant benefits once you graduate, as it may prepare you for specialized job titles and duties.

One of the best ways to prepare yourself for the post-graduation job search is becoming involved in the local criminal justice community. There are many career-specific organizations that can help you get a foothold in the community. In Indianapolis, consider joining groups like the Indiana Paralegal Association, the Indianapolis Fraternal Order of Police, or the Indiana Association of Professional Investigators.

Job Outlook for Criminal Justice Graduates in Indianapolis

Once you have put in the hard work of earning a degree in criminal justice, it’s time to put it to work in a new career. The options available to you depend on what degree you have and what experience you have, so it’s good to begin preparing for your job search prior to graduation.

If you earn an Associate’s degree, you likely have a broad knowledge in criminal justice that can prepare you for a variety of entry-level careers. Consider the following, listed here with their average Indianapolis salaries as stated on the Bureau of Labor Statistics for 2022:

• Correctional officer: $40,050 per year
• Security guard: $34,840 per year
• Bailiff: $41,250 per year
  

A Bachelor’s degree may allow you to pursue the careers listed above and more. Some of the most popular Bachelor’s-level careers include the following:

• Supervisor of correctional officers: $49,540 per year
• Detective: $78,480 per year
• FBI agent: $81,000-$129,000 per year
  

You may also be able to pursue a career with the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department. They offer a starting salary of $71,829 per year for recruits, which bumps up to $78,975 per year after three years.

2022 US Bureau of Labor Statistics salary and employment figures for Indianapolis, Carmel and Anderson, IN positions contained here reflect national data, not school-specific information. Conditions in your area may vary. Data accessed November 2023.