Is Criminal Justice School Worth The Investment For Your Future?

4 Things You Should Know Before Your Big Decision

Your ability to think logically and maintain order are some of your stronger qualities, and your family and friends have taken notice. The people around you have suggested the idea of pursuing your passions in a new career, but you are unsure which path to take? If the thought of impacting your community and building upon your existing leadership skills makes you feel personally fulfilled, you may want to consider a criminal justice career. Is a career in criminal justice worth it? If you decide to attend a criminal justice degree school in 2019, you could be opening the door for a brighter future. Does taking the next steps and enrolling in a criminal justice school seems like a good idea? You could improve your life and the lives of others by saying YES to a criminal justice major! Continue reading to learn the four things you should know before your big decision.

1.  Help Make An Impact In Your Community

After attending a criminal justice school, you will be able to use your skills and strengths for the greater good. The reason most people enter the criminal justice field is that they want to help others. If that is your desire, you will have endless opportunities to help victims of crimes, solve criminally related mysteries and enforce the law. Whichever career path you choose - each will make a difference even if it does not involve directly helping others. A career in criminal justice is a life of public service! What better legacy can you leave behind than a life of serving others?

2.  Increased Job Demand For Criminal Justice Professionals

As communities work toward lowering crime rates, they will need professionals to get the job done. If you decide to pursue a criminal justice degree you can enjoy high job demand in the following positions:

• Private detective and investigator: These career paths have an 11 percent increase that is faster than the average for other occupations. They aid individuals and organizations by overseeing interviews, locating missing people and conducting surveillance. [1]
• Loss Prevention Managers: There is a nine percent projected increase of job openings for loss prevention managers from 2016-2026. [2] Loss prevention managers establish security management procedures to reduce loss for businesses and organizations. [3]
• Police and Detectives: Law enforcement officers are expected to experience seven percent growth in job openings, which is as fast as average. [4] Police officers enforce the law, protect civilians, patrol for criminal activity and much more.
• Detectives have a similar career investigating crime scenes, collecting evidence and interviewing persons of interest. [5]
• Probation Officers: There is a six percent projected job growth from 2016 to 2026. [6] Probation officers conduct drug tests on parolees, report their findings and supervise offenders to protect them and the community. [7]

These are just a few of the many criminal justice career paths to choose from. If you are looking for versatility and job security, attending a criminal justice school is the path for you!

3.  The Opportunity To Expand Your Earning Potentials After Criminal Justice School

Attending a criminal justice school can provide job security and the opportunity to make a significant income. After receiving a degree in criminal justice, you can also look forward to the potential to earn a high salary with a career in law enforcement. Here are some options you might want to explore:

• Police Officers and Detectives - These vital public safety officers make a median pay of $62,960 a year. Those who have a criminal justice degree are likely to be paid more by some police departments.
• Private Detectives and Investigators - Though they do not have police authority, they work within the confines of the law and make around $50,700 a year.
• Probation/Corrections Officer - The median pay for this essential occupation is $51,410. Probation and Corrections officers work with parolees and probationers to help them acclimate back into society by connecting them with the right resources and training.

Salaries for each profession will vary by state and agency. Police and sheriff's patrol officers in Ohio make a median salary of $61,040. Criminal justice training can provide you with the skills you need to build a solid career, increase your income and reach your life goals.

4.  High-Quality Health and Retirement Benefits

Along with steady pay and job security, these career paths tend to offer better insurance and retirement packages. Most jobs in the criminal justice field are covered by FERS (Federal Employees Retirement System). FERS offers benefits from three different sources: a Basic Benefit Plan, Social Security and the Thrift Savings Plan. Two of these plans (SSA and TSP) can follow you to your other occupation whether federal or not. Many police departments allow officers to retire only after 20-25 years of service, allowing them to start a new career if they choose to. Graduates who become CIA agents can look forward to flexible spending accounts, student loan repayment programs and supplement insurance. The U.S. Government even offers families of deceased or permanently disabled public safety officials educational assistance, death and disability benefits for those who are eligible. No matter what career path you choose, you can look forward to extensive benefits that will take care of you and yours! 

Worried About Which Criminal Justice Career to Pursue? 

Don’t worry! Whichever path you choose can pay off! Because this field is so diverse, students can pursue a criminal justice degree without fully knowing what they want to do after graduation. There are a lot of options to choose from, and that is one reason why criminal justice schools provide internships to help you make a well-informed decision. Once you begin your criminal justice training, you can discover which occupation best fits your personal and professional goals. 

Serve your Community Today!

If you have been google searching “online criminal justice degree programs,” look no further! Ashland University has a bachelor’s and associate degree program in criminal justice that is 100% online, giving you the freedom to complete your work wherever it is most convenient for you. 

• What’s included in the programs offered at AU:
• Small class sizes, which allow you to work closely with the faculty members and build relationships. 
• Highly trained faculty with extensive field experience in law enforcement, the law and correctional administration.
• Opportunities for first-hand field experience and 24/7 access to courses. 
• Generous transfer consideration; you can request a transfer evaluation to review your law enforcement, corrections or military training experience.

Now that you know criminal justice school is worth it, are you ready to take that next step to pursue your career?

Allow us to help you reach your full potential by becoming a criminal justice professional! Follow the link to learn more and begin your journey at AU today!

1. “Summary.” U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 15 Feb. 2019, www. bls.gov/ooh/protective-service/private-detectives-and-investigators.htm.

2. “11-9199.08 - Loss Prevention Managers.” O*NET OnLine, www. onetonline.org/link/summary/11-9199.08.

3. “Average Loss Prevention Manager Salary.” ​Ecologist Salary, www. payscale.com/research/US/Job=Loss_Prevention_Manager/Salary.

4. “Summary.” U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 15 Feb. 2019, www. bls.gov/ooh/protective-service/police-and-detectives.htm#tab-1.

5. “Summary.” U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 12 Apr. 2019, www. bls.gov/ooh/protective-service/police-and-detectives.htm#tab-2.

6. “Summary.” U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 13 Apr. 2018, www. bls.gov/ooh/community-and-social-service/probation-officers-and-correctional-treatment-specialists.htm.

7. “Summary.” U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 13 Apr. 2018, www. bls.gov/ooh/community-and-social-service/probation-officers-and-correctional-treatment-specialists.htm.