Best Criminal Justice Colleges in California
You’ll find the best Criminal Justice colleges in California for undergraduate and graduate degrees according to the experts. There are several factors when choosing a school such as tuition, acceptance rates, location, majors offered and more. The state of California offers some of the best programs available. This list provides detailed information on each college offering relevant Criminal Justice courses.
Best Criminal Justice Colleges in California
University of California – Irvine
University of California – Irvine is one of the best criminal justice colleges in California.
The University of California – Irvine is a public university in Irvine, California. It was founded in 1965 and currently has an enrollment of 30,000 students. The school offers bachelor’s degrees, master’s degrees, and doctorates through 10 colleges and schools.
The School of Social Ecology is one of the top criminal justice colleges in California. It offers an undergraduate degree in sociology with a concentration in criminal justice studies. This program prepares students to enter careers such as law enforcement, juvenile justice, parole or probation work, or corrections management. Some graduates may also work as researchers for government agencies or nonprofit organizations that focus on crime prevention or rehabilitation programs for criminals or victims.
The school offers a wide range of degrees including Bachelor’s degrees in criminal justice and public administration as well as Master’s degrees in criminal justice administration and forensic science education. All these programs are designed specifically with students in mind—they’ve been crafted by professors who have been teaching at UCI for many years so they know exactly what it takes to help students succeed both inside and outside of class!
The School of Social Sciences offers an undergraduate degree in criminology that focuses on criminal behavior and its causes and consequences within society; this includes topics such as psychology (e.g., why people commit crimes), sociology (e.g., how groups influence each other’s behavior), politics (e.g., how laws impact society), economics (e.g., how financial incentives influence behavior), history (e.g., how past events influence current outcomes), anthropology.
California State University – Long Beach
California State University – Long Beach is a great school for people who want to pursue a career in criminal justice. The school offers full-time and part-time programs, as well as online options, so it’s easy to find the right fit for your schedule.
The university offers a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice, along with several minors and certificates that can help you improve your skills or learn new ones. You can also earn an Associate of Arts degree in Criminal Justice if you want to get started right away without spending extra time on a bachelor’s degree program.
The university has a strong community outreach program that encourages students to give back to their community while they’re still in school. The program offers scholarships for students who volunteer their time locally or nationally by teaching others about crime prevention strategies or working with organizations like Habitat for Humanity.
The criminal justice program at CSULB emphasizes both theory and practice. Students are taught how to apply their knowledge to real-world situations, and they also have plenty of opportunities to put their skills into action. For example, students can take part in internships with local police departments or other agencies, or they can complete an internship abroad through one of CSULB’s exchange programs.
Students who want to pursue careers in law enforcement after graduation should consider taking advantage of CSULB’s Law Enforcement Training Program (LETP). This program offers students an intensive 12-week training course designed specifically for those who want to enter law enforcement as officers. Students have access to state-of-the-art equipment and facilities during LEPT training sessions. The course culminates with an exam that must be passed before students can graduate from LEPT.

La Sierra University
La Sierra University is the best criminal justice college in California. It offers a variety of programs and degrees, including a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and a master’s degree in criminology. The university also offers certificates and associate degrees in fields related to criminal justice.
La Sierra University has been accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges since 1931. This accreditation means that the university meets high standards for academic excellence and has demonstrated its commitment to students’ success by meeting specific criteria in areas such as curriculum, faculty qualifications, student support services, financial stability, quality improvement efforts, degree completion rates and retention rates.
The school has been recognized as one of the top 10 best universities for veterans by Military Times Edge Magazine for the past three years running. La Sierra University was also named one of the top 100 colleges for veterans by Military Times EDGE Magazine because it has more than 25% military veterans enrolled at any time during the past year (compared with an average of just under 9% across all institutions).
In addition to these accolades, La Sierra University was ranked as one of “America’s Best Value Colleges” by Forbes magazine in 2019 thanks to its low tuition costs combined with outstanding academic quality and affordability compared with other private universities around.
La Sierra University was founded as an extension campus of Azusa Pacific University and became an independent institution in 1960. It has grown to become one of the top criminal justice schools in California, with over 2,000 students enrolled at any given time.
The university’s criminal justice programs have received numerous accolades from the American Society for Engineering Education (ASE), which recognizes La Sierra University’s engineering programs as some of the best in the country.
Holy Family University
Holy Family University is a California-based criminal justice college that offers students the opportunity to earn either a bachelor’s degree or an associate’s degree in criminal justice. The school has been recognized by U.S. News & World Report for both its undergraduate and graduate programs, which makes it an excellent choice for anyone looking for a top-tier criminal justice education at an affordable price.
Holy Family University has been named one of the best criminal justice colleges in California, and with good reason: it offers students the opportunity to earn either a bachelor’s degree or an associate’s degree in criminal justice from the same institution. This means that students can spend less time commuting between classes and more time focusing on their studies. The school also boasts an affordable tuition rate that makes it easier for students who aren’t able to afford expensive private universities to pay for their education without worrying about how they’re going to pay off their loans later on down the road when they graduate.
In addition to being one of the best criminal justice colleges in California, Holy Family University has also been recognized by U.S. News & World Report as one of the top schools in their field nationwide – making it a great choice for anyone looking for an academically rigorous learning experience while still staying within budget limits!

San Diego State University
San Diego State University is one of the best criminal justice colleges in California. It is located in San Diego, which is a beautiful area with a lot of opportunities for students to get involved and make great life-long friends.
The school offers many different types of degree programs, including a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice administration and master’s degrees in criminology and criminal justice. Students who want to get into law enforcement can take advantage of the police science program offered at San Diego State University. It provides students with an opportunity to learn about law enforcement from trained professionals in the field.
San Diego State University has a strong reputation when it comes to academics and research. In fact, it was ranked #1 by U.S News & World Report among public schools in the Western United States. The school has also been recognized as being one of “America’s Best Value Colleges” by Forbes magazine every year since 2012 because it offers high-quality education at an affordable price.
San Diego State University has a beautiful campus that features many impressive buildings such as Hillel Hall, which houses classrooms and offices for student organizations; Math/Physics Building (built between 1936 – 1940); Geisel Library.
Point Loma Nazarene University
Point Loma Nazarene University is a top-notch criminal justice school in California. It has a strong academic program, and it’s located in the beautiful city of San Diego.
Point Loma Nazarene University offers both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in criminal justice. The school’s Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminal Justice is designed for students who want to pursue careers as law enforcement professionals, corrections officers, or other criminal justice professionals. The university also offers an option for students who want to take their criminal justice studies beyond their undergraduate degree and earn a Master of Arts degree in Criminal Justice Administration.
The bachelor’s degree program at Point Loma Nazarene University includes core coursework that covers topics such as criminology and victims studies; constitutional law; juvenile justice administration; juvenile delinquency; law enforcement administration; police management; and security management. Students also have the opportunity to take electives that allow them to explore specific areas of interest within the field of criminal justice, such as forensics or ethics.
The master’s degree program at Point Loma Nazarene University focuses on preparing students for leadership positions within various types of organizations that focus on public safety issues such as law enforcement agencies, correctional facilities, courts or probation agencies.
Conclusion
When looking for the best criminal justice colleges in California, consider factors other than price. A school’s location, academic rigor, and extracurricular offerings are major components of the college experience that are also worth considering. When narrowing down your list to five schools, take a moment to consider what you will get out of each school. Think about the environment of the college and try to guess how you will feel on campus before visiting. Consider whether or not you can picture yourself waking up in the morning to walk onto the grounds each day. The best way to find the right criminal justice college is doing your research and thinking critically about what you want from an educational institution.