Colorado Criminal Justice Programs
With a crime rate of 29.94 per 1000 residents, Colorado's crime rate is just over the national average of 28.6. Just like anywhere else in the nation where there are people, Colorado has crime. To fight this crime Colorado employs some of the finest law enforcement officers and criminal justice professionals in the nation.Career opportunities for trained, educated criminal justice professionals abound in Colorado. But law enforcement and protective service positions are competitive, so it's worth while doing whatever you can to set yourself apart from the competition. While some positions do not require a formal education, the large majority do. Earning an associate, bachelor's or masters degree is one of the best ways of preparing for a career in law enforcement in Colorado.
How much you'll make working in Colorado really depends on the branch of law enforcement you choose to work in, your position and your level of experience (and education). On average, a law enforcement officer can expect to make between $45,000 and $80,000 a year. For example, a corrections officer employed in Colorado will make around $46,500 a year, while a detective can make up to $80,000 a year. Jailers and correctional officers make $31,000 a year and patrol officers make around $60,000 a year. Again, how much you can make really varies, and depends more than just one factor.
If you're looking for an education to prepare you for a career in law enforcement or criminal justice, Colorado offers a large selection of highly reputable and accredited schools to choose from. Below you'll find a comprehensive selection of colleges and universities offering associate, bachelor's, master's and certificate programs in criminal justice and related disciplines.
However, don't think that just because you want a career in law enforcement or criminal justice you need a degree in criminal justice. The field of criminal justice if very diverse, as are the professionals who work in it. Federal, state and local law enforcement agencies are looking for professionals with diverse skills sets and backgrounds. Earning a degree in forensic psychology, forensic accounting, linguistics or computer technology is also great preparation for a career as a law enforcement professional in Colorado.
| Aims Community College (Greeley, CO) Programs offered: Associate of Applied Science (AAS) - Criminal Justice Associate of Arts (AA) - Criminal Justice Certificate Program - Basic Peace Officer Academy | |
| Anthem College (Aurora, CO) Programs offered: Associate of Applied Science (AAS) - Criminal Justice Associate of Science (A.S.) - Criminal Justice (online) Bachelor of Science (BS) in Criminal Justice (online) | |
| Arapahoe Community College (Littleton, CO) Programs offered: Associate of Applied Science (AAS) - Paralegal Associate of Science (A.S.) - Criminal Justice (online) Certificate Program - Crime Analysis Certificate Program - Criminal Justice (online) Certificate Program - Emergency Dispatch Certificate Program - Law Enforcement Academy Certificate Program - Paralegal | |
| Colorado Mountain College (Glenwood Springs, CO) Programs offered: Associate of Applied Science (AAS) - Paralegal Associate of Science (A.S.) - Criminal Justice Certificate Program - Paralegal | |
| Colorado Northwestern Community College (Rangely, CO) Programs offered: Associate of Applied Science (AAS) - Law Enforcement Associate of Applied Science (AAS) - Small Business Management in Criminal Justice Associate of General Studies - Criminal Justice Occupational Certificate Program - Law Enforcement | |
| Community College of Aurora (Aurora, CO) Programs offered: Associate of Applied Science (AAS) - Criminal Justice Associate of Applied Science (AAS) - Management - Paralegal Certificate Program - Basic Law Enforcement Training Certificate Program - Criminal Justice Certificate Program - Criminal Justice Community Policing Certificate Program - Criminal Justice Court Services Certificate Program - Criminal Justice Detention Certificate Program - Criminal Justice Law Certificate Program - Criminal Justice Operations Certificate Program - Criminal Justice Systems Certificate Program - Paralegal | |
| Community College of Denver (Denver, CO) Programs offered: Associate Degree - Public Security Management Associate of Applied Science (AAS) - Paralegal Associate of General Studies - Paralegal Certificate Program - Paralegal Certificate Program - Public Security - Applied Forensics Certificate Program - Public Security - Homeland Security | |
| Delta-Montrose Technical College (Delta, CO) Programs offered: Bachelor of Science (BS) in Corrections Bachelor of Science (BS) in Criminal Justice Certificate Program - Law Enforcement Academy | |
| Denver Academy of Court Reporting (Westminster, CO) Programs offered: Certificate Program - Court Reporting Certificate Program - Court and Realtime Reporter Certificate Program - Court and Realtime Reporter (online) | |
| Everest College (Aurora, CO / Colorado Springs, CO / Thornton, CO) Programs offered: Associate of Applied Science (AAS) - Criminal Justice Associate of Science (A.S.) - Criminal Justice Associate of Science (A.S.) - Criminal Justice (online) Certificate Program - Criminal Justice Certificate Program - Legal Assistant/Paralegal Diploma - Paralegal | |
| Front Range Community College (Westminster, CO) Programs offered: Associate of Applied Science (AAS) - Paralegal Studies Associate of General Studies - Criminal Justice Studies Certificate Program - Legal Assistant Certificate Program - Paralegal Refresher | |
| institute of Business and Medical Careers (Fort Collins, CO) Programs offered: Associate of Arts (AA) - Paralegal Certificate Program - Paralegal | |
| ITT Technical Institute (Thornton, CO) Programs offered: Associate of Applied Science (AAS) - Criminal Justice (online) Associate of Applied Science (AAS) - Paralegal Studies Associate of Science (A.S.) - Paralegal Studies Bachelor of Science (BS) in Criminal Justice Bachelor of Science (BS) in Information Systems Security | |
| Johnson & Wales University (Denver, CO) Programs offered: Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) - Criminal Justice | |
| Kaplan College (Thornton, CO) Programs offered: Associate of Applied Science (AAS) - Criminal Justice Associate of Applied Science (AAS) - Paralegal Certificate Program - Paralegal | |
| Mesa State College (Grand Junction, CO) Programs offered: Associate of Applied Science (AAS) - Criminal Justice Bachelor of Applied Science - Public Administration/Public Safety Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) - Criminal Justice Certificate Program - Peace Officer Standards and Training Minor - Forensics | |
| Metropolitan State College of Denver (Denver, CO) Programs offered: Bachelor of Science (BS) in Criminal Justice Bachelor of Science (BS) in Criminology | |
| Otero Junior College (La Junta, CO) Programs offered: Certificate Program - Law Enforcement | |
| Pikes Peak Community College (Colorado Springs, CO) Programs offered: Associate of Applied Science (AAS) - CJ - Corrections Associate of Applied Science (AAS) - CJ - Crime Scene Investigations Associate of Applied Science (AAS) - CJ - Investigations/Management Associate of Applied Science (AAS) - CJ - Patrol Associate of Applied Science (AAS) - Homeland Security / Emergency Management Associate of Applied Science (AAS) - Paralegal Certificate Program - Paralegal | |
| Pueblo Community College (Pueblo, CO) Programs offered: Associate of Applied Science (AAS) - Corrections Associate of Applied Science (AAS) - Criminal Justice | |
| Red Rocks Community College (Lakewood, CO) Programs offered: Associate of Arts (AA) - Criminal Justice Associate of General Studies - Criminal Justice Diploma - Basic Law Enforcement Training Academy | |
| Regis University (Denver, CO) Programs offered: Bachelor Degree - Peace and Justice Studies Bachelor of Science (BS) in Criminology (online) Master of Science (M.S.) - Criminology | |
| Remington College (Colorado Springs, CO) Programs offered: Associate of Science (A.S.) - Criminal Justice (online) Bachelor of Science (BS) in Criminal Justice (online) | |
| Trinidad State Junior College (Trinidad, CO) Programs offered: Associate of Applied Science (AAS) - Criminal Justice Associate of Arts (AA) - Criminal Justice Associate of Science (A.S.) - Forensic Science Field Investigation Certificate Program - Basic Law Enforcement Training Academy Certificate Program - Criminal Justice Certificate Program - Reserve Law Enforcement Academy | |
| University of Colorado-Denver (Denver, CO) Programs offered: Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) - Criminal Justice Master of Arts (M.A.) - Criminal Justice Master of Public Administraton - Public Administration (online) | |
| University of Denver (Denver, CO) Programs offered: Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) - Criminology | |
| University of Northern Colorado (Greeley, CO) Programs offered: Bachelor of Science (BS) in Criminal Justice Master of Science (M.S.) - Criminal Justice (online) | |
| University of the Rockies (Colorado Springs, CO) Programs offered: Certificate Program - Criminal Justice (online) Masters Degree - Criminal Justice (online) PhD - Criminal Justice (online) | |
| US Career Institute (Fort Collins, CO) Programs offered: Certificate Program - Criminal Justice (online) | |
| Westwood College (Denver, CO) Programs offered: Bachelor Degree - Criminal Justice (online) Bachelor of Science (BS) in Criminal Justice (online) | |