Here we’ll highlight six of the top HBCUs for criminal justice careers.

Bowie State University – Bowie, MD

This HBCU offers an online degree as well as an off-site degree option at the University System of Maryland at Southern Maryland. Two active organizations on campus provide students with additional opportunities to engage with their criminal justice career aspirations: The Criminal Justice Club and Alpha Phi Sigma National Criminal Justice Honor Society. 

Morris College – Sumter, SC

Morris College is one HBCU that offers students majoring or minoring in Criminal Justice a comprehensive coursework program as well as hands-on application of theory and principles through a state-of-the-art criminal forensics laboratory, field experiences, as well as formal internships with various law enforcement agencies. Students can also minor in Criminal Forensics Studies at this HBCU.

North Carolina Central University – Durham, NC

NCCU’s Department of Criminal justice offers Criminal Justice B.S. and M.S. degrees. NCCU’s School of Law offers students courses in criminal defense, law, procedure, and prosecution.

Prairie View A&M University –  Prairie View, TX

Students can earn a B.S. in Criminal Justice at this HBCU. The College of Juvenile Justice undergraduate program leads to a B.S. in Criminal Justice with five concentrations and graduate degrees (M.S. and Ph.D.) in Juvenile Justice. The Texas Juvenile Crime Prevention Center was authorized to be created at PVAM in 1997 resulting in the College of Juvenile Justice. 

Shaw University – Raleigh, NC

In this HBCU’s unique program, Shaw students can earn a B.A. in Sociology with a concentration in criminal justice. The program is designed to prepare students for careers in law enforcement, probation and parole, corrections, court administration and others.

Texas Southern University – Houston, TX

Texas Southern’s Administration of Justice Department offers a B.S., M.S. and Ph.D. in Administration of Justice. The curriculum is for students planning careers in a range of professions including, judiciary, law enforcement, security administration, homeland security. Additionally, the coursework emphasizes administration and management in fields like contemporary criminal justice systems, victimology and juvenile justice.