Locate Dallas Criminal Justice Schools
If you have courage, tenacity, and the desire to serve Dallas, perhaps you have considered starting a criminal justice career in this booming city. With over three dozen neighborhoods in Dallas alone, there are plenty of career options to consider.
Dallas is home to the Dallas Police Department, perhaps one of the largest criminal justice employers in the area. With locations in six distinct Dallas areas, they hire police officers with expertise in prescription fraud, homicide, robbery, and victimology, to name just a few specialties covered by the Dallas Police Department.
With a city that clearly relies on its police and criminal justice professionals so much, there is a big emphasis on criminal justice education. After perusing our list of schools below, contact as many schools as you want to get more information about their courses and degree programs.
You may be wondering how you can get to and from school when you live in such a large city. The good news is that you don’t need a car to get around in Dallas. DART (Dallas Area Public Transit) has 64 rail stations and 13 bus transfer facilities all over the city. You can use a day pass, monthly pass, or go all out with an annual pass.
Criminal Justice Schools in Other Major Texas Cities
Criminal Justice Education in Dallas
Whether you want to study in Dallas or one of the suburban areas around the city, you have plenty of choices to consider. Be sure to evaluate all of your options before settling on a school; this is a big decision that can influence the rest of your life! Dallas is home to public schools, which tend to have lower tuition costs, and private schools, which may have higher tuition costs but better financial aid packages.
One degree you can get as a criminal justice student is an Associate’s degree. This two-year degree gives you a thorough education in many different aspects of the justice system. In addition, you take general education courses in subjects like math and English to round out your education. You can expect to take justice courses in subjects like criminal justice ethics, policing procedures, and court procedures.
If you attend a traditional college or university, you may have the chance to earn a Bachelor’s degree in criminal justice. This degree requires about four years of full-time study. You take many of the same courses as an Associate’s degree student, including general education classes, but you may go more in-depth with many subjects. You may even be able to choose an educational concentration, which can give you more career options after graduation.
Since there are multiple schools in Dallas, you can consider each school’s tuition rate as you research. One of the largest schools in the area, the University of Texas Dallas, has a tuition rate of $5,903 for residents and a rate of $15,189 for non-residents.
You can get the most from your education and prepare for your future career by joining Dallas-based criminal justice groups. Many of these groups are career-specific, so they can help you start building a network of contacts in your chosen field. Some local choices include the Texas Association of Licensed Investigators, the Dallas Area Paralegal Association, the Dallas Police Association, and the Texas Jail Association.
Job Outlook for Criminal Justice Graduates in Dallas
Upon earning your Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, it’s finally time to do what you have worked so hard for—get your first job and start your career in this exciting field.
With an associate degree, you can explore many different career options that take you into the courtroom, into the prison system, or out into the community. Although these may be entry-level positions, many of them can pay very well. Here’s a sampling of Associate’s-level criminal justice careers and their salaries according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics for 2022:
- Security guard: $35,340 per year
- Bailiff: $60,270 per year
- Correctional officers and jailers: $49,880 per year
With a bachelor’s degree, you may have the in-depth knowledge and understanding needed to take on higher-level job duties. This may lead to a higher salary and earning potential. Check out some career possibilities:
- Supervisor of correctional officers: $70,930 per year
- Criminal investigator: $87,410 per year
- FBI agent: $81,000-$129,000 per year
With either degree, you may be able to find a job with the Dallas Police Department. As a new police officer, you can earn a starting salary of $73,914 per year. While maintaining police officer status, you can earn up to $85,109 per year.
2022 US Bureau of Labor Statistics salary and employment figures for Dallas, Fort Worth, and Arlington, TX positions contained here reflect national data, not school-specific information. Conditions in your area may vary. Data accessed November 2023.
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