Bachelor’s in Criminal Justice Programs in D.C.

Updated September 18, 2026

No D.C. law enforcement agency requires a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice to get hired. The Metropolitan Police Department requires one of three alternatives instead: 45 college credit hours, two years of military service, or three years of prior police experience. BLS reports District medians of $160,760 for detectives and $88,650 for patrol officers, both above national levels (May 2025).

Washington, D.C., is home to some of the most closely watched law enforcement and federal agencies in the country, and a criminal justice bachelor’s degree is one path into that world, though rarely a required one. Six institutions based in the District of Columbia, plus a second Strayer University program entry, offer a bachelor’s degree built for the field. Here’s what the degree covers, what it takes to get hired at an agency like the Metropolitan Police Department, and what the job actually pays once you’re in it.

Featured Programs:

Getting Hired: MPD’s Requirements and the Degree Question

The Metropolitan Police Department, D.C.’s primary law enforcement agency, does not require a bachelor’s degree. Applicants instead have to meet one of three alternatives: at least 45 semester hours of college credit, two years of qualifying active-duty military service, or three years of qualifying prior police experience. MPD does not pay additional compensation for holding a college degree, so a bachelor’s isn’t a direct salary lever there, even though it can open other doors.

Applicants who clear that first bar take the National Testing Network’s FrontLine National exam, MPD’s current entrance test. MPD states passing scores of 55% on the video scenario section and 70% on reading and writing. That’s MPD’s process specifically. Other agencies in and around D.C., federal ones included, run their own separate hiring and qualification systems, so don’t assume one test covers every badge you might apply for.

Selection comes before training. MPD applicants who pass a comprehensive background investigation, a polygraph, and medical and psychological evaluations are selected first, then go through recruit training at the academy. The academy isn’t something you complete before applying; it’s what happens after you’re chosen.

Federal qualification requirements vary by agency and occupation. FBI Special Agents are one clear example of a role that requires a bachelor’s degree, along with a qualifying professional-experience requirement, but that’s a rule for that specific position, not a rule for federal criminal justice hiring broadly.

Typical Coursework

Bachelor’s programs in the field commonly include courses like Criminal Law, Criminal Procedures, Evidence Processing, Juvenile Justice, Theories of Crime and Deviance, and Women & Minorities in Criminal Justice. Requirements, including whether a practicum or internship is part of the program, vary by school. Check the current catalog at any program you’re considering rather than assuming a standard list applies everywhere.

Where to Study a Bachelor’s in Criminal Justice in the District of Columbia

Six institutions based in the District of Columbia offer a bachelor’s-level program in the criminal-justice-and-corrections family or an adjacent homeland security track, per federal education data. Strayer University also reports a separate Global Region bachelor’s program entry in the same dataset alongside its District of Columbia campus entry. Federal data doesn’t make clear whether that reflects a distinct D.C.-based program or a broader reporting unit for the university, so it’s listed separately below with that caveat. Confirm current enrollment, format, and admission requirements directly with each school, since this data can lag current catalogs.

Institution	Program	School Type
American University	Criminal Justice and Corrections	Private nonprofit
George Washington University	Criminal Justice and Corrections; Homeland Security	Private nonprofit
Howard University	Criminal Justice and Corrections	Private nonprofit
Trinity Washington University	Criminal Justice and Corrections	Private nonprofit
University of the Potomac–Washington DC Campus	Criminal Justice and Corrections	Private for-profit
Strayer University–District of Columbia	Criminal Justice and Corrections	Private for-profit
Strayer University–Global Region	Criminal Justice and Corrections	Private for-profit

School and program data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, institution file May 2025 and field-of-study file April 2025. Data accessed September 2026.

What the Job Pays: BLS Wage and Growth Data for D.C.

As of May 2025 BLS wage data, the median annual wage in the District for the Police and Sheriff’s Patrol Officers occupation is $88,650, compared with a national median of $76,210. For the Detectives and Criminal Investigators occupation, the D.C. median is $160,760, compared with $93,790 nationally. These are occupational medians for the District as a whole, not Metropolitan Police Department pay specifically, and they aren’t a measure of what a bachelor’s degree adds to earnings.

Job growth is flatter than the wage figures might suggest. Patrol officer employment in D.C. is projected to change -0.2% from 2024 to 2034 (ProjectionsCentral, state-level projection). No D.C.-specific projection exists yet for detectives and criminal investigators; the national projection for that occupation over the same 2024-34 period is -0.7% (ProjectionsCentral, national).

May 2025 US Bureau of Labor Statistics salary figures for Police and Detectives. Long-term (2024-34) job growth projections from the US Department of Labor-sponsored resource, ProjectionsCentral. Figures reflect city, state, and national data, not school-specific information. Conditions in your area may vary. Data accessed September 2026.

Financial Aid Resources

The Department of Homeland Security lists internship and student employment opportunities for students interested in the field, worth a look even though it isn’t a scholarship program. The American Criminal Justice Association is another resource to check before you take out a loan.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do D.C. police departments require a bachelor’s degree?

No single rule covers every agency. The Metropolitan Police Department requires one of three alternatives instead of a degree: 45 semester hours of college credit, two years of qualifying military service, or three years of qualifying police experience. Other agencies operating in D.C. set their own separate requirements.

How long does a bachelor’s in criminal justice take?

Full-time students typically finish in four years. Several D.C. programs, including Strayer and University of the Potomac, offer accelerated or evening formats built for working adults, which can shorten or lengthen that timeline depending on course load.

What can I do with the degree besides police work?

Corrections, court administration, federal agency support roles, and homeland security analyst positions all draw from the same core coursework. George Washington’s homeland security track is built specifically for that last path.

Is a bachelor’s degree required for federal law enforcement jobs in D.C.?

It depends on the specific agency and role. FBI Special Agents are required to hold a bachelor’s degree along with a qualifying professional-experience requirement, but that’s a rule for that specific position, not a rule across every federal criminal justice job. Check the qualification requirements for each agency and occupation you’re considering.

Key Takeaways

MPD doesn’t require a degree – it requires 45 college credit hours, two years of military service, or three years of police experience instead
District wages run high – BLS reports a median of $160,760 for detectives and $88,650 for patrol officers in D.C. (May 2025), both above national medians
Six D.C. institutions, plus a second Strayer entry – confirm current program status directly with each school before applying
Education requirements vary by federal occupation – FBI Special Agents are one example of a role requiring a bachelor’s degree

If cost is what’s holding you back, start with the scholarships built for criminal justice majors before you look at loans.

Read: Scholarships for Criminal Justice Majors and Grad Students

Looking for a Criminal Justice Bachelor’s Program in Another State?

Want the bigger picture? Read the full guide to Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice.