Bachelor’s in Criminal Justice in Indiana
Updated October 6, 2026
Indiana offers a bachelor’s in criminal justice at a range of in-state schools, from Indiana University’s campuses to public schools like Purdue University Fort Wayne and private schools like the University of Indianapolis. Plan on four years and about 120 credits, with Indiana’s broader protective-service occupational group earning a median $48,960 a year (BLS, May 2025).
Indiana runs on the same mix of police, courts, and corrections work as every other state, and all three need people trained to do the job right. A bachelor’s in criminal justice is the credential that can expand what’s available to you: some federal opportunities, specialized assignments, and promotion tracks a certificate or associate degree can’t reach on its own. Indiana’s own criminal code keeps evolving too. A decade after its 2014 overhaul aimed to cut incarceration and costs, lawmakers added more than a dozen new crimes and sentencing enhancements in 2025, including making swatting a Level 6 felony, as murders rose more than 40% over the same ten years (Indiana Capital Chronicle, June 2025). This page covers what the degree actually requires, what it leads to in Indiana specifically, and which of the state’s schools teach it, including IU’s five regional campuses.
What It Takes to Earn a Bachelor’s in Criminal Justice
A bachelor’s in criminal justice runs about 120 credits over four years, or roughly eight semesters if you’re taking a full course load. That’s double an associate degree’s credit count, and the extra time goes toward research methods and theory, not just procedure.
Core Coursework
Expect classes in Criminal Justice Research Methods, Criminology, Victimology, Cyber Crime, and Courtroom Procedures, plus electives depending on the path you want. Students planning on patrol work often lean toward policing-focused electives; students eyeing corrections or courts gravitate toward counseling or legal-process coursework instead. Pick your school with that specialization in mind, since not every program weights these areas the same way.
Internships and Fieldwork
Many programs offer internship or practicum opportunities with a local police department, prosecutor’s office, or corrections agency. Whether one is required varies by school. Where it’s offered, it’s the one part of the degree that puts you in a building with the people who might hire you later, so treat it like a job interview that happens to also earn credit.
Careers You Can Pursue with the Degree in Indiana
Common career paths include policing, corrections, and investigation, along with roles in Indiana’s courts and federal agencies. Several of these sit inside the same BLS occupational group: Indiana’s broader protective-service workforce, which also includes firefighters, security guards, and similar roles, earned a median $48,960 a year as of May 2025 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). Where you land inside that group, and what you earn, depends heavily on the specific agency, role, and whether the position is sworn or civilian.
A bachelor’s can expand eligibility for some federal positions and may strengthen eligibility for promotion or specialized assignments, but requirements vary by agency and employer. The FBI’s Special Agent track requires one, for example, while some other federal criminal-investigation and corrections roles allow qualifying experience to substitute.
Where to Study a Bachelor’s in Criminal Justice in Indiana
Federal education data show 30 Indiana institutions offering a bachelor’s-level program in the criminal justice family, 28 in Criminal Justice and Corrections specifically, with smaller clusters in Legal Support Services, Homeland Security, Security Science and Technology, and Fire Protection. The federal data include both campus-based and online institutions associated with Indiana.
| Institution | City | Control | Program Area(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anderson University | Anderson | Private nonprofit | Criminal Justice |
| Ball State University | Muncie | Public | Criminal Justice |
| Bethel University | Mishawaka | Private nonprofit | Criminal Justice |
| Calumet College of Saint Joseph | Whiting | Private nonprofit | Criminal Justice, Legal Support Services |
| Grace College and Theological Seminary | Winona Lake | Private nonprofit | Criminal Justice |
| Indiana Institute of Technology | Fort Wayne | Private nonprofit | Criminal Justice, Homeland Security, Security Science and Technology |
| Indiana Institute of Technology-College of Professional Studies | Fort Wayne | Private nonprofit | Criminal Justice, Homeland Security |
| Indiana State University | Terre Haute | Public | Homeland Security |
| Indiana University-Bloomington | Bloomington | Public | Criminal Justice |
| Indiana University-East | Richmond | Public | Criminal Justice |
| Indiana University-Indianapolis | Indianapolis | Public | Criminal Justice, Legal Support Services, Security Science and Technology |
| Indiana University-Kokomo | Kokomo | Public | Criminal Justice |
| Indiana University-Northwest | Gary | Public | Criminal Justice |
| Indiana University-South Bend | South Bend | Public | Criminal Justice |
| Indiana University-Southeast | New Albany | Public | Criminal Justice |
| Indiana Wesleyan University-Marion | Marion | Private nonprofit | Criminal Justice |
| Indiana Wesleyan University-National & Global | Marion | Private nonprofit | Criminal Justice |
| Manchester University | North Manchester | Private nonprofit | Criminal Justice |
| Martin University | Indianapolis | Private nonprofit | Criminal Justice |
| Oakland City University | Oakland City | Private nonprofit | Criminal Justice |
| Purdue University Fort Wayne | Fort Wayne | Public | Criminal Justice |
| Purdue University Global | West Lafayette | Public | Criminal Justice, Fire Protection, Legal Support Services |
| Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College | Saint Mary of the Woods | Private nonprofit | Legal Support Services |
| Trine University | Angola | Private nonprofit | Criminal Justice, Security Science and Technology |
| Trine University-Regional/Non-Traditional Campuses | Angola | Private nonprofit | Criminal Justice |
| University of Evansville | Evansville | Private nonprofit | Criminal Justice, Legal Support Services |
| University of Indianapolis | Indianapolis | Private nonprofit | Criminal Justice, Homeland Security |
| University of Saint Francis-Fort Wayne | Fort Wayne | Private nonprofit | Criminal Justice |
| University of Southern Indiana | Evansville | Public | Criminal Justice |
| Vincennes University | Vincennes | Public | Criminal Justice |
This list reflects federal education data, not each school’s current course catalog. Programs get renamed, folded into other degrees, or restructured between data collection and today, so confirm current enrollment, format, and admission requirements directly with any school before applying.
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 October 2026.
Looking for a Criminal Justice Program in Another State?
Use the picker below to find bachelor’s programs outside Indiana.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does a bachelor’s in criminal justice take in Indiana?
Most full-time students finish in four years, completing about 120 credits. Part-time students and those transferring in associate-degree credit often finish faster or slower depending on course load.
What can I do with a criminal justice degree in Indiana?
Graduates commonly go into policing, corrections, or investigation, plus federal roles, some of which require a bachelor’s or allow education to satisfy part of their qualification requirements. The degree also transfers well into graduate programs in criminology, law, or public administration if you want to go further.
Do Indiana police departments require a bachelor’s degree?
A bachelor’s is not a universal requirement for Indiana police officers. Education, age, background, fitness, and other hiring standards vary by department. After hire, sworn officers must meet Indiana Law Enforcement Training Board requirements, including a 40-hour Prebasic course right after hire and the applicable basic training (Tier I, II, or III, depending on the agency and position) within about a year to keep arrest authority, plus ongoing annual in-service training.
What’s the difference between an associate and a bachelor’s in criminal justice?
An associate degree runs about 60 credits and two years, enough to meet many entry-level hiring minimums. A bachelor’s roughly doubles that, adding research methods and theory courses that matter more for promotion and federal hiring than for a first job.
How much do criminal justice jobs pay in Indiana?
Indiana’s broader protective-service occupational group, which covers police, corrections, detectives, firefighters, security guards, and related roles, had a median annual wage of $48,960 as of May 2025 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). Actual pay varies significantly by specific role, agency, and whether the position is sworn or civilian.
Key Takeaways
- Indiana offers the degree at a wide range of in-state colleges and universities – from large public schools like Ball State and Indiana University’s campuses to smaller private schools like Anderson and Oakland City.
- It’s four years and about 120 credits – roughly double an associate degree, with the extra time going toward research methods and theory.
- Requirements to get hired vary by department, and for federal roles, by agency – a bachelor’s isn’t universal, but it can expand eligibility for some positions and strengthen eligibility for promotion.
- Indiana’s broader protective-service occupational group earned a median $48,960 in May 2025 – actual pay depends heavily on the specific role and agency.
Not sure which Indiana program fits your situation? Start with the featured schools above – each one lists its own criminal justice concentrations and can walk you through admission requirements directly.
May 2025 US Bureau of Labor Statistics salary figures for Protective Service Occupations. Figures reflect state-level data, not school-specific information. Conditions in your area may vary. Data accessed October 2026.
Want the bigger picture? Read the full guide to Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice.