Kansas Bachelor’s in Criminal Justice Degree Programs
Updated October 1, 2026
Kansas has 17 colleges and universities offering a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, from Emporia State to Wichita State. Coursework commonly covers areas such as law enforcement, corrections, courts, criminology, and research methods. Protective service workers in Kansas earn a median $49,200 a year, per May 2025 BLS data.
If you’re weighing a criminal justice degree, Kansas gives you real options, from faith-based colleges like Bethany and Central Christian to the state’s regional public universities. A bachelor’s takes you further than an associate degree alone, opening more career options and potentially helping you qualify for federal positions where a college degree can satisfy some or all entry-level requirements.
The field has shifted over the years, moving from catching and punishing crime toward preventing it before it starts. That shift shows up in local debate too, including discussion of whether investing more in schools and family support could help reduce future crime rates in Kansas communities.
That versatility is part of what makes the degree worth the time. Graduates end up in policing, corrections, the courts, and sometimes in community-based work that sits outside law enforcement entirely.
Getting Your Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice in Kansas
Criminal justice bachelor’s programs generally combine required core coursework with electives or concentration courses, but exact requirements vary by school. Core classes commonly touch on law enforcement, corrections, courts and judicial systems, research methods, and criminal justice policy, building the vocabulary and data literacy you’ll need before you specialize.
Once you clear the core, you pick electives based on where you want to land. Many programs offer coursework or tracks in corrections, policing, juvenile justice, and criminal justice research, covering topics like crime prevention, homicide investigations, community-based corrections, and criminal procedure. Which electives a school offers varies, so check the catalog at the institution you’re considering before you enroll.
Where to Study a Criminal Justice Bachelor’s Degree in Kansas
Seventeen Kansas institutions offer a bachelor’s-level program in the criminal justice family, per U.S. Department of Education data. The program-area labels below come from the federal CIP classification system used in that data, not necessarily the exact program name a school markets on its own site, so confirm the specific degree title, format, and admission requirements directly with any school before you apply.
| Institution | City | Control | Program Area(s) (Federal CIP Category) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bethany College | Lindsborg | Private nonprofit | Criminal Justice |
| Central Christian College of Kansas | McPherson | Private nonprofit | Criminal Justice |
| Emporia State University | Emporia | Public | Criminal Justice |
| Fort Hays State University | Hays | Public | Criminal Justice |
| Friends University | Wichita | Private nonprofit | Criminal Justice |
| Kansas Wesleyan University | Salina | Private nonprofit | Criminal Justice, Homeland Security |
| MidAmerica Nazarene University | Olathe | Private nonprofit | Criminal Justice |
| Newman University | Wichita | Private nonprofit | Criminal Justice, Legal Support Services, Security Science and Technology |
| Ottawa University-Kansas City | Overland Park | Private nonprofit | Criminal Justice |
| Ottawa University-Online | Overland Park | Private nonprofit | Criminal Justice |
| Ottawa University-Ottawa | Ottawa | Private nonprofit | Criminal Justice |
| Pittsburg State University | Pittsburg | Public | Criminal Justice |
| Rasmussen University-Kansas | Topeka | Private for-profit | Criminal Justice |
| Southwestern College | Winfield | Private nonprofit | Criminal Justice |
| Sterling College | Sterling | Private nonprofit | Criminal Justice |
| Washburn University | Topeka | Public | Criminal Justice, Legal Support Services, Security Science and Technology |
| Wichita State University | Wichita | Public | Criminal Justice, Security Science and Technology |
Criminal Justice Salaries in Kansas
As of May 2025 BLS wage data, Kansas protective service workers, the broad group covering police officers, correctional officers, security guards, and related roles, earn a median salary of $49,200 a year. That figure covers the whole occupational family rather than one job title, so a patrol officer, a corrections sergeant, and a campus security guard can land well above or below it depending on the specific role, the hiring agency, and years on the job. For a given career’s actual numbers, check that specialty’s own page instead of leaning on this field-wide figure.
If you’re weighing the investment, use that range as a planning number, not a promise, and ask the schools above what their graduates actually land once they’re working.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many colleges in Kansas offer a bachelor’s in criminal justice?
Seventeen Kansas institutions offer a bachelor’s-level program in the criminal justice family, per U.S. Department of Education data, ranging from small private colleges to the state’s regional universities.
What classes do I take in a criminal justice bachelor’s program in Kansas?
Programs combine required core coursework, commonly law enforcement, corrections, and criminal justice policy, with electives in areas like crime prevention or community-based corrections. Requirements vary by school, so check the specific catalog.
How much do criminal justice jobs in Kansas pay?
Protective service occupations in Kansas report a median salary of $49,200 a year, per May 2025 BLS data, though pay varies widely by specific role and agency.
Can I earn a criminal justice bachelor’s online in Kansas?
Online and hybrid availability varies by institution. Confirm the current delivery format directly with each school before you apply.
Do I need a bachelor’s degree to become a police officer in Kansas?
Kansas does not require a bachelor’s degree for state law-enforcement certification. Kansas CPOST requires at least a high school education or equivalent, along with other eligibility and training requirements. Individual police departments and other agencies may set additional hiring standards, so check the specific agency.
Key Takeaways
- 17 Kansas schools offer a CJ bachelor’s – from small private colleges to Emporia State, Wichita State, and other regional universities.
- Programs combine core coursework with electives – exact requirements vary by school, so check the specific catalog before enrolling.
- $49,200 is a field-wide median, not a single job’s salary – actual pay depends heavily on which protective service role and agency you land in.
- Kansas CPOST doesn’t require a bachelor’s for state certification, but a degree can help you qualify for some federal positions where college education satisfies part of the requirement.
Before you commit to four years of tuition, figure out what you can actually afford to spend and compare the schools above on cost and format, not just name recognition. Ask each one directly what their CJ graduates are doing five years out.
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.
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.
Want the bigger picture? Read the full guide to Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice.