Bachelor’s in Criminal Justice Programs in Maryland
Maryland has 12 four-year schools offering a bachelor’s in criminal justice, from the University of Maryland to Towson University. Most entry-level police and corrections jobs don’t require a degree, but parole and probation agents do, and some federal careers like FBI special agent require one too. Protective service occupations here paid a median of $57,520 in May 2025, per BLS data.
A four-year degree isn’t required for most entry-level law enforcement or corrections jobs in Maryland, but it opens doors a high school diploma doesn’t: some federal law-enforcement careers, including FBI special agent positions, and Maryland’s parole and probation agent roles, which state regulations require a bachelor’s for. Twelve Maryland colleges offer the coursework you need, from public flagships to smaller private schools. Here’s what that coursework covers, where to study it, and what it actually does for your paycheck.
Criminal Justice Bachelor’s Programs in Maryland
A bachelor’s in criminal justice usually takes four years and covers the legal system, the people who work inside it, and the research methods used to study both. Expect courses like Criminal Law in Action, Criminology, Concepts of Law Enforcement Administration, Law of Criminal Investigation, and Delinquency Prevention, plus at least one statistics or research-methods course. That last one matters more than it sounds: most agencies and grad programs expect you to be able to read the same BLS and DOJ data this page cites, not just take someone else’s word for it.
Paying for It
The Maryland Higher Education Commission runs several state grant and scholarship programs, including ones built for veterans and National Guard members. Some schools add their own money on top of that: the Regents Scholars Program is specific to University System of Maryland schools. Check both before you assume loans are the only option.
Where to Study: Bachelor’s Programs in Maryland
Twelve Maryland institutions report a bachelor’s-level program in the criminal justice family to the U.S. Department of Education, spanning public universities, private nonprofits, and one for-profit school. None are distance-only; all 12 have a physical campus in the state.
| School | City | Type | Program Area(s) at Bachelor’s Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Maryland-College Park | College Park | Public | Criminal Justice |
| Towson University | Towson | Public | Criminal Justice, Security Science and Technology |
| University of Baltimore | Baltimore | Public | Criminal Justice, Security Science and Technology |
| University of Maryland Global Campus | Adelphi | Public | Criminal Justice, Fire Protection, Security Science and Technology |
| Bowie State University | Bowie | Public | Criminal Justice |
| Coppin State University | Baltimore | Public | Criminal Justice |
| Frostburg State University | Frostburg | Public | Criminal Justice |
| University of Maryland Eastern Shore | Princess Anne | Public | Criminal Justice |
| Stevenson University | Owings Mills | Private nonprofit | Criminal Justice, Legal Support Services |
| Mount St. Mary’s University | Emmitsburg | Private nonprofit | Criminal Justice, Security Science and Technology |
| Hood College | Frederick | Private nonprofit | Criminal Justice |
| Strayer University-Maryland | Suitland | Private for-profit | Criminal Justice |
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. Confirm current enrollment, format, and admission requirements directly with any school before applying.
What a Criminal Justice Degree Opens Up in Maryland
Maryland sets its hiring floor through two state commissions: the Police Training and Standards Commission (PTSC) for police officers and the Correctional Training Commission (CTC) for correctional officers. Both generally require a high school diploma or GED, background and medical/psychological screening, drug testing, and completion of a Commission-approved entrance-level training program, not necessarily run by the hiring agency itself. Neither sets a statewide bachelor’s requirement, so most entry-level policing and correctional officer jobs don’t need one. Parole and probation is the exception: Maryland regulation requires a bachelor’s degree for mandated Parole and Probation Agent positions, with specific coursework expectations built into the job classification. A bachelor’s is also required for some federal law-enforcement careers, including FBI special agent positions, though requirements vary by agency, grade, and position. A degree may also qualify candidates for additional career or promotional opportunities, depending on the agency.
Maryland CJ graduates typically move into policing, corrections, investigations, parole and probation, or private and corporate security. Protective service occupations as a whole employed about 77,060 people in Maryland and paid a median annual wage of $57,520, as of May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Because this BLS occupational group covers many different protective-service jobs and experience levels, from entry-level to senior, the statewide median shouldn’t be treated as the starting salary you’d expect as a new graduate.
May 2025 US Bureau of Labor Statistics salary figures for Police and Detectives, Correctional Officers and Bailiffs, and Security Guards and Gambling Surveillance Officers. Figures reflect state-level data, not school-specific information. Conditions in your area may vary. Data accessed October 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a bachelor’s degree to become a police officer in Maryland?
No. Maryland’s minimum educational standard for police officers is generally a high school diploma or GED. You’ll still need to satisfy Maryland Police Training and Standards Commission certification requirements, including background, medical, and psychological screening, drug testing, and Commission-approved entrance-level training, which can be run by a college, school, or training facility rather than the hiring agency itself. A degree may qualify you for additional career or promotional opportunities, depending on the agency.
How long does a criminal justice bachelor’s degree take in Maryland?
A bachelor’s degree typically takes about four years of full-time study, though program structure, transfer credits, and enrollment status affect completion time. Part-time students and those transferring in credit from an associate degree often take longer.
What can I do with a bachelor’s in criminal justice besides becoming a police officer?
Corrections, private and corporate security, and investigative work all draw from the same degree, though it’s optional for most entry-level roles in those fields. Maryland’s parole and probation agent positions are the exception: state regulation requires a bachelor’s degree for mandated agent roles, with specific coursework built into the job classification. Some graduates also go on to law school or a master’s in criminal justice administration.
Is a criminal justice degree worth it if Maryland agencies don’t require one?
That depends on where you want to end up. If your goal is a local police or corrections job, Maryland’s standard entry requirement is generally a high school diploma, and the agency works within a Commission-approved training system. If you’re aiming for a federal law-enforcement career or Maryland’s parole and probation agent track, a bachelor’s becomes a requirement, not a preference, for many of those positions.
Key Takeaways
- Twelve Maryland schools offer it – from the University of Maryland-College Park to smaller private schools like Hood College, per federal education data.
- Police and corrections don’t require it – Maryland’s minimum standard for both is generally a high school diploma, plus Commission-approved training.
- Parole and probation is different – Maryland regulation requires a bachelor’s for mandated Parole and Probation Agent positions.
- Federal careers often require it – including FBI special agent positions, though requirements vary by agency and grade.
- Pay varies widely by role – Maryland’s protective service occupations had a median wage of $57,520 in May 2025, a figure spanning entry-level to senior roles across many protective-service jobs, not just criminal justice careers.
If cost is holding you back, the Maryland Higher Education Commission programs above are worth checking before loans, and it’s worth asking each school on this list directly whether it offers its own criminal-justice-specific aid.