Master’s in Criminal Justice Programs in California

Updated September 21, 2026

California offers accredited master’s programs in criminal justice at 16 institutions, including California State University campuses and the University of Southern California, with tracks in law enforcement leadership, homeland security, and security science. Statewide tuition runs $575 to $785 per credit, and California’s protective service occupations carry a median wage of $51,700 a year, per May 2025 BLS data.

California runs the largest criminal justice system in the country, and that scale cuts both ways for you as a graduate student. You’ll find more program options than almost anywhere else in the U.S., but you’re also competing in a state where agencies can afford to be selective. A master’s is how you close that gap, whether you’re aiming at a command post, a policy role, or a faculty line.

Featured Programs:

What You Can Do With a Master’s in Criminal Justice in California

A graduate degree doesn’t hand you a job. It hands you the credential that gets you considered for the ones that matter: department leadership, state policy work, homeland security coordination, and teaching. Contact the programs below directly to see how their coursework lines up with the path you want.

California’s own policy work shows what that path looks like in practice. Criminal justice professionals were central to building Prop 47, a measure aimed at reducing the prison population and redirecting funds toward rehabilitation for offenders who can safely return to society (Drug Policy, 2015).

The same expertise shows up in legislation. Criminal justice professionals in California contributed heavily to a bill eliminating the statute of limitations for sexual crimes, a change made possible by advances in DNA technology (LA Times, 2015).

As of May 2025, protective service occupations in California carry a median wage of $51,700 a year, per the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook. That figure covers the broad category, not one specific role, so treat it as a baseline. Where you land inside it- patrol, corrections, supervisory, or a state agency post- depends on the job and your experience level.

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 September 2026.

What It Will Take to Earn Your Criminal Justice Graduate Degree in California

Because California hosts so many programs, you have real room to specialize instead of taking a generic criminal justice track. Common focus areas include:

Administration
Forensic mental health
Criminalistics
Forensic psychology
Law enforcement
Homeland security
Personal protection
Terrorism studies
Global emergency preparedness
Criminology

Tuition varies by school. Whether you’re at a public or private institution, paying resident or nonresident rates, and how much financial need you qualify for all move the number. Statewide, per-credit rates run $575 to $785. Many schools run their own financial aid programs on top of that, and the California Correctional Supervisors Organization awards scholarships specifically to criminal justice graduate students.

Program learning outcomes tell you what a school actually prioritizes. California programs generally center offender, victim, and community outcomes across justice administration, rehabilitation, and sentencing, and they build toward careers in law enforcement, administration, justice planning, and corrections. Expect coursework in advanced criminal justice theory, legal and ethical issues, procedural standards, and leadership.

Where to Study for Your Master’s in Criminal Justice in California

Sixteen California institutions offer a master’s-level program in the criminal justice family, per federal education data, fifteen with an in-state campus and one, Abraham Lincoln University, delivering the program fully online. Programs span general criminal justice and corrections, homeland security, and security science and technology, the CIP family that also covers cyber and forensic-adjacent coursework.

Institution	Type	Program Area(s)
Abraham Lincoln University*	Private for-profit	Criminal Justice
Ashford University	Private for-profit	Criminal Justice
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo	Public	Fire Protection
California State University-Long Beach	Public	Criminal Justice; Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services, Other
California State University-Los Angeles	Public	Criminal Justice; Security Science and Technology
California State University-Sacramento	Public	Criminal Justice
California State University-San Bernardino	Public	Criminal Justice
California State University-Stanislaus	Public	Criminal Justice
Loma Linda University	Private nonprofit	Criminal Justice
National University	Private nonprofit	Criminal Justice; Homeland Security; Security Science and Technology
Naval Postgraduate School	Public	Homeland Security
San Jose State University	Public	Criminal Justice
University of California-Davis	Public	Criminal Justice; Security Science and Technology
University of Phoenix-California	Private for-profit	Criminal Justice
University of San Diego	Private nonprofit	Criminal Justice; Security Science and Technology
University of Southern California	Private nonprofit	Criminal Justice

*Fully online program.

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. This reflects what each school reported to the Department, not a live catalog; confirm current enrollment, format, and admission requirements directly with the school before applying.

Frequently Asked Questions

What can I do with a master’s in criminal justice in California?

It opens doors that a bachelor’s alone usually doesn’t: department leadership, state-level policy roles, homeland security coordination, and postsecondary teaching. Most agencies don’t require it for entry-level work, but promotion boards and hiring committees for supervisory roles notice it.

How much does a master’s in criminal justice cost in California?

Per-credit tuition across California programs runs $575 to $785, though the exact number depends on whether the school is public or private and whether you pay resident or nonresident rates. Many schools offer their own aid, and the California Correctional Supervisors Organization runs a scholarship specifically for criminal justice graduate students.

Which California schools offer a master’s in criminal justice?

Sixteen California institutions offer a master’s-level criminal justice, homeland security, or security-science program, per federal education data, including California State University campuses, the University of Southern California, and the Naval Postgraduate School. The table above breaks down which programs each one offers.

Is a master’s in criminal justice worth it if I already have a bachelor’s?

It depends on where you want to end up. If your goal is a supervisory, administrative, or policy role, the degree is usually what gets you into the room. If you want to stay in a frontline role, most agencies weigh field experience more heavily than an advanced degree.

Key Takeaways

16 institutions, 15 with an in-state campus – California has more master’s-level criminal justice options than nearly any other state, spanning general CJ, homeland security, and security science tracks.
$575-$785 per credit – Tuition varies by school type and residency, and several schools plus the CCSO scholarship can offset the cost.
$51,700 median wage – California’s protective service occupations carry that median as of May 2025 BLS data, a baseline that shifts with the specific role and your experience.
The degree pays off in leadership, not entry-level hiring – Most agencies don’t require a master’s to get hired, but it matters when you’re competing for command, policy, or faculty positions.

Weighing the cost before you commit? Scholarship money built specifically for criminal justice graduate students, like the California Correctional Supervisors Organization award listed above, is worth applying to before you take out a loan.

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

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