Master’s in Criminal Justice Colorado: Programs, Cost, and Careers
Updated September 29, 2026
A master’s in criminal justice in Colorado is offered at seven institutions per federal data, several counted under related CIP codes like forensic psychology. Per-credit tuition ranges from $543 to $1,397 by school. The degree isn’t the entry credential for Colorado peace-officer or corrections jobs, but may help with supervisory or specialized roles.
If you’re considering a graduate degree in criminal justice, the honest answer is that it isn’t the entry credential for most Colorado criminal justice jobs. Many sworn law-enforcement positions require Colorado POST certification and agency-specific hiring standards, while corrections, probation, and other roles carry their own separate requirements. Where a master’s may help is later, in supervisory and specialized roles that some agencies and job postings prefer, though that preference varies by employer.
What a Master’s in Criminal Justice Opens Up in Colorado
Most graduate programs here sit inside a broader Master of Science in Criminal Justice or Public Administration track, with room to specialize.
Colorado probation officers earn a median $71,680 a year, according to May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, and the state’s own projections call for a 5.7% decline in the role through 2034, with about 190 average annual openings from turnover rather than growth. A graduate degree won’t reverse that trend, and it isn’t required to do the job.
First-line supervisors of police and detectives in Colorado earn a median salary of $126,810 a year, and the state projects 6.3% growth in the role through 2034, with roughly 190 average annual openings. A master’s may strengthen your qualifications for this supervisory or specialized role, but its value and any formal preference for it vary by agency and specific job posting. It isn’t guaranteed weight with every promotion board or federal hiring panel.
What It Takes to Earn a Master’s in Criminal Justice in Colorado
Related Study Areas
The federal count of seven Colorado programs spans overlapping and related CIP codes, not one uniform curriculum. Related graduate study areas that show up across Colorado programs include:
- Forensic psychology
- Homeland security
- Cybersecurity
- Public administration
- Criminology
- Justice and security
Not every school offers every concentration. Colorado Technical University documents a Homeland Security concentration, and UCCS separately offers the MCJ and an MPA/MCJ dual degree. Confirm which specific concentration a given program actually offers, and pick the one that matches the job you’re aiming at, not the one that sounds the most interesting.
What It Costs
Published per-credit tuition varies by school. Colorado Christian University lists $543 per credit for its M.S. in Criminal Justice for 2026-27. The University of Colorado Colorado Springs runs about $737 per credit in-state, and the University of Northern Colorado about $751 per credit. The University of Denver’s forensic psychology program, the one that puts DU in this broader CIP grouping, runs $1,397 per credit under its 2025-26 rate schedule. Get a current, program-specific quote before you budget for the degree.
Loans, grants, and scholarships all apply here the same as any graduate program. Check with each school’s financial aid office for program-specific aid, and review your target agency’s tuition reimbursement policy if you’re already working in corrections or law enforcement.
The Internship and Capstone Requirement
Culminating requirements vary by program and can include a capstone, a thesis, a practicum, or an internship, and some programs combine more than one. The University of Colorado Denver, for example, requires a capstone or thesis, plus a 240-hour internship for students who don’t already qualify for an experience-based waiver. UCCS has its own capstone or thesis culminating requirement. Confirm the exact requirement with the specific program you’re considering, since it isn’t standardized across the state.
The Coursework You’ll Actually Take
A Master of Science track in Colorado typically runs through:
- Criminal Justice Systems
- Policy and Practice
- Criminological Theory
- Gender, Race, Ethnicity, and Social Class
- Crime and Violence Prevention and Intervention
Where to Study a Master’s in Criminal Justice in Colorado
Seven institutions show up in federal education data for a Master’s-level program in the criminal-justice-and-corrections family or a related CIP code. That “related CIP code” caveat matters: it’s how a program like the University of Denver’s forensic psychology degree gets counted here alongside conventional M.S./M.A. programs in criminal justice. Of the seven, Colorado State University Global is the one classified as distance-only in federal data. The other six carry a campus classification, though several, including UCCS, Colorado Christian, and CTU, also offer their program fully online.
| Institution | City | Control | Program Area |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Colorado Colorado Springs | Colorado Springs | Public | Criminal Justice |
| University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus | Denver | Public | Criminal Justice |
| University of Northern Colorado | Greeley | Public | Criminal Justice |
| University of Denver | Denver | Private nonprofit | Forensic Psychology (M.A.) |
| Colorado Christian University | Lakewood | Private nonprofit | Criminal Justice |
| Colorado Technical University-Colorado Springs | Colorado Springs | Private for-profit | Criminal Justice and Homeland Security |
| Colorado State University Global (distance-only) | Aurora | Public | Criminal Justice |
This is what federal education data reports, not a live catalog. Confirm current enrollment, format, and admission requirements directly with any school before applying. It’s also worth calling the department you want to work for and asking which local program, if any, their command staff actually holds degrees from.
May 2025 US Bureau of Labor Statistics salary figures for Probation Officers, Correctional Treatment Specialists, and First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives. Long-term (2024-34) job growth projections from the US Department of Labor-sponsored resource, ProjectionsCentral. Figures reflect state-level data, not school-specific information. Conditions in your area may vary. Data accessed September 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. Tuition figures are as published by each institution for its most recent posted rate schedule. Confirm current rates directly with the school. Data accessed September 2026.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a bachelor’s in criminal justice to get into a Colorado master’s program?
A bachelor’s in criminal justice isn’t universally required, but prerequisites vary by program. Colorado Christian University requires a bachelor’s degree but no specific undergraduate coursework. The University of Denver’s forensic psychology program is stricter: applicants without a psychology major or minor must complete four psychology prerequisite courses or the Psychology GRE as an alternative. Check the specific program’s admission requirements before applying.
How long does a master’s in criminal justice take in Colorado?
Most full-time students finish in about two years. Part-time students, common among working officers and corrections staff, often take three to four years, especially at programs built around evening or online coursework.
Is a master’s in criminal justice worth it if I’m already working in law enforcement?
It depends on where you want to go next. A master’s may strengthen your qualifications for a supervisory rank, a federal agency, or a specialized unit. However, the value and any formal preference for it vary by agency and specific job posting. It generally isn’t the entry credential for Colorado’s peace officer, corrections, or probation jobs, since those positions rely on academy certification, background checks, and agency-specific hiring standards rather than a graduate transcript.
Can I earn a master’s in criminal justice online while working in Colorado?
Yes, and Colorado State University Global isn’t the only option. It’s the program classified as distance-only in federal data. Still, the University of Colorado Colorado Springs offers its MCJ fully online, and Colorado Christian University and Colorado Technical University both offer their programs online as well.
Key Takeaways
- A master’s degree isn’t the entry credential for most Colorado criminal justice jobs. Many sworn positions require Colorado POST certification and agency-specific hiring standards. Corrections and probation roles carry their own separate requirements.
- Colorado’s supervisory law-enforcement roles pay more and are growing. First-line police supervisors’ median annual pay is $126,810, compared with $71,680 for probation officers, per May 2025 BLS data, and the supervisory track is projected to grow 6.3% through 2034, while probation-officer roles are projected to shrink 5.7%. A master’sdegree may strengthen your qualifications for that track, though degree preferences vary by agency.
- Published per-credit tuition ranges from $543 to $1,397 across Colorado’s seven programs, depending on the school and program type. Get a current quote before you commit.
- Seven Colorado institutions appear in federal CJ-family education data, though one of them (University of Denver) is counted under a related CIP code for its forensic psychology degree rather than a conventional criminal justice program. Confirm what a school actually offers before applying.
Worried about paying for the degree? The scholarships guide lists awards built for criminal justice majors, with eligibility, amounts, and deadlines.
Read: Scholarships for Criminal Justice Majors and Grad Students
Want the bigger picture? Read the full guide to Master’s Degree in Criminal Justice.