Master’s in Criminal Justice Programs in Hawaii
Hawaii has two graduate programs in criminal justice: Chaminade University’s M.S. in Criminal Justice Studies and Hawai’i Pacific University’s M.S. in Criminal Justice Administration. Both require a bachelor’s degree, not necessarily in criminal justice. Statewide, protective service occupations had a median annual wage of $55,760 in May 2025 (BLS), with pay varying by role and responsibility.
Hawaii’s criminal justice system serves both a resident population and a visitor population that shifts with the tourist season, and public safety planning must account for both. A master’s degree here is aimed at the people who run that system, agency leaders, program managers, and policy staff, not entry-level patrol officers.
What You Can Do With a Master’s in Criminal Justice in Hawaii
A graduate degree can strengthen your preparation for supervisory, administrative, policy, and analytical roles. However, advancement requirements vary by employer and often include agency experience, rank, and training in addition to education. Chaminade describes its program as preparing students for advanced positions, and Hawai’i Pacific University frames its degree program around developing leadership and management skills.
Statewide, protective service occupations, which include police, corrections, security, firefighting, and related supervisory roles, had a median annual wage of $55,760 in May 2025 (Bureau of Labor Statistics). Pay varies substantially within that category depending on the specific occupation and level of responsibility.
Graduate education can support advancement into management or administrative roles, but command positions generally depend on an agency’s own promotion standards and required professional experience. And a graduate degree doesn’t replace Hawaii’s agency training or certification requirements for sworn law-enforcement positions. Covered officers are subject to standards administered by the Hawai’i Law Enforcement Standards Board under the Hawai’i Revised Statutes, Chapter 139, and officers employed after June 30, 2026, must hold a valid board certification, subject to the statute’s probationary exception.
What It Takes to Earn Your Criminal Justice Graduate Degree in Hawaii
Both current Hawaii programs require a bachelor’s degree, but neither Chaminade nor Hawai’i Pacific University states that it must be in criminal justice. Chaminade’s program doesn’t specify an undergraduate major, and HPU’s general graduate requirement requires a bachelor’s degree rather than a specific field. HPU says relevant professional experience may be considered during admissions, though that isn’t a guarantee.
For 2026-27, published standard tuition is $1,120 per credit for Chaminade’s M.S. in Criminal Justice Studies and $1,066 per credit for HPU’s M.S. in Criminal Justice Administration, before applicable fees. Eligible military-affiliated students may qualify for different rates. Confirm current pricing directly with each school before you budget around it.
The Honolulu Police Community Foundation is another scholarship source to check. Its awards are available to qualifying City and County of Honolulu residents in several degree programs, including postgraduate study, with some preference for law enforcement, criminal justice, and public safety fields. Read more at the Honolulu Police Community Foundation.
Current graduate coursework varies by school. Chaminade’s curriculum includes:
- Constitutional Law & Civil Rights
- Criminology
- Ethics in Criminal Justice & Public Administration
- Contemporary Issues in Criminal Justice
- Research Methods & Data Analysis
- Electives such as Corrections and Law Enforcement
Hawai’i Pacific University’s program emphasizes leadership, organizational management, research, law enforcement, courts, and corrections at the managerial level.
Where to Study
Two institutions in Hawaii offer graduate programs in the criminal justice field. Federal education data and each school’s own current materials confirm the same two schools:
| School | City | Control | Federal CIP Classification | Current Degree Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chaminade University of Honolulu | Honolulu | Private nonprofit | Criminal Justice and Corrections / Security Science and Technology | M.S. in Criminal Justice Studies (30 credits) |
| Hawai’i Pacific University | Honolulu | Private nonprofit | Homeland Security | M.S. in Criminal Justice Administration (36 credits) |
The Federal CIP Classification column reflects how the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard categorizes each program, not the school’s current marketing name. School and program data from the College Scorecard institution file (May 2025) and field-of-study file (April 2025). Current degree titles, credit counts, and tuition are confirmed against each school’s published 2026-27 materials. Data accessed September 2026. Confirm current enrollment, format, and admission requirements directly with each school before applying.
Frequently Asked Questions
What can I do with a master’s in criminal justice in Hawaii?
A master’s can strengthen your preparation for supervisory, administrative, policy, and analytical roles, though promotion into command positions still depends on your agency’s own experience, rank, and training requirements.
Do I need an undergraduate degree in criminal justice to get in?
No. Both Chaminade University of Honolulu and Hawai’i Pacific University require a bachelor’s degree but don’t require it to be in criminal justice.
Which Hawaii schools offer a master’s in criminal justice?
Chaminade University of Honolulu (M.S. in Criminal Justice Studies) and Hawai’i Pacific University (M.S. in Criminal Justice Administration), per both federal education data and each school’s own published materials.
Does a criminal justice master’s replace police certification requirements in Hawaii?
No. Covered sworn law-enforcement officers are subject to training and certification standards administered by the Hawai’i Law Enforcement Standards Board, and a graduate degree doesn’t substitute for that.
What does a criminal justice master’s degree pay off in?
Statewide, protective service occupations had a median wage of $55,760 in May 2025, but pay varies widely by role. A master’s is aimed at strengthening your case for supervisory, administrative, and policy work, not guaranteeing it.
Key Takeaways
- Two Hawaii institutions currently offer criminal justice master’s programs: Chaminade University of Honolulu and Hawai’i Pacific University.
- Both require a bachelor’s degree: neither school specifies it must be in criminal justice.
- Hawaii protective service occupations had a median wage of $55,760 in May 2025: pay varies substantially by occupation and level of responsibility.
- Published standard tuition for 2026-27 runs about $1,066 to $1,120 per credit before fees. Confirm current rates directly with each school.
- A criminal justice master’s doesn’t replace Hawaii’s LESB certification or agency training requirements for covered sworn law-enforcement positions.
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
Wage and occupational data: 2025 US Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics for Hawaii, Protective Service Occupations (SOC 33-0000). See the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook for Police and Detectives, Correctional Officers and Bailiffs, and Security Guards and Gambling Surveillance Officers. Data accessed September 2026.
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