Master’s in Criminal Justice Programs in Mississippi
Updated October 1, 2026
Mississippi has seven in-state colleges offering a master’s in criminal justice, though degree names and formats differ by school: Delta State and Mississippi Valley State run 36-credit M.S. programs, Jackson State offers an M.A. in Criminology and Justice Services, and several programs, including Delta State, Southern Miss, and William Carey, are available fully online. The degree targets supervision, policy, and research roles. Mississippi’s broader protective-service workforce earns a median of $37,390 a year, per May 2025 BLS data.
Mississippi is mostly rural, and that shapes the job. A sheriff’s department in the Delta covers more ground with fewer deputies than a metro department ever will, and a master’s degree here often points toward running an agency or a unit, not just working a beat. Here’s what the degree actually requires at each school, and where it can take you.
What Can You Do With a Master’s in Criminal Justice in Mississippi?
The degree can support careers in criminal-justice administration, policy, research, training, and teaching, depending on the employer’s experience and credential requirements. You won’t use it to get hired as a patrol officer; it’s built for people already in the field moving toward supervision, or coming in from outside toward policy and research work.
As of May 2025 BLS data, Mississippi’s median wage across the entire protective service occupational group, which spans police, correctional officers, security guards, firefighters, and related roles, is $37,390 a year. That figure covers the whole field at every experience level, not a management-specific number, so treat it as context for where the profession sits statewide, not a target the degree guarantees.
The state’s criminal justice system has been under real scrutiny in recent years. Mississippi’s use of debtor’s prisons drew lawsuits that made national news (Nonprofit Quarterly, 2015), and the state’s execution-drug sourcing has faced public records challenges from advocacy groups (ABC, 2015). A graduate degree is where you learn to engage with exactly this kind of policy fight, not just enforce the rules as written.
What It Takes to Earn Your Criminal Justice Graduate Degree in Mississippi
Program length varies by school. Delta State advertises a 1.5-year completion timeline; Ole Miss describes its in-person M.S. as a two-year, 30-credit program; William Carey says duration depends on course load. Most programs run 30 to 36 required credits. Each school sets its own financial aid policy, and the Mississippi Association of Chiefs of Police is worth checking too if you’re already working in law enforcement.
As an example of what the coursework looks like, Southern Miss’s program includes classes like these:
- Applied Statistical Methods for Criminal Justice
- Applied Research Methods for Criminal Justice
- Seminar in Policing
- Seminar in Corrections
- Seminar in Criminal Justice Policy
Other Mississippi programs structure their curriculum differently, so check the specific course list at any school you’re considering.
Where to Study Criminal Justice at the Graduate Level in Mississippi
Per U.S. Department of Education data, seven Mississippi institutions offer a master’s-level Criminal Justice program. Degree names and formats vary by school, so confirm current details directly before applying:
| Institution | Control | Degree Offered | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delta State University | Public | M.S. in Criminal Justice and Criminology (fully online, 36 credits) | ||
| Jackson State University | Public | M.A. in Criminology and Justice Services | ||
| Mississippi Christian University | Private nonprofit | M.S./M.S.S. in Administration of Justice | ||
| Mississippi Valley State University | Public | M.S. in Criminal Justice (36 credits) | ||
| University of Mississippi | Public | M.S. in Criminal Justice; also an online M.C.J. | ||
| University of Southern Mississippi | Public | M.S. in Criminal Justice (30+ credits) | ||
| William Carey University | Private nonprofit | M.S. in Criminal Justice (30-39 credits) |
Program formats vary by institution; several Mississippi programs, including Delta State, Southern Miss, William Carey, and Mississippi Valley State, are offered fully online, and Ole Miss offers a separate online M.C.J. alongside its in-person M.S. Confirm current delivery format, admission requirements, and enrollment status directly with each school before applying. 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.
May 2025 US Bureau of Labor Statistics salary figures for Mississippi’s protective service occupations overall, including correctional officers and bailiffs and security guards, among others. Figures reflect state-level data, not school-specific information. Conditions in your area may vary. Data accessed October 2026.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Do all Mississippi criminal justice graduate programs use the same degree name?
No. Jackson State grants an M.A. in Criminology and Justice Services, Mississippi Christian University grants an M.S./M.S.S. in Administration of Justice, and the rest grant some form of M.S. in Criminal Justice. Credit requirements and formats differ by school too, so check the specific program page before applying.
How long does it take to earn a master’s in criminal justice in Mississippi?
It depends on the school. Delta State advertises about 1.5 years; Ole Miss’s in-person M.S. runs a two-year, 30-credit track; William Carey says it varies by course load. Most programs require 30 to 36 credits total.
Are any Mississippi criminal justice master’s programs available online?
Yes. Delta State, the University of Southern Mississippi, William Carey, and Mississippi Valley State all offer fully online programs, and Ole Miss offers a separate online Master of Criminal Justice alongside its in-person M.S.
What can you do with a master’s in criminal justice in Mississippi?
The degree can support careers in criminal-justice administration, policy, research, training, and teaching, depending on the employer’s experience and credential requirements. It’s generally a path toward advancement rather than entry-level hiring.
Key Takeaways
- Seven in-state options – Delta State, Jackson State, Mississippi Christian University, Mississippi Valley State, Ole Miss, Southern Miss, and William Carey all carry a master’s-level criminal justice program in federal education data, though the degree name and requirements differ by school.
- Built for advancement, not entry – the degree supports administration, policy, research, and teaching roles, not patrol-level hiring.
- Online options exist – Delta State, Southern Miss, William Carey, Mississippi Valley State, and Ole Miss’s M.C.J. are all available fully online.
- Check specifics with the school – degree titles, credit counts, and timelines vary enough across these seven programs that you shouldn’t assume one school’s format for another.
Want help paying for it? The scholarships guide lists awards built for criminal justice graduate students, 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.