PhD in Criminal Justice Programs in Minnesota

Updated October 6, 2026

Minnesota has no in-state campus reporting a doctoral-level criminal justice program to the U.S. Department of Education. The only Minnesota-based options, Capella University and Walden University, deliver theirs through distance education, per the same federal data. Doctoral timelines, admission requirements, and degree format vary widely by program, so confirm specifics directly with each school before applying.

A doctorate in criminal justice is the credential behind the field’s researchers, policy analysts, and tenure-track professors. If you’ve already spent years on patrol, in a courtroom, or in corrections, this is where that experience turns into research and scholarship. Here’s what federal data shows about doctoral-level options tied to Minnesota, and what to verify before you apply.

Is a PhD in criminal justice the right choice for you? Find out by requesting information from criminal justice schools in Minnesota below.

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What Can You Do With a Doctorate in Criminal Justice?

A research or professional doctorate in this field is built for people headed toward academia, policy work, program leadership, or advanced research roles in government and criminal-justice-adjacent agencies. Exactly which door opens depends heavily on the specific program, your prior career, and your dissertation or capstone topic.

Teaching is the clearest BLS-tracked outcome. Minnesota’s criminal justice and law enforcement postsecondary teachers earn a median $83,060 a year as of May 2025 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics), with the state projecting +1.4% growth in that role from 2024 to 2034 (ProjectionsCentral). A tenure-track opening typically lists a doctorate as a baseline qualification, though the exact requirements and the weight given to a publication record vary by institution and department.

Beyond teaching, doctoral graduates in this field also move into criminal justice research, policy analysis, program administration, and senior positions inside corrections, courts, or law enforcement agencies, though these paths don’t map to a single BLS occupation the way teaching does.

May 2025 US Bureau of Labor Statistics salary figures for Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Teachers, Postsecondary. 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 October 2026.

How Long Does a Criminal Justice Doctorate Take?

Doctoral timelines vary by program, by specialization, and by how much graduate credit you bring in. Some programs admit directly from a bachelor’s degree. Others require a master’s first or offer an accelerated track for applicants who already hold one. Program length, residency requirements, and the culminating project (a dissertation, a doctoral study, or a capstone) differ enough between a PhD and a professional doctorate like a DCJ that you should get these specifics in writing from the admissions office before you enroll.

Funding mechanisms are just as program-specific. Some doctoral programs offer teaching or research assistantships. Many private, fully online programs do not, and rely instead on federal student loans, employer tuition assistance, or outside scholarships. Ask directly what’s available before you assume anything.

Concentrations and format also differ sharply between the two Minnesota-based schools. Walden University’s online PhD in Criminal Justice offers a General Program plus named specializations, including Justice Administration, Law and Public Policy, and Homeland Security Policy and Coordination, with pathways open to both bachelor’s- and master’s-holding applicants. Capella University’s PhD in Human Services with a Criminal Justice specialization, by contrast, requires an existing master’s degree and includes three one-week in-person residency colloquia, despite federal data flagging it as distance-only. Confirm the current concentration list, admission requirements, and residency expectations directly with any school you’re considering.

Where to Study: Doctoral Criminal Justice Programs Tied to Minnesota

Minnesota residents aren’t limited to Minnesota-based schools. Online doctoral programs run by out-of-state universities are generally open to applicants nationwide. But if you’re looking specifically for a Minnesota-headquartered option, U.S. Department of Education data identifies exactly two institutions reporting a doctoral-level credential in the criminal justice family, and both report distance-only delivery to the Department.

Institution	City	Control	Format (per federal data)
Capella University	Minneapolis	Private, for-profit	Distance-only (residency required for at least one program)
Walden University	Minneapolis	Private, for-profit	Distance-only

Federal data reflects what each school reported to the Department of Education, not necessarily this year’s exact degree title, concentration list, or delivery format. Confirm all three directly with the school, since Capella’s program above includes in-person requirements despite its distance-only flag in this dataset.

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Minnesota have an in-state doctoral program in criminal justice?

U.S. Department of Education data doesn’t identify a Minnesota institution offering an on-campus doctoral-level criminal justice program. Capella University and Walden University, both headquartered in Minneapolis, report doctoral-level programs in the field delivered through distance education, though at least one of them still requires in-person residency sessions. Confirm current format with the school directly.

How long does a criminal justice doctorate take?

It depends entirely on the program. Entry requirements (bachelor’s vs. master’s), residency expectations, and the culminating project differ by school and by whether you’re pursuing a PhD or a professional doctorate like a DCJ. Ask for the current timeline and requirements before you apply.

What can you do with a criminal justice doctorate?

The clearest BLS-tracked outcome is postsecondary teaching: Minnesota’s criminal justice and law enforcement instructors earn a median $83,060 a year (May 2025 BLS), with +1.4% growth projected through 2034. Graduates also move into research, policy analysis, and senior roles in government and criminal justice agencies, though those paths vary too much to attach a single salary figure to.

Do I need a master’s degree to start a criminal justice doctorate?

Not necessarily; it depends on the program. Walden University’s online PhD in Criminal Justice, for example, accepts applicants with either a bachelor’s or a master’s degree, with an accelerated path for those who already hold a master’s. Other programs require a master’s as a prerequisite. Check the specific admission requirements for any school you’re considering.

Key Takeaways

No verified in-state campus option – federal data doesn’t show a Minnesota institution offering an on-campus doctoral CJ program. Capella University and Walden University are the only Minnesota-headquartered schools in that dataset, both reporting distance-based delivery.
“Distance-only” doesn’t always mean fully online – at least one Minnesota-based program still requires in-person residency sessions. Verify format, not just the dataset label.
Timelines and entry requirements vary by program – some accept bachelor’s-level applicants, others require a master’s first. Get this in writing before enrolling.
Teaching is the clearest tracked career path – Minnesota CJ and law enforcement postsecondary teachers earn a median $83,060 a year (May 2025 BLS), with +1.4% growth projected through 2034.
Funding isn’t guaranteed – teaching and research assistantships exist at some schools but not all. Ask directly rather than assuming.

If cost is what’s holding you back, the scholarships guide lists awards built for criminal justice majors and grad students, with eligibility, amounts, and deadlines. Read that before you take out a loan.

Read: Scholarships for Criminal Justice Majors and Grad Students

Comparing options elsewhere? Use the state picker below to see PhD programs in criminal justice across the country.

Want the bigger picture? Read the full guide to Doctoral Degrees in Criminal Justice | DCJ and PhD.