Criminal Justice Schools in Miami: Programs & Careers

Updated September 25, 2026

Miami has five schools with federally reported criminal justice-family programs, from certificates through Florida International University’s master’s degree. Florida sets the statewide certification pathway through the Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission, though some agencies add their own requirements. The state projects 11% growth in patrol officer jobs by 2034, alongside a projected decline in corrections positions.

The Miami Police Department answers calls across 12 areas of the city, around the clock, and it’s one of several agencies you could end up working for if you’re building a criminal justice career here. Corrections, courts, and private security round out the rest of Miami’s public-safety workforce.

Featured Programs:

Studying Criminal Justice in Miami

Getting to Class

If you don’t have a car, Miami-Dade Transit covers most of the county with bus, Metrorail, and Metromover service. Full-time students at participating Miami schools can get a College Discount Program pass at half price.

Tuition

Tuition varies by school, program, and residency status. Miami Dade College’s tuition page has current per-credit rates for residents and non-residents; check it directly before budgeting, since published rates change year to year. Check any specific program’s curriculum and requirements directly with the school; current catalogs move faster than any published guide can track.

Where to Study Criminal Justice in Miami

Five Miami-area institutions report criminal-justice-family programs to the U.S. Department of Education, spanning certificate through master’s level. Confirm current enrollment, format, and admission requirements directly with any school before applying, since federal reporting can lag a school’s own catalog.

Institution	Type	Credential Levels	Programs Offered
Miami Dade College	Public	Certificate, Associate	Criminal Justice, Legal Support Services, Fire Protection, Homeland Security, Security Science and Technology
Florida International University	Public	Bachelor’s, Master’s	Criminal Justice, Homeland Security, Security Science and Technology
Albizu University-Miami	Private nonprofit	Bachelor’s	Criminal Justice
Barry University	Private nonprofit	Bachelor’s	Homeland Security
Atlantis University	Private for-profit	Master’s	Criminal Justice

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.

Job Outlook and Salary Data for Miami’s Criminal Justice Field

Hiring standards vary by role and agency. Florida law requires a bachelor’s degree specifically for correctional probation officers; other criminal justice disciplines set a statewide high school diploma floor through the Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission, and individual agencies can require more. What follows are the statewide medians for the roles most Miami programs prepare you for, as of the May 2025 BLS wage data.

Occupation	Florida Median Annual Wage
Security Guards	$35,900
Bailiffs	$59,000
Correctional Officers and Jailers	$49,710
First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers	$55,620
Police and Sheriff’s Patrol Officers	$74,470
Detectives and Criminal Investigators	$77,060

These are occupational medians across all experience levels, not starting pay, and not a claim that any particular credential increases them. Separately, Florida’s ProjectionsCentral data projects patrol officer employment growing 11.2% by 2034 (50,720 to 56,400), with about 4,460 average annual openings statewide. Corrections is projected to shrink 5.9% over the same period, with about 1,850 average annual openings from all sources combined.

Miami-Dade Police Department posts its own current pay and hiring requirements on its careers page.

May 2025 US Bureau of Labor Statistics salary figures for Police and Sheriff’s Patrol Officers and Detectives and Criminal Investigators, Correctional Officers, Bailiffs, and their supervisors, and Security Guards, in Florida. 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.

Criminal Justice Schools in Other Major Florida Cities

Jacksonville

Professional Organizations for Miami Criminal Justice Students

Joining a professional association while you’re still in school is one of the easier ways to build contacts before you’re job hunting. In Miami, that includes the South Florida Paralegal Association for anyone on the legal-support track, and the Miami Police Benevolent Association if you’re headed toward law enforcement.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a college degree to become a police officer in Miami?

Not by state law. Florida’s Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission (CJSTC) sets a high-school-diploma-or-equivalent floor for law enforcement certification, not a degree requirement, though individual agencies can add hiring standards above that floor. Candidates must still complete a CJSTC-approved Basic Recruit Training Program (or qualify through the Equivalency of Training process), pass the State Officer Certification Examination (SOCE), and secure qualifying employment. Most law enforcement candidates also take the Criminal Justice Basic Abilities Test (BAT/CJBAT) before the academy, though those with an associate degree or higher, or qualifying veterans, are exempt; correctional probation candidates skip the BAT but do need a bachelor’s degree, one of the few CJSTC disciplines that requires one.

Which Miami school should I choose for criminal justice?

It depends on the credential and field you want. Miami Dade College and Florida International University are the two public options here, covering certificate through master’s-level criminal justice programs. Florida International University also offers homeland security and security-science programs at the master’s level, and Barry University offers a bachelor’s in homeland security specifically, not a general criminal justice degree. Confirm the exact program name and format with each school before applying.

How much do correctional officers make in Florida?

The statewide median is $49,710 a year, as of the May 2025 BLS wage data. That’s a median across all experience levels, not a starting salary. Florida’s correctional officer employment is actually projected to shrink 5.9% through 2034, per ProjectionsCentral, though the field still shows roughly 1,850 average annual openings statewide.

Does Florida require a bachelor’s degree for any criminal justice career?

Yes, for one: correctional probation officer. Florida statute requires a bachelor’s degree for that specific discipline, unlike law enforcement or corrections officer certification, which set a high school diploma floor at the state level.

Key Takeaways

Five Miami-area schools report a federally tracked criminal justice-family program, from certificate to master’s level.
Florida establishes statewide minimum certification standards, while individual agencies may impose additional education or hiring requirements.
A bachelor’s degree is specifically required for correctional probation officer certification in Florida, not for law enforcement or corrections officer certification generally.
Patrol work is growing in Florida (11.2% by 2034, per ProjectionsCentral), while corrections is projected to shrink 5.9% over the same period.

Every criminal justice discipline in Florida runs through the same office, FDLE’s Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission. Whichever path you’re weighing, check that agency’s current requirements alongside the specific program pages above before you apply anywhere.

Looking beyond this city? Read the full guide to Criminal Justice Schools in Florida.