Criminal Justice Schools in Montana: Programs, Pay & Outlook
Updated October 14, 2026
Nine Montana institutions report programs in the criminal-justice-related program families covered here, from certificate-level training through a master’s degree. The Montana POST Council sets certification standards for the state’s public safety officers, and most entry-level police and corrections jobs start with a high school diploma rather than a degree.
Montana pairs a small population with a lot of ground for its public safety agencies to cover—and that’s part of why a criminal justice credential here can lead in several directions at once, from patrol to corrections to the courts. Nine colleges and universities report a program somewhere in the criminal-justice-related fields covered in this guide, from a certificate up through a master’s degree. Here’s what the data shows about pay, projected growth, and where those programs are.
Criminal Justice Education in Montana
The Montana Public Safety Officer Standards and Training (POST) Council, which operates within the Department of Justice, sets the state’s employment and training standards for public safety officers and handles their certification and recertification under Montana law (44-4-403, MCA). Hiring, basic training, and POST certification are three distinct steps, and individual agencies can add their own education, testing, background, and physical requirements on top of the state minimum.
Find out more about the criminal justice colleges near you, and request information from a few so you can compare and find the best fit.
Bachelor’s programs in the criminal justice family typically include a mix of general education and major-specific coursework, though exact requirements and sequencing vary by school. Courses students may encounter include:
- The U.S. Criminal Justice System: An Introduction
- The Basics of Criminal Law
- American Criminal Justice History
- The Legal and Judicial System in America
- Criminal Justice Research Methodologies
- Ethics in Criminal Justice
- U.S. Race Relations
- Legal Writing and Research
Fieldwork, internships, and online course availability all vary by program and by school, so confirm specifics directly with any program you’re considering.
If the cost of school is a factor, scholarships built for criminal justice majors are worth checking before you look at loans.
Where to Study Criminal Justice in Montana
Nine institutions in Montana report a program somewhere in the criminal-justice-related CIP families tracked here, per U.S. Department of Education data, ranging from certificate-level training to a master’s degree. Not every one offers a Criminal Justice program specifically: the table below breaks out what each school actually offers, including Fire Protection, Homeland Security, and Legal Support Services programs alongside Criminal Justice. None are distance-only.
| Institution | City | Control | Programs & Credential Levels |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blackfeet Community College | Browning | Private nonprofit | Criminal Justice: Associate, Certificate |
| Dawson Community College | Glendive | Public | Criminal Justice: Associate, Certificate |
| Flathead Valley Community College | Kalispell | Public | Criminal Justice, Homeland Security, Legal Support Services: Associate |
| Helena College University of Montana | Helena | Public | Fire Protection: Associate; Legal Support Services: Certificate |
| Montana State University Billings | Billings | Public | Criminal Justice: Associate, Bachelor’s; Fire Protection: Associate |
| Montana State University-Northern | Havre | Public | Criminal Justice: Bachelor’s |
| Salish Kootenai College | Pablo | Public | Homeland Security: Certificate |
| The University of Montana | Missoula | Public | Legal Support Services: Associate |
| University of Providence | Great Falls | Private nonprofit | Criminal Justice: Associate, Bachelor’s, Master’s; Legal Support Services: Associate, Bachelor’s; Security Science and Technology: Bachelor’s |
These are the institutions federal education data ties to a criminal-justice-related program today. Program names and formats change faster than federal reporting does, so confirm current enrollment, delivery format, and admission requirements directly with any school before you apply.
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.
Criminal Justice Careers and Salaries in Montana
A criminal justice background in Montana can lead toward state and local law enforcement, corrections, the courts, or private-sector security and investigations work, among other paths, depending on the specific role and its own hiring requirements.
The table below shows what five common criminal justice careers pay in Montana and how employment in each is projected to change through 2034.
| Career | Montana Median Annual Wage (May 2025) | Projected Employment Change (2024-34) |
|---|---|---|
| Police and Sheriff’s Patrol Officers | $70,050 | +5.5% |
| Detectives and Criminal Investigators | $92,410 | 0% |
| Paralegals and Legal Assistants | $57,290 | +1.1% |
| Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists | $59,750 | +5.2% |
| Correctional Officers and Jailers | $49,180 | -3.1% |
As of the May 2025 BLS wage data, detective work pays the most of the five, about 88% higher than the lowest-paid role on this list, correctional officer. How a department fills a detective position (promotion, assignment, or a separate hiring process) varies by agency. Correctional officer employment is the only one of the five projected to decline in Montana over the 2024-34 period, per ProjectionsCentral’s state projections, though that doesn’t necessarily mean fewer job openings since replacement hiring continues even where total employment shrinks.
May 2025 US Bureau of Labor Statistics salary figures for Police and Sheriff’s Patrol Officers, Detectives and Criminal Investigators, Paralegals and Legal Assistants, Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists, and Correctional Officers and Jailers. 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools in Montana offer a criminal justice-related program?
Nine colleges and universities in Montana report a program in the criminal-justice-related program families tracked here, per federal education data, ranging from certificate-level training to a master’s degree. Not all nine offer a Criminal Justice program specifically; some offer only Fire Protection, Homeland Security, or Legal Support Services credentials. See the table above for the full breakdown.
Do I need a college degree to become a police officer in Montana?
No single answer covers every department. Montana peace officers are certified through the state’s POST Council, and most agencies require a high school diploma, a background investigation, and completion of required basic training rather than a college degree, though individual departments can set additional requirements. Confirm specifics with the agency you’re interested in.
What does a criminal justice career in Montana pay?
It depends heavily on the role. As of May 2025 BLS data, a Montana correctional officer earns a median of $49,180 a year, a probation officer earns $59,750, a paralegal earns $57,290, a patrol officer earns $70,050, and a detective earns $92,410.
Is the job outlook good for criminal justice careers in Montana?
It’s mixed. ProjectionsCentral’s 2024-34 state projections show patrol officer and probation officer employment growing modestly in Montana, paralegal employment growing slightly, detective employment flat, and correctional officer employment projected to decline, though replacement openings can still exist in a shrinking occupation.
Can I earn a criminal justice credential online while living in Montana?
None of the nine institutions in the federal data are classified as distance-only, but that describes the institutions, not whether a specific program is offered online. Confirm the format of any individual program directly with the school.
Key Takeaways
- Nine institutions, multiple fields – Montana has nine colleges and universities with a program somewhere in the criminal-justice-related fields tracked here, not all of them in Criminal Justice specifically. See the table above for which school offers what.
- Certification is distinct from hiring – the Montana POST Council certifies public safety officers under state law, but each agency sets its own hiring requirements on top of that, including whether a degree is preferred.
- Pay varies widely by role – in May 2025 BLS data, Montana correctional officers earn a median of $49,180 and detectives earn $92,410, about 88% more.
- Corrections is the one role projected to decline – ProjectionsCentral projects Montana correctional officer employment shrinking through 2034, even as patrol officer and probation officer employment grow.
If tuition is a factor, our scholarships guide lists what’s available to criminal justice students.
Looking for a Criminal Justice Program in Another State?
Online programs may not be available in all areas.
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