Criminal Justice Schools in Newark, NJ

Updated September 29, 2026

Newark is home to two campus-based options for a criminal justice degree: Essex County College for an associate’s, and Rutgers University-Newark for anything from a bachelor’s to a doctorate, per federal education data. Entry-level jobs like correctional officer and security guard pay differently in New Jersey than in the wider Newark metro area, so check both figures below.

If you want to work in criminal justice in New Jersey’s largest city, you’re choosing a market with real range. The Newark Police Department patrols out of precincts across the city plus its own task forces and specialty divisions, and it’s the largest municipal police force in the state.

Newark also puts you close to NJ Transit, which discounts passes 25% for students at selected area colleges and universities, worth checking before you commit to a commute.

Featured Programs:

Where to Study Criminal Justice Near Newark

Essex County College and Rutgers University-Newark are the two schools with a Newark address for a criminal justice program in federal education data. Berkeley College also teaches its Criminal Justice program at a campus on Broad Street in Newark itself, though federal reporting files that school under its Woodland Park location. Confirm current enrollment, format, and admission requirements directly with each school before applying, since federal education data lags a school’s own catalog.

School	Location	Programs Offered
Essex County College	Newark, NJ	Associate’s in Criminal Justice, plus an associate’s and undergraduate certificate in Legal Support Services
Rutgers University–Newark	Newark, NJ	Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctoral degrees in Criminal Justice
Berkeley College	Newark, NJ campus (filed under Woodland Park, NJ in federal reporting)	Associate’s and Bachelor’s in 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.

Criminal Justice Education in Newark

Coursework varies by school, but a criminal justice curriculum in New Jersey typically touches policing, the courts, and corrections, and some programs let you specialize further. Berkeley College’s bachelor’s, for instance, offers concentrations in Police Studies, Homeland Security, Cyber Security, Investigations and Security, Social Justice, and Social Welfare. Confirm the specific course list with each school’s own admissions office before you commit.

The Paralegal Association of New Jersey Inc. is active locally if you’re tracking toward the courts side of the field, and the Newark Police Superior Officers’ Association represents NPD’s supervisory ranks, worth knowing about if you’re mapping out what the promotional track inside the department looks like.

What Newark-Area Criminal Justice Jobs Pay

New Jersey’s statewide median and the New York-Newark-Jersey City metro median move independently of each other, sometimes by a wide margin, so check both before you assume a number applies to you.

Occupation	New Jersey median (2025)	NY-Newark-Jersey City metro median (2025)	NJ job growth, 2024-34
Correctional Officer and Jailer	$94,770	$93,220	-6.2%
Security Guard	$38,880	$43,980	-5.7%
Bailiff	$43,690	$83,360	Not tracked at the state level

New Jersey also tracks wage and growth data for a few related criminal justice occupations in the area. These are separate occupations with their own BLS wage lines, not stages of one career ladder:

Occupation	New Jersey median (2025)	NY-Newark-Jersey City metro median (2025)	NJ job growth, 2024-34
Police and Sheriff’s Patrol Officer	$92,610	$105,540	+4.2%
Detective and Criminal Investigator	$116,300	$106,440	+2.1%
First-Line Supervisor, Correctional Officers	$117,450	$121,600	not available
First-Line Supervisor, Police and Detectives	$142,990	$135,270	+4.1%

May 2025 US Bureau of Labor Statistics salary figures for Correctional Officers and Bailiffs, Security Guards, and Police and Detectives. Long-term (2024-34) job growth projections from the US Department of Labor-sponsored resource, ProjectionsCentral. Figures reflect New York-Newark-Jersey City metro area and New Jersey state data, not school-specific information. Conditions in your area may vary. Data accessed September 2026.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools in Newark offer a criminal justice program?

Two schools with a Newark address show up in federal education data: Essex County College for an associate’s, and Rutgers University-Newark for a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctorate. Berkeley College also teaches its Criminal Justice program at a Broad Street campus in Newark, though federal records file the school under its Woodland Park address.

What does a correctional officer make in New Jersey?

As of May 2025 BLS data, correctional officers and jailers in New Jersey earn a median of $94,770 a year, and $93,220 in the New York-Newark-Jersey City metro area specifically. Both sit well above the $58,940 national median for the job.

What does it take to become a Newark police officer?

NPD’s own recruiting page lists a high school diploma or GED, Newark residency, being 18 to 34 years old, a valid driver’s license, and a drug screen, current as of September 2026. Unlike some other New Jersey municipalities, Newark’s page states “No Civil Service Test Required,” so applicants there don’t go through the state Civil Service Commission’s Law Enforcement Examination process the way some other NJ jurisdictions do. Once hired, recruits still complete the New Jersey Police Training Commission’s Basic Course for Police Officers, and Newark runs its own PTC-certified academy for that training.

Is the Newark area a strong market for detective jobs?

The New York-Newark-Jersey City metro area pays detectives and criminal investigators a median of $106,440 a year as of May 2025 BLS data, and statewide detective employment in New Jersey is projected to grow 2.1% from 2024 to 2034, per ProjectionsCentral.

How do I apply to the Newark Police Department?

Start with NPD’s own recruiting page for current openings, requirements, and application windows. Hiring details change often enough that a third-party guide, including this one, shouldn’t be your last stop before applying.

Key Takeaways

Three schools have a Criminal Justice program with a presence in Newark – Essex County College and Rutgers University-Newark report a Newark address in federal data, and Berkeley College teaches the same program at a Broad Street campus even though it’s filed under Woodland Park federally.
Pay depends on which “Newark” you’re comparing – New Jersey’s statewide median and the New York-Newark-Jersey City metro median move independently, and bailiffs see the widest gap between the two.
Growth is uneven by role – New Jersey correctional officer and security guard jobs are both projected to shrink through 2034, while detective, patrol, and supervisory roles are projected to grow.
Newark’s hiring process has a real quirk – no Civil Service test, unlike some other NJ departments, but still the state’s PTC academy training once you’re hired. Confirm current requirements directly with NPD before you plan around anything here.

If becoming a Newark police officer is the plan, start with the department’s official recruiting page for current openings, requirements, and application windows, since those change more often than a wage table does.

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