Oklahoma Criminal Justice Degree Programs

Updated September 17, 2026

Oklahoma has 49 colleges and career-tech centers offering a criminal justice or legal-support credential, per federal education data, from a certificate to a doctorate at Oklahoma State University. The state employs about 9,660 police and sheriff’s patrol officers, and pay runs from a correctional officer’s $45,690 median to a detective’s $80,430, per May 2025 BLS data.

Whether you’re eyeing a patrol car, a courtroom, or a corrections unit, the first real decision is where to study and how far to go before you apply. Oklahoma’s criminal justice degree programs are offered through a mix of public colleges, private universities, and career-tech centers that cover nearly every entry point, and the agencies hiring graduates of those programs range from the sheriff’s department in your home county to the FBI’s Oklahoma City field office. This guide covers what to expect in the classroom, which schools actually offer the credential you’re after, and what the job pays once you’re hired.

Overview

State Agency: Oklahoma Department of Corrections

Oklahoma sits in the south-central U.S. with roughly 3.7 million residents. Oklahoma City is the capital and is home to the largest concentration of the state’s colleges. If camping, fishing, or hiking is how you unwind after a shift, the state parks system gives you plenty of options.

Oklahoma employs about 9,660 police and sheriff’s patrol officers, according to May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics data, plus another 12,210 security guards. Those two roles alone account for more than half the state’s protective-services jobs. Beyond patrol, Oklahoma’s federal and state agencies also hire correctional officers, probation and parole officers, and crime scene technicians.

Take a look at the featured schools below to start comparing programs near you.

Featured Programs:

Sponsored School(s)

Liberty University

Featured Program: Criminal Justice Online Degree Programs

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Purdue Global

Featured Program: AS in Criminal Justice; BS in Criminal Justice with concentrations in Forensic Psychology; Homeland Security; Law Enforcement; MS in Criminal Justice

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Walden University

Featured Program: BS in Criminal Justice, MS in Criminal Justice, PhD in Criminal Justice, Graduate Certificate in Criminal Justice

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Arizona State University - Online

Featured Program: Criminology and Criminal Justice, BS

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Rasmussen University

Featured Program: Criminal Justice Associate; Criminal Justice Leadership and Management Bachelor's Degree; Law Enforcement Associate; Law Enforcement Academic Certificate

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Concordia University, St. Paul

Featured Program: BS in Criminal Justice

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Criminal Justice Education in Oklahoma

Before you can wear a badge or sit for the bar, most people start with a criminal justice, legal support, or homeland security program at one of Oklahoma’s colleges or career-tech centers. Per U.S. Department of Education data, 49 institutions across the state offer at least one of these credentials, everything from a one-semester certificate at a technology center like Caddo Kiowa or Central Technology Center to a doctorate at Oklahoma State University-Main Campus. Confirm current enrollment, format, and admission requirements directly with any school before you apply. The full list is below.

Before the career-specific classes start, expect a run of foundational math and science courses. Once those are out of the way, a typical criminal justice curriculum includes:

• Police Writing
• Jail Procedures
• Information Systems Security
• Courts and Criminal Procedures
• Race, Class and Gender
• Criminology
• Evidence
• Legal Research
• Police Ethics
• Crime and Victims
• Cyber-Crime

Expect case studies on real crimes and independent research into why certain crime patterns happen. Writing reports becomes routine early, which is good practice for the paperwork side of the job later.

If tuition is the sticking point, Oklahoma runs three state-specific aid programs worth checking before you take out loans: the Oklahoma Tuition Aid Grant, the Oklahoma Equalization Grant, and the Oklahoma Higher Education Access Program. Beyond that, look at federal aid and any criminal justice scholarship options offered directly by your target school.

Where to Study Criminal Justice in Oklahoma

49 institutions in Oklahoma offer a criminal-justice-family program at some level of credentialing, per U.S. Department of Education data. None are distance-only. Every school below has a physical campus in the state. Confirm current enrollment, program format, and admission requirements with the school directly before applying, since federal data reports what a school filed, not necessarily what’s actively enrolling today.

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.

Outlook for Criminal Justice in Oklahoma

Most protective services roles in Oklahoma open up more with a degree behind you. State agencies hiring from these programs include the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs, the Attorney General of Oklahoma, the Oklahoma Office of Juvenile Affairs, the Oklahoma State Board of Pharmacy, and the Department of Corrections. If patrol isn’t your thing, conservation officer roles are open through the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation or the Department of Tourism and Recreation.

Each of Oklahoma’s 77 counties runs its own sheriff’s department, all of them needing patrol officers and detectives. Add in city police departments, college police departments, and tribal agencies, and the entry points multiply. Larger departments like Oklahoma City and Tulsa regularly promote patrol officers to detective after three to five years on the street.

Federal agencies keep a presence here too. The FBI and the Department of Homeland Security both run field offices in Oklahoma and frequently coordinate with city and tribal agencies. Getting hired by either means clearing a background check and completing written and physical fitness testing, same as most local agencies, but with a longer process.

Oklahoma Criminal Justice Salaries

As of May 2025 BLS wage data, pay in Oklahoma’s criminal justice field ranges from a correctional officer’s $45,690 median to over $80,000 for detectives, and where you land mostly comes down to how much training and time on the job the role demands going in.

The correctional officer sits at the bottom of this list, and that tracks with what the job asks of you going in. Most Oklahoma facilities only require a high school diploma and a few weeks of academy time before you’re on the block. Detective sits at the top because almost nobody starts there. Oklahoma City and Tulsa typically promote from patrol after three to five years, so that $80,430 median reflects years of experience stacked on top of the base police officer role, not an entry-level number.

The growth picture is mixed. Correctional officer employment is projected to shrink 7.8% through 2034, likely tracking the national decline in incarceration rates and prison staffing needs. Paralegal is roughly flat. Police officer and probation officer both show modest, steady growth, which is typical for roles tied to population and court caseload rather than any single policy shift.

May 2025 US Bureau of Labor Statistics salary figures for Correctional Officers, Probation Officers, Paralegals, Police Officers, and Detectives—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.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools offer a criminal justice program in Oklahoma?

49 institutions across the state offer at least one credential in criminal justice, legal support, homeland security, fire protection, or security science, according to U.S. Department of Education data. That spans certificate programs at career-tech centers through Oklahoma State University’s doctoral track.

Do Oklahoma police departments require a college degree?

Most don’t. What every department requires is a state-certified academy, a background investigation, and written and physical fitness testing. A degree becomes more relevant later, when you’re competing for detective, supervisor, or federal roles.

What’s the fastest way to start a criminal justice career in Oklahoma?

A certificate from a career-tech center such as Francis Tuttle, Metro Technology Centers, or Tulsa Technology Center is the quickest path to an entry-level role, often in a single year or less. It won’t compete for federal positions or promotions later, but it gets you working sooner.

How much do criminal justice jobs pay in Oklahoma?

As of May 2025 BLS data, medians range from $45,690 for correctional officers to $80,430 for detectives, with police officers, probation officers, and paralegals falling in between. Detective pay reflects years of prior patrol experience, not an entry-level wage.

What financial aid is available for criminal justice students in Oklahoma?

Oklahoma runs three state-specific grant programs: the Oklahoma Tuition Aid Grant, the Oklahoma Equalization Grant, and the Oklahoma Higher Education Access Program. Beyond those, check for federal aid and any school-specific scholarships for criminal justice majors.

Key Takeaways

• 49 institutions statewide – Offer a criminal-justice-family credential, from one-semester certificates to a doctorate at Oklahoma State University, per federal education data.
• Degrees aren’t required to start. Most Oklahoma departments hire on a diploma plus academy training, but a degree matters for detective work, federal roles, and promotion.
• Pay spans $45,690 to $80,430 – Across the five most common roles, with correctional officer lowest and detective highest, per May 2025 BLS data.
• County sheriff’s departments in all 77 counties – Plus city, tribal, and federal agencies, give Oklahoma a wide range of entry points beyond municipal police work.

If cost is what’s holding you back, start with the scholarship list built for criminal justice majors before you look at loans. It covers eligibility, award amounts, and deadlines specific to criminal justice majors.

Read: Scholarships for Criminal Justice Majors and Grad Students

Explore Criminal Justice Programs in Other States

Comparing options outside Oklahoma? Use the map below to jump to any state’s program listings.