Criminal Justice Programs in Oregon

Updated September 17, 2026

Oregon offers criminal justice degrees at 24 schools, from certificates to a master’s at Portland State University. Police, corrections, and parole/probation officers are certified through DPSST, which sets Oregon’s minimum training standards while individual agencies set their own hiring requirements. As of May 2025 BLS data, Oregon police officers earn a median $88,140 a year.

Every Oregon police officer, corrections officer, and parole or probation officer goes through the same certifying agency—but the road to get there looks different depending on which department hires you. Here’s what the state’s own data says about paying for a degree, where to earn one, and what the job actually pays once you’re certified.

State Agency: Oregon Department of Public Safety Standards and Training (DPSST)

Oregon has a population of roughly 4.1 million, and its violent crime rate sits at 331 incidents per 100,000 residents as of 2024 FBI data, about 8% below the national average. Portland, the state’s largest city, is home to almost 600,000 people and carries a disproportionate share of that crime total, which is worth knowing before you pick an agency to apply to. If you’re weighing where in Oregon to start your career, check out the school listings below and request information from the programs that fit your timeline and budget.

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Criminal Justice Education in Oregon

DPSST, not a college, sets Oregon’s minimum standard for becoming a certified police officer, corrections officer, or parole and probation officer: a high school diploma or GED, plus completion of the DPSST Basic Course and field training at the Oregon Public Safety Academy in Salem. A college degree isn’t required to get certified. What it changes is which agencies will interview you, whether you’re competitive for a specialized assignment, and how far you can move up, since those standards are set agency by agency, not by the state.

If you do want a degree, Oregon’s schools offer every level from a one-semester certificate through a master’s. Programs may include a core curriculum covering courses like these:

The U.S. Criminal Justice System – An Introduction
An Overall History of Criminal Justice
The Basics of Criminal Law
The System of American Jurisprudence
Criminal Justice Research Methodologies
Legal Research and Writing
Race Relations in America
Criminal Justice Ethics

Some programs offer a field placement or senior-year internship with a local agency, and some offer online coursework, so ask each school directly what its track includes before you enroll.

A master’s degree is a two-year commitment on top of a bachelor’s. It’s a common credential among people pursuing higher-level administrative or investigative roles, though the specific rank and promotion requirements are set by each agency, not by the state.

Paying for it is its own project. The Oregon Opportunity Grant is the one most students lean on first. The Chafee Education and Training Grant and the Ford Family Foundation Scholarship are worth checking too, especially if you’re a former foster youth or from a rural Oregon community. Read: Scholarships for Criminal Justice Majors and Grad Students covers eligibility, amounts, and deadlines in more detail.

Where to Study Criminal Justice in Oregon

24 institutions in Oregon offer a criminal-justice-family program at some credential level, per federal education data, including 15 community colleges. The table below covers every one, from one-semester certificates to graduate degrees.

Institution	City	Control	Credential Levels
Blue Mountain Community College	Pendleton	Public	Certificate, Associate
Bushnell University	Eugene	Private nonprofit	Associate, Bachelor’s
Carrington College-Portland	Portland	Private for-profit	Certificate
Central Oregon Community College	Bend	Public	Certificate, Associate
Chemeketa Community College	Salem	Public	Certificate, Associate
Clackamas Community College	Oregon City	Public	Certificate, Associate
Clatsop Community College	Astoria	Public	Certificate, Associate
Corban University	Salem	Private nonprofit	Bachelor’s
Eastern Oregon University	La Grande	Public	Bachelor’s, Post-bacc. certificate
Klamath Community College	Klamath Falls	Public	Certificate, Associate
Lane Community College	Eugene	Public	Certificate, Associate
Linn-Benton Community College	Albany	Public	Certificate, Associate
Mt Hood Community College	Gresham	Public	Associate
Portland Community College	Portland	Public	Certificate, Associate
Portland State University	Portland	Public	Bachelor’s, Post-bacc. certificate, Grad. certificate, Master’s
Rogue Community College	Grants Pass	Public	Certificate, Associate
Southern Oregon University	Ashland	Public	Bachelor’s
Southwestern Oregon Community College	Coos Bay	Public	Certificate, Associate
Sumner College	Portland	Private for-profit	Associate
Tillamook Bay Community College	Tillamook	Public	Certificate, Associate
Treasure Valley Community College	Ontario	Public	Certificate, Associate
Umpqua Community College	Roseburg	Public	Certificate, Associate
Warner Pacific University	Portland	Private nonprofit	Bachelor’s
Western Oregon University	Monmouth	Public	Bachelor’s, Grad. Certificate, Master’s

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. Program offerings shift between the Scorecard’s collection date and today, so confirm current enrollment, format, and admission requirements directly with any school before you apply.

Career Outlook and Salaries in Oregon

Hiring standards in Oregon are set agency by agency on top of DPSST’s statewide minimums, so what a department expects from applicants, including any preference for college coursework, varies by employer rather than by a single state rule. Check the specific agency’s job posting for its current requirements.

As of the May 2025 BLS wage data, here’s what five common criminal justice careers pay in Oregon, along with how each is projected to grow through 2034:

Career	Median Annual Wage	Oregon Job Growth, 2024-34
Police Officer	$88,140	+5.7%
Detective	$107,450	+2.6%
Probation Officer	$84,920	+5.5%
Correctional Officer	$83,690	-5.5%
Paralegal	$61,490	-2.6%

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

Police officer, detective, and probation officer positions are all projected to grow in Oregon through 2034, while correctional officer and paralegal positions are projected to shrink slightly over the same period.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

No. DPSST’s statewide minimum is a high school diploma or GED, plus completion of the Basic Police Course and field training. Individual agencies can and do set additional hiring standards beyond that minimum, including a preference for college coursework, so check the specific department’s job posting.

What’s the fastest way to start working in criminal justice in Oregon?

It depends on the role and the agency, since Oregon doesn’t set one statewide education requirement across every criminal justice job. Many entry-level positions require only a high school diploma or GED plus DPSST certification. A degree can still help you stand out or qualify for roles that ask for one.

Which Oregon schools offer a master’s in criminal justice?

Portland State University and Western Oregon University both offer a master’s, and Portland State adds graduate and post-baccalaureate certificates if you want a shorter credential first.

Is criminal justice employment growing in Oregon?

It depends on the job. Police officer, detective, and probation officer roles are all projected to grow through 2034, per ProjectionsCentral data, while correctional officer and paralegal positions are expected to shrink slightly over the same period.

How much do police officers make in Oregon?

$88,140 a year at the median, as of May 2025 BLS wage data. Detectives earn a median of $107,450.

Key Takeaways

DPSST, not a college, certifies Oregon’s police, corrections, and parole/probation officers – the statewide minimum is a high school diploma or GED plus DPSST training.
24 Oregon institutions offer a CJ-family program – from one-year certificates at 15 community colleges to a master’s at Portland State or Western Oregon.
Hiring standards beyond the DPSST minimum are set agency by agency – check the specific department’s job posting for its own requirements.
Pay varies sharply by role – Oregon detectives earn a median $107,450 versus $61,490 for paralegals, as of May 2025 BLS data.
Growth isn’t uniform – police officer, detective, and probation officer jobs are all projected to grow through 2034, while correctional officer and paralegal jobs are projected to shrink slightly.

Worried about paying for the degree? The scholarships guide lists awards built for criminal justice majors, with eligibility, amounts, and deadlines.

Read: Scholarships for Criminal Justice Majors and Grad Students

Looking for Criminal Justice Programs in Another State?

Browse programs by state below. Online programs may not be available in all areas.