South Carolina Criminal Justice Degree Programs

Updated October 14, 2026

South Carolina has 39 institutions offering a program in the criminal justice family of credentials, from certificate programs at the technical colleges up to a doctoral-level credential at the University of South Carolina. Patrol officers earn a median $58,070 a year as of May 2025 BLS data. Patrol, detective, and paralegal employment are all projected to grow in the state through 2034, while correctional officer employment is projected to decline.

State Agency: South Carolina Department of Corrections

A criminal justice-family degree in South Carolina can put you on a dozen different paths: patrol, corrections, the courts, or federal work out of one of the state’s FBI field offices. The state has 39 institutions with a program in this credential family, from certificates at the technical colleges to a doctoral-level credential at USC Columbia. Here’s what each path pays, what getting there actually involves, and where to study for it.

Featured Programs:

Criminal Justice Education in South Carolina

South Carolina’s 39 CJ-family institutions span every credential level: associate and certificate programs at 15 of the state’s technical colleges, bachelor’s programs at schools like Charleston Southern, Lander, and South Carolina State, a graduate certificate at Clemson, and master’s degrees at schools including Anderson University and Charleston Southern. USC Columbia is the only school in the state showing a doctoral-level credential in this field in federal data, so confirm the specific program and current enrollment directly with the university before applying.

South Carolina’s HOPE Scholarship, LIFE Scholarship, and Palmetto Fellows Scholarship are merit-based state scholarships. Criminal justice students can qualify under the same academic requirements as any other major, alongside need-based and federal aid options, but confirm current eligibility with the SC Commission on Higher Education or your school’s financial aid office since program rules can change year to year. Our scholarships guide for criminal justice majors breaks down amounts and deadlines.

Where to Study Criminal Justice in South Carolina

Institution	City	Control	Credential Levels Offered
Aiken Technical College	Graniteville	Public	Associate, Undergraduate certificate
Anderson University	Anderson	Private nonprofit	Bachelor’s, Master’s
Benedict College	Columbia	Private nonprofit	Bachelor’s
Bob Jones University	Greenville	Private nonprofit	Associate, Bachelor’s
Central Carolina Technical College	Sumter	Public	Associate
Charleston Southern University	Charleston	Private nonprofit	Bachelor’s, Master’s
Citadel Military College of South Carolina	Charleston	Public	Bachelor’s, Graduate certificate
Claflin University	Orangeburg	Private nonprofit	Bachelor’s, Master’s
Clemson University	Clemson	Public	Graduate certificate
Columbia College	Columbia	Private nonprofit	Bachelor’s, Master’s
Denmark Technical College	Denmark	Public	Associate, Undergraduate certificate
Florence-Darlington Technical College	Florence	Public	Associate, Undergraduate certificate
Greenville Technical College	Greenville	Public	Associate, Undergraduate certificate
Horry-Georgetown Technical College	Conway	Public	Associate, Undergraduate certificate
Lander University	Greenwood	Public	Bachelor’s, Master’s
Limestone University	Gaffney	Private nonprofit	Bachelor’s
Midlands Technical College	West Columbia	Public	Associate, Undergraduate certificate
Miller-Motte College-Charleston	Charleston	Private for-profit	Associate
Miller-Motte College-Conway	Conway	Private for-profit	Associate
Morris College	Sumter	Private nonprofit	Bachelor’s
Newberry College	Newberry	Private nonprofit	Bachelor’s
North Greenville University	Tigerville	Private nonprofit	Bachelor’s
Northeastern Technical College	Cheraw	Public	Undergraduate certificate
Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College	Orangeburg	Public	Associate, Undergraduate certificate
Piedmont Technical College	Greenwood	Public	Associate
South Carolina State University	Orangeburg	Public	Bachelor’s
South University-Columbia	Columbia	Private for-profit	Associate, Bachelor’s, Master’s
Southern Wesleyan University	Central	Private nonprofit	Bachelor’s
Spartanburg Methodist College	Spartanburg	Private nonprofit	Associate
Strayer University-South Carolina	Greenville	Private for-profit	Associate, Bachelor’s
Technical College of the Lowcountry	Beaufort	Public	Associate, Undergraduate certificate
Tri-County Technical College	Pendleton	Public	Associate, Undergraduate certificate
Trident Technical College	Charleston	Public	Associate, Undergraduate certificate
University of South Carolina-Columbia	Columbia	Public	Associate, Bachelor’s, Master’s, Graduate certificate, Doctoral
University of South Carolina-Lancaster	Lancaster	Public	Associate, Bachelor’s
University of South Carolina-Upstate	Spartanburg	Public	Associate, Bachelor’s
Voorhees University	Denmark	Private nonprofit	Bachelor’s
Williamsburg Technical College	Kingstree	Public	Undergraduate certificate
York Technical College	Rock Hill	Public	Associate, Undergraduate certificate

This list reflects 39 institutions per U.S. Department of Education data, each confirmed as currently open. It covers criminal justice, legal support, homeland security, fire protection, and security science programs together under one CIP family, so a school listed here may be running its program under one of those related tracks rather than a degree titled “Criminal Justice.” Confirm current enrollment, format, and admission requirements directly with any school before applying.

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 Salaries and Job Outlook in South Carolina

South Carolina also employs roughly nine times as many patrol officers as detectives and criminal investigators, per 2024 state employment estimates, which is worth knowing since the two roles pay differently.

Occupation	SC Median Annual Wage (May 2025)	SC Job Growth (2024-2034)
Police and Sheriff’s Patrol Officers	$58,070	+8.1%
Detectives and Criminal Investigators	$62,760	+5.1%
Paralegals and Legal Assistants	$53,880	+5.5%
Correctional Officers and Jailers	$47,890	-5.0%

Correctional officer and jailer employment is the one line moving in the opposite direction, projected to shrink about 5% in South Carolina through 2034. Probation officer and correctional treatment specialist employment, a related but separate occupation, is projected to grow about 3% over the same period.

Wage figures above are May 2025 BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics data for South Carolina. May 2025 US Bureau of Labor Statistics salary figures for Police and Sheriff’s Patrol Officers and Detectives and Criminal Investigators, Paralegals and Legal Assistants, 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 criminal justice schools are in South Carolina?

Thirty-nine institutions in South Carolina offer a program in the broader criminal justice family of credentials, per federal education data. This includes criminal justice, legal support, homeland security, fire protection, and security science programs together, ranging from certificates at the technical colleges to a doctoral-level credential at USC Columbia.

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

It depends on the agency. South Carolina sets statewide certification standards through the South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy, but individual departments can add their own age, education, physical, medical, and background requirements on top of that baseline. A degree isn’t required everywhere, but it may affect starting pay or advancement at some agencies.

How does someone become a certified police officer in South Carolina?

Becoming certified in South Carolina generally involves three separate pieces: getting hired by an agency, completing basic training at an academy that meets South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy standards, and meeting SCCJA’s state certification requirements. The hiring exam and selection process are set by the individual department, not by SCCJA, so they can vary from agency to agency.

How much does a police officer make in South Carolina?

South Carolina patrol officers earned a median of $58,070 a year as of May 2025, according to BLS OEWS state wage data. Detectives and criminal investigators earned more, a median of $62,760.

Is the job outlook for corrections officers in South Carolina growing or shrinking?

South Carolina’s correctional officer and jailer employment is projected to decline about 5% from 2024 to 2034. Probation officer and correctional treatment specialist employment, a related occupation, is projected to grow about 3% over the same period.

Where can I find scholarships for a criminal justice degree in South Carolina?

South Carolina’s HOPE, LIFE, and Palmetto Fellows scholarships are general merit-based state awards that criminal justice students can qualify for under the same academic rules as any major, alongside need-based and federal aid. Our scholarship guide breaks down current eligibility, amounts, and deadlines.

Key Takeaways

39 institutions statewide offer a program in the CJ family of credentials, from technical-college certificates to a doctoral-level credential at USC Columbia
Patrol officers earn a median $58,070 a year in South Carolina as of May 2025 BLS data, with detectives earning more
Correctional officer and jailer employment is projected to decline about 5% through 2034, even as patrol, detective, and paralegal employment all grow
A degree isn’t required everywhere for patrol-officer roles, but requirements and any pay or advancement benefits vary by agency

Worried about paying for the degree? Start with the scholarships guide for criminal justice majors before you look at loans. It covers eligibility, award amounts, and deadlines.

Read: Scholarships for Criminal Justice Majors and Grad Students

Looking for a Criminal Justice Program in Another State?

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