Criminal Justice Programs in Vermont
Updated September 17, 2026
Vermont trains its police officers through the Vermont Criminal Justice Council (VCJC), and five in-state colleges offer a criminal justice degree or certificate, per federal education data. Police and sheriff’s patrol officers earn a median $68,910 a year here, and security guards earn $45,550, according to May 2025 BLS wage data.
State Agency: Vermont Criminal Justice Council
Vermont’s 2024 violent-crime rate was well below the national rate, according to FBI data, but the state still needs officers, corrections staff, and court personnel to run its justice system day-to-day. A 2013 rash of car and home burglaries in suburban areas, reported by WCAX, is a reminder that even low-crime states lean on property-crime response as core patrol work. Here’s what the coursework, the schools, and the pay actually look like before you commit to a program.
Criminal Justice Education in Vermont
Degree options in Vermont range from certificates to master’s degrees, and where you land depends on which door into the field you’re aiming for: patrol, corrections, courts, or something more specialized. A handful of featured programs are listed below.
Coursework across these programs tends to cover the same core ground:
Beyond the core, many schools let you specialize in corrections, juvenile justice, sexual assault response, internet crime, or forensic science. If your program offers an internship or practicum, take it. It’s the fastest way to find out whether a specific agency or courtroom environment is actually a fit, and it gives you a reference before you ever submit an application.
If cost is a factor in the decision, consider the New England Regional Student Program, the Vermont Incentive Program, the Vermont Space Grant Consortium Scholarship Program, and the Dr. James L. Lawson Memorial Scholarship. Our financial aid resources page covers more options specifically available to criminal justice students.
Where to Study Criminal Justice in Vermont
Five Vermont institutions offer a criminal-justice-family program at some credential level, per U.S. Department of Education data. All five are in-state campuses, not distance-only listings.
| Institution | City | Type | Programs & Credential Levels |
|---|---|---|---|
| Champlain College | Burlington | Private nonprofit | Criminal Justice (undergrad certificate through master’s); Legal Support Services (bachelor’s); Security Science and Technology (undergrad certificate through master’s) |
| Community College of Vermont | Montpelier | Public | Criminal Justice (associate); Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting & Related Protective Services (associate) |
| Norwich University | Northfield | Private nonprofit | Criminal Justice (bachelor’s, master’s) |
| SIT Graduate Institute | Brattleboro | Private nonprofit | Homeland Security (master’s) |
| Vermont State University | Randolph | Public | Fire Protection (associate) |
Program labels and credential levels above reflect the cited College Scorecard files and may include programs no longer actively marketed or enrolling; confirm current availability with the institution. Two examples worth flagging directly: SIT Graduate Institute’s current catalog does not list a Homeland Security master’s, running instead toward international relations, humanitarian assistance, and sustainable development, and Community College of Vermont now markets a Justice Studies certificate and a Behavioral Science program more prominently than the Criminal Justice associate listed here. College Scorecard also lists certificate credentials at Champlain College; Champlain’s current public-facing criminal justice pages primarily emphasize degree programs and advise students to work with an advisor to add a certificate.
Outlook for Criminal Justice in Vermont
The two most common entry points into Vermont’s criminal justice field are security work and police patrol. As of May 2025 BLS wage data, Vermont’s 930 security guards earn a median $45,550 a year, while the state’s 1,020 police and sheriff’s patrol officers earn a median $68,910 — a $23,360 difference in median annual pay between the two occupations.
| Occupation | Vermont Employment | Median Annual Wage | Projected Growth, 2024–34 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Security Guards | 930 | $45,550 | +1.1% |
| Police and Sheriff’s Patrol Officers | 1,020 | $68,910 | +0.4% |
May 2025 US Bureau of Labor Statistics salary figures for Security Guards and Police and Sheriff’s Patrol Officers. 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.
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a college degree to become a police officer in Vermont?
No. VCJC basic-training entry standards require only a high school diploma or GED, not a college degree, under the Council’s current Rule 14. Candidates take the Vermont Police Academy entrance examination, delivered digitally through NTN Frontline, plus any additional testing their department requires. Individual Vermont law-enforcement agencies may add their own education requirements on top of the state minimum.
What criminal justice degree programs are available in Vermont?
Vermont institutions offer criminal justice, legal support, security science and technology, homeland security, and fire protection programs, from undergraduate certificates to master’s degrees, according to federal education data. Champlain College and Norwich University carry the widest range of credential levels in the state.
How much do criminal justice jobs pay in Vermont?
It depends heavily on the role. Vermont security guards earn a median $45,550 a year, while police and sheriff’s patrol officers earn $68,910, according to May 2025 BLS wage data. Corrections, courts, and specialized roles fall at different points across that range.
Is the job outlook good for police officers in Vermont?
Growth is modest but positive. Vermont’s police and sheriff’s patrol officer workforce is projected to grow 0.4% from 2024 to 2034, per ProjectionsCentral, while security guard roles are projected to grow slightly higher at 1.1%. Both occupations are projected to show modest net employment growth through 2034, not a hiring boom.
Can I complete a Vermont criminal justice degree online?
Some programs, like Champlain College’s bachelor’s and graduate offerings, are available with online or hybrid formats. Confirm the specific format with the school directly, since federal data doesn’t always distinguish in-person from online delivery at the program level.
Key Takeaways
- Five in-state schools: Champlain College, Community College of Vermont, Norwich University, SIT Graduate Institute, and Vermont State University all offer a criminal-justice-family credential, per federal education data.
- No blanket degree requirement: VCJC’s basic training requires only a high school diploma or GED, but check the minimums for individual departments.
- Real pay gap by role: Security guards median $45,550 versus $68,910 for sworn patrol officers, as of May 2025 BLS data.
- Growth is steady, not explosive: Both tracked occupations show modest positive growth through 2034, per ProjectionsCentral.
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?
Online programs may not be available in all areas
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Puerto Rico
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming