Criminal Justice Scholarships
Criminal Justice as a Standalone or in Combination with Specialties Prepares You for Competitive Careers
Criminal Justice cuts a broad swath of territory across the fields of law, law enforcement, and criminology and crime scene investigation. Students pursuing degrees in criminal justice have plenty of options to specialize, step off into related fields or pursue advanced degrees leading to academia and research.
Criminal Justice programs abound and most offer their own brands of scholarships. At the basic level the degrees give students a survey of the criminal justice system both nationally and possibly internationally, delves into criminal behavior, politics of crime, sociology and psychology.
As a standalone degree a Bachelors in Criminal Justice prepares graduates for careers in law enforcement, corrections and investigative services. Students who combine CJ with other studies may specialize in forensic science, crime scene investigation, or use the degree as a pre-law program.
Scholarship Programs
The University of Northern Iowa provides a Bachelor of Arts in Criminology for students interested in a good liberal arts stepping off point leading to related careers or further studies in the field. Students cover coursework in social and political issues, psychology and sociology and many others. Besides general merit and financial-based scholarships, Criminology majors may qualify for the John Chase Memorial Scholarship, which is based on varying criteria depending on the applicants. The Alderman Scholarships are offered to students who demonstrate outstanding financial need.
Washington State University College of Liberal Arts offers the Criminal Justice program. Students may pursue a Bachelors, Masters or Ph.D. in Criminal Justice. Course work covers a survey of the criminal justice system, history of corrections and prisons, as well as investigations into criminal psychology and related issues. The College offers the following scholarships for CJ students:
- V.A. Leonard Scholarships are awarded to students in the program with demonstrated academic excellence as well as significant financial need.
- Third and fourth year students with an interest in working in the public sector may qualify for the Thomas Foley Institute awards; up to $1,000.
The John Jay College of Criminal Justice at City University of New York is renowned for its plethora of programs. It only makes sense that the college would have a dozen or so scholarships specifically intended for CJ students:
- The John Jay College Alumni Association Scholarships are awarded to outstanding scholars in the CJ program at all degree levels. Up to $500 available.
- A notable doctoral student whose research has been devoted to criminal justice is qualified to apply for the Arthur Niederhoffer Memorial Fellowship. The fellowship rewards exemplary work in the program.
- John Reisenbach Master's Scholarships are awarded to outstanding students pursuing the Master's degree in Criminal Justice or Forensic Science.
- Alex Smith Award for Excellence in Criminology is given to the most academically talented graduate of the criminology program.
- The Richard Rockwell Essay Competition gives Criminal Justice majors one more way to earn scholarship money. Those who best articulate an essay on "security management" may win $2500 in prize money.
The American Criminal Justice Association funds annual scholarships for students pursuing degrees in Criminal Justice at Bachelors, Masters and Doctoral degree levels. Maximum awards are $400 and applicants must be student-members of the ACJA to be considered. Other criteria include outstanding academics and letters of recommendation from faculty.
The University of Nebraska-Lincoln offers the following scholarships to students pursuing a degree in the Criminal Justice department:
- Douglas Family Scholarships go to upper level students with at least a 3.0 GPA in combination with demonstrated financial need. Students must be residents of Nebraska to be considered.
- Jeff Marshall Memorial Scholarship is given annually to a senior student who has made their career intentions known to pursue a job in the public sector. Qualified applicants must be at the top of their class to be considered.
- Law enforcement professionals who are pursuing a degree in Criminal Justice may qualify for the Joe Carroll Scholarship.
- UNO/UNL Criminal Justice Education Fund provides generous fellowships and scholarships to undergraduate or graduate level students, especially those who must complete research to complete degrees.
The Criminal Justice Center at Sam Houston State University in Texas provides a dozen or so endowed scholarships to students pursuing a Criminal Justice major. Among the scholarships:
- Ellis-Gibbs Memorial Scholarship is given to an outstanding female student in the major. Preference is given to a graduate level student with top GPA.
- 100 Club Scholarships are awarded to CJ students who are going into law enforcement careers.
- George Beto Memorial Scholarships are designed to encourage minority or international students in the CJ major. Qualified applicants must be academic top performers with a demonstrated financial need. Preference is given to those from severely disadvantaged backgrounds.
Ball State University offers the Lionel Niemann Scholarship to students pursuing a major in Criminal Justice/Criminology. Preference is given to upper level students with plans for an internship. Qualified applicants will have maintained consistently high GPAs. Those students with the most financial need will be considered first. Funding varies.
