Best Online Master's in Law Enforcement for 2019
Law enforcement is essential for the protection of lives and property. Within the sphere of criminal justice, earning your law enforcement master's degree online allows you to take on leadership roles, earn a higher salary, and advance your career without disrupting your busy schedule. Based on data for police and detectives from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) , careers in law enforcement and administration are projected to grow 7%, with more employment opportunities available to those with additional education and experience.
What are the Best Online Master's in Law Enforcement Programs?
Top 9 Masters in Law Enforcement for 2019
Admissions Rate
17%
Graduation Rate
94%
Online Enrollment
6%
Retention Rate
96%
Default Rate
1%
Routinely considered one of the best institutions of higher learning in the US, Georgetown University provides several online academic programs through its School of Continuing Studies. This includes a master's in applied intelligence degree with a concentration in law enforcement intelligence. This program is centered on the best practices in risk management and intelligence analytics. The 33-credit degree plan consists of courses such as ethics, applied intelligence psychology, analysis of organized crime, and a culminating capstone project. While students can certainly earn their entire degree remotely, Georgetown offers flexible on-campus and hybrid options. Most students finish the program in two years, though they can take as long as five. Three start dates are offered each year and tuition is fixed regardless of where a student resides. Georgetown welcomes international candidates who hold the equivalent of an accredited American baccalaureate degree.
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How to Choose an Online Master's in Law Enforcement Program
Choosing the right online law enforcement degree can be difficult. Fortunately, there are some key things to look for when determining which program best suits your needs and interests. If you are an out-of-state student, be sure to check if a given program is available in your state and if there are any on-campus requirements. It is also important to determine the length of a program, how many credits are needed to graduate, and how much each of these credits costs.
If you need to balance work or family obligations while earning your online law enforcement degree, find out if classes are offered asynchronously or if each session is live streamed at a scheduled time. A school's accreditation is another consideration to keep in mind. Should you wish to transfer credits in the future, most four-year schools will not accept transfers from unaccredited schools, and many employers will overlook an unaccredited degree.
Careers for Graduates of Master's in Law Enforcement Programs
Faced with threats from terrorism and other criminal activity, there is a continual need for law enforcement occupations. With the growing number of criminal justice professionals, better educated leaders are also needed to fill supervisory roles. By earning your law enforcement master's degree, you will be prepared to tackle the challenges associated with solving crimes. These careers are both personally and professionally rewarding, and carry median salaries much higher than the national average.
Police officers are on the front lines of the criminal justice system. They patrol neighborhoods, respond to incidents, and collect evidence from crime scenes. Police officers also work with members of a community to educate them about safety and crime prevention.
Median Salary: $50,793
Job Outlook and Salary for Graduates of Law Enforcement Master's Degrees
Because of the increase in foreign and domestic threats, law enforcement departments throughout the country are in search of experienced leaders equipped with a high level of education. According to the BLS, employment for law enforcement professionals is projected to grow from 2016 through 2026. Salary and rate of job growth will depend on the specific career you choose and the region of the U.S. where you find a job. The table below provides projected employment data for police and detectives, which is a good indicator of the overall demand for law enforcement officials.
| Employment, 2016 | Projected Employment, 2026 |
|---|---|
| 807,000 | 860,300 |
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics
Salary Growth by Experience for Graduates of Law Enforcement Master's Programs
As a general rule of thumb in most industries, the more experience you have, the more money you will make. Law enforcement is no different. By spending more time in the industry, you will understand more of what is required of a professional in your position and will be able to hone your skills accordingly. The table below provides median salaries for several careers available to those with a law enforcement master's degree.
To determine the best online master's in law enforcement programs, we looked at the most important factors prospective students, mainly common predictors of future success and a school's commitment to online programs. This boils down to admissions rate, student loan default rate, retention rate, graduation rate, and the percent of students enrolled in online classes. All data points are taken from information provided by colleges and universities to the National Center for Education Statistics.
Each factor is weighted evenly in order to give an objective view and determine the best online master's in law enforcement programs. To calculate our rankings, we looked at a school's ranking when organized by a single factor, and then averaged each category's ranking to find an overall score: Admissions Rate (20%) + Default Rate (20%) + Retention Rate (20%) + Graduation Rate (20%) + Percent of Students Enrolled in Online Classes (20%) = Final score.