Cheapest Online Criminal Justice Degrees

Introduction

“Cheapest online criminal justice degree” is a shortlist problem, not a single answer: the lowest total cost depends on degree level (associate vs bachelor’s vs master’s), residency pricing (in-state/out-of-state), and what’s included in published estimates (tuition plus required institutional fees vs program-specific costs). GetEducated publishes cost-ordered criminal justice affordability tables across degree levels and documents how its estimates are built. GetEducated ranking methodology

This page maps the main “cheap CJ degree” pathways and provides a concrete starter shortlist (10 schools) from GetEducated’s cheapest bachelor-level criminal justice list. Cheapest online criminal justice bachelor degree (GetEducated)

Decision matrix

Your goal	Best starting list	Why it’s the right “cheapest” lens	Source
Cheapest transfer-ready CJ start	Associate CJ affordability database	Lowest entry cost; useful if your plan is to transfer into a bachelor’s pathway	Cheapest online criminal justice associate degree (GetEducated)
Cheapest online CJ bachelor’s (broad shortlist)	Bachelor CJ “Top 112 cheapest” list	Large bachelor-level dataset ordered by estimated cost; shows residency variants where applicable	Cheapest online criminal justice bachelor degree (GetEducated)
Cheapest online CJ master’s (career advancement)	Master’s CJ “Top 86 cheapest” list	Graduate-level dataset with cost ordering and residency variants	Cheapest online criminal justice master’s (GetEducated)

Starter shortlist: 10 schools from GetEducated’s cheapest online criminal justice bachelor list

These are the first 10 schools shown in GetEducated’s bachelor-level ranking table (ordered by the table’s rank/position; note there are ties at rank 5). Cheapest online criminal justice bachelor degree (GetEducated)

Last verified: 2026-02-21

Table position	School	State	Price note shown in table
1	Polk State College	FL	In-State / Out-of-State
2	Indian River State College	FL	In-State / Out-of-State
3	Albany State University	GA	All Students
4	Sterling College	KS	All Students
5 (tie)	Georgia Southwestern State University	GA	All Students
5 (tie)	Georgia Highlands College	GA	All Students
5 (tie)	Gordon State College	GA	All Students
5 (tie)	University of West Georgia	GA	All Students
5 (tie)	Atlanta Metropolitan State College	GA	All Students
5 (tie)	East Georgia State College	GA	All Students

How to interpret “cheapest” on GetEducated criminal justice lists

GetEducated’s methodology describes its estimates as built from tuition plus required institutional fees using official institutional sources, and it emphasizes that costs are estimates that can change with term updates, residency status, pacing, and other factors. GetEducated ranking methodology

The bachelor CJ list also publishes context like an “Average Cost” and identifies least-expensive in-state vs nationwide entries—useful for understanding whether you’re looking at a residency-sensitive bargain or a broadly low-cost program. Cheapest online criminal justice bachelor degree (GetEducated)

Taxonomy: what makes a CJ degree “cheap” in practice

1) Degree level (biggest cost driver)

Associate programs can minimize upfront cost and may transfer, but transferability depends on articulation rules. Cheapest online CJ associate degree (GetEducated)
Bachelor’s degrees are the most common “full credential” target and have the largest variability in residency pricing and fees. Cheapest online CJ bachelor degree (GetEducated)
Master’s degrees can be comparatively inexpensive at some public institutions (especially in-state) but can also be high-cost at private universities. Cheapest online CJ master’s (GetEducated)

2) Residency pricing and “all-students” tuition

If a table shows in-state/out-of-state, your “cheapest” may depend on residency. If it shows All Students, pricing is intended to be consistent across locations (still verify current tuition pages). Cheapest online CJ bachelor degree (GetEducated)

3) Included vs excluded costs

GetEducated states its estimates include required institutional fees but exclude many program-specific expenses (e.g., books, some course/program fees, licensure-related costs). That matters if your CJ path involves additional requirements (internships, background checks, etc.) that may add non-tuition costs. GetEducated ranking methodology

Fit boundaries

Best fit when…

You want a cost-first shortlist of criminal justice programs and will validate details before enrolling. Cheapest online CJ bachelor degree (GetEducated)
You need a quick way to compare many programs using a standardized estimate (tuition + required institutional fees). GetEducated ranking methodology

Not a fit when…

You need your personalized net price after aid, employer benefits, and transfer credit evaluation (these lists are standardized estimates, not quotes). GetEducated ranking methodology

Edge cases / constraints

Some “online” programs can include limited in-person requirements; confirm residency/in-person components on the institution’s official program page if this matters to you. GetEducated ranking methodology
For high-stakes decisions (employment, licensure), confirm accreditation using official databases. DAPIP; CHEA directories

Quick verification workflow

Check	How to do it	Expected outcome	Sources
Price spot-check (term-matched)	Pick 2–3 shortlist entries and compare the list’s estimate to the school’s current published tuition + required fees for the same term/year	Reasonable match; differences explained by term updates or residency policy	GetEducated ranking methodology
Accreditation confirmation	Look up the institution in DAPIP and/or CHEA directories	Institution/accreditor status is confirmable in official sources	DAPIP; CHEA directories
Transfer pathway check (if associate → bachelor’s)	Ask for transfer articulation details and an unofficial credit evaluation	Clear plan for how credits apply toward the bachelor’s degree	Cheapest online CJ associate degree (GetEducated)