Want to start your career in the field of criminal justice? Then most affordable cheap and fast option is to earn accredited criminology associate's degree online.
Before going in any details, we feel happy to answer some questions, which many professionals want to clear before enrolling in associate degree in criminal justice online:
By selecting an online option to earn your criminology associate’s degree you will open the doors of facilities which are not available in traditional on-campus degree programs of criminal justice.
Yes! As many accredited online colleges offering most affordable and accredited Online Assoicate Degree in Criminal Justice which is widely recognized by employers worldwide.
Furthermore, you can check the accreditation of the degree program from the following authorities online:
To verify the accreditation of an online associate degree in criminal justice, you can check with recognized accrediting authorities in the USA and internationally.
It is advisable to make sure that online associate degree in criminal justice you are going to enroll is accredited, always verify the institution’s accreditation status on these official websites.
Most associate degree criminology affordable and accredited programs provide facility of credit transfers, offering opportunity to students of criminology to pursue a bachelor’s degree in the field of criminal justice easily later.
Many best universities offer smooth transition of credit transfer into four-year degree program.
Absolutely! You can find plenty of cheap online criminal justice associate degree programs offering same quality education which is available at traditional on campus degree programs but at affordable and cheap tuition rates.
In addition, the option of earning online associate degree also cut-down some other expenses like commuting, housing cost, travelling and other on-campus expenses. Providing students to earn their associate degree online within their budget.
Yes! Many of the best online criminal justice associate’s degree programs also comes with fast-track options, providing students the get their associate degree in criminology online within 18 months.
These Accelerated programs associate degree programs are tailored for those students who are looking to start their career quickly or want to continue their education and get their bachelors in criminal justice.
Yes! There are many top colleges offering high-quality criminology associate’s degree online programs. Some well-known universities include:
For more accredited universities offering online criminal justice and criminology degrees, please check our University Section for a complete list of options.
Yes! Almost all the top online colleges are offering scholarship programs for students of criminology associate’s degree online.
These Scholarship programs are usually based on academic performance, financial need and professional background. In addition, you can apply for different Govt. Funded programs like FAFSA and many more
Yes! Almost all the top online colleges accept students from anywhere in the world regardless of their nationality, so same apply on accredited criminal justice associate degree programs online.
Furthermore, these international universities also offer the same curriculum which they offer in their on-campus programs.
Many international universities accept online students and provide the same curriculum as their on-campus programs.
There are several best and accredited Online Colleges for Criminology who are offering online criminal justice associate degree program that are cheap and fast way to earn you
Some of the Top Online Colleges for Criminology offering fast and cheap Online Criminal Justice Associate Degree are:
✅ Purdue University Global (USA) – Offers a fully online Associate of Applied Science in Criminal Justice.
Tuition: ~$371 per credit.
Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (HLC).
✅ Southern New Hampshire University (USA) – Provides an Associate of Science in Criminal Justice with flexible online learning.
Tuition: ~$330 per credit.
Accreditation: New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE).
✅ New England College (USA) – Features an Associate of Science in Criminal Justice, designed for career-focused students.
Tuition: ~$1,345 per course.
Accreditation: NECHE.
✅ Federation University Australia (Australia) – Offers an Associate Degree in Criminal Justice, focusing on law enforcement and corrections.
Tuition: ~$25,400 AUD per year.
Accreditation: Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA).
✅ University of New South Wales (UNSW) (Australia) – Provides a Diploma in Criminology & Criminal Justice, serving as a pathway to a bachelor’s degree.
Tuition: ~$38,000 AUD per year.
Accreditation: TEQSA.
This is the common fact that cost of an online associate degree in criminal justice varies by college to college. For your convenience we tried to mention approximate tuition fees for 2025–2026 include:
To get more up-to-date tuition fees, you can check our Universities section or can visit the respective university websites.
Normally, An Associate Degree in Criminology or Criminal Justice is an undergraduate degree program which can be completed in 2 Years if you choose fully-study option. These degree programs are designed to cover the subjects like crime, criminal behavior, law enforcement and justice system in addition most of the accredited online schools for criminal justice also combine courses like sociology, psychology, and criminal law to provide students better understanding about why crimes happen and response of society to them.
Associate Degree in Criminal Justice or Criminology is the best option for individuals who wants to start their career in the field of criminal justice as well want to move forward with bachelor’s degree in criminal justice or criminology.
Yes OfCourse, plenty of options available for you to earn an Associate Degree in Criminology Online with affordability and flexibility offered by best online colleges and universities for Criminal Justice around the world.
It is really difficult to find fully free online associate degree programs in criminology or criminal justice, but still there some universities that are offering tuition free or low-cost inexpensive associate degree programs in criminal justice online.
Though University of the People (UoPeople) is not offering an Associate Degree in Criminology or Criminal Justice, but it is providing tuition free, online associates degree programs in the areas like Health Science, Business Administration and Computer Sciences that may align with Criminal Justice Career Pathways.
Free or Low-Cost Public Colleges (like Ocean County College):
There are other options also available as some of the Community Colleges in United States of America (USA) like Ocean County College also offering tuition free program with the help of state initiatives and grants for residents. But please note these programs may require FAFSA and also may not 100% Online facility available for all programs.
An associate’s degree in criminal justice usually takes two years to complete. However, several online colleges offer accelerated or fast-track options, allowing motivated students to finish sooner. Below is a comparison of some popular and accredited online colleges offering this program:
| College/University | Program Length | Fast-Track/Accelerated Option | Accreditation | Notable Features |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) | ~2 years (Full-time) | Yes – Finish in as little as 18 months | NECHE (New England Commission of Higher Education) | 100% online, transfer up to 45 credits |
| Purdue Global University | ~2 years (Full-time) | Yes – Accelerated path available | HLC (Higher Learning Commission) | Career-focused, multiple start dates per year |
| Liberty University | ~1.5 to 2 years | Yes – 8-week accelerated courses | SACSCOC (Southern Association of Colleges) | Christian-based, generous credit transfer policy |
| Arizona State University Online (ASU) | ~2 years | Limited acceleration | HLC (Higher Learning Commission) | High-ranking online programs, strong transfer support |
| Rasmussen University | As few as 18 months | Yes – Accelerated Associate’s Degree | HLC (Higher Learning Commission) | Self-paced learning model, tech-integrated curriculum |
To minimize the financial burden of your online criminal justice associate degree program and make it more affordable and cheaper, different scholarships and grants programs are available for 2025 and 2026. These programs include:
These Scholarship and funding programs offer an opportunity to earn your online criminal justice associate degree cheaper.
Though the admission criteria for every institution is different, but below are some general requirements for enrolling in fast and affordable criminology associate's degree online include:
Many Universities make their admission process quick and easy to the students can enroll and begin their online associate degree in criminology faster.
After completion of your Criminology Associate’s Degree Online, doors of opportunities can open for you in various fields of Criminal Justice which includes:
Furthermore, Online Associate degree in the field of Criminology also opens the doors for you to pursue your education further, such as you can pursue bachelors degree in Criminal Justice and Criminology and with the credit transfer facility your online bachelor's degree online can be complete more quickly and cheaply.
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