Top 10 Criminal Justice Scholarships [UPDATED]

Studying law or criminal justice in the United States at any level has not been so affordable in terms of tuition due to its complexities.

However, opportunities are now available to study criminal justice free of tuition. Check out the Top 10 Criminal Justice Scholarships 2024 and apply for the opening to achieve your study dreams.

Currently, there are 2.2 million people in the nation’s prisons and jails, which is basically a 500% increase over the last 40 years. Changes in law and policy, not changes in crime rates, explain most of this increase.

So the need to study Criminology and Criminal Justice Majors is very important so as to eradicate this massive increase in crimes.

That is why the World scholarship Forum has researched carefully the different scholarships for criminal justice majors in 2024. Kindly go through each of them because their offer is exciting.

What is the Study of Criminal Justice?

The study of functional criminal justice is different from criminology, which includes the study of crime as a social phenomenon, the causes of crime, criminal behavior, and other aspects of crime.

Criminal justice is about bringing justice to those who have committed crimes. The criminal justice system is made up of a series of government agencies and institutions whose purpose is to identify and trap illegal persons to inflict some kind of punishment.

The rehabilitation of criminals, the prevention of other crimes, and the moral support of the victims are other objectives. The main institutions of the criminal justice system are the police, prosecution, defense, courts, and prisons.

Bachelor programs in criminal law in four-year institutions generally include courses in statistics, research methods, criminal justice, police, and US judicial systems. As well as Criminal courts, prison criminal procedure, criminal procedure, criminal law, victimology, juvenile justice, etc. Several universities offer a degree in criminal justice.

Read:15 Best Law Schools in South Carolina in 2024: Requirements, Scholarships

What Does a Criminal Justice Do?

The objective of the criminal justice system is to achieve justice for all by condemning and punishing the guilty and helping them to stop committing crimes while protecting innocent people.

Graduates of the criminal justice system offer various services to the public. They patrol the streets, investigate crimes, identify suspects, and monitor those who have been convicted of crimes, all to protect the life and property of their fellow citizens.

Is a Degree in Criminal Justice Hard?

The reasons to be interested in a criminal justice degree must be important enough for you to continue.

They should be more than a path to a “job”: if you consider graduation as a way to get a job, you will probably find that the degree is not so easy for you. It can even be difficult.

How Long does it take to Get a Degree in Criminal Justice?

To work in the field of criminal justice, you can obtain a bachelor of arts or a bachelor of science degree. You will need a total of 120 to 128 credits to obtain a bachelor’s degree, which can usually be obtained in approximately four years.

Some people start with their associate’s degree and then decide to obtain a bachelor’s degree later, which takes about two years.

Many people work at the master’s level while working in the field which means it can take two to three years to complete a master’s program.

If you wish to obtain a doctorate in criminal justice, obtaining the required 90 credit hours can take up to seven years.

Read: 15 Scholarships for Congolese to Study In Canada in 2024

What Jobs are in Criminal Justice?

When you think about careers in criminal justice, you probably think of jobs such as police, private investigators, or correctional officers. However, opportunities do not end there.

The field of criminal justice covers many other areas, such as psychology, business, and science. The result is that you have a wide variety of career options with a degree in criminal justice.

• Forensic Psychologist
• Mental Health Counselor
• Private Detective/Investigator
• Security Manager
• Forensic Accountant
• Forensic Science Technician
• Police Officer
• Forensic Nurse
• Criminal Justice Teacher
• Correctional Officer

Read: Fully Funded Clarendon Scholarships at the University of Oxford

What is the Salary of Criminal Justice?

Criminal justice and the law cover a wide range of salaries, with some lawyers paying six-figure salaries and security guards earning an average salary of $25,770.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), this salary is significantly lower than the average salary of all workers without a university degree.

List of Scholarships for Criminal Justice Majors in 2024

#1. Zinda Law Group Scholarship Program

Zinda Law Group is awarding this scholarship program to graduating high school seniors and undergraduate students who are United States citizens or permanent residents.

And these students are pursuing a degree related to criminal justice, law enforcement, government, political science, or sociology with a focus on criminal studies and law.

The scholarship is worth an amount of $1,000, non-renewable, and offered to only one successful applicant annually. The legible candidate must have an admission to an accredited college or university in the U.S.

For more information about the scholarship program including full application requirements, kindly visit the

Apply Here

#2. Ruth D. Peterson Fellowship for Racial and Ethnic Diversity

Awarded by the American Society of Criminology, the Ruth D. Peterson Fellowship for Racial and Ethnic Diversity offers three fellowship awards to support students of color (underrepresented racial groups) to enter a doctoral program in the law field of criminal justice.

The fellowship award is valued at $6,000 and offered to three successful applicants annually.

Eligible applicants must be from racial and ethnic groups under-represented in the field of criminal justice, including but not limited to, Asians, Blacks, Indigenous peoples, and Latinos.

The applicant must be accepted into a program of doctoral studies to study criminal justice or criminology. Applicants need not be members of the American Society of Criminology.

For more information about the scholarship program including full application requirements, kindly visit the link below:

Apply Here

Read: Vytautas Magnus University VMU Scholarships in Lithuania

#3. The Ronnie Williams Foundation Criminal Justice Scholarship Application

The Constitutional Officers Association of Georgia (COAG) manages a set of scholarships valued from $500-$1,500 to provide financial support to students pursuing a bachelor’s degree in a variety of fields including law enforcement.

The Ronnie Williams Foundation Criminal Justice Scholarship is one such scholarship. It is offered to high school seniors or college students from Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania who plan to major in criminal justice.

The scholarship, which is valued at $1,000, will open applications from March 1st through May 31^st. Eligible applicants must be studying in an accredited institution in Georgia and have a minimum GPA of 2.5.

For more information about the scholarship program including full application requirements, kindly visit the link below:

Apply Here

#4. MALDEF Law School Scholarship

The Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund is awarding the MALDEF scholarship. And they offer this MALDEF scholarship to Hispanic students who will be enrolled in a law program. Such as Business Law, Constitutional Law, Criminal Law, Environmental Law, etc. on a full-time basis during the upcoming academic year.

Above all, they are awarding scholarships to students based on three primary factors. (a)demonstrated involvement in and commitment to serving the Latino community through the legal profession. (b) academic and professional achievement, and (c) financial need.

The scholarship award is worth up to a non-renewable $7,000 annually.

For more information about the scholarship program including full application requirements, kindly visit the link below:

Apply Here

#5. Marjorie M. Shostak Scholarship

Women in International Trade-Los Angeles is awarding the Marjorie M. Shostak Scholarship. Basically, they are awarding it to two (2) U.S. college sophomores, juniors, and seniors who are pursuing an academic discipline.

Specifically, when it is leading to a career in international trade, business, law, or a related international field.

Acceptable majors include business administration with an international emphasis, and economics or political science (i.e., pursuing a law degree, with an international emphasis).

Eligible applicants must have been admitted to an accredited Southern California institution and have a minimum GPA of 3.0.

For more information about the scholarship program including full application requirements, kindly visit the link below:

Apply Here

Read: 17 PhD Scholarships for Angola Students

#6. Anderson Criminal Justice Scholarship

The Constitutional Officers Association of Georgia (COAG) manages a set of scholarships valued from $500-$1,500 to provide financial support to students pursuing a bachelor’s degree in a variety of fields including law enforcement.

One such scholarship is the Anderson Criminal Justice Scholarship which the Washington State Fair offers to high school seniors or college students. Especially those who are Washington residents, especially those pursuing a career in Criminal Justice.

The scholarship award is valued at an amount of $5,000 ($2,500 per year) which is payable over 2 years.

For more information about the scholarship program including full application requirements, kindly visit the

Apply Here

#7. Ritchie-Jennings Memorial Scholarship Program

Awarded by the ACFE Foundation, the Ritchie-Jennings Memorial scholarship is provided to support students pursuing an undergraduate or graduate degree in any of the following disciplines: accounting, business administration, finance or criminal justice, and demonstrate a desire to pursue a career in fraud examination or similar anti-fraud profession.

The scholarship award amounts are $10,000, $5,000, $2,500, and $1,000 for first, second, third, and fourth place respectively, to be paid directly to the award recipient’s university. It also includes a one-year ACFE Student Associate membership.

They expect that each eligible applicant must have admission to an accredited, four-year college or university on a full-time basis currently. And also during the 2024 academic year.

Finally, they will announce the scholarship award recipients on April 20, 2024, and the scholarship awards will be distributed on April 30, 2024.

For more information about the scholarship program including full application requirements, kindly visit

Apply Here

#8. Charles Sturt University Vice-Chancellor International Scholarships

The new “Vice-Chancellor International Scholarship” at CSU’s new campus in Port Macquarie, Australia is available to newly admitted international students enrolled in undergraduate or master’s degree courses offered on the Port Macquarie campus.

These courses include but are not limited to Accounting, Applied Science (Outdoor Recreation and Ecotourism), Business Studies, Creative Arts and Design (Graphic Design), and Criminal Justice. As well as Environmental Science Management, Occupational Therapy, Paramedicine, Physiotherapy, and Psychology.

Students will generally meet English Language Proficiency (ELP) requirements if they have undertaken and completed a sufficient study in English.

The scholarship ensures that $10,000 or $5,000 will be deducted from tuition fees during the first year of study for the successful caudate.

For more information about the scholarship program including full application requirements, kindly visit

Apply Here

Read: Umea University Masters Scholarships

#9. Criminology and Criminal Justice Honours Scholarship at Griffith University

The Criminology and Criminal Justice Honours Scholarship are available to highly motivated students who have recently completed their undergraduate degree in Criminology, Psychology, or Sociology and have an interest in pursuing a research career in Criminology.

The scholarship is worth a maximum value of $6,000 which is payable in installments.

The eligible candidate is an Australian Citizen or Permanent Resident who has recently completed an undergraduate degree in a relevant field and is enrolled in, or eligible for full-time admission into the Bachelor of Criminology and Criminal Justice (Honours) at Griffith University, Australia.

For more information about the scholarship program including full application requirements, kindly visit

Apply Here

#10. Brian Terry Foundation Scholarship

The Constitutional Officers Association of Georgia (COAG) manages a set of scholarships valued from $500-$1,500 to provide financial support to students pursuing a bachelor’s degree in a variety of fields including law enforcement.

One of such scholarship, the Brian Terry Foundation scholarship is offered to support students studying criminal justice at the undergraduate level. Especially those who plan on pursuing careers in law enforcement.

Applications will be accepted beginning in January through to the end of May.

For more information about the scholarship program including full application requirements, kindly visit

Apply Here

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Criminal Justice and Criminology Scholarships FAQ

Conclusion

Currently, the number of people sentenced to prison for property and violent crimes has also increased even during periods of decreased crime rates. With the massive increase in crimes, it is indeed necessary to study Criminology.

Specifically, having a degree in criminal justice allows you to follow some of the most interesting careers in criminal justice. Basically, it is not limiting you to a police officer or a career as a special FBI agent.

The reasons to have an interest in a criminal justice degree must be important enough for you to continue.

The Criminology and Criminal Justice Honours Scholarship is available to highly motivated students. Do well to apply!

References

• How Long Will I have to go to school for a Criminal Justice Degree?
• Popular Jobs, You Can Get With a Criminal Justice Degree
• Is a Criminal Justice Degree Worth It or Worthless?

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