This program exceeds the minimum education requirements of the Chicago Police Department and Illinois State Police.
You'll exceed the minimum education requirements for the Chicago Police Department and Illinois State Police with the Associate in Applied Science Degree in Criminal Justice.
Combine your interest in the criminal justice system, your passion for serving your community, and making the world a better place with a degree in Criminal Justice from Northwestern College. Our Associate in Applied Science Degree in Criminal Justice prepares and qualifies you for careers in county and local law enforcement.
Usually, 12 to 14 weeks of additional training at a police academy is required for police officer and sheriff's deputy positions. Other occupations in the field may require additional training, licensing, and/or education.
Upon completion of the program, it is expected that students will be able to:
The government's effort to meet society's need for a safer living environment is driving the rising demand for law enforcement personnel. This means that criminal justice graduates will find an increased number of opportunities for employment. Some occupations in the criminal justice field may require additional training, licensing, and/or education.
The Criminal Justice program is designed to prepare you for potential employment in the following: (the occupation listed contains a link to information on the U.S. Department of Labor’s O*NET website).
33-3051.00 - Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers
Northwestern College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and is a member of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools,www.ncahlc.org.
See the Northwestern College Catalog
The job placement rate for the Criminal Justice program was unable to be calculated at this time, pending the creation of an approved formula for job placement calculations by the U.S. Department of Education. Upon publication of a formula, this web page will be updated promptly.
During the 2010-2011 Academic Year (July 1, 2010 through June 30, 2011), 45 students graduated from the Criminal Justice program at Northwestern College. Of these students, 15 (or 33%) graduated on-time as defined in the Northwestern College catalog. (Part-time students generally take a longer period of time to graduate because they don’t take a full load; therefore, the graduation rate is lower since part-time students are not considered to have graduated on-time). The median student loan indebtedness of the Criminal Justice program graduates in 2010-2011 was as follows: Federal Stafford Student Loans (subsidized/unsubsidized) - $26,735; Third-Party Private Education Loans - $0; Northwestern College Institutional (GAP) Loan - $0.
The tuition and fees cost for a student starting the Criminal Justice associate degree program as of the 2011-2012 academic year is estimated at $46,365, based upon six academic quarters of full-time tuition at current tuition rates. (Potential future tuition increases cannot be determined at this time, and hence are not factored into this estimate.) Book and supply costs are estimated at $2,400. (The actual cost will vary depending on multiple factors). Northwestern College does not offer on-campus housing. For additional information on college costs, please visit our Financial Aid Cost of Attendance web page.
