As time goes by, more and more people are taking interest in the field of law enforcement. In particular, the number of people wanting to pursue a degree in Criminal Justice in Chicago has been on the rise. The Windy City has some very good options if you are also interested in this field. All the colleges/universities mentioned have been picked on the basis of information gathered from various official channels including government records and student surveys. The following is not a ranking.

Featured Programs and Schools

1) The Lewis University

This is a private Lasallian and Roman Catholic university functioning in Illinois since 1932. Classified as a private university of medium size operating in a large suburb, the Lewis University offers the following degree programs in Criminal Justice:

  • Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice (Traditional)
  • Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice (Accelerated)
  • Master of Science in Criminal Justice

*The M.S degree program in Criminal Justice is also available online.

In 2015, the university awarded 146 Bachelor’s and 39 Master’s degrees in Criminal Justice to the graduating class.

2) The University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC)

The University of Illinois at Chicago is one of two campuses making up the University of Illinois system. Located adjacent to the Chicago Loop, the UIC is also the largest institute of higher learning (in terms of student strength) in the Chicago area. It offers the following degree programs related to Criminal Justice:

  • BA with a Major in Criminology, Law and Justice.
  • MA in Criminology, Law and Justice.
  • PhD in Criminology, Law and Justice.

In 2015, 198 students earned their degrees in Criminal Justice from the UIC. These included 187 Bachelor’s, 9 Master’s and 2 PhD degrees.

3) The Chicago State University (CSU)

The Chicago State University has been around since 1867. Accredited by the HLC (Higher Learning Commission), it is a member of the Thurgood Marshall College Fund and classified as a public university of medium size. The following degree programs in Criminal Justice are offered by CSU:

  • Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice.
  • Master of Science in Criminal Justice.

The university awarded 101 Criminal Justice degrees to the graduating class of 2015. This included 98 Bachelor’s and 3 Master’s degrees.

4) The Loyola University Chicago

The Loyola University Chicago (LUC or Loyola) is a private Catholic research university. It has existed since 1870. It is one of Chicago’s largest private universities offering the following degrees in Criminal Justice.

  • Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice & Criminology.
  • Master of Science in Criminal Justice & Criminology.

In 2015, 83 students earned Criminal Justice & Criminology degrees from the LUC. Of these, 67 were awarded Bachelor’s degrees and 16 were given Master’s degrees in the subject.

5) The Aurora University

The Aurora University (AU) is a medium-sized degree awarding institute located in a big suburb. It was established in 1893 and is one of the oldest private institutes of higher learning in Illinois. The university offers a BA in Criminal Justice along with a Part-Time Adult Degree Completion Program online. In 2015, the AU awarded 70 Bachelor’s degrees in Criminal Justice to its graduating class.

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