Criminal Justice

The Associate in Science in Criminal Justice provides students with knowledge of the criminal justice system (law enforcement, court system, and corrections) and stages of the criminal justice process. The curriculum includes coursework in criminal justice, criminology, law enforcement, criminal justice ethics, criminal and constitutional law, as well as written, verbal, and non-verbal communications. This degree prepares students either for immediate employment or for transfer to a bachelor’s degree program. This program combines technical courses required for job preparation and college-level general education courses.

Program learning objectives.

• Translate classroom theory into applying basic investigative techniques for developing solutions to crime problems.
• Use critical thinking skills to understand and analyze verbal, non-verbal and cultural communications in the field of criminal justice.
• Explain and analyze different social, legal and political responses to criminal behavior.
• Define and explain the major reform movements which have substantially impacted the policing profession in America.
• Define and explain the ethics and ethical paradoxes that face criminal justice professionals.

To be considered for admission into a degree or professional certificate program, students must be a high school graduate or have received a General Equivalency Diploma (GED), Pennsylvania Home School Diploma or other recognized equivalency diploma. High School Students applying with an overall GPA of 2.0 or higher may be considered for regular admission. Students applying with a GPA below a 2.0 in high school or from another college or university, if accepted, will be admitted conditionally. Please submit an application for admission and a copy of high school and/or college transcript(s). Some applicants may be required to attend a personal interview with the Admissions Office.

An admission essay may be deemed optional for all applicants whose GPA meets or exceeds the minimum for acceptance into the desired program. For certificates and degrees in the Schools of Humanities and Business, the minimum GPA for acceptance is 2.0. For most Health Sciences certificates and degrees, unless otherwise specified, the minimum GPA is 2.2.

Admission Requirements.

A personal and professional background investigation is a required component of virtually all federal, state, and local agencies offering internships or employment to graduates of Criminal Justice degree programs.

Only those persons who are capable of passing a governmental background investigation and would otherwise be eligible for a governmental security clearance should consider enrolling in a Criminal Justice, Criminal Justice Administration, or Homeland Security Management degree program.

Individuals who enter these degree programs with a disqualifying personal or professional history or for those who engage in a disqualifying activity while attending Central Penn may be precluded from obtaining an internship or employment in the career field after graduation.

Courses are offered at a variety of times Monday through Friday. Online classes are also available. Typical courses run for an 11-week term. The College operates on a year-round schedule of quarterly, 11-week terms enabling students to complete their degrees faster, if they choose to go full-time each term.

This program has Spring and Fall starts. Upcoming start dates: April 12, 2027, October 11, 2027.

Tuition and fees. Undergraduate tuition is $525 per credit for all majors. A Student/Technology Fee of $510 per term (5 or more credits) or $315 (4 or fewer credits) is required. A one-time $150 graduation fee applies.

Books and other expenses. Variable expenses per term (estimates): textbooks $350–$450; course material fees approximately $50–$150 per course; personal $150–$250; transportation $150–$300. Uniforms (where required) are estimated at $100–$150.

Housing and meals. Campus housing per term: individual private bedroom $2,205, standard apartment bedroom $1,505, super suite bedroom $1,595, utilities $330. Meal plans per term range from $550 (Block 75) to $1,125 (14 Meal Plan); a $250 housing security deposit is required.

Financial aid. Central Penn College processes grants, scholarships, loans, and work-study through federal, state, private, and institutional sources to help eligible students meet some of those costs, including the Federal Pell Grant, PA State Grant, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG), Federal Work-Study and Federal Direct Stafford Loans. To apply for all federal and state financial aid programs, students must complete the FAFSA; Central Penn’s Federal School Code for FAFSA is 004890. To receive financial aid a student must be enrolled in an eligible degree or certificate program and be enrolled on at least a half-time basis (4 credits).

Payment options. Tuition and expenses are paid each term approximately three weeks before the term starts. Central Penn has a short-term three-month payment plan through CASHNet that divides the balance of the tuition owed by three payments; there is a $35 non-refundable application fee paid with the first payment. An Employer Reimbursement Tuition Agreement Plan lets students who receive tuition reimbursement from their employer defer payment until the specified dates.

Military benefits. Military benefits accepted include the Montgomery GI Bill® (Chapters 30 and 1606), Veterans Readiness and Employment (Chapter 31), the Post-9/11 GI Bill® (Chapter 33) and Yellow Ribbon Program, Dependents’ Education Assistance (Chapter 35) and Tuition Assistance.

Net price calculator. Use Central Penn’s Net Price Calculator at https://npc.collegeboard.org/app/centralpenn for an early estimate of your total annual cost.

Careers you can pursue. Bodyguard, Security guard, Police officer, Detective, Correctional officer, Probation and parole officer.

Graduate outcomes. 50% of Criminal Justice (A.S.) graduates (2 graduates contacted) were employed in their field or continuing their education (One-Year Graduate Follow-up Report for graduates July 1, 2024 – June 30, 2025, published July 1, 2026).

College-wide outcome. 89.2% of Central Penn graduates were employed in their chosen field or continuing their education within one year of graduation (graduates July 1, 2024 – June 30, 2025; One-Year Graduate Follow-up Report published July 1, 2026).