American Public University System
Overview
A 30-credit online master's degree in criminal justice with a 21-credit major core and 9 concentration credits (general, cannabis control, or homeland security and emergency management).
- Official program name
- Master of Science in Criminal Justice
- Awarded degree
- Master of Science · major: Criminal JusticeSource: excelsior.edu · verified October 24, 2026
- Degree level
- Master's
- Subject focus
- Dedicated degreeThe degree itself is in criminal justice, criminology, forensic science or a closely related justice subject.Source: excelsior.edu · verified October 24, 2026
- School
- Location
- Albany, NYFor the online option this is where the school is located — not a residency requirement, and not a guarantee that you may enroll from your state.
- Subjects
- Criminal Justice — core of the degreeHomeland Security — formal concentration / track (“Homeland Security and Emergency Management concentration”)
- Tracks / concentrations
- General · Cannabis Control · Homeland Security and Emergency ManagementSource: excelsior.edu · verified October 24, 2026
- Required credits
- 30 creditsSource: excelsior.edu · verified October 24, 2026
- Duration
- Not verified
Why this program is listed
Dedicated MS in Criminal Justice offered online.
Degree title is Criminal Justice; coursework covers law enforcement, courts, corrections, criminology history and criminal justice research.
Source: excelsior.edu · verified October 24, 2026We list associate, bachelor's, master's and research-doctorate programs in criminal justice, criminology, forensic science and related subjects at institutionally accredited US schools — degrees in the subject and formal concentrations, never certificates or one-elective degrees. Eligibility rules
Format and attendance
- Formats offered
- OnlineSource: excelsior.edu · verified October 24, 2026
- Online delivery
- Online delivery type not verified
- Campus visits (online option)
- Campus visits: not verified
- Class schedule (online option)
- AsynchronousSource: excelsior.edu · verified October 24, 2026
- Internship
- Internship requirement: not verified
- Study intensity
- Not verified
The program page does not say whether the online option requires campus visits. Ask the school before you apply — missing information is not “no requirement”.
Curriculum
Curriculum details: not verified. We publish this only when the institution states it on an official page.
Careers and licensure
Career and licensure statements for this program: not verified. We publish this only when the institution states it on an official page.
A degree does not guarantee police academy admission, sworn officer certification, federal employment, a security clearance, a position with a named agency, a forensic laboratory job or eligibility to practice as a psychologist. Those have separate training, scientific prerequisites, examinations or hiring requirements set by the agency, state or licensing board. Academic degrees vs police academy training
Admissions
- Prior degree
- RequiredOfficial transcript confirming a completed bachelor's degree or equivalent from an institutionally accredited institution.Source: excelsior.edu · verified October 24, 2026
- Transfer credit
- OptionalUp to 15 transfer credits.Source: excelsior.edu · verified October 24, 2026
- Application fee
- Not requiredNo application fee.Source: excelsior.edu · verified October 24, 2026
Tests
- GMAT
- Not requiredSource: excelsior.edu · verified October 24, 2026
We do not publish acceptance rates or estimate admission chances.
Start dates and deadlines
Application deadlines: not verified. We publish this only when the institution states it on an official page.
Tuition and fees
| Category | Amount | Basis and year |
|---|---|---|
| All students — Graduate tuition (non-nursing programs), all-inclusive of student services and technologyFrom the school-wide rate table for this level | $715 | per creditIncludes feesCalculated tuition$21,450 = 30 credits × $715 per credit. Excludes mandatory fees, books, travel for any required visits or placements, transfer credit reductions and rate changes. Not the full cost of attendance.Source: excelsior.edu · verified October 24, 2026 |
Scholarships and funding
Program-specific scholarships: not verified. We publish this only when the institution states it on an official page.
Accreditation
Institutional accreditation
- Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) — accreditedSource: ope.ed.gov · verified October 10, 2026
FEPAC program accreditation
This program does not appear in FEPAC's accredited-program list. FEPAC accredits forensic science programs only and is optional; its absence is not a sign that a program is illegitimate, and the school's other programs or institutional accreditation do not imply it.
State authorization (online students)
Not verified — check the school's state authorization page before applying from outside New York.
International applicants
Not verified for the online option.
Sources and verification
- DAPIP — MSCHE institutional accreditation record (data files downloaded 2026-10-10) — U.S. Department of Education dataset (IPEDS / DAPIP), verified October 10, 2026
- excelsior.edu/admissions/requirements/public-service-requirements/ — Official admissions page, verified October 24, 2026
- excelsior.edu/costs-and-financing/graduate/ — Official tuition and fees page, verified October 24, 2026
- excelsior.edu/program/master-of-science-in-criminal-justice/ — Official program page, verified October 24, 2026
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Similar programs at other schools
Same degree level and focus. Listed for discovery, not ranked.
Master of Science in Criminology & Criminal Justice
Criminal Justice Degrees is independent and not affiliated with Excelsior University. Information is collected from official pages and directories and can change; confirm requirements, costs and deadlines with the school.