Criminal Justice Degree Online in California | CCU

Earn Your Criminal Justice Degree Online — California's Working Adults Choose CCU

Searching for a criminal justice degree online in California means you already know what you need: flexibility, affordability, and a credential that holds up. California Coast University has been delivering exactly that since 1973. As one of the country's longest-standing pioneers of distance education, CCU offers criminal justice degrees at every level — all 100% online, all self-paced, and all built for students who need their education to fit around a career, a family, and a life already in motion.

CCU's Online Criminal Justice Degrees in California

CCU's School of Criminal Justice gives students the ability to enter the field, advance within it, or build toward graduate study — entirely online, from anywhere in California or beyond. Every program is delivered through a self-paced distance learning format with no campus requirements and no set class times.

What Makes CCU's Online Criminal Justice Degree Different in California

California is home to many criminal justice programs. What distinguishes CCU isn't just that the programs are online — it's how they're structured and who they're built for.

Admissions Requirements for CCU's Online Criminal Justice Degree

Gaining admission to CCU's online criminal justice degree programs is designed to be direct and uncomplicated. Undergraduate applicants must:

• Be at least 18 years of age
• Hold a high school diploma, GED, or its equivalent from a U.S. educational institution

No SAT or ACT scores. No entrance exams. No letters of recommendation. Prospective students whose native language is not English and who have not earned a degree from an appropriately accredited institution where English is the principal language of instruction must demonstrate college-level proficiency in English through TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language). Graduate program applicants must hold a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution.

Tuition for CCU's Online Criminal Justice Degree in California

A CCU criminal justice degree delivers accredited, practitioner-informed education at a cost that reflects CCU's commitment to accessibility. Tuition is $170 per unit across all undergraduate criminal justice programs. Graduate tuition is $250 per unit. There are no out-of-state surcharges and no additional fees for online delivery.

Your tuition rate is locked in from the day you enroll. As long as you remain in good academic and financial standing within the same program, that rate is guaranteed — even if CCU adjusts pricing for future students. Students who do not remain in good standing are subject to new tuition rates upon reinstatement. A 10% discount is available for active-duty military, veterans, law enforcement officers, firefighters, U.S. government employees, CCU graduates, and corporate partner employees (employment or status verification required, for students enrolling after 1/1/2026; retroactive discounts will not be applied and cannot be combined with other offers). Many students also receive tuition reimbursement through their employer — check with your HR department.

The CCU Advantage: Five Decades of Distance Education and Faculty Who've Lived the Field

Choosing where to earn your criminal justice degree online matters. CCU brings two things to the table that few California institutions can match: institutional depth and faculty who are practitioners, not just academics.

CCU was founded in 1973 — more than 50 years ago — at a time when the idea of earning a fully accredited degree without setting foot on a campus was still a novel concept. For five decades, CCU has refined what it means to deliver a quality education to working professionals, military personnel, parents, and students whose lives don't fit the traditional mold. That institutional knowledge is baked into how every program is structured, how students are supported, and how effectively CCU's graduates are prepared for real-world application of what they've learned.

CCU holds institutional approval from the Bureau of Private Postsecondary Education (BPPE) of the State of California and is accredited by the Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC), which is listed by the U.S. Department of Education as a nationally recognized accrediting agency and recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).

On the faculty side, CCU's criminal justice instructors bring more than degrees to the classroom — they bring careers. Faculty are selected based on their demonstrated, real-world expertise in their respective areas of the field and their capacity to translate that experience into coursework that goes beyond textbook knowledge. The result is an online degree that is applied and practitioner-informed — shaped by people who have worked within the systems students are studying. Dr. Mohamad Khatibloo leads the School of Criminal Justice, bringing a highly diverse background spanning both academia and the private sector.

What CCU Criminal Justice Alumni Say

"CCU is an excellent option for people who have busy careers. Getting my degree was important to me and CCU helped me obtain that."
— B. Odell, Alumni, Criminal Justice, California Coast University

"I'm very happy that this could work with a full-time work schedule. I will be recommending to anyone who is looking for flexibility."
— K. Kast, Alumni, Criminal Justice, California Coast University

"This college degree holds value both personally and professionally. It fostered critical thinking, discipline, and a deeper understanding of the world, while also serving as a credential that can open doors, enhance my career prospects, and signals a commitment to my long-term goals."
— M. Perez, Alumni, Criminal Justice, California Coast University

What You Can Do With an Online Criminal Justice Degree From CCU

A CCU criminal justice degree — at any level — is a meaningful credential that signals knowledge, commitment, and preparedness to employers and institutions. The field spans a broad range of roles and environments: law enforcement, corrections, court administration, security management, juvenile justice, homeland security, and government agencies at every level. CCU's program pathway also means students can start where they are and build upward over time — from certificate to associate's to bachelor's to master's — all through the same institution, all online. CCU graduates re-enrolling in any program receive a 10% tuition discount (for students enrolling after 1/1/2026; retroactive discounts will not be applied and cannot be combined with other offers).

Frequently Asked Questions: Criminal Justice Degree Online in California

What online criminal justice degrees does CCU offer?
CCU offers a full suite of online criminal justice programs: the Fundamentals of Criminal Justice Undergraduate Certificate (4 courses, 12 units), the Associate of Science in Criminal Justice (20 courses, 60 units), the Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice (42 courses, 126 units), and the Master of Science in Criminal Justice. All are self-paced and delivered 100% online.

What are the admission requirements for CCU's online criminal justice degree?
Undergraduate applicants must be at least 18 years old and hold a high school diploma, GED, or equivalent from a U.S. educational institution. No entrance exams, SAT scores, or letters of recommendation are required. Prospective students whose native language is not English and who have not earned a degree from an appropriately accredited institution where English is the principal language of instruction must demonstrate college-level proficiency in English through TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language). Graduate applicants must hold a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution.

How does the self-paced online criminal justice degree work day to day?
There are no live sessions, no required login times, and no weekly deadlines. You work through coursework independently at whatever pace fits your schedule. Each course requires a minimum of two weeks before the final exam can be requested. Final exams for core and general education courses require a proctor selected by the student and approved by the University — typical examples include a supervisor, co-worker, librarian, or member of the clergy. A proctor cannot be an immediate family member, someone who resides with you, or a current or former CCU student. Immediate family is defined as: spouse, parent, child, sibling, grandparent, and/or grandchild.

Can I start the online degree program at any time of year?
Yes. CCU uses open enrollment — there are no semester start dates or application cycles. You can apply and begin your online criminal justice degree at any point during the year. VA students and students using tuition assistance must use the term calendar.

How much does CCU's online criminal justice degree cost?
Undergraduate tuition is $170 per unit. The bachelor's degree program consists of 126 total semester units. CCU offers three interest-free payment plans: Plan A is $500 down and $150/month; Plan B is $300 down and $175/month; or pay the full balance at enrollment. No interest is charged and no credit check is required, however past due payments will be assessed a past due fee.

How many transfer credits can I bring into the online bachelor's degree?
Bachelor's degree students may transfer up to 93 applicable semester units, provided the courses were completed with a grade of C (2.0 GPA) or higher at a U.S. Department of Education-recognized accredited institution and are applicable to CCU's degree plan.

Does CCU offer financial aid for its online criminal justice degree?
CCU does not participate in federal financial aid programs. However, the university accepts VA Benefits, MyCAA benefits for eligible military spouses, and company-paid tuition vouchers. Many students pursuing their online criminal justice degree also receive tuition reimbursement through their employer — check with your HR department to find out what may be available.

Can I move from an associate's degree into a bachelor's degree at CCU?
Yes. CCU offers a full program pathway from certificate through master's level in criminal justice, all online. The associate's and bachelor's are separate programs — students who want both credentials need to complete the associate's first before enrolling in the bachelor's. CCU graduates re-enrolling in any program receive a 10% tuition discount (for students enrolling after 1/1/2026; retroactive discounts will not be applied and cannot be combined with other offers).

Is CCU's online criminal justice degree accredited?
Yes. CCU is accredited by the Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC), listed by the U.S. Department of Education as a nationally recognized accrediting agency and recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). CCU also holds institutional approval from the Bureau of Private Postsecondary Education (BPPE) of the State of California.

What is the academic calendar for California Coast University?
CCU operates on rolling 16-week terms beginning approximately every three to four weeks, supporting continuous, year-round enrollment. VA students and students using tuition assistance must use the term calendar.

Get Your Criminal Justice Degree Online — Start Today

You don't need to wait for the next semester, clear your schedule, or move closer to a campus. CCU's online criminal justice degree programs are designed to meet you where you are — with the accreditation, affordability, and flexibility to make earning your degree a realistic goal, not a distant one.

VA students and students using tuition assistance must use the term calendar.

Questions? Call Admissions at 1-888-228-8648 or Students at 1-714-547-9625

California Coast University is accredited by the Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC). DEAC is listed by the U.S. Department of Education as a nationally recognized accrediting agency and is recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). CCU holds Institutional Approval from the Bureau of Private Postsecondary Education (BPPE) of the State of California.