Online Criminal Justice Doctoral Degree Program: A Complete Guide
Are you planning to achieve the highest level of academic qualification and leadership roles by earning a doctorate degree online, our dedicated page about Online Criminal Justice Doctoral Degree Program offers you the everything from exploring, comparing and enrolling in the best Online PhD degree program matching your career goals, budget and other requirements.
As we are living in a competitive world and earning advanced credentials such as an Online PhD in Criminal Justice or a doctorate in Criminal Justice Online provides you an extra edge for leadership, policy, or academic roles.
Here at Top PhD Online we not only present the top accredited universities in the U.S. and internationally offering affordable, but easily accessible fast PhD Programs also online in Criminal Justice as well provides you the opportunity to compare these top Online Criminal Justice Programs so you can choose best program matching your all requirements.
In addition, here we also, brief about options like no dissertation PhD Criminal Justice online Programs, Scholarships and fully0-funded options and fastest PhD online options.
What Is an Online Criminal Justice Doctoral Degree Program?
An online Criminal Justice doctoral Degree Programs more specifically designed for the professionals in law enforcement, policy, corrections, or criminology to earn doctorate degree without sacrificing their existing jobs and with affordability and easy accessibility.
These programs designed with advanced coursework, research methods and either a dissertation or a capstone project. With the increase in the popularity of online education most of the accredited top universities around the world are offering accredited and affordable Online PhD Criminal Justice Programs, doctorate in criminology, and Criminal Justice fully online doctorate options.
Why Pursue an Online PhD in Criminal Justice or Criminology?
Let’s get a little brief about how Online PhD in Criminal Justice can be more suitable and match your requirements.
- Deepen your expertise in criminal behavior, corrections, cybercrime, and justice policy
- ️ Qualify for senior leadership roles in academia, government, and law enforcement
- Study fully online — no campus required
- Skip the GRE — most programs don’t require it
- Choose between dissertation-based or project-based formats
- Gain practical research and administrative skills
Top Online PhD Criminal Justice & Criminology Doctoral Online Programs in the U.S.
If you are in search of a best Online PhD Criminal Justice Programs in the United States of Americal, then you must consider reviewing the following universities. The Online Criminal Justice Doctoral Degree Programs of these universities are specially tailored to meet the requirements of working professionals with easily accessible and cheap Online PhD in Criminal Justice options equally accessible for the residents of U.S. or any other country.
University | Program | Duration | Dissertation Required | Format |
Online PhD in Criminal Justice | 4–5 years | Yes | 100% Online | |
Doctorate in Criminal Justice (DCJ) | 3–4 years | Yes (Applied Research) | Online | |
Troy University | PhD in Criminology / Criminal Justice | 4 years | Yes | Online |
Doctoral programs with criminal justice focus | 3–4 years | Yes | Online |
Key Takeaways (U.S.)
- Fastest Online PhD in Criminal Justice : PennWest Global DCJ (3 years) for applied research focus.
- Most Flexible: Walden University’s online PhD (100% remote, multiple specializations).
- Most Affordable Online Criminal Justice PhD: Troy University (public tuition, strong academic reputation).
International Online Criminal Justice Doctoral Degree Programs
If you are not wanting to limit yourself to only U.S. universities than there are several cheap and fast Online Criminal Justice Doctoral Degree Programs outside the USA are also available that are not only affordable fast but accredited too. Below you can find some of the top programs that are ideal if you are looking for international faculty or comparative research.
University | Program | Duration | Dissertation Required | Format |
Teesside University (UK) | Doctorate in Criminal Justice (Online) | 3–4 years | Yes | 100% Online |
University of Portsmouth (UK) | Professional Doctorate in Criminal Justice (DCrimJ) | 4 years | Thesis Required | Online + Workshops |
University of Greenwich (UK) | Professional Doctorate in Social & Criminal Justice | 3–4 years | Yes | Distance + Research |
University of Central Lancashire (UK) | DProf in Criminal Justice | 3 years | Capstone Project | Online / Remote |
London Metropolitan University (UK) | Professional Doctorate in Crime, Policy & Security | 4–5 years | Yes | Distance / Part-time |
Swansea University (UK) | PhD in Criminology | 3–6 years | Yes (Thesis) | Distance / Hybrid |
Charles Sturt University (Australia) | PhD in Criminal Justice / Criminology | 3–4 years | Yes | Online / Distance |
Key Takeaways (International)
- No-Dissertation Style: University of Central Lancashire’s DProf (capstone project model).
- Most Research-Intensive: Swansea University’s PhD in Criminology (3–6 years, thesis required).
- Best Professional Doctorate: Portsmouth’s DCrimJ combines coursework + applied research.
- Flexible Distance Learning: Teesside and Greenwich offer fully online options tailored to practitioners.
- Global Option: Charles Sturt University (Australia) provides distance doctorates recognized worldwide.
Admission Requirements for Online Criminal Justice Doctorates
Though the requirements may vary as per the program you are going to choose or the college you are going to enroll but the general admission requirements for most online PhD and Doctoral Programs in Criminal Justice are:
- Master’s degree in a related field
- 0+ GPA
- Resume or CV
- Statement of Purpose
- Letters of recommendation
- English proficiency (for international students)
- GRE often not required
Schools like Capella and PennWest do not require the GRE.
No-Dissertation Doctorate in Criminal Justice Online Options:
Dissertation is itself quiet lengthy process that is why to make Online doctoral programs short many universities are offer the approach of no dissertation doctorate criminal justice online degree with alternative approaches like capstone projects or applied portfolio, programs like DProf in Criminal Justice from UClan, UK and DCrimJ at Portsmouth are the best examples of this approach.
If you are in search of online PhD in Criminal Justice, no dissertation programs the above-mentioned programs can be the best choice offering same accredited doctorate degree with a practice-focused approach.
Fastest & Cheapest Online Criminal Justice Doctoral Degree Programs
If you are in search of affordable and Fastest Online PhD in Criminal Justice, then many accredited schools are offering accelerated Online Criminal Justice Doctoral Degree Programs with competitive and low-cost tuition rates. It is noted that most of the cheapest Online PhD criminal Justice Programs are offered by Public Universities such as Troy University and Pennwest University.
The fastest PhD in Criminal Justice Online are usually professional doctorates that more focus on applied practice like DProf Online or DcJ Formats that can be completed within the period of 3 Years.
Scholarships & Funding for Criminal Justice Doctorate Students
Though many universities are offering low-cost tuition PhD and Doctorate Programs in Criminal Justice Online but to make it more affordable and cheaper you can look for different funding and scholarshipsoptions.
Many schools offer internal scholarships, tuition discounts for law enforcement professionals in addition there are options of external scholarships and funding also available like FAFSA and Employers funding programs that also can be applied to accredited Online Criminal Justice PhD Programs.
How to Choose the Right Program Online Doctorate in Criminal Justice Programs
hen comparing criminal justice doctoral programs, consider these factors:
- Accreditation (U.S. regional or UK/European frameworks)
- Structure (traditional PhD vs. professional doctorate)
- Cost & scholarships
- Mode of delivery (100% online vs. hybrid workshops)
- Specializations (criminology, policy, homeland security, leadership)
To make your search easy, we present online doctorate Programs in different search categories so you can choose the best Online PhD criminal Justice options according to your needs.
At Top PhD Online You can explore by :
- Cheapest PhD Online
Yes. Universities like Liberty, Walden, PennWest, and Teesside offer a PhD in criminal justice online or equivalent doctorate programs.
Top options include Walden University, Troy University, and University of Portsmouth (UK).
Yes — Some of the accredited Online Colleges for Criminal Justice and Criminology are offering Online PhD programs with no-dissertation options for example: PennWest offers a non-dissertation doctorate; and Capella has optional paths.
Yes, If you earn your doctoral degree in criminal justice or criminology online from accredited university or college than it is accredited and recognized. It is recommended that you should the accreditation of degree program you are going to enroll.
Yes — With online options, you can access to various concentrations and specializations including homeland security or public policy- schools like Walden and Capella offer these options.
There is slight difference between criminology and criminal justice doctorates, as Criminal Justice doctoral programs are more emphasize on systems and enforcement and on the other hand doctorate in criminology more stress on exploring causes, behavior and policy analysis.
A PhD in criminal justice emphasizes justice systems, law enforcement, and administration, while a doctorate in criminology focuses on theory, causes of crime, and advanced research.