50 Top Criminal Justice Degree Scholarships

For all of human history, humans have sought ways to ensure safety, peace, and justice. Today is no different, except now you can support your understanding of how justice plays out with a degree.

Criminal justice professionals enjoy high employability, and typically enjoy dependable employment through their whole career. If you’re looking for a way to pursue a criminal justice degree without unecessary debt, be sure to check out our list of 50 of the most lucrative scholarships for criminal justice degree below.

ATE Ballistic Helmet Scholarship Fund

• 1000
• The Hard Head Veterans company provides scholarships to those who are pursuing a degree in one of the many law enforcement fields. Applicants must be enrolled full-time at an accredited two-year American university, with plans to pursue a degree as a police officer. Awardees are also given a free ATE ballistic helmet (with a value of $699)

BECA, Inc. Edna R. Anthony Memorial Scholarship

• 1000
• The Believe Excel Commit to Achieve (BECA) scholarship is open to high school seniors who plan tio attend a attend a Historically Black College or University (HBCU). Applicants must choose a major in Criminal Justice, Journalism or Nursing or Healthcare.
• HBCU students 2.5+ GPA required

Captain James J. Regan Memorial Scholarship

• 500
• The National Technical Investigators’ Association (NATIA) is a nonprofit, all-volunteer professional organization for law enforcement and intelligence officers involved in the technical side of investigations. The NATIA offers two $500 scholarships to law enforcement Explorers based on academic record, leadership ability, extracurricular activities, and a personal statement on their interest in the technical side of law enforcement. Applicants can be current college students or high school seniors.

Alpha Phi SIgma: The National Criminal Justice Honor Society

• 2000
• Alpha Phi Sigma, The Criminal Justice Honor Society, awards various scholarships of up to $2,000 to outstanding students of criminal justice. Both graduate and undergraduate students are eligible. Scholarships are awarded based on academic records and essays on criminal justice topics.

The Harry S. Truman Scholarship Program

• 30000
• The Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation awards prestigious fellowships to students who are a full-time junior-level undergraduates and plan to eventially attend graduate school. The Foundation focuses on preparing students for careers in public administration, public policy, public health, international relations, government, economics, and social services. Students are chosenn based on their demonstrated record of community service; commitment to a career in government or public service, demonstrated potential as a “change agent,” and academic record.

Ritchie-Jennings Memorial Scholarship

• 10000
• The Ritchie-Jennings Memorial Scholarship is awarded by the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE). Scholarships are in the amounts of $10,000, $5,000, $2,500, and $1,000, plus a one-year ACFE Student Associate membership. Scholarships support students who are pursuing a career in fraud examination or another anti-fraud profession.

Brian Terry Scholarship Program

• varies
• The Brian Terry Scholarship provides financial aid to 15 full-time undergraduate students majoring in criminal justice. Applicants must demonstrate a strong track record of goals and achievement; acadmic success, positive impact on their community; and commitment to social justice. Only the first 100 applicants are considered for each scholarship cycle.
• 3.0+ GPA required

My Alarm Center Scholarship

• 1000
• Undergraduate students currently enrolled in a law enforcement, law, or criminal justice degree prgram can apply for this scholarship, sponsored by security company, My Alarm Center. Applicants need to be high school seniors, college freshmen, or juniors, and must submit an essay about law enforcement and security.

Crimcheck

• 500
• This scholarship is sponsorsed by a background check company, Crimcheck, in honor of a former employee. High school graduates and current college students majoring in criminal justice are eligible for $500 scholarships. Awards are made based on the quality of an essay about criminal justice, as well as the candidatre’s commitment to community service.
• 3.0+ GPA required, full-time and part-time students are eligible

NOBLE Scholarships

• 2500
• The National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE) offers several scholarships, all between $1,500 and $2,500. They are open to graduating high school seniors who are committed to careers in law enforcement or criminal justice.
• 3.8+ GPA required, financial need required

Darius Quimby Memorial Scholarship (College)

• 1000
• The Darius Quimby Memorial Scholarship is part of Operation Thank an Officer. Four scholarships are awarded to high school seniors, current college students pursuing a degree in law enforcement, as well as current law enforcement officials pursuing an advanced degree. Applicants are evaluated based on their academic achievement, volunteer activities, and quality of their essay.

Motorola Solutions Foundation Public Safety Explorer Scholarship

• 2000
• National Exploring Committee awards five college scholarships tof $2,000 each to Law Enforcement, Fire/EMS, Aviation, Health, or Law & Government Explorers studying in the public safety field. Awardees are chosen based on demonstrated academic capacity, life skills, citizenship, leadership, and character.

Ball State University Criminal Justice Scholarships

• varies
• The school offers four seperate scholarships of different ammounts. Each is earmarked for an full-time, undergraduate student pursuing a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and criminology at Ball State University. The amount and the number of scholarships awarded in a given year will depend on the endowment account’s balance.
• 3.0+ GPA required, no residency requirement

The Leadership Institute for Women of Color Attorneys

• varies
• The LIWOCA awards up to 5 scholarships in varying amounts to women of color law students, including those pursuing careers in criminal law. The organization seeks out those who demonstrate commitment to the legal profession and who are active in their law school and community. Scholarship awardees must attend the Annual Leadership Institute for Women of Color conference, for which all travel and expenses are paid by the LIWOCA.
• women of color 2.8+ GPA required

Captain Jim Unterwagner Scholarship

• 500
• The Captain Jim Unterwagner Scholarship is dedicated to students in one of Slippery Rock University’s three interdisciplinary departments, including Criminology and Security Studies. Students must have already completed 64 credits and demonstrate both academic achievement and financial need.

Wade and Alice Knapp Scholarship

• 2000
• The University of Nebraska-Lincoln offers several scholarships for both undergraduate and graduate students studying Criminology and Criminal Justice. The largest of these is the Wade and Alice Knapp Scholarship Fund, which provides two $2,000 scholarships to Criminology and Criminal Justice undergraduates per year.

The American Society of Criminology Gene Carte Student Paper Competition

• 500
• Full-time undergraduate or graduate students can enter this competition of conceptual and/or empirical papers related to criminology. The first place winner receives $500 and a travel award of up to $500 to attend the American Society of Criminology Annual Meeting. Second and third place winners are given $300 and $200 respectively.
• papers may not have already won any other awards previously

Epsilon Sigma Alpha Scholarship Program

• 3000
• The nonprofit ESA Foundation provides scholarships of up to $3,000 to undergraduates and up to $7,500 for graduate students. Applicants are judged on character, service, leadership, financial need, and scholastic ability.
• ESA membership not required

National Black Police Association – Alphonso Deal Scholarship Award

• 500
• Scholarships averaging $500 are awarded to high school seniors who have been accepted to a two-year program to study law enforcement or a related criminal justice field. Applicants should show a trasck record of community service and volunteer experience and a commitment to improving the criminal justice system through their post-secondary education.
• African-American 2.5+ GPA required

Steve Van Dyke Memorial Scholarship

• 2000
• The United States Deputy Sheriff’s Association administers this scholarship program for the dependent children of current, full-time commissioned law enforcement officers. The scholarship is non-renewable, and is open to both high school seniors and current undergraduate students.
• enrollment in 12 credit hours per semester required

American Criminal Justice Association Lambda Alpha Epsilon Student Scholarship

• 400
• These scholarships are open to undergraduate and graduate students pursuing degrees in criminal justice. Three awards =are granted each year in the amounts of $400, $200, and $100.
• 3.0+ GPA required, membership in Lambda Alpha Epsilon required, open to part-time students

Women in Federal Law Enforcement Foundation Scholarships

• 2500
• The Women in Federal Law Enforcement Foundation (WFLEF) promotes the presence of women in law enforcement and criminal justice. WFLEF awards scholarships of $2,500 to students of criminal justice who have completed at least one year of college. Applications are judged based on each student’s academic potential, educational achievement, and their commitment to serving communities. Awards may be renewable on subsequent applications.
• women 3.5+ GPA required

American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors Scholarship

• 1000
• This scholarship is for those interested in the forensic sceince side of criminal justice, rather than law enforcement. Both undergraduates (at the junior and senior level) and graduate students can apply for this scholarship, sponsored by the American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors (AACLD). Applicants must be majoring in forensic science, forensic chemistry, physical science, or natural science. Students of FEPAC accredited programs are given preference.
• applicants cannot be currently employed in the forensics field

Ed Rhodes Scholarship

• varies
• The American Board of Criminalistics (ABC) certifies professionals as experts in the field of criminalistics. Part of this process involves sitting for an examination. Through the Ed Rhodes Scholarship, the ABC waives the examination fee for one member of each of 10 criminology organizations. Applicants must be nominated by a current member of the ABC.

John Jay College of Criminal Justice Scholarships

• 2000
• Undergraduate students of John Jay College of any background can apply for this tuition assistance scholarship. Preference is given to those who are involved community service, especially with the Center for Court Innovation, which seeks to create a more fair, effective, and humane justice system. Preference is also givren to those who have overcome significant challenges, such as prior arrests or convictions, involvement in the child welfare system.

Pi Gamma Mu

• 2000
• Pi Gamma Mu is the oldest honor society in the social sciences. The organization awards up to 10 scholarships of $1,000 and $2,000 for the first or second year of graduate work in several social science fields, including criminal justice.
• Pi Gamma Mu membership requiured

Out to Protect

• 1000
• Out to Protect create a greater awareness the involvement of LGBTQ law enforcement professionals. The organization offers scholarships of $500-$1,000 for openly LGBTQ individuals to attend a basic law enforcement training program, such as a basic police academy, sheriff’s academy, corrections academy, or 9-1-1 dispatcher academy.
• LGBTQ

Paul Janosky Criminal Justice-Related Majors Scholarship

• 2000
• The Paul Janosky Criminal Justice-Related Majors Scholarship is offered by the Police Officer Assistance Trust. Miami-Dade, Broward, or Monroe County high school seniors or full-time college students are eligible if one of their parents works for a Miami-Dade law enforcement agency. Applicants must commit to major in criminal justice or a related field.
• 2.5+ GPA required

The George W. Neighbor Jr. and George W. Chin Memorial Scholarship

• 2000
• The Northeastern Association of Forensic Scientists (NEAFS) awards two memorial scholarships to undergraduates at the junior or senior level or to graduate students who are studying forensic science. The George W. Neighbor Jr. scholarship is for $1,750 and the George W. Chin Memorial Scholarship is for $2,000. Applicants must be enrolled in a school from one of the Northeastern states from which NEAFS draws its members (Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, ew York, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, NNew Jersey, and Pennsylvania). AScholarship recipinets are also given free Associate membership for a year in the NEAFS.
• open to part-time students (at the graduate level)

Charles L. Hebner Memorial Scholarship

• full tuition + expenses
• The Charles L. Hebner Memorial Scholarship is awarded to high school seniors who will be full-time, in-state students of the University of Delaware or Delaware State University. Must major in one of the social sceinces, including criminal justice. Political science majors are given greatest preference.
• 3.0+ GPA and 1000+ SAT score required

Victoria Ovis Memorial Scholarship

• 2000
• Offered by the First Responders Children’s Foundation, this scholarship is intended for a student from or attending school in New York who is the child of a law enforcement officer who was killed or permanently disabled in the line of duty. Award decisions take into consideration academic performance, financial need, and demonstrated leadership or community service. All majors are eligible but criminal justice majors are given preference. The award is not renewable.
• 2.7+ GPA required

COAG Scholarship

• 1000
• The Constitutional Officers Association of Georgia (COAG) awards $1,000 scholarships to high school seniors and undergraduates who are residents of Georgia. Scholarship recipients must be majoring in law enforcement, government, criminal justice, political science, accounting/finance or business, or pre-law.

Christopher W. Keyser Scholarship

• 1500
• Keyser Law, P.A. awards this non-renewable scholarship to undergraduate students pursuing a degree in a few select fields, including criminal justice. All applicants need to submit an original essay on a specific topic of criminal justice.

Drinko Criminal Justice Scholarship

• 4000
• This renewable scholarship of $1,000-$4,000 is presented to undergraduates of Keystone College. Students bust be pursuing an associate’s or bachelor’s degree in criminal justice. Full-time, continuous enrollment is required.
• 2.0+ GPA required

Wyoming Peace Officers Association Scholarship

• 1000
• The Wyoming Peace Officers Association (WPOA) provides scholarships to law enforcement majors. Recipients are given up to $1,000 per year towards their tuition at the University of Wyoming or a Wyoming Community College. A speperate $1,000/year scholarship is offered to the dependent of any current, retired, or deceased WPOA member, with no restrictions on their school or major.

Guaranteed Removals Scholarship

• 1000
• Guaranteed Removals is an online reutation protection service, and the copany offers five scholarships of $1,000 each for undergrauates, with the aim of inspiring students to enter the field of digital safety. Students must be majoring in criminology, law, or computer science. An original essay is required.

Jim & Anna Hyonjoo Lint Scholarship

• 2000
• The Lint Center for National Security Studies awards scholarships of $500-$2,000 to students pursuing areas like Counterintelligence, National Security, and International Affairs. Applicants must subit an essay analyzing an issue related to Counterintelligence, International Affairs, and National Defense and/or National Security.

Skulls for Scholars Scholarship

• Varies
• The Smokin’ Guns Motorcycle Club is a Colorado-based Law Enforcement, family, and community focused nonprofit group which funds students pursuing a career in Law Enforcement or Criminal Justice. Applicants can be graduating high school seniors or current undergraduates, and must be residents of Colorado.
• 2.7+ GPA required

Virginia Sheriffs’ Scholarship

• varies
• The Virginia Sheriffs’ Institute sponsors two undergraduate scholarships per year: one to full-time students and one to part-time students. Only students 18 and older who are attending Virginia colleges and majoring in Criminal Justice are eligible.

Anderson Criminal Justice Scholarship

• 5000
• The Anderson Criminal Justice Scholarship provides $5,000 to a full-time student majoring in Criminla Justice at a school in Washington state. Current undergraduates or graduating high school seniors can apply. Preference is given to those planning on a career in law enforcement. The scholarship is renewable.

Sheryl A. Horak Law Enforcement Explorer Memorial Scholarship

• 1000
• This non-renewable scholarship is open to law enforcement Explorers who are high school seniors or older. Applicants are judged based on their academic performance, leadership ability, extracurricular activities, and on a personal statement about their plans to pursue a career in law enforcement.

Association of Certified Fraud Examiners – Rhode Island Chapter Academic Scholarship

• 2000
• The Rhode Island Chapter of the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners provides scholarships to current full-time undergraduate students of colleges located in Rhode Island. Students must be majoring in a field that directly relates to the anti-fraud field, including: criminal justice, criminology, accounting, law, or law enforcement. This scholarship is not renewable.

Ronnie Williams Foundation Criminal Justice Scholarship

• 1000
• This scholarship is open to high school seniors from Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania who are entering college with plans to major in Criminal Justice. The scholarship is non-renewable.
• 2.5+ GPA required

Women In Defense Scholarship

• 1000
• Women in Defense is an affiliate of the National Defense Industrial Association, and awards scholarships to help women in Florida attain careers in defense and national security. Undergraduate and graduate students are eligible to apply, but undergraduates must have at least junior status (60 credits). Applikcants must demonstrate financial need and commitment to a career in defense or security, and attend an awards ceremony (expenses paid).
• women 3.25+ GPA required

The Officer Collin Rose Memorial Foundation Scholarship

• 1000
• Students who are Michigan residents age 17 or older can apply for this criminal justice scholarship. Applkcants must be accepted to college or a basic police or fire training academy. Eligible majors are: criminla justice, mediation, dispute resolution, law enforcement, firefighting or paramedic services. The cholarship may be renewed once for the following academic year.
• 2.5+ GPA required

Vermont Police Association Scholarships

• 1000
• The Vermont Police Association offers scholarships for Vermont students who are majoring in law enforcement, emergency services, and criminal justice. Eligible applicants must demonstrate financial need and be enrolled in a college approved for federal Title IV funding (Pell Grants, Stafford loans, PLUS loans).

Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences

• 1000
• The Dorothy Bracey/Janice Joseph Minority and Women New Scholar Award is one of several criminal justice scholarships offered through the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences (ACJS). New minority and female scholar can apply for this award, which recognizes outstanding academic contributions. Candidates must demonstrate a strong record in research, teaching, and service.
• women and minorities must be a current member of ACJS

The Maine Police Emerald Society Kevin Riordan Presidential Scholarship

• 500
• The Maine Police Emerald Society awards this criminal justice scholarship to a full-time college student who plans to enter the law enforcement or criminal justice field. High school seniors and current undergraduates can apply. Students must attend a high school or college located in Maine.

National Asian Pacific American Bar Association

• 5000
• The National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) Law Foundation offers several different scholarships, up to $5,000 each, to law students who demonstrate a commitment to serve the Asian Pacific American community as future leaders. Applicants do not need to be Asian Pacific American to apply, but should be able to demonstate involvement with the community.

George and Donna Nigh Public Service Scholarship

• 1000
• The George and Donna Nigh Public Service Scholarship provides tuition assistance for full-time undergraduates pursuing careers in public service, such as criminal justice or law enforcement. Applicants must be enrolled in a college or university located in Oklahoma.

Related Resources: 

Top 10 Graduate Degree Programs in Criminal Justice

What Are My Degree Choices in Fraud Analysis?