Criminal Justice Schools in Maine
Criminal justice is a diverse academic field of study, one that can train students for careers in areas ranging from law enforcement to judicial law, corrections to the court system. Maine’s criminal justice schools offer students a wide range of academy, undergraduate and graduate certificate and degree options, across a variety of specializations within the legal and protective service industry.
Learn more about where criminal justice schools in Maine are located, read about which programs rank towards the top of the list and compare programs, and discover potential areas of employment after graduation.
Best Criminal Justice Schools in Maine
From small community colleges to large, four-year institutions, prospective students have a variety of educational options for their criminal justice career training in Maine. We’ve compiled a list of the best criminal justice schools in Maine, ranked by a blend of factors, ranging from student-teacher ratio to acceptance rate, enrollment to tuition. Learn more about the best criminal justice schools in Maine below.
Husson University
Bangor, ME- 2 year
- Campus + Online
Husson University in Bangor, Maine offers a comprehensive degree program in the criminal justice field. Students can choose from an associate degree, a bachelor's degree, dual bachelor's degree in criminal justice and psychology, dual bachelor's and master's degree (completed in five years) and the master's degree in criminal justice administration.
Undergraduate seniors will attend the Maine Criminal Justice Academy to pursue certification and should be eligible for employment as a law enforcement officer upon graduation. Husson University also offers the Alpha Phi Sigma Honor Society for interested students.
- In-State$20,150
- Out-of-state$20,150
- In-State$17,220
- Out-of-state$17,220
- Retention Rate79%
- Acceptance Rate91%
- Students Enrolled3,078
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment62%
- AccreditationYes
University of Maine at Augusta
- Augusta, ME
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
Through the University of Main at Augusta, students can pursue a Bachelor of Science and associate of science degree in the Justice Studies Program. The three areas of concentration in the Justice Studies Program are community policing, forensics and paralegal studies. Course work is available both on two campuses and online for distance learners.
Students will prepare for careers in law enforcement, law-related paralegal positions, probation and forensics. Graduates are also eligible to pursue advanced study in law school and graduate school. In addition, the program offers a justice studies minor and an advocacy minor for non-majors interested in graduate school.
- In-State$7,350
- Out-of-state$18,750
- In-State$7,776
- Out-of-state$10,386
- Retention Rate66%
- Acceptance RateNot provided
- Students Enrolled4,446
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment75%
- AccreditationYes
University of Maine at Fort Kent
- Fort Kent, ME
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
The University of Main Fort Kent (UMFK) offers a unique program in conservation law enforcement, which is a four-year Bachelor of Science degree program. Unlike other colleges and universities, UMFK's program combines two specializations: wildlife conservation and law enforcement.
The program prepares graduates for entry-level positions within private, federal and state wildlife sectors, including Maine Warden Service, Maine Forest Rangers, National Park Service, US Fish and Wildlife Service, USFS Conservation Law Officer, Marine Patrol, Bureau of Land Management and Conservation Law Officer. The program should take students roughly two years to complete, and classes are provided in both traditional face-to-face classroom settings and completely online.
- In-State$7,350
- Out-of-state$12,120
- In-State$7,350
- Out-of-state$12,120
- Retention Rate59%
- Acceptance Rate99%
- Students Enrolled1,210
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment65%
- AccreditationYes
University of Maine at Presque Isle
- Presque Isle, ME
- 4 year
- Online
University of Maine at Presque Isle (UMPI) offers students both a Bachelor of Arts degree and an associate of arts degree within the criminal justice field. Students at UMPI complete internships with criminal justice agencies during their senior year and are required to participate in service learning activities in select courses.
The Criminal Justice Club exposes students to service projects and goes on two trips every year. And students can apply for membership into the prestigious Alpha Phi Sigma honor society. Another unique aspect of the criminal justice programs at UMPI is the opportunity to present at professional conferences.
- In-State$7,350
- Out-of-state$12,120
- In-State$12,000
- Out-of-state$12,000
- Retention Rate58%
- Acceptance Rate97%
- Students Enrolled1,847
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment67%
- AccreditationYes
Saint Joseph's College of Maine
- Standish, ME
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
A Bachelor of Arts degree in criminal justice at Saint Joseph's College in Standish, Maine, is for students who want to pursue a career in social services, judiciary and law, law enforcement, and business. Courses combine classroom instruction with field trips, demonstrations, and volunteer opportunities. Students are required to complete a full-year internship during their senior year.
Curriculum should prepare interested students for graduate programs. Class sizes are small, and students have access to one-on-one faculty mentoring. In addition, the Saint Joseph's Criminal Justice Club offers other opportunities for leadership and real-life experiences.
- In-State$41,586
- Out-of-state$41,586
- In-State$9,630
- Out-of-state$9,630
- Retention Rate77%
- Acceptance Rate81%
- Students Enrolled1,478
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment59%
- AccreditationYes
Thomas College
- Waterville, ME
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
The criminal justice degree from Thomas College in Waterville, Maine places a high emphasis on real-world practical training so graduates can immediately begin employment in their field. Recent internships and field experiences have been completed at the Main Criminal Justice Academy, Interpol, the U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Marshals Service, just as examples.
The Bachelor of Science degree from Thomas College typically takes students about four years to complete and offers programs in either criminal justice administration or just criminal justice. Graduates should be able to obtain careers in corrections, homeland security or law enforcement, and have the option of attending the 18-week basic law enforcement course at the Academy.
- In-State$28,954
- Out-of-state$28,954
- In-State$28,954
- Out-of-state$28,954
- Retention Rate77%
- Acceptance Rate97%
- Students Enrolled1,737
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment30%
- AccreditationYes
Side by Side: Comparing Maine with Criminal Justice Nationally
For prospective students, choosing an academic specialization is typically informed by career opportunities after graduation. Maine’s criminal justice schools offer training for a wide variety of legal, protective and security based occupations that are keeping pace with or in some cases, surpassing national averages for projected career growth and annual salaries. Scroll over the bars on the graphs below to see more details on training requirements for a variety of criminal justice positions in Maine, along with the growth projections and wage data for the state compared to the national average.
| Job | National | Maine |
|---|---|---|
| Bailiff | 33,690 | 44,900 |
| Fire Inspector, Investigator | 44,070 | 59,800 |
| Supervisor: Correctional Officers | 44,760 | 62,770 |
| Transportation Security Screener | 38,150 | 40,050 |
| Paralegal | 45,410 | 52,390 |
| Judicial Law Clerk | 40,030 | 59,910 |
| Lawyer | 99,260 | 136,260 |
| Arbitrators, Mediators, Conciliators | 69,060 | 86,830 |
| Job | National | Maine |
|---|---|---|
| Compliance Officer | 0.033 | 0.039 |
| Detective, Criminal Investigator | -0.012 | 0.017 |
| Police, Sheriff & Patrol Officer | 0.05 | 0.052 |
| Arbitrators, Mediators, Conciliators | 0.074 | 0.095 |
| Criminal Justice Professor | 0.137 | 0.213 |
| Supervisors: Law Enforcement | 0.042 | 0.043 |
| Forensic Science Technician | 0.196 | 0.264 |
| Paralegal | 0.073 | 0.076 |
Source: Projections Central, 2015
Where to Get Hired After Criminal Justice School in Maine
In Maine, protective services and legal occupations are growing industries, with a diverse array of potential occupational opportunities for criminal justice degree holders. Students attending criminal justice schools in Maine can learn more about the areas that employ the most criminal justice professionals, and what the legal and protective service industries pay compared to one another. From law enforcement to corrections, students can find criminal justice jobs at the local, county, municipal and state level with government organizations, private law firms, security agencies and more.
Largest areas of employment in descending order
Protective service
- Portland
- Bangor
- Lewiston, Auburn
Legal service
- Portland
- Bangor
- Lewiston, Auburn
Professional Resources for Criminal Justice in Maine
Business Compliance Resources
Association of Corporate Counsel, Northeast: Servicing Maine, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and New Hampsire, the ACC offers continuing education programs and resources for in-house business law counsel in the Northeast.
Maine Department of Economic and Community Development: The Maine DECD is the state department that provides expert resources on business regulations, marketing, capital loans, investments and overall business infrastructure.
Maine Revenue Services: A state department that oversees tax regulations and business reporting policies in Maine.
Maine State Chamber of Commerce: The state body for business networking, the Maine State Chamber has a network of more than 5,000 companies and advocates for a regulated and fair business climate in Maine.
Correctional Resources
Maine Adult Education Association: An organization focused on providing educational opportunities to adults, the MAEA provides a program dedicated to educating adults serving time in the correctional system in Maine.
Maine Criminal Justice Academy: The State of Maine’s official training academy for corrections officers, which includes a 200 hour training program that lasts five weeks.
Maine Department of Corrections: A state agency that manages the correctional systems, including of corrections officials and other professionals.
Maine Division of Juvenile Services: The state department dedicated to promoting juvenile public safety and accountability through the juvenile corrections and justice system in Maine.
Court & Judicial Resources
Maine Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers: A professional association of criminal defense lawyers that serves as a forum for discussion, professional development and promotion of the legal defense field.
Maine Court Reporters Association: A membership organization for court reporters that offers information about Maine legislation, professional development and networking opportunities.
Restorative Justice Institute of Maine: A non-profit agency that provides training, public education and advocates to establish and expand restorative justice practices across the state.
Legal Resources
Maine State Bar Association: A public association that represents more than 3,100 Maine lawyers and serves as an advocate for the profession in the state.
National Association of Legal Secretaries – Maine: The Maine chapter of NALS that includes paralegal and legal support workers across four chapters in the state: Southern Maine, Midcoast Maine, Central Maine and Northeast Maine.
Maine Equal Justice: A non-profit organization that provides legal assistance in cases that impact poverty, including food and income security, health care, transportation, housing and anti-poverty programs.
Law Enforcement Resources
Maine Association of Police: An association that represents 50 local municipal associations in Maine with 1,000 members and works in legislative action for law enforcement officials.
Maine Chiefs of Police Association: A membership based organization with 350 active and retired law enforcement officials including sheriffs, police and senior law enforcement professionals.
Maine State Law Enforcement Association: A broad membership association that represents the interests of various law enforcement groups, such as probation officers, correctional investigators, forest rangers and game warders and capitol police in the state of Maine.
Wildlife & Environmental Resources
Lakes Environmental Association: A professional group that protects the lakes and watersheds in Western Maine through municipal services, water testing and monitoring, land conservation and education.
Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife, Warden Service: The main law enforcement agency for wildlife and inland natural resources, the DIFW Warden Services page provides preservation and educational information as well as career opportunities.
Maine Environmental Education Association: Maine’s EEA is a non-profit organization that connects environmental professionals at the local and state level to lobby to educate and develop effective environmental industry leaders.
Maine Water Environmental Association: An association of water professionals including regulatory officials, municipal operators and consultants that represents more than 125 communities and 95 wastewater treatment plants in the state.
