Beginning your master’s degree in criminal justice means you’ll be studying a field at the intersection of law, social sciences, and psychology. However, with the average master’s degree in 2024 costing more than $59,000, you’ll need to know how to pay for your degree before your classes begin.
While personal savings and federal student loans are popular ways to pay for your education, you should look into scholarships and other forms of financial aid if you want to graduate as close to debt-free as possible. Luckily, you’ll have plenty of resources from which to choose. Let’s have a look at some top funding opportunities for criminal justice grad students in 2024.
15 Scholarships for Criminal Justice Master’s Students
- Amount: $200 for first place
- Annual Deadline: January 31
Eligibility: The competition is open to all degree-seeking undergraduate or graduate students who are members in good standing of the American Criminal Justice Association-Lambda Alpha Epsilon and have not yet completed a terminal degree.
How to Apply: To enter the competition, you must submit a single-author paper that deals with criminology, law enforcement, courts, or criminal justice. Papers have a suggested maximum of 3,000 words.
- Amount: $1,000
- Annual Deadline: November 18
Eligibility: Applicants must be enrolled in a full-time, accredited law program in the US, have demonstrated an interest in criminal justice, and show academic achievement.
How to Apply: To apply, you must submit academic transcripts, a resume, proof of enrollment, and a 500-word essay on how you hope to improve the criminal justice system.
- Amount: Cost of taking an exam with the American Board of Criminalistics
- Annual Deadline: Varies
Eligibility: Members of a list of organizations affiliated with the American Board of Criminalistics are eligible to apply as their organization’s representative.
How to Apply: You will need to fill out the online application form, pay the $75 application fee, and submit the form to your organization for consideration.
- Amount: $2,000
- Annual Deadline: April 30
Eligibility: The Northeastern Association of Forensic Scientists (NEAFS) offers this scholarship for northeastern United States forensic science program graduate and undergraduate students who can demonstrate academic excellence.
How to Apply: Applicants must submit official transcripts, two letters of recommendation from professors in a forensic science course, and a 250-500-word personal statement.
- Amount: $1,750
- Annual Deadline: April 30
Eligibility: Another NEAFS scholarship, this opportunity is open to graduate students in their first two years of graduate study in forensic science or a related field at a northeastern United States university.
How to Apply: Applicants must submit official transcripts, two letters of recommendation from professors in a forensic science course, and a 250-500-word personal statement.
- Amount: $1,000-$5,000
- Annual Deadline: February 28
Eligibility: To apply, interested students with a GPA of 3.5 or higher must be pursuing, or planning to pursue, a career in cybersecurity or information assurance.
How to Apply: Applicants should submit unofficial transcripts, a resume or CV, one letter of recommendation, and six different essay questions with 250-word maximum answers each.
- Amount: $200-$300
- Annual Deadline: September 20
Eligibility: Any full-time or part-time graduate or undergraduate student presenting a paper at the Western Society of Criminology’s (WSC) annual conference is invited to apply.
How to Apply: Applicants should email the Chairperson of the WSC Awards Committee with a CV and cover letter explaining that they are applying for the award and providing contact and background information. Applicants must also have a faculty sponsor.
- Amount: $1,750
- Annual Deadline: February 2
Eligibility: Members of Alpha Phi Sigma who are currently or have previously served in the US military and are now pursuing a degree leading to a career in criminal justice may apply.
How to Apply: Applicants must submit an application form, a transcript signed by your chapter advisor, proof of military service, and a 500-700-word essay on how military service has impacted your view of citizenship.
- Amount: $2,000
- Annual Deadline: February 2
Eligibility: You must be a member of Alpha Phi Sigma enrolled in a degree-seeking program (graduate or undergraduate) in a field relating to a career in corrections and law enforcement.
How to Apply: Students should submit an application form, a transcript signed by their chapter advisor, a 5-7 page essay, and three evaluation reports/letters of recommendation.
- Amount: $10,000 (top award)
- Annual Deadline: February 7
Eligibility: Graduate students must be enrolled in at least six credits per term of a degree-seeking program that leads to a career in fraud prevention, including criminal justice programs.
How to Apply: Applicants must submit an online application form, letters of recommendation and official transcripts.
- Amount: $8,000
- Annual Deadline: March 1
Eligibility: This fellowship is awarded to up to three students per year. Fellows must be members of underrepresented racial groups in the criminal justice field and have been accepted into a doctoral program in criminology or criminal justice.
How to Apply: Applicants must submit proof of acceptance into a relevant doctoral program, official transcripts, personal statements, a CV, a letter articulating future career plans, and three letters of recommendation.
- Amount: $1,000
- Annual Deadline: June 30 (for Fall semester)
Eligibility: Students seeking a career in criminal justice through a full-time degree program may apply. Undergraduates and law students are especially encouraged.
How to Apply: Applicants must submit an online application through the Sieben Edmunds Miller website to be considered for the scholarship. Applications open twice per year.
- Amount: $25,000, plus salary
- Annual Deadline: June 30
Eligibility: The CIA’s Stokes Graduate Scholarship is open to US citizens enrolled in a graduate program who are interested in working for the CIA and willing to relocate to Washington, DC, for their internship.
How to Apply: Applicants must apply online, and in addition to the standard application process providing transcripts and other items, will need to undergo relatively extensive security and medical checks if shortlisted.
- Amount: $2,000
- Annual Deadline: February 2
Eligibility: Interested students must be members of Alpha Phi Sigma, enrolled in a degree-seeking graduate program, and be able to provide proof of enrollment at the time the scholarship is awarded.
How to Apply: Applicants should submit a 5-7 page paper on their relationship with Alpha Phi Sigma, a 2-page paper on why they deserve the scholarship, a transcript signed by their chapter advisor, and three letters of recommendation.
- Amount: $4,400 per month for seven months
- Annual Deadline: Spring
Eligibility: This fellowship is open to graduate students and new graduates of programs who display an interest in policy issues affecting women and families.
How to Apply: Applicants should submit an online application form and two short essays through the Women’s Congressional Policy Institute website, as well as official transcripts and three letters of recommendation.
College-Sponsored Scholarships in Criminal Justice
Private scholarship foundations are a great source of funding, but sometimes your best opportunities come directly from your school. The admissions page for your university will likely provide financial aid links and information, but you can also contact the financial aid office directly for any opportunities you may not have seen. Check out these two colleges for examples of high-quality school-supported funding opportunities:
Scholarship Spotlight: Florida State University
The College of Criminology and Criminal Justice at Florida State University offers an extensive array of scholarships for graduate students. You can apply for many of these scholarships alongside your application to a master’s program in criminal justice, although some will require you to be enrolled and provide supplementary materials. Here’s just one example of a scholarship for which FSU criminology and criminal justice grad students are eligible:
Eugene and Rosalind Czajkoski Scholarship
- Amount: Varies
- Annual Deadline: Varies
Eligibility: This scholarship is open to students at any level in the FSU College of Criminology and Criminal Justice.
How to Apply: Applicants must apply through FSU’s website and must submit an essay between 1,500-2,000 words outlining their interest in criminal justice and criminology as they pertain to the First Amendment.
Scholarship Spotlight: Seattle University
Seattle University’s master’s degree students in criminal justice are eligible for several school-sponsored scholarships. Even with Seattle University’s range of scholarships, you will not need to fill out multiple applications. Admitted students who have completed a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) within the deadline will automatically be considered for scholarships and will be notified if they are awarded funding.
Seattle University Criminal Justice Fellowship Award
- Amount: $2,400-$3,600
- Annual Deadline: Varies
Eligibility: Ten recipients will be selected for this scholarship. You must be an incoming graduate student in criminal justice at Seattle University.
How to Apply: There is no need for a separate application; any incoming graduate student who has completed the FAFSA is automatically considered.
Tips for Winning a Criminal Justice Scholarship
Applying for a scholarship can be like interviewing for a grad program or a job — you need to put your best foot forward and show why your criminal justice education is worth funding. While every application is different, there are a few key strategies to bear in mind as you maximize your chances of winning funding.
Other Ways to Pay for College as a Criminal Justice Grad Student
Even if you don’t receive full scholarship funding, there are many ways you can pay for your criminal justice master’s degree. In addition to need- and merit-based financial aid, you’ll also be eligible for federal student loans.
Many criminal justice occupations — especially those that involve working for federal, state, or local government — are likely to be eligible for public service loan forgiveness, so you could have your debt eventually forgiven by making minimum payments. If you’re already working in criminal justice before applying for your master’s degree, you should also check about tuition assistance from your employer.
Resources for Criminal Justice Master’s Students
- Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences
This international organization was founded in 1963 to advance the field of criminal justice. Today, it’s a professional organization which offers membership, networking and support to students, working professionals, and academics and researchers in criminal justice. They also offer career assistance and an annual conference. - Alpha Phi Sigma
Alpha Phi Sigma is the national honor society for criminal justice students that has been active since its founding in 1942. They have chapters all over the country and offer a variety of scholarship and networking opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students in criminal justice programs. - American Academy of Forensic Sciences
Since 1948, the AAFS has been promoting the scientific side of criminal investigations and criminal justice. They are a membership organization with representatives in every state and 71 countries, and seek to foster integrity, professionalism, and education in the field of forensic science as it applies to criminal justice. - American Civil Liberties Union
The ACLU is a famous human rights organization that helps protect Americans’ civil liberties. They are heavily involved in criminal justice issues, from representing those who have had offenses committed against them to advocating for criminal justice reform. - American Society of Criminology
Despite the name, the American Society of Criminology (ASC) is an international organization. Its members include professionals, students, researchers, and academics who are dedicated to expanding people’s knowledge of crime and criminal behavior, and how to control and prevent it. - Institute of Crime Science
Located at the School of Criminal Justice at the University of Cincinnati, the Institute of Crime Science is a think tank and research organization. Its members include scientists, academics, and law enforcement officers who take part in studies and research about criminal justice and crime prevention throughout the year. - International Association for Correctional and Forensic Psychology
Forensic psychology is an important sub-field of criminal justice and forensic science. If it’s one that interests you in your graduate studies, take a look at this international nonprofit membership organization, which has been promoting evidence-based practices and policies in forensic and correctional psychology for 63 years. - National Association of Blacks in Criminal Justice
Historically, Black Americans and other minorities have been treated unfairly by the justice system and have been underrepresented within it. The NABCJ was founded in 1974 to attempt to rectify this, and continues today with its mission. There are membership chapters across the nation for students and professionals. - National Criminal Intelligence Resource Center
This federally-funded government database provides up-to-date information on legal and professional organizations pertaining to criminal justice around the country. Students can use it to find organizations and professionals to connect with for networking and scholarship opportunities. - National Criminal Justice Association
The NCJA is a non-partisan, not-for-profit network dedicated to researching, promoting, and assisting the implementation of effective criminal justice policies. They offer a variety of networking events, including an annual conference and an online community for their members.