ASU criminal justice online graduate degree maintains high ranking from US News & World Report
Program, ranked 10th in the nation, has held top 15 spot for past 12 years
Graduates from ASU's School of Criminology and Criminal Justice wait to be called to the stage at the fall 2025 convocation ceremony for Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions.
Arizona State University’s online master's degree in criminal justice from the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice remains one of the 10 best in the nation, according to new rankings released by U.S. News & World Report today.
The criminal justice earned a No. 10 ranking for 2026, ahead of Florida State University and the University of Cincinnati. The program also earned top marks in U.S. News’ Best Online Master’s in Criminal Justice for Veterans category, achieving a No. 7 rating, ahead of the University of Cincinnati, the University of Central Florida and the University of San Diego.
U.S. News & World Report has ranked the online degree program in the top 15 for the past 12 years.
The program, part of the Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions, has 350 students enrolled, up from just over 200 students a year ago. Thirty-four students identify as veterans. Beth Huebner, director of the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice, said high-quality online curriculum ensures that students receive rigorous, relevant training regardless of their physical location.
“Our online Master of Arts in criminal justice is designed and taught by leading experts in the field, giving students access to top scholars and the most up-to-date instruction on current and emerging issues,” she said. “As the field of criminal justice continues to evolve, our curriculum is continuously updated to reflect new research, policies and practices.”
Most of the enrolled students are working professionals. Professor of Practice Joshua Adams, the school’s director of online graduate programs, sees the program as adding value to the professionals as well as the public. For the professionals, the advanced degree deepens their knowledge and ability to apply critical thinking to their day-to-day work. It can also help with career advancement and access to leadership roles.
For students in online criminal justice programs who are already professionals, an advanced degree offers both personal and professional value, he said.
“Our online master’s degree program helps practitioners better understand the legal, ethical and social contexts of their work. Importantly, online programs allow working professionals to immediately apply new concepts to real-world situations, strengthening both learning and job performance,” he said.
The benefits to the public are also significant, he said. Criminal justice professionals with advanced education are more likely to make informed, ethical and data-driven decisions, leading to improved policing strategies, fairer systems and better community relations, he said.
The school continues to expand its academic offerings to meet the needs of students and professionals, Huebner said. In addition to the online master’s degree in criminal justice, the school now offers an online degree in crime analysis and a Doctor of Criminal Justice. It also offers an online Master of Public Safety Leadership and Administration, designed for first responders and emerging leaders, Huebner said.
The School of Criminology and Criminal Justice faculty are critical to the success of all the school’s academic programs, Huebner added.
“ASU’s top-ranked criminology and criminal justice faculty are actively involved in policy and community research, ensuring that the latest knowledge and real-world experience inform their teaching,” she said. “This engagement allows students to learn from leaders in the field while receiving an exceptional education.”
The school’s faculty are among the nation’s most honored criminology and criminal justice educators. Recent faculty awardees include:
- Assistant Professor Kwan-Lamar Blount-Hill, recognized with the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences 2026 New Scholar Award and the American Society of Criminology 2025 Ruth Shonle Cavan Young Scholar Award
- Associate Professor Alyssa Chamberlain, who will receive the 2026 Fellow Award from the Western Society of Criminology. She is the eighth ASU criminology and criminal justice faculty member to receive this award since it was established in 1976.