Massachusetts Community Colleges
Criminal Justice Programs
Criminal justice programs at community colleges in this state. Law-enforcement, corrections, and pre-law pathways.
5 colleges · 77 sections · 41 unique courses · Fall 2026 · Updated today
Massachusetts community college criminal-justice programs feed directly into law enforcement, corrections, court, and victim-services careers across the state. The 77 sections at 5 MassCC colleges this term cover criminology, criminal law, evidence and procedure, corrections theory, and the field-applicable foundation police academies expect from recruits.
The CC criminal-justice associate isn't a shortcut to becoming a police officer — most Massachusetts departments still require academy graduation regardless of degree — but it counts strongly during the hiring process, qualifies you for higher entry pay grades at many agencies, and is the standard prep for federal law-enforcement, probation officer, and corrections-officer roles that increasingly prefer degree holders.
Earnings & outcomes for Criminal Justice graduates
Federal College Scorecard data on what graduates of this program actually earn after completion. Where a school’s cohort is too small to publish, we show the national benchmark for the same field of study.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, per-program (4-digit CIP) data. CIP 4301 — Criminal Justice and Corrections. School cohorts are suppressed by the federal source when fewer than ~30 completers in the reporting cohort.
Colleges offering Criminal Justice
| College | Sections | Courses | Online | Awards/yr | 5-yr earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Middlesex Community College | 23 | 12 | 13 | 56 | $52,409 |
| Bunker Hill Community College | 20 | 11 | 10 | 97 | $56,124 |
| Springfield Technical Community College | 17 | 11 | 13 | 73 | $44,481 |
| Holyoke Community College | 10 | 7 | 3 | 61 | $53,689 |
| Berkshire Community College | 7 | 6 | 5 | 16 | — |
Criminal Justice Availability Snapshot
How criminal justice sections are being offered across 5 colleges in Massachusetts this term (77 sections total).
Delivery format
- online44 (57%)
- in person24 (31%)
- hybrid9 (12%)
When sections meet
- Morning (before noon)26
- Afternoon (noon–5 PM)5
- Evening (5 PM and after)4
- Asynchronous / TBA42
Start dates
Sections begin on 3 distinct dates. 6 late-start more than two weeks after the term's earliest start.
Instructor diversity
Taught by 26 distinct instructors across 5 colleges.
Degree requirements by college
Expand a college to see the courses required for graduation. Data sourced from each college's official catalog.
Berkshire Community College2 programs
Bristol Community College3 programs
Bunker Hill Community College2 programs
Cape Cod Community College3 programs
Holyoke Community College1 program
GENERAL EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS: 26 CREDITS
26 creditsPROGRAM REQUIREMENTS: 21 CREDITS
21 creditsPROGRAM ELECTIVES: 15 CREDITS
15 creditsTOTAL: 62 CREDITS
62 creditsSee catalog for course list
Source: College catalog
Massasoit Community College4 programs
MassBay Community College1 program
First Year: Semester 2
Second Year: Semester 1
- ELEC XXXScience Elective 3/4not offered
Second Year: Semester 2
Source: College catalog
Middlesex Community College1 program
Required Courses
Source: College catalog
Mount Wachusett Community College1 program
Recommended Course Sequence
61 credits- ENG 101College Writing I(3 cr)not offered
- SOC 103Introduction To Sociology(3 cr)not offered
- MAT 126Topics In Mathematics (or higher)(3 cr)not offered
- CJU 131Introduction To Criminal Justice(3 cr)not offered
- CJU 133Criminal Law(3 cr)not offered
- ENG 102College Writing II(3 cr)not offered
- PSY 105Introduction To Psychology(3 cr)not offered
- CJU 134Criminal Procedure(3 cr)not offered
- CJU 232Introduction To Criminology(3 cr)not offered
- POL 211Introduction to American Government and Politics(3 cr)not offered
- CJU 233Criminal Investigation(3 cr)not offered
- CJU 228Effective Written Communication for the CJ Practitioner(3 cr)not offered
- PHL 220Introduction to Social and Political Philosophy(3 cr)not offered
- PSY 240Abnormal Psychology (or Social Problems)(3 cr)not offered
- CJU 245American Policing(3 cr)not offered
- CJU 255Seminar In Criminal Justice(3 cr)not offered
- CJU 250Introduction To Corrections(3 cr)not offered
Source: College catalog
North Shore Community College3 programs
Northern Essex Community College1 program
Requirements
- CRJ 101Introduction to Criminal Justice(3 cr)not offered
- CRJ 102Incarceration & Alternatives(3 cr)not offered
- CRJ 103Modern Policing(3 cr)not offered
- CRJ 201Critical Incident Response(3 cr)not offered
- CRJ 202Criminal Law(3 cr)not offered
- CRJ 250Senior Seminar/Project(3 cr)not offered
- CRJ 291Criminal Justice Internship(3 cr)not offered
- ENG 101English Composition I(3 cr)not offered
- ENG 102English Composition II(3 cr)not offered
- GOV 101American Government & Politics(3 cr)not offered
- MAT 125Statistics(4 cr)not offered
- PSY 101Introduction to Psychology(3 cr)not offered
- SOC 101Introduction to Sociology(3 cr)not offered
- SOC 104Introduction to Criminology(3 cr)not offered
Source: College catalog
Quinsigamond Community College2 programs
Roxbury Community College1 program
Semester One
Semester Two
Semester Three
Semester Four
- CJP 200Constitutional Law(3 cr)not offered
Source: College catalog
Springfield Technical Community College3 programs
Common Criminal Justice courses
- CRJ 101Intro to Criminal Justice(8 sections)
- LGL 102Business Law(6 sections)
- CRJ 100Introduction to Criminal Justice(4 sections)
- CRJ 103Criminal Law(4 sections)
- CRJ 111Introduction to Criminal Justice(4 sections)
- CRJ 107Intro to Corrections(3 sections)
- CRJ 112Criminal Law and Procedure(3 sections)
- CRJ 210Human Relations: Diversity and Ethical Issues(3 sections)
- LGL 101Intro To Law(3 sections)
- CRJ 108Drugs & Society(2 sections)
- CRJ 110Policing(2 sections)
- CRJ 117Street Law(2 sections)
Career outlook for Criminal Justice graduates
Federal Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data for the primary career outcome of this program (2024 OEWS release). Compare Massachusetts’s typical pay to the national picture before choosing where to study.
Massachusetts's typical pay is about 11% above the typical state — a strong sign of healthy local demand.
Wage data reflects all workers in the occupation, not just recent CC graduates — entry-level pay is typically lower. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS.
Frequently asked questions
- Do I need a criminal-justice degree to become a police officer in Massachusetts?
- No — police academies in Massachusetts accept candidates with just a high school diploma or GED plus background-check clearance. But a CJ associate's makes a difference in three ways: it boosts your competitive ranking in hiring, qualifies you for higher entry pay at most municipal agencies (typically a $1–3k starting-salary bump), and lets you sit for promotional exams sooner.
- What jobs does this degree qualify me for besides policing?
- Corrections officer (county jail, state prison), probation/parole officer, court clerk, victim advocate, security supervisor, juvenile-justice case manager, federal-agency entry roles (CBP, TSA, US Marshals support staff). Many graduates work corrections or court roles for a few years while preparing for police-academy admission.
- Can I transfer CJ credits to a four-year program?
- Yes — most Massachusetts state universities have criminal-justice bachelor's programs with articulated transfer from the MassCC associate. Some specialized degrees (forensic science, cybersecurity-focused CJ, pre-law CJ) require specific lower-division courses, so confirm with the target university's transfer office before locking your schedule.
- How long does the criminal-justice associate take?
- Two years full-time. Many Massachusetts community colleges offer evening and online sections aimed at working students — current corrections officers, security personnel, and military veterans use those formats to complete the degree while staying in their current jobs.
Compare Criminal Justice programs in other states
Same comparison view, different state systems. Useful if you’re considering an out-of-state community college or just want to see how Massachusetts’s criminal justice programs stack up.
Other programs in Massachusetts
Some programs may not be offered at every college — pages render only when the program meets a coverage threshold for the state.