Affordable Corrections Management Degree Online Bachelor's

Updated December 5, 2022

By BVS Staff People who have a strong sense of morality and justice, respect police officers, and also have an affinity for business might want to consider an online corrections management degree programs. As part of the broad field of "Criminal Justice," a major in corrections management allows graduates to pursue careers in industries ranging from ...

BestValueSchools.com is an advertising-supported site. Featured or trusted partner programs and all school search, finder, or match results are for schools that compensate us. This compensation does not influence our school rankings, resource guides, or other editorially-independent information published on this site.

Are you ready to discover your college program?

Click here for high-resolution badge

By BVS Staff

People who have a strong sense of morality and justice, respect police officers, and also have an affinity for business might want to consider an online corrections management degree programs.

As part of the broad field of "Criminal Justice," a major in corrections management allows graduates to pursue careers in industries ranging from law enforcement to security services. Some schools will even allow you to earn a concentration or emphasis as part of your online corrections management bachelor's degree, and by focusing on administration, you will graduate with the skills you need to rise through the ranks quickly, wherever you end up.

The 20 Best Online Correctional Administration Degrees Ranking Methodology

Selection Criteria

For this ranking, we focused on public and private (non-profit) colleges and universities that offer mobile development degrees online. Because the focus of this list is on affordability, we only considered programs with average* tuition rates of $25,000/year or less.

*For public schools, we calculated the average value of their in-state and out-of-state rates.

Ranking Factors

Unfortunately, there are a limited number of online corrections management degrees available. Therefore, we could not compile a pool of options large enough to justify a multifactorial ranking system in which we'd score colleges and universities based on a list of specific considerations.

So instead, we ranked the programs solely according to their affordability. See below for the best cheap online criminal justice administration degree programs, ranked from most to least expensive.

Cheap Online Corrections Management Degree Programs Ranked

#1 Colorado State University-Global Campus Greenwood Village, CO
#2 West Texas A&M University Canyon, TX
#3 Missouri Southern State University Joplin, MO
#4 SUNY College of Technology at Canton Canton, NY
#5 Park University Parkville, MO
#6 Tarleton State University Stephenville, TX
#7 Franklin University Columbus, OH
#8 Union Institute & University Cincinnati, OH
#9 Whitworth University Spokane, WA
#10 National University La Jolla, CA

Featured Online Programs

Figuring out where to apply? These top, accredited schools offer a variety of online degrees. Consider one of these accredited programs, and discover their value today.

  1. Colorado State University-Global Campus
    Location

    Greenwood Village, CO

    Tuition

    $8400

    It may be the most affordable online corrections management degree on this list, but that doesn't mean CSU's program is of cheap quality. In fact, this degree stands out for its flexibility in terms of both academics and scheduling. Not only does CSU feature a generous transfer policy and "alternative credit options," but it also supports a large number of specializations - which students can apply to any degree program. That means that while majoring in Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Administration, you'll have the freedom to tack on targeted electives in subjects like Criminology, Business Administration, Emergency Management, Criminal Forensics, and more.

  2. West Texas A&M University
    Location

    Canyon, TX

    Tuition

    $8481

    Offered entirely online, WTAMU's criminal justice degree is perfect for students who have a strong interest in administration. With a relatively small core curriculum, the program devotes much of its coursework to an administrative specialization. Classes within this emphasis include "Administration of Criminal Justice Organizations" and "Ethics, Justice, and EMA Systems," Somewhat uniquely, this affordable online correctional administration programs also require you to take a number of classes from other departments, such as sociology and public administration. This approach ensures that you acquire a broad overview of criminal justice - and related fields - while still getting the targeted managerial training you need.

  3. Missouri Southern State University
    Location

    Joplin, MO

    Tuition

    $8817

    Missouri Southern State University stands out on this online corrections management degrees ranking with its flexible yet specialized curriculum. To start with, all CJA majors at MSSU will take the same 39-credit core, which covers criminal law and procedure, corrections, juvenile justice, and more. You'll then get to customize the curriculum however you see fit by choosing from a lengthy list of electives. In addition to the standard fare, choices also include unique topics like "Fish and Game Enforcement" and "Family Violence." Lastly, you might consider specializing your education with a related minor. Options include corrections, juvenile justice, and crime scene investigation.

  4. SUNY College of Technology at Canton
    Location

    Canton, NY

    Tuition

    $10225

    Looking for a "dual approach" to your education that combines aspects of both business and public safety? Well, that's exactly how SUNY Canton describes its Bachelor of Technology in Criminal Justice, which has a focus in Law Enforcement Leadership. An accredited online corrections management degree for students seeking supervisory positions in the criminal justice field, Canton's program is decidedly career-oriented. You'll take classes like "Leadership and Decision Making" and "Criminal Justice Agency Management," and you'll even have the option to attend a law enforcement academy in your final semester. You can also choose to cap off your studies with an internship or sequence of upper-level electives.

  5. Park University
    Location

    Parkville, MO

    Tuition

    $10774

    Park University's BS in Criminal Justice Administration offers a "modern professional curriculum" that not only covers all the basics of the field but also allows you to specialize in a specific career track. These areas of concentration are Law Enforcement, Corrections, and Security. The basic coursework for all three concentrations is relatively similar. However, those on the Corrections track will study probation and parole, while Law Enforcement and Security concentrators will take classes in criminal investigation and security administration, respectively. Another notable feature of Park's accredited online criminal justice administration degree is its capstone experience, which requires you to complete either an internship or senior writing project and seminar.

  6. Tarleton State University
    Location

    Stephenville, TX

    Tuition

    $12239

    For a flexible, broad-based education in justice administration, take a look at Tarleton State University. TSU's program accepts prior college credit as well as training and/or certifications from law enforcement and military programs. If you have documentation that you have at least 496 hours of training experience, you'll earn 33 credits toward your degree - that's an entire year's worth of classes! Your remaining credits will come from taking online correctional administration program classes, which cover a wide berth of topics. For example, you'll take "Community Corrections" and "Criminal Evidence" along with less common courses like "Survey of Forensic Science" and "Criminal Justice Statistics."

  7. Franklin University
    Location

    Columbus, OH

    Tuition

    $12241

    Franklin University offers a straight-forward, transfer-friendly online criminal justice administration degree that will prepare you for leadership positions throughout the field. And while some programs focus mainly on legal theory or government, Franklin's degree almost exclusively covers topics related to law enforcement and corrections. The result is a practically-minded curriculum that will qualify you for in-demand jobs - not just as a police officer, but also as a prison guard, probation officer, bailiff, and other similar occupations. Plus, you can specialize your studies with a concentration in one of four areas: Public Administration, Law Enforcement, Homeland Security, or Corrections.

  8. Union Institute & University
    Location

    Cincinnati, OH

    Tuition

    $12896

    Union University's criminal justice management program is designed to help you "rise through the ranks of law enforcement." Focused on practical issues and real-world experience, Union's program employs faculty who have first-hand experience in the field and can offer you career-relevant skills. And compared to other schools on this online correctional administration programs ranking, Union's degree is particularly management-focused. Many of the classes are geared toward developing your leadership skills, such as "Supervision in the Criminal Justice Field," "Contemporary Issues in Criminal Justice Management," and "Criminal Justice Management and Administration."

  9. Whitworth University
    Location

    Spokane, WA

    Tuition

    $12960

    Although many applicants to Whitworth's criminal justice administration program already have their associate's degree, the university also accepts students with no college credit. Plus, the school will also offer credit for past work experience in law enforcement, police academy training, and professional portfolios. Those who qualify will enjoy the convenience of accelerated, six-week classes and a schedule that allows them to graduate in just 18 months. Add in the fact that Whitworth will pay for your textbooks and you've got one of the top bachelor's in criminal justice administration online. Note, however, that this is technically a hybrid program, so you should plan on visiting campus about three times per six-week term.

  10. National University
    Location

    La Jolla, CA

    Tuition

    $13016

    Of all the best cheap online correctional administration programs, National University's BS degree stands out for two reasons. First, the curriculum is uniquely compatible with California's POST police academy training requirements. As a result, certified police officers in the state can leverage their training to earn a bachelor's from National in just 10 courses. The other reason? In addition to a solid core curriculum, this criminal justice degree breaks out from the pack with some truly novel electives. Examples include "Gangs in America," "Minorities, Crime, and Social Justice" and "Organized and White-Collar Crime."

Thanks for reading our ranking of the 20 top cheap corrections management degrees online!

Sources:
IPEDS Data Center
College Navigator

See also:
20 Cheap Online Criminal Justice Degree Programs (Bachelor's) 2019
Corrections Management Scholarships

Get prepared for your next steps

Use articles and resources to uncover answers to common questions, get guidance on your goals, and learn about applying to schools.

Discover a program that is right for you.

Explore different options for you based on your degree interests.