Decide whether you want to pursue an associate, bachelor or master's degree in criminal justice. You'll have a wider variety of schools to choose from if you're looking to obtain an associate or bachelor degree. Graduate criminal justice programs are offered by fewer schools than undergraduate programs. Call any colleges that you're interested in to find out what kind of degrees they offer.
Look for small class sizes. Schools that have an inadequate number of teachers place strains on the education of their students. Look for criminal justice colleges that have a 15:1 student to teacher ratio or less. Most colleges post this information on their websites, or will tell you over the phone.
Inquire about what kinds of criminal justice courses are offered. Most criminal justice college degrees require you to take a set number of specific courses. However, in addition to those courses, a number of credits are typically reserved for the student's choice of criminal justice-related courses. Look for colleges that offer a wide variety of courses or courses pertaining to your career field. For example, if you want to become a paralegal, you need to look for courses related to criminal law.
Explore criminal justice colleges that offer internship programs. Internships offer you the opportunity to get your foot in the door and understand what it's like to work in the criminal justice field.
Apply to colleges that offer a training academy program if you're interested in working in law enforcement. Training academy programs award credit hours and a certificate of completion, which can help when you seek employment once you graduate.