Scholarships are grants given usually based on merit, although there are some based on need. These monies are given mostly by non-profit organizations who have an interest in seeing law enforcement students succeed. They are not the easiest form of financing to find, especially when it comes to criminal justice. However, they do exist, and below are four examples of such funds.
According to collegescholarships.org, the College of Liberal Arts at Washington State University offers a Criminal Justice major. One of the scholarships they offer is the V. A. Leonard Scholarship, which is awarded to students based on academic excellence, as well as significant financial need.
Another funding opportunity offered by Straightforward is called the Media Law Enforcement scholarship. The amount awarded is small: only $500 in 2009. The requirements of the funding are that "you must be a student pursuing a career in police work, corrections, or other Criminal Justice fields." Their website offers a convenient, direct link to an application.
The American Criminal Justice Association offers a scholarship that is not associated with any one university. As the Criminal Justice Online Blog points out, they fund students annually, but as of 2009 their maximum payout per year is a meager $400 per year. The criteria is very strict and specific, and it is definitely for members only, stating that "The applicant must be a student member of ACJA to be considered." Academic achievement must be outstanding, and letters of recommendations are required.
Perhaps the most lucrative scholarship is offered by the Department of Homeland Security. Indeed, the Homeland Security DHS Scholarship and Fellowship program offers to pay full tuition and grant a stipend of $1,000 a month for nine months. The rules for maintaining this fellowship are very specific and rigid: you must not accept monies from any other source, be they loans or grants, unless approved by the Department; you must maintain a 3.3 average; you must be a U.S. citizen by the application deadline, and you must major in "homeland security science, technology, engineering or math."
Criminal justice majors will see an upsurge in demand in the coming years. DirectDegree.com suggests that "by 2010, there will be a 29 percent increase in the demand for FBI agents, police officers, private detectives, U.S. customs agents and many others," because of the "increased emphasis on homeland security," stemming from the events of September 11.