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Master of Science in Criminology and Criminal Justice Northeastern University - Boston Campus Northeastern University - Boston Campus, USA

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USD 18411

Annual Tuition Fee

!
*Subject to change and other fees
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USD 100 Waived

Application Fee

Duration icon

24 months

Duration

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7

IELTS

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100

TOEFL

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70%

Min GPA

Program Overview

This master’s program considers all aspects of the criminal justice process and also allows students to build their knowledge in specialized topics like victimology, security management, psychology, incarceration, and juvenile law. The curriculum, which can be completed in one year, offers professionals the knowledge and skills to lead in policymaking, research, analysis, or law enforcement roles. Courses are taught by world-class faculty members who make discoveries at the forefront of the field and provide individualized mentorship. Whether students earn their degrees online, on campus, or in a combination of both, they benefit from becoming members of Northeastern’s global alumni network.

The MSCJ program features a range of options for customization, including a cybersecurity concentration, the ability to complete a graduate certificate in a related field, and experiential learning. The School of Criminology and Criminal Justice offers guidance and support for cooperative education (co-op) experiences, helping to find full-time placements in organizations such as law offices, federal agencies, political campaigns, police departments, and research centers. In addition, many graduate students make valuable contributions to our highly collaborative scholarly community by joining multigenerational research teams.

Cooperative Education Experiences

Cooperative education is one of the most distinctive aspects of earning a degree from Northeastern, leveraging the university’s many relationships in the public and private sector to offer unique experiential learning opportunities. U.S. News & World Report ranked Northeastern as the best in the country for programs that combine classroom learning with real-world experience. MSCJ students may choose to add a co-op to the required curriculum, extending the program by six months.

These experiences consist of full-time work in a field related to criminology and criminal justice, such as law, courts, corrections, human services, investigations, loss prevention, or social services. During this period, students must also take a two credit hour, online cooperative integration course, resulting in a total of 34 credit hours for the program.

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Additional Information

Program Level Master's Degree

College/University Processing Time 30 Days

Program Format Full-Time

Optional Practical Training (OPT) work permit

Program Intake

Open

Jan 2026

Closed

Sep 2025

General Admission Requirement

    Academic Requirement

    • Minimum Level of Education Required: To be accepted into this program, applicants must have a Bachelor's Degree.

    7 IELTS Score
    100 TOEFL Score Minimum Overall Score
    64 PTE Score Minimum Overall Score
    120 Duolingo Minimum Overall Score
    70% CGPA Minimum Overall Score

    Similar Programs

    Tuition Fee

    The values given below are estimated figures, excluding extra charges like material fee, student activity fees, athletic fees, health care, etc., for courses. To know more, please visit the Programs page.

    Average Tuition Fee Per Year

    18411

    Tuition Fee
    (USD)

    USD 100 Waived

    Application Fee
    (USD)

    31194 Per year

    Average Cost of Living
    (USD)

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    The living costs include the total expenses per month, covering accommodation, public transportation, utilities (electricity, internet), books and groceries.

    Check program website for more information about funding options.

    Scholarships

     

    Type of Scholarship Scholarship Information Amount/ Range
    Undergraduate Merit based scholarship-prestigious Dean’s Scholarship
    Northeastern National Scholarships
    Graduate Merit scholarships by college
    Undergraduate Merit based scholarship-prestigious Dean’s Scholarship: All fall first-year applicants who apply for undergraduate admission to Northeastern no later than the Regular Decision deadline of January 1 are considered.

    Northeastern National Scholarships-Awarded to admitted students who are designated as National Merit Finalists and list Northeastern University–Boston as their first-choice college with the National Merit Scholarship Corporation by the priority deadline (April 11, 2025).

    Note: Students can receive only one of the above scholarships. These awards are not available to students in the Northeastern London double degree program.

    LINK: https://admissions.northeastern.edu/cost-financial-aid/merit-scholarships/

    Merit scholarships by college
    you may be considered for merit-based scholarships through your chosen college. To be considered for these awards, you must submit your application for admission by the application deadline.

     

        Bouvé College of Health Sciences
        College of Arts, Media and Design
        College of Engineering
        College of Professional Studies
        College of Science
        College of Social Sciences and Humanities
        D’Amore-McKim School of Business
        Khoury College of Computer Sciences
        School of Law

    Please note that scholarship eligibility criteria may vary depending on the scholarship and the program or college, and awards are managed by individual academic departments—not the Office of Student Financial Services. If you have questions regarding merit-based scholarships for graduate programs, please contact the department, college, or school to which you are applying or are currently enrolled.
    LINK: https://graduate.northeastern.edu/admissions-aid/tuition-financial-aid/scholarships/
    Undergraduate Merit based scholarship-prestigious Dean’s Scholarship: up to $28,000 annually
    Northeastern National Scholarships-Competitive merit-based award (exact amount not specified); replaces other Northeastern merit awards
    Graduate Merit scholarships by college: varies

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