University News

WIU LEJA Ranked 12th Most Affordable Criminal Justice Degree in Nation

February 20, 2020

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MACOMB, IL – The Western Illinois University School of Law Enforcement and Justice Administration (LEJA) undergraduate degree program has been ranked among the top 35 most affordable criminal justice degree programs in the nation, coming in at number 12, by Great Value Colleges.

According to greatvaluecolleges.net, the rankings are determined by using data collected from College Navigator regarding tuition, as well as program information from each institution's official website. Western's program was selected not only for the program's affordability, but also for the institution's overall outstanding reputation, faculty excellence and its commitment to providing nontraditional students access to a quality degree program.

The School of Law Enforcement was established in 1969 and boasts more than 13,200 alumni around the globe, and nearly 2,000 students are currently enrolled as LEJA majors and/or minors. The School of LEJA currently offers three Bachelor of Science degrees: Law Enforcement and Justice Administration, Fire Protection Services and Emergency Management, as well as a Master of Arts in Public Safety Administration.

"We're pleased to be recognized as one of the most affordable criminal justice degree programs in the nation," said Director Jill Myers. "We provide outstanding educational opportunities for our students, including hands-on experiences in our McCamey Crime Lab and much more. Our courses keep up with the times, and our students learn about very timely and topical issues in law enforcement."

Students majoring in LEJA can obtain their degree by taking classes on WIU's main campus in Macomb or the Quad Cities branch campus, online or a combination of both. WIU's School of LEJA began offering it bachelor's and master's degree programs online several years ago to accommodate working criminal justice professionals, actively deployed military students and non-traditional students. In addition to the online degree opportunities, WIU's School of LEJA also partners with the Illinois Department of Corrections and community colleges to offer a seamless transition toward their degree and career success.

In Fall 2019, the school's online degree was ranked sixth out of 50 schools across the U.S. as the best online criminal justice degree program by Study.com. Western was the only Illinois institution included in the rankings.

For more information on WIU LEJA's degree programs, visit wiu.edu/LEJA, email LEJA@wiu.edu or call (309) 298-1038.

Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
Office of University Communications & Marketing