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Scholarships
Top criminal justice scholarships for you
Find scholarships for criminal justice majors that can help you pay for college.
Here’s a scholarship you can apply for in minutes.
Enter $2,000 scholarship*
Here’s a scholarship you can apply for in minutes.
What are criminal justice scholarships?
Criminal justice scholarships are financial aid for college created specifically for criminal justice students. Scholarships for criminal justice majors can help students access higher education opportunities that otherwise may be out of reach because of financial reasons. All scholarships are free money for college that you don’t have to pay back.
Eligibility requirements for criminal justice scholarships
Before you apply for criminal justice scholarships, make sure you check the eligibility requirements to see if you qualify. These may include:
- Minimum GPA
- Community service experience
- U.S. citizenship
- Plans to attend an accredited program
- Leadership skills
- FAFSA® submission
Scholarship requirements vary, so don’t assume you won’t qualify. Keep searching for scholarships that best match your qualifications.
Are criminal justice scholarships worth my time?
If you want to get as much free money as you can for your education, then yes! You’ll find some scholarships are quick and easy to apply for, while others require more time and effort. Typically, fewer students apply for scholarships that require work (like writing an essay) which means you could have better odds of winning if you apply for one of those.
Pro tip: Don’t pass up on criminal justice scholarships that have smaller award amounts. ($) There’s typically less competition for them—and they add up!
How do I find criminal justice scholarships?
From your school to national organizations, there are so many places to find criminal justice scholarships that can help you pay for college.
Scholarship resources
- The financial aid office at a college or career school
- Organizations (such as professional associations) related to your field of interest
- Federal agencies
- Free scholarship search engines, like Scholly Scholarships
- Local libraries, businesses, or associations
Your high school guidance office is a great place to start when looking for local scholarships. You could also try doing a search for your city’s name and “community foundation,” or the county you live in and “foundation.”
Scholly Scholarships
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Easily search through thousands of college scholarships based on your background, major, state you live in, and more.
Hot tip! Smaller scholarships may have less competition, increasing your odds of winning.
Scholarships for criminal justice majors
Pi Gamma Mu Scholarships
Due: 5/1/2025
No min. GPA Required
$2,500
Members of Pi Gamma Mu are qualified to be the recipient of a scholarship award to attend graduate school. Scholarships are intended for first time Graduate Student. Students who have already earned an advanced degree are not eligible to apply. The degree program must be in one of the following areas of study: anthropology, criminal justice, economics, geography-human, gerontology, history, history of education, human services, international relations, political science, psychology, social philosophy, sociology, social work, as well as related interdisciplinary programs anchored in the Social Sciences, particularly those that focus on age, environment, ethnicity, gender, race, and regional studies. Other interdisciplinary fields will be considered on an individual basis based upon the degree to which the social sciences are an integral component of the overall course of study. In such cases, applicants should submit a program description outlining requirements and coursework. Previous recipients of Pi Gamma Mu scholarships are not eligible to apply again. Applicants must submit the names of at least three people who will be providing them with recommendations using the online form. The recommendations should be made by individuals qualified to assess your academic merit within the social sciences. Please visit the scholarship's website for more information.
North Carolina Sheriffs' Association Undergraduate Criminal Justice Scholarships
Due: Varies
No min. GPA Required
No Transcripts Required
$2,000
The North Carolina Sheriffs' Association (NCSA) created the Criminal Justice Scholarship Program to assist students who are dependents of law enforcement officials or who are studying in the criminal justice field and express an interest in pursuing a career in law enforcement. Applicants must be enrolled for a minimum of 12 credit hours in a degree granting criminal justice program at one of the institutions of The University of North Carolina or the North Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities. Applicants must express an interest in pursuing a career in law enforcement and must be recommended by their local sheriff. One nominee for the scholarship is chosen each year by the financial aid office at each eligible college or university. Applications must be approved and signed by the financial aid official at the college or university. The Financial Aid Official will mail the chosen application(s) to either NCSEAA or NCICU. Other eligible institutions are Salem College, Campbell University, Lenoir-Rhyne University, Shaw University, Catawba College, Livingston College, St. Augustine's University, Chowan University, Mars Hill University, University of Mount Olive, Gardner-Webb University, Meredith College, William Peace University, Greensboro College, Methodist University, Wingate University, Guilford College, and Montreat College. Please visit the scholarship's website for more information.
Commander Newell S. Rand Jr. Scholarship Program
Due: 6/1/2025
No Transcripts Required
$1,000
The Park Law Enforcement Association's Commander Newell S. Rand Jr. Scholarship Program was created to honor the memory of a pioneer in our field. The program is designed to provide a scholarship to person's pursuing an Associate, Bachelor or Master's Degree in an accredited course of study relating to a career in some aspect of park operations. Applicants must be a graduate of an accredited high school, or be enrolled in college or university. High school graduates must have a cumulative GPA of 3.0; and applicants enrolled in college must have a cumulative GPA of 2.5. Once awarded, a recipient must maintain a 2.8 GPA each semester and remain a full-time student for the duration of the scholarship. Qualified candidates must be pursuing a degree in one of the following areas of study: Conservation Law Enforcement; Criminal Justice or Police Science; Natural Resource Management; Park Management or Administration; or any related degree that indicates a clear career path to some aspect of park operations as a career goal. Three letters of recommendation are required, one of which must be from a counselor or instructor, principal or college advisor. A listing and summary of school and community service activities that exhibit the applicant's leadership and character must also be submitted. Please visit the scholarship's website for more information.
Sarasota County Law Enforcement Academy Program (LEAP) Endowed Fund
Due: 9/3/2025
No Essay
No Recommendations Required
No Transcripts Required
Amount varies
The Sarasota County Law Enforcement Academy Program (LEAP) Endowed Fund is available to students in the College of Criminology and Criminal Justice pursuing their state officer certification at Pat Thomas Law Enforcement Academy or another equally accredited law enforcement academy while enrolled in the criminology internship program. Applicants must participate in the Lambda Alpha Epsilon criminology fraternity. First preference will be given to a resident of Sarasota County, FL, or a child of a resident of Sarasota County, FL.
Jacksonville Sheriff's Office Endowed Scholarship
Due: 9/3/2025
No Essay
No Recommendations Required
No Transcripts Required
Amount varies
The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office Endowed Scholarship is available to students in the College of Criminology and Criminal Justice with demonstrated academic success and financial need. Preference will be given to a resident of Duval County in Florida or the child of a Duval County resident.
Palm Beach County LEAP Program Endowment
Due: 9/3/2025
No Essay
No min. GPA Required
No Recommendations Required
No Transcripts Required
Amount varies
The Palm Beach County LEAP Program Endowment is open to students in the College of Criminology and Criminal Justice enrolled in the LEAP program and the Pat Thomas Law Enforcement Academy. Applicants must be from Palm Beach County, FL.
Altman Malloy Memorial LEAP Scholarship
Due: 9/3/2025
No Essay
No Recommendations Required
No Transcripts Required
Amount varies
The Altman Malloy Memorial LEAP Scholarship is open to full-time underGraduate Student in the College of Criminology and Criminal Justice who choose to pursue their state officer certification at Pat Thomas Law Enforcement Academy or another equally accredited law enforcement academy while enrolled in the criminology internship program. Students must also participate in the Lambda Alpha Epsilon criminology fraternity. First preference will be given to a resident of Walton County, FL, or a child of a resident of Walton County, FL.
Atkins and Robinson's Scholarship
Due: 6/30/2025
No Recommendations Required
No Transcripts Required
Amount varies
The Atkins and Robinson's Scholarship is open to students majoring in Criminal Justice. Students must demonstrate financial needs and be in good standing.
Elmer L. Peters Memorial Law Enforcement Officer Tuition, Textbook and Toolbox Scholarship
Due: 4/30/2025
No Essay
No min. GPA Required
No Recommendations Required
No Transcripts Required
$500
The Elmer L. Peters Memorial Law Enforcement Officer Tuition, Textbook, and Toolbox Scholarship is awarded for tuition, textbooks, and tools to a degree-seeking student in Criminal Justice Technology. The student must also be a post-certified officer currently serving in a law enforcement position. Once awarded, funds are split with $250 applied to tuition and $250 applied to textbook and toolbox expenses.
What types of criminal justice scholarships are available?
Need-based scholarships
These are scholarships for students who have demonstrated a financial need. There’s no universal number or set income level that tells you if you qualify. How each scholarship defines what financial need means varies. The federal government as well as specific organizations, corporations, and colleges/universities/schools offer need-based scholarships.
Merit scholarships
Merit scholarships are for students who have shown high academic, athletic, or extracurricular achievement over their high school careers. Not all schools/colleges offer merit-aid—highly selective schools typically don’t. The process for applying for merit scholarships varies. For merit scholarships offered through colleges and universities, you generally don’t have to do anything other than complete the application to the school itself. For some schools, you need to submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) to be eligible.
Career-specific grants or scholarships
These are awarded to students who know they want a career in a specific industry. Maybe they know they want to be a teacher, a nurse, or an engineer. To be eligible for grants, students must submit the FAFSA®. To find career-specific scholarships, try searching for your major and “association.”
Community or nonprofit scholarships
Nonprofit and community organizations often receive funding from donors to create scholarship programs for students who need them.
Tips for successful scholarship applications
- Pull together everything you need for the application including transcripts, so you can submit a complete scholarship application.
- You may need a recommendation letter or letters for a scholarship. Ask a teacher, employer, or someone else who knows you to write one for you—and be sure to give them enough time to do it.
- If you’re writing a scholarship essay, follow the prompt, answer the essay question completely, and write from your experience. A few well-written essays that you can reuse for different scholarship applications can really pay off.
- Highlight your strengths and achievements in your application.
- Talk about your financial need and what you would use the scholarship money for if you won. How would it help?
- Have to interview for a scholarship? Dress to impress in a professional outfit. And do your research! Look into how/why the scholarship was created. Try to bring up why it’s meaningful to you. Also, don’t forget to send a thank-you note afterwards.
- Keep track of all the deadlines for the scholarships you’re applying to. If you miss one, they may not extend the due date.
- Apply for scholarships year after year, all through college. As you continue your studies, gain more experience, and try new extracurricular activities in college, you might be eligible for more scholarships you weren’t originally qualified for.
Want more tips to up your chances of winning? Check out our scholarship guide for everything you need to know about finding and winning scholarships.
Frequently asked questions
These tips can help as you get ready to apply for criminal justice scholarships.
When are scholarship application deadlines?
There’s no standard deadline for scholarship applications. Each scholarship has its own deadline, so be sure to keep track of dates and make sure you don’t miss any deadlines of scholarships that you want to apply to.
Do you need to know which college you’re attending?
You don’t need to know which college you’re going to attend before applying for most scholarships. However, once you’re awarded scholarships, some of them may ask for eligibility verification—which can include proof of college enrollment.
Is there a limit on how many scholarships you can apply for?
Absolutely not, so apply for as many as you can to increase your chances of winning free money. Want to find more types of scholarships? There are so many, check them out!
Pro tip: Apply for scholarships each year you’re in college.
Does every scholarship application require an essay?
Not every scholarship will ask you to submit an essay—different scholarships have different requirements. If you’re applying for a scholarship with an essay and need help writing yours, get tips for writing scholarship essays.
Need more money for college?
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More resources to explore
Tips for writing scholarship essays
Get tips for writing scholarship essays. Learn what makes a good scholarship essay.
Find scholarship resources
Explore our scholarship resources, articles, and guide to get all the tips and tricks to help pay for college.
Fill out the FAFSA®
Learn when and how to apply for the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) to maximize your chances of getting federal student financial aid. Get tips now.
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