Each year, roughly 0.8% of Maine students graduate with degrees in criminal justice. In other words, every year an estimated 225 criminal justice professionals graduate from Maine's 10 criminal justice schools.

Top Schools

The top-ranked school in Maine that has a criminal justice program is Saint Joseph's College of Maine. Saint Joseph's College of Maine, which was ranked 42nd in the country in 2010, is located in Standish. In 2010, Saint Joseph's College of Maine graduated 11 students from its criminal justice program. The tuition rate at Saint Joseph's College of Maine was $27,345 per year.

The second-ranked school in Maine that has a criminal justice program is Husson University. Husson University, which was ranked 50th in the country in 2010, is located in Bangor. In 2010, 41 students graduated from Husson University criminal justice program. The tuition rate at Husson University was $13,450 per year.

The third-ranked school in Maine with a criminal justice program is Thomas College, which is located in Waterville. In 2010, it was ranked 50th nationwide. In 2010, Thomas College graduated 17 students from its criminal justice programs. The tuition rate at Thomas College was $21,680 per year.

Cost

Criminal justice schools in Maine, charge students an average tuition of $9,903 per year. But, tuition can be as much as $27,345 per year, or as little as $3,180 per year. The highest tuition rates in 2010 at Maine criminal justice schools were charged at the following schools:

1. Saint Joseph's College of Maine - located in Standish, students are charged $27,345 per year
2. Thomas College - located in Waterville, students are charged $21,680 per year
3. Husson University - located in Bangor, students are charged $13,450 per year

The criminal justice schools in Maine that charged the lowest tuition rates were:

1. York County Community College - located in Wells, students are charged $3,180 per year
2. Southern Maine Community College - located in South Portland, students are charged $3,395 per year
3. Central Maine Community College - located in Auburn, students are charged $3,510 per year

A criminal justice degree from a Maine school... what next?

Special agent, private detective, security guard, bailiff, and paralegal are the professions of choice for a majority of criminal justice graduates in Maine. Maine had 5,120 criminal justice professionals in 2010. 1,430 of these criminal justice professionals were correctional officers, 560 were special agents, and 140 were private detectives. In Maine, the largest numbers of criminal justice professional work in the following counties:

1. Cumberland County - 3,600 criminal justice professionals
2. Aroostook County - 440 criminal justice professionals
3. Penobscot County - 400 criminal justice professionals

Projected Growth

According the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the number of criminal justice professionals is expected to grow by 5% by 2018. There are projected to be 5,470 criminal justice professionals working in Maine then. Of these 5,470 criminal justice professionals, the government predicts that 1,370 will be correctional officers, 440 will be special agents, and an unknown number will be private detectives.

Salary

On average, criminal justice professionals earn a salary of $39,753 per year in Maine state. But, salaries for criminal justice professional can vary. In 2010, criminal justice professional made as little as less than $16,260 per year or as much as more than $145,350 per year in Maine. The following counties in Maine have the highest average salaries for criminal justice professionals:

1. Aroostook County - $41,205 per year
2. Penobscot County - $40,573 per year
3. Cumberland County - $39,806 per year

The following counties in Maine have the lowest average salaries for criminal justice professional:

1. Androscoggin County - $32,720 per year
2. Cumberland County - $39,806 per year
3. Penobscot County - $40,573 per year

On average, the highest paid criminal justice professionals in Maine were:

1. Special Agent - $62,090 per year
2. Private Detective - $43,870 per year
3. Paralegal - $42,720 per year

On average, the lowest paid criminal justice professionals in Maine were:

4. Bailiff - $30,380 per year
5. Security Guard - $25,630 per year

More Information

Take a look at the graphs and charts below for additional Maine statistics regarding a career in criminal justice and to compare salaries with a variety of related fields such as criminology or forensic science.