Frequently Asked Questions

Why choose NU's College of Criminal Justice Undergraduate Program?

Ranked #1 in the nation for programs that combine classroom learning with real-world experience, Northeastern University promises an exciting, challenging program designed to challenge students intellectually in their academic studies as well as in professional settings. In increasingly tight job market, NU graduates enter the job market at graduation with eighteen months (or more) or real-world experience, giving them a competitive advantage.

In addition to the advantages NU's co-op program offers, the College of Criminal Justice is home to some of the most prestigious faculty in this country as well as internationally. Our professors are engaged in exciting research on a variety of topics, including gun control, racial profiling, the role of race in the justice system, policing programs, and much more. They are widely published in their specialized fields, so you'll be learning from leaders in the justice community.

The College of Criminal Justice also has the advantage of being a small college nestled within a large university. That means that the College is small enough to foster mentoring relationships between professors and students, as well as having all the advantages of being in large university, such as an extensive library, top notch athletic facilities, and a rich academic curriculum.

Where do students complete their co-op experiences?

Our students complete their co-op experiences at a wide variety of placements involving law, social services, law enforcement, corrections, juvenile justice, research, private security, and government. Because Boston has so many outstanding opportunities, many of our students complete their co-op in the greater Boston area; however, our students have worked all over the United States as well as internationally. The following is a partial list of some of the places that NU students have worked as part of their co-op experience:

Visit our co-op section for more information.

What are some of the careers graduates of the program go into after graduation?

Many of our alumni have become police officers, correctional officers, crime research analysts, social service professionals, educators in the field of criminal justice, or policy analysts. Our graduates from both the undergraduate and Masters program are considerably accomplished, making the "alumni connection" a powerful networking tool for many new graduates. Here is a list of what some of our alumni are doing:

Michelle Alcala, '00, JD candidate, Harvard Law School

Jason Alexandre, MS '98, director of outcomes and research, Family Service of Rhode Island

David Ciriello, '02, graduate, Oxford MSc in Analytical Criminology and Criminal Justice from The University of Oxford

Heather Couture, '00, MS '01, PhD candidate, University of Maryland

Janet Fine, '82, executive director, Massachusetts Office for Victim Assistance

Jay Groob, UC '80, president, American Investigative Services, Boston and New York

Marcelo Kopcow, '89, MS '90, municipal court judge, Greeley, Colorado

Daniel O'Leary, '77, chief, Brookline (MA) Police Department

Bonnie Michelman, '80, corporate security director, Massachusetts General Hospital

Robert Wall, '72, special agent in charge (retired), U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, tobacco, and Firearms Boston Office

What fields of study can I pursue within criminal justice?

Policing, Security, Legal Studies, Criminology, Corrections or Juvenile Justice.

What is the average starting salary of graduates?

33k (class of 2002, undergraduates)

What percentage of graduates are employed or enrolled in a graduate program within nine months of graduation?

89% (class of 2002)

What does the class of 2007 look like?

For the incoming class in 2002, the average SAT (combined) was 1144 (579 for math, 569 for verbal scores), with an average high school GPA of 3.15. The class of 2007 students come from all regions of the country, as well as from Canada and Switzerland.