The University of Arkansas at Little Rock Criminal Justice Program has been ranked among the best in the country. 

SuccessfulStudent.org ranked UA Little Rock 25th on its article featuring the best criminal justice programs in the U.S. and was the only school in Arkansas selected for the list.

“We are proud of the quality of education and standards of our programs,” said Dr. Tusty ten Bensel, graduate coordinator of the UA Little Department of Criminal Justice. “We are dedicated to fostering the development of well-balanced citizens.”

The UA Little Rock Department of Criminal Justice offers an associate’s degree in law enforcement, bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, on-campus and online master’s degree programs, and is the only university in the state to offer a doctorate in criminal justice.

Some of the highlights of the criminal justice program include a low student-to-faculty ratio, numerous scholarship opportunities for students, and internship opportunities that provide students with real-world experience and connections.

“Our low student-to-faculty ratio allows us to cultivate a sense of community among students and faculty,” ten Bensel said. “As a result, this rich atmosphere facilitates the development and refinement of research and practical skills, as well as academic and professional sophistication. We strongly believe in preparing students to be successful by setting high expectations that are obtainable through immersive classroom experiences and one-on-one mentoring.”   

The program also houses the Justice Research and Policy Center, which cultivates, supports, and disseminates data-driven research on criminal justice issues relevant to the state of Arkansas, the Criminal Justice Society, an on-campus service student organization that provides opportunities for students to network and have experiences with professionals in the field, and the Criminal Justice Summer Research program, a four-week in-depth program that helps prepare undergraduate students for graduate education through intensive research experiences with criminal justice faculty members.

Programs were ranked based on the quality of the criminal justice program, types of courses offered, the faculty, awards, rankings, and reputation.