Top Criminal Justice Scholarships in 2025: Where to Find the Best Opportunities

Paying for college isn’t easy, especially for students in a criminal justice program. Luckily, many scholarships for criminal justice majors offer reduced tuition costs and help you stay focused on your degree in criminal justice.

These are some of the most known scholarships:

1. The Melissa Linville Criminal Justice Scholarship – For students pursuing post-secondary education focusing on a career in Criminal Justice
2. Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) Scholarships – For students pursuing a degree in criminal justice  -  especially those connected to law enforcement families
3. James Madison Graduate Fellowships – Supports students focusing on civic education, public policy, or constitutional law.

This post helps you find criminal justice scholarships in 2025, whether you’re an incoming freshman, graduate student, or already enrolled full-time.

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Notable Criminal Justice Scholarships

Finding the right criminal justice scholarships can feel like digging through a mountain of confusing forms and vague websites. But when you finally land one, it can change everything by lifting a serious weight off your shoulders.

We’ve gathered some of the best options for criminal justice students enrolled in an accredited institution. These are aimed at folks who want to make a difference in the criminal justice system. So, if that’s you, here are 9 scholarship opportunities to keep on your radar for the 2025 academic year.

If you’re just applying and need to craft a winning pitch but you got stuck halfway through, you can ask EssayPro 'finish my essay' - we won’t disappoint. 

1. Art and Criminal Justice Scholarships

Art and Criminal Justice Scholarships are perfect for full-time undergraduate or graduate students in accredited universities and are awarded based on studies in the criminal justice field. 

• Amount: $2,000
• Deadline: May 2025
• Eligibility: Full-time undergraduate or graduate students 

2. VSI Scholarship Program

VSI Scholarship Program offers an opportunity for people across Virginia to pursue an education in criminal justice. The scholarships are available only to students in jurisdictions where sheriffs participated in scholarship fundraising efforts.

• Amount: Varies each year depending on the number of students. 
• Deadline: May 2025
• Eligibility: Permanent residents in a Virginia county or city where their sheriff is a member of the Virginia Sheriffs’ Institute.

3. The Melissa Linville Criminal Justice Scholarship

The Melissa Linville Criminal Justice Scholarship is sponsored by DISA Global Solutions and is a tribute to the memory and legacy of Melissa M. Linville, a former member of their Crimcheck team. This award is intended for students currently enrolled in or recent high school graduates pursuing post-secondary education focusing on a career in Criminal Justice.

• Amount: $500
• Deadline: August 2025
• Eligibility: Must be enrolled in post-secondary education or be a high school senior/recent high school graduate pursuing post-secondary education in the Criminal Justice field.

4. WIFLE Scholarship

Women who wish to pursue careers in federal law enforcement, listen up  -  the WIFLE scholarship is about helping women enter male-dominated fields like criminal justice.

• Amount: $2,500
• Deadline: May 2025
• Eligibility: Must be a full-time student in a criminal justice program and plan to work in federal service or attend graduate school

5. Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) Scholarships

Many local FOP lodge Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) Scholarships to students pursuing a degree in criminal justice  -  especially those connected to law enforcement families.

• Amount: Up to $500.00
• Deadline: Within forty-five days after the completion of the semester for which the member is applying and in which enrolled.
• Eligibility: Check with your local FOP lodge for their specific eligibility criteria and requirements

A quick tip: Almost all of these scholarships require a solid scholarship essay. If that part stresses you out (no judgment!), you can always get help. If you need help with criminal justice topics for your research, read our article and find the one you’re most curious about. 

6. Chicago Police and Firefighter Training Academy (CPFTA)

The Chicago Police and Firefighter Training Academy (CPFTA) is a two-year program for students interested in careers in public safety, law enforcement, criminal justice, and fire science.

• Amount: Varies
• Deadline: May 2025
• Eligibility: Chicago Sophomores in high school with good academic standing

7. LEEP Dream Scholarship

The LEEP Dream Scholarship supports students looking to pursue careers in public safety, security, or the criminal justice system.

• Amount: $1,000 – $5,000
• Deadline: July 2025
• Eligibility: Full-time undergraduate students working toward a career in law enforcement or public service

8. Don Schmidt Scholarship

Don Schmidt Scholarship, offered by Ohio Parks and Recreation Association Foundation supports students majoring in parks/law enforcement with leadership skills and a passion for public service.

• Amount: $1,000
• Deadline: May 2025
• Eligibility: students majoring in parks/law enforcement who are committed to improving the justice system

9. James Madison Graduate Fellowships

James Madison Graduate Fellowships lean more toward political science, but it’s a smart option if your focus is on civic education, public policy, or constitutional law. It fits well with a graduate program in criminal justice.

• Amount: Up to $24,000
• Deadline: June 2025
• Eligibility: For those planning to work in public service or teach government-related topics

Where to Find Scholarships for Criminal Justice?

We realize that with so many scholarships, it can get overwhelming to find the right criminal justice program for you. On top of that, you’re juggling classes, work, or just trying to stay on top of life. The good news is that there's no need to dig through some sketchy websites or spend hours and hours refreshing search results. You can find reliable places to help you find the scholarship of your dreams.

Begin with:

• Your college’s financial aid office – They do offer lists of scholarships based on your department or major.
• Professional organizations – We've already talked about this - groups like NOBLE, ACFE, and WIFLE regularly offer scholarships for criminal justice students.
• Government websites – Check out state and federal education sites for public service scholarships.
• Scholarship databases – Use platforms like Fastweb, Scholarships.com, and Cappex to filter by major, location, and background.
• EssayPro's blog – Helpful for finding resources like the best criminal justice schools.

Wherever you look, just make sure the scholarships are legit and clearly list eligibility and application requirements.

How to Win a Criminal Justice Scholarship

Winning a criminal justice scholarship takes more than just filling out a form. It’s more about showing how serious, focused, and ready you are to contribute to the field. It doesn't matter if you're planning to become a detective, policy analyst, or federal agent. What matters is that your application shows that passion. Here’s how you can stand out during the process:

Sum Up

Criminal justice scholarships can significantly ease your financial load. From national organizations to local law enforcement groups, there are plenty of scholarship opportunities if you know where to look, how to apply, and how to stand out.

And if the application essays have you stressed, we're here to help. You can get law essay help at EssayPro and count on trusted pros who understand the demands of a criminal justice program.

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