For many, finding a way to pay for tuition can be the most challenging part of going back to school. Fortunately, there are many different sources of educational funding- you just need to know where to look for them!

Grants, for example, are a sum of money that you can use to pay for your tuition and do not have to repay. Grants and scholarships are alike in this, but grants are usually awarded more for financial need, whereas scholarships are awarded more for merit (accomplishing an achievement as defined by the scholarship sponsors). Grants can be large or small, but every dollar helps, so you should apply for every grant opportunity you qualify for.

The U.S. Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) offers a couple of different grants for police officers to use for continuing education and training programs. One is the Byrne Formula Grant Program, which memorializes the death of a New York City police officer killed by drug dealers. The grant program is designed to help train police officers in techniques to combat drugs in their community. Another grant offered by the BJA is the Local Law Enforcement Block Grant (LLEBG), which supports projects that “reduce crime and improve public safety”. Police officers from all 50 states, Washington, D.C. and all U.S. Territories are eligible to apply.

To Apply, you would need to contact:

Programs Office
Bureau of Justice Assistance
810 Seventh Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20531
202-307-0703

Another grant that is available to all students, no matter what you are studying, is the Pell Grant. Pell Grants are awarded to low-income college students whose family income falls below a certain level. In order to qualify for a Pell Grant you must be a U.S. citizen and an undergraduate student. When you fill out a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), you are automatically considered for a Pell Grant. To learn more, be sure to check out EducationGrant.

Other way to fund your Criminal Justice Education:

• Criminal Justice Scholarships
• Student Loans