Becoming a Correctional Officer in Oklahoma

Correctional officers in Oklahoma work in a variety of local, federal, and state incarceration and administration facilities. While a majority of the state prisons are run by state agency, there is a mounting trend toward the hire of third-party contractors to manage and oversee all aspects of the facility, as is done with Cimarron Correctional Facility and Davis Correctional Facility. Oklahoma prison facilities have a range of incarceration options available - some, like the Howard McLeod Correctional Center and Jackie Brannon Correctional Center contain a secured space for long-term and violent offenders. Others, like Oklahoma City Community Corrections Center focus on minimum-security units for inmates. Community work centers focus on supporting inmates who have clearance for outside jobs and community support programs. Regardless, Oklahoma's Department of Corrections maintains a safe, professional environment to benefit staff, inmates, and surrounding communities. State need, coupled with federal facilities (Federal Correctional Institution, El Reno) and an extensive county jail system means that staffing needs over the next 10 years are poised to grow at a steady rate (BLS.gov) - in Oklahoma this means that there will be approximately 200 new positions created for frontline correctional officers, as well as gaps to be filled in existing staff deployment as senior corrections officers retire, change jobs, or advance their careers. Read more to discover more information about opportunities in corrections below.

30
Schools Analyzed
10
Schools Ranked

Top Schools Supporting Careers in Criminal Justice & Corrections

The following rankings are based on student data, published surveys, and other school and career data collected from several sources which include the following government agencies:

Data Sources

  • National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)
  • The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS)

By obtaining our base data set from the above data sources, schools were ranked using the criteria below:

  • Schools with less than 10 total graduates per year were omitted in order to maintain statistical integrity
  • Schools must have at least 1 graduate in the field of criminal justice
  • Only 4-year, 2-year, and technical public and private non-profit schools were included

Schools were sorted in order of the highest percentage of total students graduating with a degree in the field of criminal justice (CIPCODES: 43.0102, 43.0110, 43.0113, 43.0103, 43.0104, 43.0107, 43.0109, 43.0111, 43.0112, 43.0199).

1

Bacone College

2299 Old Bacone Rd, Muskogee, OK 74403-1597

Bacone College ranks 1st in our latest rankings with 16 students completing programs in criminal justice out of a total 288 graduates from the 2012-2013 school year.

Ranking Details

  • Percent of Graduates: 5.56%
  • Program Graduates: 16
  • Total Graduates: 288

School Details

  • School Type: Private, 4-year
  • Website: bacone.edu
  • School Size: Less than 1,000
2

Cameron University

2800 West Gore Blvd, Lawton, OK 73505-6377

Cameron University ranks 2nd in our rankings with 92 students completing programs in corrections out of a total 1,746 graduates in the 2012-2013 school year.

Ranking Details

  • Percent of Graduates: 5.27%
  • Program Graduates: 92
  • Total Graduates: 1,746

School Details

  • School Type: Public, 4-year
  • Website: cameron.edu
  • School Size: 5,000 - 10,000
3

Redlands Community College

1300 S Country Club Rd, El Reno, OK 73036-5304

Redlands Community College ranks 3rd in our rankings with thirty-two students completing programs in criminal justice out of a total 702 graduates from the 2012-2013 school year.

Ranking Details

  • Percent of Graduates: 4.56%
  • Program Graduates: 32
  • Total Graduates: 702

School Details

  • School Type: Public, 2-year
  • Website: redlandscc.edu
  • School Size: 1,000 - 5,000
4

Oklahoma State University-Oklahoma City

900 N Portland, Oklahoma City, OK 73107-6195

Oklahoma State University-Oklahoma City ranks 4th in our rankings with eighty-five students completing programs in criminal justice out of a total 1,912 graduates from the 2012-2013 school year.

Ranking Details

  • Percent of Graduates: 4.45%
  • Program Graduates: 85
  • Total Graduates: 1,912

School Details

  • School Type: Public, 4-year
  • Website: osuokc.edu
  • School Size: 5,000 - 10,000
5

Tulsa Technology Center-Peoria Campus

3850 N Peoria, Tulsa, OK 74106-1619

"Tulsa Tech's Criminal Justice program provides relevant and targeted training to equip students with the skills necessary for future success in law enforcement. Our students are trained in state-of-the-art facilities by instructors who have practical experience in the field. In addition, our instructors work closely with the law enforcement community to provide meaningful work-based experiences and post-training employment opportunities for our students."

 

- Randy Craven, Director, Tulsa Tech- Peoria Campus

Ranking Details

  • Percent of Graduates: 4.20%
  • Program Graduates: 28
  • Total Graduates: 666

School Details

  • School Type: Public, <2-year
  • Website: tulsatech.edu
  • School Size: Less than 1,000
6

Northeastern State University

600 N Grand, Tahlequah, OK 74464-2399

Northeastern State University ranks 6th in our latest rankings with 132 students graduating from programs in law enforcement administration out of a total 3,712 students in the 2012-2013 school year.

Ranking Details

  • Percent of Graduates: 3.56%
  • Program Graduates: 132
  • Total Graduates: 3,712

School Details

7

Western Oklahoma State College

2801 N Main St, Altus, OK 73521-1397

Western Oklahoma State College ranks 7th in our latest rankings with 19 students graduating from programs in criminal justice out of a total 552 students.

Ranking Details

  • Percent of Graduates: 3.44%
  • Program Graduates: 19
  • Total Graduates: 552

School Details

  • School Type: Public, 2-year
  • Website: wosc.edu
  • School Size: 1,000 - 5,000
8

Eastern Oklahoma State College

1301 W Main St, Wilburton, OK 74578-4999

Eastern Oklahoma State College ranks 8th in our latest rankings with 20 students graduating from programs in security and loss prevention services out of a total 630 students.

Ranking Details

  • Percent of Graduates: 3.17%
  • Program Graduates: 20
  • Total Graduates: 630

School Details

  • School Type: Public, 2-year
  • Website: eosc.edu
  • School Size: 1,000 - 5,000
9

Langston University

102 Page Hall, Langston, OK 73050

Located across multiple campuses in the state of Oklahoma, Langston University is a public 4-year university offering a full complement of degree and certificate options to its students. Founded in 1897, Langston's most recent program offerings include a comprehensive focus on criminal justice, which students may pursue at the certificate, associate's or bachelor's degree levels, depending on their interests and career goals.

Ranking Details

  • Percent of Graduates: 3.06%
  • Program Graduates: 26
  • Total Graduates: 850

School Details

  • School Type: Public, 4-year
  • Website: langston.edu
  • School Size: 1,000 - 5,000
10

Seminole State College

2701 Boren Blvd, Seminole, OK 74868-1901

Seminole State College ranks 10th in our rankings with sixteen students graduating from programs in law enforcement administration out of a total 640 graduates from the 2012-2013 school year.

Ranking Details

  • Percent of Graduates: 2.50%
  • Program Graduates: 16
  • Total Graduates: 640

School Details

  • School Type: Public, 2-year
  • Website: sscok.edu
  • School Size: 1,000 - 5,000

Continued List of All Criminal Jusitice Programs in Oklahoma

ProgramWebsite

Mid-America Technology Center

27438 State Hwy 59, Wayne, OK 73095-0210
Phone: (405) 449-3391

Southeastern Oklahoma State University

1405 N 4th Ave, Durant, OK 74701-0609
Phone: (580) 745-2000

Murray State College

One Murray Campus, Tishomingo, OK 73460
Phone: (580) 371-2371

Rogers State University

1701 W Will Rogers Blvd, Claremore, OK 74017-3252
Phone: (918) 343-7777

Northern Oklahoma College

1220 E Grand Ave, Tonkawa, OK 74653
Phone: (580) 628-6200

Rose State College

6420 S E 15th, Midwest City, OK 73110-2799
Phone: (405) 733-7311

Northwestern Oklahoma State University

709 Oklahoma Blvd, Alva, OK 73717-2799
Phone: (580) 327-1700

University of Central Oklahoma

100 N University Dr, Edmond, OK 73034
Phone: (405) 974-2000

Metro Technology Centers

1900 Springlake Drive, Oklahoma City, OK 73111-5240
Phone: (405) 424-8324

Saint Gregory's University

1900 W MacArthur, Shawnee, OK 74804
Phone: (405) 878-5100

Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College

200 I St NE, Miami, OK 74354
Phone: (918) 542-8441

Oklahoma Panhandle State University

323 Eagle Ave, Goodwell, OK 73939-0430
Phone: (580) 349-2611

East Central University

1100 E. 14th Street, Ada, OK 74820-6999
Phone: (580) 332-8000

Oklahoma City University

2501 N Blackwelder, Oklahoma City, OK 73106-1402
Phone: (405) 208-5000

Francis Tuttle Technology Center

12777 N Rockwell Ave, Oklahoma City, OK 73142-2789
Phone: (405) 717-7799

Central Technology Center

3 CT Circle, Drumright, OK 74030
Phone: (918) 352-2551

Mid-America Christian University

3500 SW 119th St, Oklahoma City, OK 73170-9797
Phone: (405) 691-3800

Southwestern Oklahoma State University

100 Campus Dr, Weatherford, OK 73096-3098
Phone: (580) 772-6611

University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus

660 Parrington Oval, Norman, OK 73019-3072
Phone: (405) 325-0311

Tulsa Community College

6111 E Skelly Dr, Tulsa, OK 74135-6198
Phone: (918) 595-7000

Oklahoma Correctional Officer Certification Requirements

The Department of Corrections in Oklahoma has an ongoing campaign to seek applicants that would be a good fit for the role of corrections officer. Those individuals must have excellent communication skills and should be career oriented. Due to the challenging nature of the role, the state has a mandate to use a selection process to ensure that only the best matches for the role are hired. Phase 1 of the application process instructs applicants to have proof of the following:

  • U.S. citizenship or naturalization
  • Valid Oklahoma driver's license
  • Proof of age (21+ required)
  • No domestic violence convictions
  • No felony convictions
  • Proof of honorable discharge if military

Applicants who meet the basic eligibility standards will be contacted by the state to begin the second phase of the hiring process. Assessments during Phase 2 will include:

  • Fitness assessment
  • Extensive personal and professional background investigation
  • Urinalysis
  • Medical examination
  • Psychological examination
  • In-person Interview

Those candidates who prove to be the most qualified after the second hiring phase will be contacted for enrollment in the state's corrections officer training academy. The training program is to prepare candidates for a variety of on-the-job situations by equipping them with practical skills. Successful completion of this final phase in the hiring process will allow candidates to graduate as certified corrections officers.

Oklahoma Department of Corrections

3400 Martin Luther King Avenue
Oklahoma City, OK 73111-4298
Phone: (405) 425-2500
http://www.ok.gov/doc/

Oklahoma Correctional Officer Employment & Outlook

Correctional Officer Salary: Oklahoma vs National Salary Comparison

Source: BLS State Cross-Industry Estimates 2011

The state Department of Corrections in Oklahoma encourages citizens who are pursuing careers in state service to become front-line correctional officers. At this time, the median income for correctional officers throughout Oklahoma is lower at $30,700 than the national median income at $39,800, but according to occupational data for the state of Oklahoma, available at http://www.careerinfonet.org/occ_rep.asp?next=occ_rep&Level=&optstatus=011000000&jobfam=33&id=1&nodeid=2&soccode=333012&menuMode=&stfips=40&x=68&y=15 and published by CareerInfoNet.org, state trends are predicted to experience an 11% growth curve from now until 2022 as compared to the national growth rate of 5%. This predicted growth pattern translates into 230 new and existing openings annually over the next decade.

Occupational Employment Statistics for Correctional Officers (http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes333012.htm)

Oklahoma Correctional Officer Salaries By Area

The table below lists career information collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics for correctional officers in Oklahoma. The table is sorted by total employment, with the largest metropolitan areas listed first.

AreaTotal EmploymentAverage Hourly WageAverage Annual Salary
Oklahoma City2,170$17.18$35,740
Tulsa750$15.43$32,100
Lawton-$15.46$32,150