A growing body of literature points to the importance of political ideology in the deployment of motivated reasoning, in the formation of packages of policy stances, and in the polarization of groups. However, little research exists on how ideology impacts college students and their experiences in higher education. This study extends the literature by examining the salience of political ideology in several important student outcomes. Using a sample of current and former students in the University of Cincinnati's online Master of Science in Criminal Justice program, I show that criminal justice students ascribe to several labels that correspond with underlying socio-political identities. Respondents' socio-political identity is a salient predictor in how connected students feel to their classmates and professors, in how concerned they are about consequences for speaking out in class about a controversial political topic, and in their perceived experiences with discrimination, criticism, or self-censorship in higher education. Further, students in this study engage in politically motivated reasoning and ingroup/outgroup biases. Liberal and conservative students ascribe positive labels to their political group and ascribe negative labels to the other political group. Criminal justice students report the opposing political group biases teaching and research in academia, attribute political disparities in higher education to explanations favorable to their ingroup, and believe professors should engage in roles that align with their group's core values. Finally, socio-political identity is a salient predictor of views on science and policy. Science views and general social and criminal justice policy stances coalesce into underlying policy packages that are informed by socio-political beliefs. When criminal justice master's students make assessments about criminal justice policy, those assessments are not independent of other background beliefs. The study shows that criminal justice master's students' socio-political identities are important components of their educational experience. Criminal justice faculty would be remiss to deem their students' political beliefs irrelevant to the classroom. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://www.proquest.com.bibliotheek.ehb.be/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]