Parents' Guide to

Campus PD

By Melissa Camacho, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 15+

Cops keep a lid on college students; lots of drinking.

TV E! , G4 Reality TV 2009
Campus PD Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.

Community Reviews

See all
age 17+

Based on 1 parent review

oilcreek
oilcreek Adult
April 15, 2012
age 17+

no good

Campus PD cops look for people to BUST end of story.
See all 1 parent review

What's the Story?

Reality series CAMPUS PD follows the police officers responsible for patrolling college towns and university campuses across the country. Cameras roll as officers shut down loud parties, monitor campus protests, and respond to various 9-1-1 calls. Arrests for various crimes are also made.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: (1 ):
Kids say: Not yet rated

Unfortunately, Campus PD's appeal -- such that it is -- comes from seeing college students take their partying too far rather than from watching the officers do their job. It isn't as violent as police docs like COPS or Street Patrol, but it does feature young people being arrested for a variety of criminal activities, ranging from drunk driving to drug possession.

Some people may like this voyeuristic glimpse at college life, but overall the show sends confusing messages about what life in college is all about. The endless scenes of young adults partying, getting drunk, and arguing with police officers may also make viewers wonder whether these students actually have any time left for studying.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the way television depicts college life. How true to life do you think this particular show is? Do most students drink and party when they go to college?

  • What are the real-life consequences of the kind of behavior depicted here? Do you think the show makes those consequences clear?

  • How can you handle peer pressure when you go away to school? What are some of the ways that you can have fun in college without engaging in destructive and/or illegal behavior?

TV Details

  • Premiere date: December 9, 2009
  • Networks: E! , G4
  • Genre: Reality TV
  • TV rating: TV-14
  • Last updated: February 24, 2022

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

See all recommended tv lists

Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

See how we rate