Criminal Justice Studies is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. The schools below stand out for the quality of their criminal justice studies programs.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 564 schools to find the best for criminal justice studies students.
The school you choose for criminal justice studies can shape your career. That is why we developed our collection of Best Schools for Criminal Justice Studies rankings. For our Best Overall Criminal Justice Studies School ranking, we roll up the results of our degree-level rankings, weighted by the number of degrees awarded at that level.
In order to find the schools that are the best fit for you, you may want to filter to one of the degree levels below.
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we have developed a number of rankings, including this Best Criminal Justice Studies Schools list, to help you choose. More interested in schools in a specific area of the country? Filter this list by region or state.
Want to compare schools head to head? Try our College Combat tool to weigh the factors that matter most to you.
Best Schools for Criminal Justice Studies in the United States
If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the criminal justice studies degrees they offer, see the list below.
Leading the list is University Of Virginia Main Campus, our #1 school for criminal justice studies. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Charlottesville. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. There were roughly 994 criminal justice studies students who graduated with this degree at University Of Virginia Main Campus in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice studies degree from University Of Virginia Main Campus earn around $69,126 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $18,627 to complete this degree.
Read more about the criminal justice studies program at University Of Virginia Main Campus
Students looking for a strong criminal justice studies program will find one at University Of Southern California, which ranked #2. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Los Angeles. Roughly 92% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 56 criminal justice studies students who graduated with this degree at University Of Southern California in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice Studies graduates of University Of Southern California earn a median of $75,677 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $15,625.
Read more about the criminal justice studies program at University Of Southern California
San Jose State University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in criminal justice studies, ranking #3. This very large public university is located in the city of San Jose. About 69% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 218 criminal justice studies students who graduated with this degree at San Jose State University in the most recent data year.
Get the full criminal justice studies details for San Jose State University
Students looking for a strong criminal justice studies program will find one at George Washington University, which ranked #4. George Washington University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Washington. About 84% of students finish within six years. George Washington University awarded about 69 criminal justice studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice studies degree recipients from George Washington University generally make around $51,256. Typical student debt for the program is $20,500.
More information about a degree in criminal justice studies from George Washington University
Students looking for a strong criminal justice studies program will find one at University Of Massachusetts Amherst, which ranked #5. University Of Massachusetts Amherst is a very large public school located in the city of Amherst. University Of Massachusetts Amherst graduates 83% of students within six years. There were roughly 37 criminal justice studies students who graduated with this degree at University Of Massachusetts Amherst in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice studies degree recipients from University Of Massachusetts Amherst generally make around $53,666. Students borrow a median of $25,195 to complete this degree.
See the full criminal justice studies program report for University Of Massachusetts Amherst
George Mason University came in at #6 for criminal justice studies this year. Set in the suburb of Fairfax, George Mason University is a very large public institution. About 68% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 29 criminal justice studies students who graduated with this degree at George Mason University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice studies degree from George Mason University earn around $49,815 in the first couple years of their career. George Mason University graduates carry a median of $20,761 in student loans.
See the full criminal justice studies program report for George Mason University
Northeastern University landed the #7 spot for criminal justice studies this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Boston. Roughly 90% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 109 criminal justice studies degrees were awarded at Northeastern University in the most recent year. Graduates of the criminal justice studies program make about $49,316 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,809.
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Boston University came in at #8 for criminal justice studies this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Boston. About 89% of students finish within six years. About 88 criminal justice studies degrees were awarded at Boston University in the most recent year. Criminal Justice Studies graduates of Boston University earn a median of $63,965 early in their careers. Boston University graduates carry a median of $25,232 in student loans.
Read more about the criminal justice studies program at Boston University
Iowa State University placed #9 among the best criminal justice studies schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Ames. The six-year graduation rate is 75%. Iowa State University awarded about 84 criminal justice studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice studies program make about $41,624 in their early career. Iowa State University graduates carry a median of $23,250 in student loans.
See the full criminal justice studies program report for Iowa State University
California State University East Bay landed the #10 spot for criminal justice studies this year. Located in the suburb of Hayward, California State University East Bay is a large public university. Roughly 48% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 117 criminal justice studies students who graduated with this degree at California State University East Bay in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice studies degree from California State University East Bay earn around $45,387 in the first couple years of their career. California State University East Bay graduates carry a median of $15,500 in student loans.
More information about a degree in criminal justice studies from California State University East Bay
Sonoma State University came in at #11 for criminal justice studies this year. Sonoma State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Rohnert Park. Roughly 58% of students complete a degree within six years here. Sonoma State University awarded about 51 criminal justice studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice studies degree from Sonoma State University earn around $38,444 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,000.
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Rutgers University New Brunswick came in at #12 for criminal justice studies this year. Located in the city of New Brunswick, Rutgers University New Brunswick is a very large public university. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 176 criminal justice studies degrees were awarded at Rutgers University New Brunswick in the most recent year. Criminal Justice Studies graduates of Rutgers University New Brunswick earn a median of $45,182 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $22,431 to complete this degree.
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California State University Sacramento came in at #13 for criminal justice studies this year. Located in the city of Sacramento, California State University Sacramento is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 56%. California State University Sacramento awarded about 473 criminal justice studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice studies degree recipients from California State University Sacramento generally make around $38,606. Students borrow a median of $13,745 to complete this degree.
See the full criminal justice studies program report for California State University Sacramento
San Francisco State University landed the #14 spot for criminal justice studies this year. Located in the city of San Francisco, San Francisco State University is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 50%. There were roughly 170 criminal justice studies students who graduated with this degree at San Francisco State University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice studies degree recipients from San Francisco State University generally make around $42,211. Students borrow a median of $13,518 to complete this degree.
Read more about the criminal justice studies program at San Francisco State University
High Point University landed the #15 spot for criminal justice studies this year. High Point University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of High Point. High Point University graduates 72% of students within six years. There were roughly 46 criminal justice studies students who graduated with this degree at High Point University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice studies program make about $113,352 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $23,785 to complete this degree.
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American University ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best criminal justice studies schools. American University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Washington. Roughly 76% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 156 criminal justice studies degrees were awarded at American University in the most recent year. Graduates of the criminal justice studies program make about $49,607 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $23,250 to complete this degree.
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Indiana University Bloomington ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best criminal justice studies schools. Set in the city of Bloomington, Indiana University Bloomington is a very large public institution. Roughly 80% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 105 criminal justice studies students who graduated with this degree at Indiana University Bloomington in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice studies degree from Indiana University Bloomington earn around $35,572 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $19,464 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in criminal justice studies from Indiana University Bloomington
San Diego State University ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best criminal justice studies schools. Set in the city of San Diego, San Diego State University is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 76%. San Diego State University awarded about 547 criminal justice studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice studies program make about $33,261 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $12,998 to complete this degree.
Read more about the criminal justice studies program at San Diego State University
Saint Louis University Main Campus earned the #19 position for criminal justice studies this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Saint Louis. The six-year graduation rate is 80%. There were roughly 29 criminal justice studies students who graduated with this degree at Saint Louis University Main Campus in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice studies degree from Saint Louis University Main Campus earn around $45,709 in the first couple years of their career. Saint Louis University Main Campus graduates carry a median of $23,694 in student loans.
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Point Loma Nazarene University landed the #20 spot for criminal justice studies this year. Point Loma Nazarene University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of San Diego. The six-year graduation rate is 77%. Point Loma Nazarene University awarded about 23 criminal justice studies degrees in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice Studies graduates of Point Loma Nazarene University earn a median of $45,022 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $14,000.
Read more about the criminal justice studies program at Point Loma Nazarene University
Illinois State University earned the #21 position for criminal justice studies this year. Located in the suburb of Normal, Illinois State University is a very large public university. Roughly 64% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 157 criminal justice studies degrees were awarded at Illinois State University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice studies degree recipients from Illinois State University generally make around $37,584. Students borrow a median of $22,531 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in criminal justice studies from Illinois State University
Florida State University placed #22 among the best criminal justice studies schools. Located in the city of Tallahassee, Florida State University is a very large public university. Florida State University graduates 86% of students within six years. Florida State University awarded about 628 criminal justice studies degrees in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice Studies graduates of Florida State University earn a median of $46,245 early in their careers. Florida State University graduates carry a median of $21,170 in student loans.
See the full criminal justice studies program report for Florida State University
California State University Long Beach ranked #23 on our 2027 list of the best criminal justice studies schools. Located in the city of Long Beach, California State University Long Beach is a very large public university. California State University Long Beach graduates 69% of students within six years. About 302 criminal justice studies degrees were awarded at California State University Long Beach in the most recent year. Criminal Justice Studies graduates of California State University Long Beach earn a median of $40,836 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $15,000 to complete this degree.
Get the full criminal justice studies details for California State University Long Beach
California State University Fullerton earned the #24 position for criminal justice studies this year. Located in the suburb of Fullerton, California State University Fullerton is a very large public university. About 70% of students finish within six years. About 298 criminal justice studies degrees were awarded at California State University Fullerton in the most recent year. Graduates of the criminal justice studies program make about $34,570 in their early career. California State University Fullerton graduates carry a median of $11,000 in student loans.
See the full criminal justice studies program report for California State University Fullerton
University Of Illinois At Chicago placed #25 among the best criminal justice studies schools. University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public school located in the city of Chicago. University Of Illinois At Chicago graduates 62% of students within six years. University Of Illinois At Chicago awarded about 129 criminal justice studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice studies degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Chicago generally make around $34,551. University Of Illinois At Chicago graduates carry a median of $15,875 in student loans.
Read more about the criminal justice studies program at University Of Illinois At Chicago
Rest of the Top 50 Criminal Justice Studies Schools
Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong criminal justice studies education:
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 564 schools evaluated.
The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
