by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 147 U.S. colleges awarded 3,838 degrees and certificates in Corrections. Master’s degrees are the most popular award, at 82% of graduates. College Factual ranks 63 schools in its 2027 Best Corrections Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $40,221 one year after completing, rising to $53,914 after four years.
A degree in Corrections involves the study of Corrections. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Study The Theories And Principles, Of Correctional Science And To Function As Professional Corrections Officers And Other Workers In Public And/or Private Incarceration Facilities.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Across the country, corrections draws strong interest, with 3,838 degrees awarded annually. 147 colleges award corrections degrees, an average of 26 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 922.
By level, the 3,838 awards include 79 certificates, 284 associate degrees, 221 bachelor’s degrees and 3,128 master’s degrees.
Women earned 37% of corrections degrees and certificates in the latest year (1,422 of 3,838). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are Hispanic or Latino (1,344) and White (1,331), and international students earned 12.
College Factual ranks 63 schools in its 2027 Best Corrections Schools ranking, including 27 for associate degrees and 8 for bachelor’s degrees. It also ranks corrections schools within 11 states. In all, 147 colleges offer corrections programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Corrections Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common corrections credential is the master’s degree: 3,128 of the 3,838 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to corrections call most for Active Listening, Monitoring and Social Perceptiveness, and for knowledge of Public Safety and Security, Law and Government and English Language, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Oral Comprehension and Problem Sensitivity.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long a corrections degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 79 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 284 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 221 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 3,128 |
High school diploma or equivalent is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to corrections, at 71.2%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| High school diploma or equivalent | 71.2% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 10.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 7.7% |
| Some college courses | 5.5% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 2.0% |
| Master’s degree | 1.8% |
| Doctoral degree | 1.2% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.4% |
| First professional degree | 0.1% |
Source: O*NET Online.
4 occupations are related to Corrections, with an average median salary of $70,492; the strongest outlook belongs to Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Teachers, Postsecondary, at 12.0% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Shift Supervisor, Convict Guard, Civilian Jail Officer and Penal Officer.
The occupation related to corrections with the most projected jobs is Correctional Officers and Jailers, at 514,818.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Correctional Officers and Jailers | 514,818 | 8.7% |
| First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives | 290,410 | 11.9% |
| First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers | 263,811 | 8.8% |
| Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Teachers, Postsecondary | 52,113 | 12.0% |
Corrections graduates earn a median $40,221 one year after completing their program, $53,914 after four years and $50,331 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $40,221 |
| 4 years | $53,914 |
| 5 years | $50,331 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The same occupation is also the highest-paying one related to corrections, with a median salary of $91,449.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Teachers, Postsecondary | $91,449 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers | $78,129 |
| Correctional Officers and Jailers | $59,482 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives | $52,907 |
Corrections has 12 similar majors in the Law Enforcement & Firefighting field, which together award 96,659 degrees a year; the largest are Criminal Justice/Safety Studies (41,501), Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement Administration (26,299) and Criminal Justice/Police Science (20,024). Browse all Law Enforcement & Firefighting majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Criminal Justice/Safety Studies | 41,501 |
| Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement Administration | 26,299 |
| Criminal Justice/Police Science | 20,024 |
| Corrections and Criminal Justice, Other | 4,765 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | 2,370 |
| Securities Services Administration/Management | 679 |
| Security and Loss Prevention Services | 497 |
| Law Enforcement Investigation and Interviewing | 310 |
| Corrections Administration | 87 |
| Juvenile Corrections | 56 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
