Criminal Justice & Police Science degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. The schools below stand out for the quality of their criminal justice & police science programs.
College Factual analyzed 358 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best criminal justice & police science schools.
Choosing a Great Criminal Justice & Police Science School
The criminal justice & police science program you select can have a big impact on your future. That is why we developed our collection of Best Schools for Criminal Justice & Police Science rankings. Our overall ranking combines our degree-level rankings, weighted by degrees awarded at each 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.
Criminal Justice & Police Science Rankings by Degree Level
We offer several rankings, including this Best Criminal Justice & Police Science Schools list, to help you decide. More interested in schools in a specific area of the country? Filter this list by region or state.
To further help you make the college decision, we have developed a unique tool called College Combat that lets you compare schools on the factors that matter most to you.
Best Schools for Criminal Justice & Police Science 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 & police science degrees they offer, see the list below.
University Of Virginia Main Campus is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in criminal justice & police science. Located in the suburb of Charlottesville, University Of Virginia Main Campus is a very large public university. University Of Virginia Main Campus graduates 96% of students within six years. University Of Virginia Main Campus awarded about 42 criminal justice & police science degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice & police science program make about $69,126 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $18,627 to complete this degree.
Read more about the criminal justice & police science program at University Of Virginia Main Campus
Students looking for a strong criminal justice & police science program will find one at George Mason University, which ranked #2. Located in the suburb of Fairfax, George Mason University is a very large public university. George Mason University graduates 68% of students within six years. There were roughly 316 criminal justice & police science students who graduated with this degree at George Mason University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from George Mason University generally make around $49,815. Typical student debt for the program is $20,761.
Read more about the criminal justice & police science program at George Mason University
Students looking for a strong criminal justice & police science program will find one at Florida State University, which ranked #3. Set in the city of Tallahassee, Florida State University is a very large public institution. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 38 criminal justice & police science degrees were awarded at Florida State University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Florida State University generally make around $46,245. Students borrow a median of $21,170 to complete this degree.
Get the full criminal justice & police science details for Florida State University
Minnesota State University Mankato is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in criminal justice & police science, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the city of Mankato, Minnesota State University Mankato is a large public institution. Roughly 54% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 29 criminal justice & police science degrees were awarded at Minnesota State University Mankato in the most recent year. Graduates of the criminal justice & police science program make about $49,019 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in criminal justice & police science from Minnesota State University Mankato
A rank of #5 makes Rowan University one of the top schools for criminal justice & police science. Rowan University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Glassboro. The six-year graduation rate is 67%. About 207 criminal justice & police science degrees were awarded at Rowan University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Rowan University generally make around $33,254. Typical student debt for the program is $23,250.
Get the full criminal justice & police science details for Rowan University
Western Iowa Tech Community College landed the #6 spot for criminal justice & police science this year. Set in the city of Sioux City, Western Iowa Tech Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. About 21 criminal justice & police science degrees were awarded at Western Iowa Tech Community College in the most recent year. Graduates of the criminal justice & police science program make about $43,547 in their early career. Western Iowa Tech Community College graduates carry a median of $11,500 in student loans.
See the full criminal justice & police science program report for Western Iowa Tech Community College
Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice placed #7 among the best criminal justice & police science schools. Located in the city of New York, Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice is a large public university. About 56% of students finish within six years. Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice awarded about 76 criminal justice & police science degrees in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice earn a median of $50,103 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $10,500 to complete this degree.
Get the full criminal justice & police science details for Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice
Santa Rosa Junior College placed #8 among the best criminal justice & police science schools. Set in the city of Santa Rosa, Santa Rosa Junior College is a very large public institution. There were roughly 108 criminal justice & police science students who graduated with this degree at Santa Rosa Junior College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice & police science degree from Santa Rosa Junior College earn around $111,649 in the first couple years of their career. Santa Rosa Junior College graduates carry a median of $14,125 in student loans.
More information about a degree in criminal justice & police science from Santa Rosa Junior College
Fox Valley Technical College came in at #9 for criminal justice & police science this year. Located in the suburb of Appleton, Fox Valley Technical College is a large public university. About 126 criminal justice & police science degrees were awarded at Fox Valley Technical College in the most recent year. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Fox Valley Technical College earn a median of $52,156 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $17,125.
Read more about the criminal justice & police science program at Fox Valley Technical College
University Of Washington Tacoma Campus landed the #10 spot for criminal justice & police science this year. Located in the city of Tacoma, University Of Washington Tacoma Campus is a moderately-sized public university. University Of Washington Tacoma Campus graduates 63% of students within six years. University Of Washington Tacoma Campus awarded about 50 criminal justice & police science degrees in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of University Of Washington Tacoma Campus earn a median of $40,669 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $15,269.
Get the full criminal justice & police science details for University Of Washington Tacoma Campus
Bunker Hill Community College earned the #11 position for criminal justice & police science this year. This large public university is located in the city of Boston. There were roughly 41 criminal justice & police science students who graduated with this degree at Bunker Hill Community College in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Bunker Hill Community College earn a median of $47,573 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $5,500.
Read more about the criminal justice & police science program at Bunker Hill Community College
Madison Area Technical College ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best criminal justice & police science schools. Madison Area Technical College is a large public school located in the city of Madison. Madison Area Technical College awarded about 77 criminal justice & police science degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice & police science program make about $39,174 in their early career. Madison Area Technical College graduates carry a median of $13,750 in student loans.
More information about a degree in criminal justice & police science from Madison Area Technical College
Fitchburg State University came in at #13 for criminal justice & police science this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the suburb of Fitchburg. Fitchburg State University graduates 55% of students within six years. There were roughly 67 criminal justice & police science students who graduated with this degree at Fitchburg State University in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Fitchburg State University earn a median of $43,418 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in criminal justice & police science from Fitchburg State University
Cedarville University earned the #14 position for criminal justice & police science this year. Cedarville University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Cedarville. Cedarville University graduates 72% of students within six years. There were roughly 15 criminal justice & police science students who graduated with this degree at Cedarville University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice & police science program make about $57,104 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $22,110 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in criminal justice & police science from Cedarville University
Harper College came in at #15 for criminal justice & police science this year. Harper College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Palatine. About 22 criminal justice & police science degrees were awarded at Harper College in the most recent year. Graduates of the criminal justice & police science program make about $38,474 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $10,963.
See the full criminal justice & police science program report for Harper College
Ferris State University earned the #16 position for criminal justice & police science this year. Set in the town of Big Rapids, Ferris State University is a large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 56%. There were roughly 159 criminal justice & police science students who graduated with this degree at Ferris State University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice & police science program make about $48,266 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,880.
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College Of San Mateo came in at #17 for criminal justice & police science this year. Located in the city of San Mateo, College Of San Mateo is a large public university. There were roughly 40 criminal justice & police science students who graduated with this degree at College Of San Mateo in the most recent data year. Typical student debt for the program is $12,831.
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Southeast Technical Institute earned the #18 position for criminal justice & police science this year. Set in the city of Sioux Falls, Southeast Technical Institute is a mid-sized public institution. Southeast Technical Institute awarded about 13 criminal justice & police science degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice & police science program make about $49,560 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $12,000 to complete this degree.
Read more about the criminal justice & police science program at Southeast Technical Institute
Eastern Illinois University landed the #19 spot for criminal justice & police science this year. This large public university is located in the town of Charleston. Eastern Illinois University graduates 47% of students within six years. There were roughly 29 criminal justice & police science students who graduated with this degree at Eastern Illinois University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice & police science program make about $40,489 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,293.
Read more about the criminal justice & police science program at Eastern Illinois University
Normandale Community College earned the #20 position for criminal justice & police science this year. Set in the city of Bloomington, Normandale Community College is a large public institution. Normandale Community College awarded about 16 criminal justice & police science degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Normandale Community College generally make around $53,871. Typical student debt for the program is $12,891.
Read more about the criminal justice & police science program at Normandale Community College
Hawkeye Community College came in at #21 for criminal justice & police science this year. Hawkeye Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Waterloo. There were roughly 15 criminal justice & police science students who graduated with this degree at Hawkeye Community College in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Hawkeye Community College earn a median of $49,572 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $11,000.
More information about a degree in criminal justice & police science from Hawkeye Community College
Lansing Community College landed the #22 spot for criminal justice & police science this year. Located in the city of Lansing, Lansing Community College is a large public university. About 22 criminal justice & police science degrees were awarded at Lansing Community College in the most recent year. Graduates of the criminal justice & police science program make about $46,103 in their early career. Lansing Community College graduates carry a median of $16,700 in student loans.
Get the full criminal justice & police science details for Lansing Community College
Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College placed #23 among the best criminal justice & police science schools. Located in the town of Rice Lake, Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. There were roughly 23 criminal justice & police science students who graduated with this degree at Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College earn a median of $44,966 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $10,252.
More information about a degree in criminal justice & police science from Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College
Des Moines Area Community College ranked #24 on our 2027 list of the best criminal justice & police science schools. Des Moines Area Community College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Ankeny. About 48 criminal justice & police science degrees were awarded at Des Moines Area Community College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Des Moines Area Community College generally make around $42,555. Students borrow a median of $12,000 to complete this degree.
Get the full criminal justice & police science details for Des Moines Area Community College
University Of Baltimore earned the #25 position for criminal justice & police science this year. University Of Baltimore is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Baltimore. The six-year graduation rate is 38%. There were roughly 52 criminal justice & police science students who graduated with this degree at University Of Baltimore in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of University Of Baltimore earn a median of $48,991 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $25,500 to complete this degree.
See the full criminal justice & police science program report for University Of Baltimore
Rest of the Top 50 Criminal Justice & Police Science Schools
These schools also placed among the best for criminal justice & police science this year:
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 358 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).
