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2027 Best Criminal Justice & Police Science Associate’s Degree Schools

182 Colleges in the United States
7,117 Criminal Justice & Police Science Degrees Awarded
$42,166 Avg Early-Career Salary

Criminal Justice & Police Science programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.

To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 182 schools to find the best for criminal justice & police science students.

What’s on this page:

Best Schools for Criminal Justice & Police Science in the United States

Below are the best criminal justice & police science schools at the associate’s degree level, ranked by the quality of the education they deliver.

Top Schools in Criminal Justice & Police Science

1

Fox Valley Technical College tops our 2027 ranking of the best criminal justice & police science schools. Set in the suburb of Appleton, Fox Valley Technical College is a large public institution. Fox Valley Technical College awarded about 57 criminal justice & police science degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Fox Valley Technical College generally make around $39,571. Students borrow a median of $12,000 to complete this degree. Get the full criminal justice & police science details for Fox Valley Technical College

2

Chippewa Valley Technical College is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in criminal justice & police science, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of Eau Claire, Chippewa Valley Technical College is a large public institution. About 33 criminal justice & police science degrees were awarded at Chippewa Valley Technical College in the most recent year. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Chippewa Valley Technical College earn a median of $37,671 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $11,739 to complete this degree. Read more about the criminal justice & police science program at Chippewa Valley Technical College

3

Madison Area Technical College is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in criminal justice & police science, ranking #3. Madison Area Technical College is a large public school located in the city of Madison. Madison Area Technical College awarded about 32 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. See the full criminal justice & police science program report for Madison Area Technical College

4

A rank of #4 makes Western Iowa Tech Community College one of the top schools for criminal justice & police science. 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. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Western Iowa Tech Community College generally make around $43,547. Typical student debt for the program is $11,500. Get the full criminal justice & police science details for Western Iowa Tech Community College

5

Alexandria Technical And Community College is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in criminal justice & police science, ranking #5. This mid-sized public university is located in the town of Alexandria. There were roughly 68 criminal justice & police science students who graduated with this degree at Alexandria Technical And Community College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice & police science program make about $46,511 in their early career. Alexandria Technical And Community College graduates carry a median of $12,000 in student loans. Get the full criminal justice & police science details for Alexandria Technical And Community College

6

Bunker Hill Community College came in at #6 for criminal justice & police science this year. Set in the city of Boston, Bunker Hill Community College is a large public institution. Bunker Hill Community College awarded about 41 criminal justice & police science degrees 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. More information about a degree in criminal justice & police science from Bunker Hill Community College

7

Lakeshore Technical College placed #7 among the best criminal justice & police science schools. This mid-sized public university is located in the rural area of Cleveland. Lakeshore Technical College awarded about 15 criminal justice & police science degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice & police science program make about $41,252 in their early career. Lakeshore Technical College graduates carry a median of $11,582 in student loans. See the full criminal justice & police science program report for Lakeshore Technical College

8
Ferris State University crest
Ferris State University
Big Rapids, MI

Ferris State University came in at #8 for criminal justice & police science this year. Set in the town of Big Rapids, Ferris State University is a large public institution. About 56% of students finish within six years. Ferris State University awarded about 38 criminal justice & police science degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Ferris State University generally make around $48,203. Ferris State University graduates carry a median of $18,500 in student loans. Get the full criminal justice & police science details for Ferris State University

9
Harper College crest
Harper College
Palatine, IL

Harper College came in at #9 for criminal justice & police science this year. Located in the suburb of Palatine, Harper College is a very large public university. Harper College awarded about 22 criminal justice & police science degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Harper College generally make around $38,474. Students borrow a median of $10,963 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in criminal justice & police science from Harper College

10
College Of San Mateo crest
College Of San Mateo
San Mateo, CA

College Of San Mateo placed #10 among the best criminal justice & police science schools. This large public university is located in the city of San Mateo. There were roughly 35 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. Read more about the criminal justice & police science program at College Of San Mateo

11

Southeast Technical Institute came in at #11 for criminal justice & police science this year. Southeast Technical Institute is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Sioux Falls. Southeast Technical Institute awarded about 13 criminal justice & police science degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Southeast Technical Institute generally make around $49,560. Southeast Technical Institute graduates carry a median of $12,000 in student loans. Get the full criminal justice & police science details for Southeast Technical Institute

12

Western Technical College La Cross landed the #12 spot for criminal justice & police science this year. Located in the city of La Crosse, Western Technical College La Cross is a large public university. Western Technical College La Cross awarded about 38 criminal justice & police science degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice & police science program make about $59,276 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,494. Get the full criminal justice & police science details for Western Technical College La Cross

13

Normandale Community College came in at #13 for criminal justice & police science this year. Normandale Community College is a large public school located in the city of Bloomington. Normandale Community College awarded about 13 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. Get the full criminal justice & police science details for Normandale Community College

14

Hawkeye Community College earned the #14 position for criminal justice & police science this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the rural area of Waterloo. Hawkeye Community College awarded about 15 criminal justice & police science degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice & police science degree from Hawkeye Community College earn around $49,572 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $11,000 to complete this degree. Read more about the criminal justice & police science program at Hawkeye Community College

15

Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best criminal justice & police science schools. Located in the town of Rice Lake, Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. About 23 criminal justice & police science degrees were awarded at Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College in the most recent 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

16

Lansing Community College placed #16 among the best criminal justice & police science schools. This large public university is located in the city of Lansing. Lansing Community College awarded about 22 criminal justice & police science degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice & police science degree from Lansing Community College earn around $46,103 in the first couple years of their 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

17

Des Moines Area Community College landed the #17 spot for criminal justice & police science this year. Set in the suburb of Ankeny, Des Moines Area Community College is a very large public institution. There were roughly 40 criminal justice & police science students who graduated with this degree at Des Moines Area Community College in the most recent data 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

18
Del Mar College crest
Del Mar College
Corpus Christi, TX

Del Mar College landed the #18 spot for criminal justice & police science this year. This large public university is located in the city of Corpus Christi. Del Mar College awarded about 28 criminal justice & police science degrees in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Del Mar College earn a median of $40,661 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $6,250 to complete this degree. Read more about the criminal justice & police science program at Del Mar College

19

Middlesex County College earned the #19 position for criminal justice & police science this year. Set in the suburb of Edison, Middlesex County College is a large public institution. About 40 criminal justice & police science degrees were awarded at Middlesex County College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Middlesex County College generally make around $32,712. Typical student debt for the program is $8,119. Read more about the criminal justice & police science program at Middlesex County College

20

Hibbing Community College A Technical And Community College placed #20 among the best criminal justice & police science schools. Set in the town of Hibbing, Hibbing Community College A Technical And Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Hibbing Community College A Technical And Community College awarded about 17 criminal justice & police science degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice & police science program make about $54,328 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $25,125 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in criminal justice & police science from Hibbing Community College A Technical And Community College

21

Southwest Wisconsin Technical College placed #21 among the best criminal justice & police science schools. Southwest Wisconsin Technical College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Fennimore. There were roughly 16 criminal justice & police science students who graduated with this degree at Southwest Wisconsin Technical College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice & police science degree from Southwest Wisconsin Technical College earn around $51,806 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $12,750. See the full criminal justice & police science program report for Southwest Wisconsin Technical College

22

Cuny Borough Of Manhattan Community College ranked #22 on our 2027 list of the best criminal justice & police science schools. This very large public university is located in the city of New York. About 232 criminal justice & police science degrees were awarded at Cuny Borough Of Manhattan Community College in the most recent year. Students who receive their criminal justice & police science degree from Cuny Borough Of Manhattan Community College earn around $25,302 in the first couple years of their career. Cuny Borough Of Manhattan Community College graduates carry a median of $6,500 in student loans. Get the full criminal justice & police science details for Cuny Borough Of Manhattan Community College

23

Waukesha County Technical College earned the #23 position for criminal justice & police science this year. This large public university is located in the suburb of Pewaukee. About 57 criminal justice & police science degrees were awarded at Waukesha County Technical College in the most recent year. Graduates of the criminal justice & police science program make about $41,591 in their early career. Waukesha County Technical College graduates carry a median of $14,125 in student loans. Get the full criminal justice & police science details for Waukesha County Technical College

24

Rasmussen College Minnesota landed the #24 spot for criminal justice & police science this year. This large private for-profit university is located in the city of St. Cloud. There were roughly 64 criminal justice & police science students who graduated with this degree at Rasmussen College Minnesota in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice & police science degree from Rasmussen College Minnesota earn around $47,447 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,408. See the full criminal justice & police science program report for Rasmussen College Minnesota

25

Montgomery County Community College ranked #25 on our 2027 list of the best criminal justice & police science schools. Montgomery County Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Blue Bell. About 23 criminal justice & police science degrees were awarded at Montgomery County Community College in the most recent year. Students who receive their criminal justice & police science degree from Montgomery County Community College earn around $47,990 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $13,335. See the full criminal justice & police science program report for Montgomery County Community College

Rest of the Top 50 Criminal Justice & Police Science Schools

These schools also placed among the best for criminal justice & police science this year:

26
27
28
29
30
Santa Ana College crest
Santa Ana College
Santa Ana, CA
31
Broward College crest
Broward College
Fort Lauderdale, FL
32
33
34
Oakland Community College crest
Oakland Community College
Auburn Hills, MI
35
36
Butte College crest
Butte College
Oroville, CA
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
Burlington County College crest
Burlington County College
Mount Laurel, NJ
45
46
47
48
49
50

Honorable Mentions

Also worth considering for criminal justice & police science:

Other Criminal Justice & Police Science Degree Levels

Explore the best criminal justice & police science schools at other degree levels:

All Degree Levels in Criminal Justice & Police Science
Bachelor's Degrees in Criminal Justice & Police Science
Master's Degrees in Criminal Justice & Police Science

View All Criminal Justice & Police Science Rankings >

Notes and References

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 · 182 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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