2026 Best Criminal Justice & Police Science Schools in the Far Western Region
Criminal Justice & Police Science degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 122 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 Far Western Region
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.
Top Schools in Criminal Justice & Police Science
Our analysis ranked Santa Rosa Junior College the best school in the country for a degree in criminal justice & police science. Located in the city of Santa Rosa, Santa Rosa Junior College is a very large public university. About 112 criminal justice & police science degrees were awarded at Santa Rosa Junior College in the most recent year. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Santa Rosa Junior College earn a median of $111,649 early in their careers. Santa Rosa Junior College graduates carry a median of $14,125 in student loans.
See the full criminal justice & police science program report for Santa Rosa Junior College
University Of Washington Tacoma Campus is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in criminal justice & police science, ranking #2. University Of Washington Tacoma Campus is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Tacoma. About 63% of students finish within six years. About 61 criminal justice & police science degrees were awarded at University Of Washington Tacoma Campus in the most recent 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.
More information about a degree in criminal justice & police science from University Of Washington Tacoma Campus
A rank of #3 makes Butte College one of the top schools for criminal justice & police science. Located in the rural area of Oroville, Butte College is a large public university. Butte College awarded about 126 criminal justice & police science degrees in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Butte College earn a median of $73,170 early in their careers. Butte College graduates carry a median of $15,414 in student loans.
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Chabot College came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best criminal justice & police science schools. This large public university is located in the suburb of Hayward. There were roughly 34 criminal justice & police science students who graduated with this degree at Chabot College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice & police science degree from Chabot College earn around $85,175 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $14,122 to complete this degree.
See the full criminal justice & police science program report for Chabot College
Students looking for a strong criminal justice & police science program will find one at Modesto Junior College, which ranked #5. This very large public university is located in the city of Modesto. There were roughly 22 criminal justice & police science students who graduated with this degree at Modesto Junior College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice & police science program make about $28,102 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $8,575.
See the full criminal justice & police science program report for Modesto Junior College
Rio Hondo College placed #6 among the best criminal justice & police science schools. This very large public university is located in the rural area of Whittier. Rio Hondo College awarded about 83 criminal justice & police science degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Rio Hondo College generally make around $95,666. Typical student debt for the program is $15,510.
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Southwestern College Chula Vista placed #7 among the best criminal justice & police science schools. Southwestern College Chula Vista is a very large public school located in the city of Chula Vista. There were roughly 25 criminal justice & police science students who graduated with this degree at Southwestern College Chula Vista in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice & police science program make about $30,983 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $11,205 to complete this degree.
See the full criminal justice & police science program report for Southwestern College Chula Vista
College Of The Desert earned the #8 position for criminal justice & police science this year. Set in the city of Palm Desert, College Of The Desert is a large public institution. College Of The Desert awarded about 26 criminal justice & police science degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice & police science program make about $32,482 in their early career. College Of The Desert graduates carry a median of $7,826 in student loans.
See the full criminal justice & police science program report for College Of The Desert
Yuba College landed the #9 spot for criminal justice & police science this year. Located in the suburb of Marysville, Yuba College is a moderately-sized public university. Yuba College awarded about 50 criminal justice & police science degrees in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Yuba College earn a median of $62,350 early in their careers. Yuba College graduates carry a median of $8,729 in student loans.
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East Los Angeles College ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best criminal justice & police science schools. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Monterey Park. There were roughly 290 criminal justice & police science students who graduated with this degree at East Los Angeles College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice & police science degree from East Los Angeles College earn around $33,595 in the first couple years of their career. East Los Angeles College graduates carry a median of $8,180 in student loans.
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Spokane Community College ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best criminal justice & police science schools. Located in the city of Spokane, Spokane Community College is a moderately-sized public university. There were roughly 18 criminal justice & police science students who graduated with this degree at Spokane Community College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice & police science degree from Spokane Community College earn around $41,451 in the first couple years of their career. Spokane Community College graduates carry a median of $16,486 in student loans.
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Moreno Valley College ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best criminal justice & police science schools. Set in the suburb of Moreno Valley, Moreno Valley College is a large public institution. Moreno Valley College awarded about 130 criminal justice & police science degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice & police science program make about $81,339 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $12,643.
See the full criminal justice & police science program report for Moreno Valley College
Green River Community College earned the #13 position for criminal justice & police science this year. Green River Community College is a large public school located in the city of Auburn. About 23 criminal justice & police science degrees were awarded at Green River Community College in the most recent year.
More information about a degree in criminal justice & police science from Green River Community College
College Of Southern Nevada ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best criminal justice & police science schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Las Vegas. College Of Southern Nevada awarded about 39 criminal justice & police science degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from College Of Southern Nevada generally make around $26,301. Typical student debt for the program is $6,687.
More information about a degree in criminal justice & police science from College Of Southern Nevada
Fresno City College ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best criminal justice & police science schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Fresno. Fresno City College awarded about 27 criminal justice & police science degrees in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Fresno City College earn a median of $32,658 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $6,187 to complete this degree.
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Gavilan College earned the #16 position for criminal justice & police science this year. Gavilan College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Gilroy. About 43 criminal justice & police science degrees were awarded at Gavilan College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Gavilan College generally make around $28,496. Gavilan College graduates carry a median of $5,939 in student loans.
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University Of Alaska Southeast earned the #17 position for criminal justice & police science this year. Located in the rural area of Juneau, University Of Alaska Southeast is a mid-sized public university. About 21% of students finish within six years. University Of Alaska Southeast awarded about 36 criminal justice & police science degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice & police science degree from University Of Alaska Southeast earn around $63,014 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,458.
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Chaffey College came in at #18 for criminal justice & police science this year. Located in the suburb of Rancho Cucamonga, Chaffey College is a very large public university. Chaffey College awarded about 116 criminal justice & police science degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice & police science degree from Chaffey College earn around $23,532 in the first couple years of their career. Chaffey College graduates carry a median of $6,952 in student loans.
More information about a degree in criminal justice & police science from Chaffey College
Nevada State College ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best criminal justice & police science schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the rural area of Henderson. About 34% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 54 criminal justice & police science students who graduated with this degree at Nevada State College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Nevada State College generally make around $36,363. Students borrow a median of $19,500 to complete this degree.
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Golden West College landed the #20 spot for criminal justice & police science this year. Set in the suburb of Huntington Beach, Golden West College is a large public institution. Golden West College awarded about 62 criminal justice & police science degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Golden West College generally make around $82,984. Typical student debt for the program is $21,500.
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Santa Ana College landed the #21 spot for criminal justice & police science this year. Set in the city of Santa Ana, Santa Ana College is a very large public institution. Santa Ana College awarded about 813 criminal justice & police science degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Santa Ana College generally make around $39,633. Santa Ana College graduates carry a median of $11,196 in student loans.
See the full criminal justice & police science program report for Santa Ana College
Palomar College came in at #22 for criminal justice & police science this year. Located in the suburb of San Marcos, Palomar College is a very large public university. There were roughly 10 criminal justice & police science students who graduated with this degree at Palomar College in the most recent data year.
More information about a degree in criminal justice & police science from Palomar College
Los Medanos College ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best criminal justice & police science schools. This large public university is located in the suburb of Pittsburg. There were roughly 74 criminal justice & police science students who graduated with this degree at Los Medanos College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Los Medanos College generally make around $32,581. Typical student debt for the program is $9,500.
See the full criminal justice & police science program report for Los Medanos College
Ventura College landed the #24 spot for criminal justice & police science this year. Located in the city of Ventura, Ventura College is a large public university. Ventura College awarded about 21 criminal justice & police science degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice & police science program make about $99,778 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $20,250 to complete this degree.
See the full criminal justice & police science program report for Ventura College
San Joaquin Delta College placed #25 among the best criminal justice & police science schools. San Joaquin Delta College is a very large public school located in the city of Stockton. About 14 criminal justice & police science degrees were awarded at San Joaquin Delta College in the most recent year. Students who receive their criminal justice & police science degree from San Joaquin Delta College earn around $65,168 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $6,382 to complete this degree.
Read more about the criminal justice & police science program at San Joaquin Delta College
Rest of the Top 33 Criminal Justice & Police Science Schools
Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong criminal justice & police science education:
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 122 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
