2026 Best Criminal Justice & Police Science Schools in Pennsylvania
Criminal Justice & Police Science programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 17 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for criminal justice & police science students pursuing a degree.
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Best Schools for Criminal Justice & Police Science in Pennsylvania
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall criminal justice & police science education in Pennsylvania.
Top Schools in Criminal Justice & Police Science
Leading the list is Montgomery County Community College, our #1 school for criminal justice & police science. Located in the suburb of Blue Bell, Montgomery County Community College is a large public university. There were roughly 32 criminal justice & police science students who graduated with this degree at Montgomery County Community College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice & police science program make about $58,964 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $16,112 to complete this degree.
Read more about the criminal justice & police science program at Montgomery County Community College
Pennsylvania Western University came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best criminal justice & police science schools. This large public university is located in the town of California. The six-year graduation rate is 52%. Pennsylvania Western University awarded about 33 criminal justice & police science degrees in the most recent data year.
See the full criminal justice & police science program report for Pennsylvania Western University
Students looking for a strong criminal justice & police science program will find one at Gwynedd Mercy College, which ranked #3. Located in the suburb of Gwynedd Valley, Gwynedd Mercy College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Gwynedd Mercy College graduates 65% of students within six years. There were roughly 12 criminal justice & police science students who graduated with this degree at Gwynedd Mercy College in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Gwynedd Mercy College earn a median of $65,243 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in criminal justice & police science from Gwynedd Mercy College
A rank of #4 makes Delaware County Community College one of the top schools for criminal justice & police science. Set in the suburb of Media, Delaware County Community College is a large public institution. There were roughly 45 criminal justice & police science students who graduated with this degree at Delaware County Community College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Delaware County Community College generally make around $57,464. Typical student debt for the program is $14,163.
Get the full criminal justice & police science details for Delaware County Community College
A rank of #5 makes Reading Area Community College one of the top schools for criminal justice & police science. Located in the city of Reading, Reading Area Community College is a moderately-sized public university. There were roughly 25 criminal justice & police science students who graduated with this degree at Reading Area Community College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice & police science program make about $49,248 in their early career. Reading Area Community College graduates carry a median of $13,979 in student loans.
More information about a degree in criminal justice & police science from Reading Area Community College
Pennsylvania Highlands Community College landed the #6 spot for criminal justice & police science this year. Located in the rural area of Johnstown, Pennsylvania Highlands Community College is a mid-sized public university. About 11 criminal justice & police science degrees were awarded at Pennsylvania Highlands Community College in the most recent year. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Pennsylvania Highlands Community College earn a median of $31,499 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $11,315.
Read more about the criminal justice & police science program at Pennsylvania Highlands Community College
Lackawanna College placed #7 among the best criminal justice & police science schools. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Scranton. Lackawanna College graduates 67% of students within six years. About 52 criminal justice & police science degrees were awarded at Lackawanna College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Lackawanna College generally make around $35,280. Students borrow a median of $22,310 to complete this degree.
Read more about the criminal justice & police science program at Lackawanna College
More Criminal Justice & Police Science Rankings
View All Criminal Justice & Police Science Rankings >
Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 17 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.
