2027 Best Criminal Justice Studies Associate’s Degree Schools
Criminal Justice Studies degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
For its 2027 ranking, College Factual looked at 160 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for criminal justice studies students pursuing a degree.
What’s on this page:
Best Schools for Criminal Justice Studies in the United States
These are the top schools for a associate’s degree in criminal justice studies, based on student outcomes and program quality.
Top Schools in Criminal Justice Studies
Salt Lake Community College tops our 2027 ranking of the best criminal justice studies schools. Salt Lake Community College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Salt Lake City. There were roughly 89 criminal justice studies students who graduated with this degree at Salt Lake Community College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice studies program make about $44,042 in their early career. Salt Lake Community College graduates carry a median of $6,334 in student loans.
Get the full criminal justice studies details for Salt Lake Community College
Suffolk County Community College is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in criminal justice studies, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Selden, Suffolk County Community College is a very large public institution. About 154 criminal justice studies degrees were awarded at Suffolk County Community College in the most recent year. Criminal Justice Studies graduates of Suffolk County Community College earn a median of $31,617 early in their careers. Suffolk County Community College graduates carry a median of $7,625 in student loans.
Get the full criminal justice studies details for Suffolk County Community College
A rank of #3 makes Central Community College one of the top schools for criminal justice studies. Set in the city of Grand Island, Central Community College is a large public institution. Central Community College awarded about 35 criminal justice studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice studies degree recipients from Central Community College generally make around $43,218. Students borrow a median of $10,277 to complete this degree.
See the full criminal justice studies program report for Central Community College
Students looking for a strong criminal justice studies program will find one at Northern Michigan University, which ranked #4. Northern Michigan University is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Marquette. The six-year graduation rate is 53%. About 16 criminal justice studies degrees were awarded at Northern Michigan University in the most recent year. Criminal Justice Studies graduates of Northern Michigan University earn a median of $38,518 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $12,000.
See the full criminal justice studies program report for Northern Michigan University
Students looking for a strong criminal justice studies program will find one at Weber State University, which ranked #5. Located in the city of Ogden, Weber State University is a very large public university. About 47% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 44 criminal justice studies students who graduated with this degree at Weber State University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice studies degree from Weber State University earn around $43,281 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $19,828 to complete this degree.
Read more about the criminal justice studies program at Weber State University
Western Technical College La Cross came in at #6 for criminal justice studies this year. Western Technical College La Cross is a large public school located in the city of La Crosse. About 22 criminal justice studies degrees were awarded at Western Technical College La Cross in the most recent year. Students who receive their criminal justice studies degree from Western Technical College La Cross earn around $59,276 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,494.
See the full criminal justice studies program report for Western Technical College La Cross
Normandale Community College came in at #7 for criminal justice studies this year. Located in the city of Bloomington, Normandale Community College is a large public university. Normandale Community College awarded about 10 criminal justice studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice studies degree from Normandale Community College earn around $53,871 in the first couple years of their career. Normandale Community College graduates carry a median of $12,891 in student loans.
Get the full criminal justice studies details for Normandale Community College
Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best criminal justice studies schools. Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Rice Lake. About 28 criminal justice studies degrees were awarded at Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College in the most recent year. Graduates of the criminal justice studies program make about $44,966 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $10,252.
Read more about the criminal justice studies program at Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College
Commonwealth University Of Pennsylvania earned the #9 position for criminal justice studies this year. Located in the town of Bloomsburg, Commonwealth University Of Pennsylvania is a large public university. About 56% of students finish within six years. About 68 criminal justice studies degrees were awarded at Commonwealth University Of Pennsylvania in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice studies degree recipients from Commonwealth University Of Pennsylvania generally make around $37,839. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
More information about a degree in criminal justice studies from Commonwealth University Of Pennsylvania
Chattahoochee Technical College placed #10 among the best criminal justice studies schools. Chattahoochee Technical College is a large public school located in the suburb of Marietta. Chattahoochee Technical College awarded about 31 criminal justice studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice studies program make about $44,673 in their early career. Chattahoochee Technical College graduates carry a median of $9,616 in student loans.
Read more about the criminal justice studies program at Chattahoochee Technical College
Des Moines Area Community College earned the #11 position for criminal justice studies this year. Des Moines Area Community College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Ankeny. About 19 criminal justice studies degrees were awarded at Des Moines Area Community College in the most recent year. Criminal Justice Studies graduates of Des Moines Area Community College earn a median of $42,555 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $12,000 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in criminal justice studies from Des Moines Area Community College
Middlesex Community College Bedford placed #12 among the best criminal justice studies schools. Middlesex Community College Bedford is a large public school located in the suburb of Bedford. There were roughly 35 criminal justice studies students who graduated with this degree at Middlesex Community College Bedford in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice studies program make about $41,796 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $10,950.
Get the full criminal justice studies details for Middlesex Community College Bedford
Waukesha County Technical College came in at #13 for criminal justice studies this year. This large public university is located in the suburb of Pewaukee. There were roughly 56 criminal justice studies students who graduated with this degree at Waukesha County Technical College in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice Studies graduates of Waukesha County Technical College earn a median of $41,591 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $14,125 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in criminal justice studies from Waukesha County Technical College
Gateway Technical College placed #14 among the best criminal justice studies schools. Set in the city of Kenosha, Gateway Technical College is a large public institution. There were roughly 26 criminal justice studies students who graduated with this degree at Gateway Technical College in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice Studies graduates of Gateway Technical College earn a median of $38,881 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $13,417 to complete this degree.
Get the full criminal justice studies details for Gateway Technical College
Holyoke Community College landed the #15 spot for criminal justice studies this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the rural area of Holyoke. There were roughly 31 criminal justice studies students who graduated with this degree at Holyoke Community College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice studies program make about $37,533 in their early career. Holyoke Community College graduates carry a median of $5,658 in student loans.
See the full criminal justice studies program report for Holyoke Community College
College Of Southern Nevada earned the #16 position for criminal justice studies this year. Set in the city of Las Vegas, College Of Southern Nevada is a very large public institution. About 163 criminal justice studies degrees were awarded at College Of Southern Nevada in the most recent year. Criminal Justice Studies graduates of College Of Southern Nevada earn a median of $26,301 early in their careers. College Of Southern Nevada graduates carry a median of $6,687 in student loans.
More information about a degree in criminal justice studies from College Of Southern Nevada
North Shore Community College landed the #17 spot for criminal justice studies this year. Set in the suburb of Danvers, North Shore Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. There were roughly 30 criminal justice studies students who graduated with this degree at North Shore Community College in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice Studies graduates of North Shore Community College earn a median of $32,379 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $9,656.
Read more about the criminal justice studies program at North Shore Community College
Liberty University landed the #18 spot for criminal justice studies this year. Liberty University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Lynchburg. About 67% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 75 criminal justice studies students who graduated with this degree at Liberty University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice studies degree recipients from Liberty University generally make around $43,287. Typical student debt for the program is $28,917.
More information about a degree in criminal justice studies from Liberty University
Idaho State University ranked #19 on our 2027 list of the best criminal justice studies schools. Located in the city of Pocatello, Idaho State University is a large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 35%. About 14 criminal justice studies degrees were awarded at Idaho State University in the most recent year. Students who receive their criminal justice studies degree from Idaho State University earn around $51,446 in the first couple years of their career. Idaho State University graduates carry a median of $24,640 in student loans.
Read more about the criminal justice studies program at Idaho State University
Milwaukee Area Technical College placed #20 among the best criminal justice studies schools. Set in the city of Milwaukee, Milwaukee Area Technical College is a very large public institution. There were roughly 54 criminal justice studies students who graduated with this degree at Milwaukee Area Technical College in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice Studies graduates of Milwaukee Area Technical College earn a median of $38,027 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $18,082 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in criminal justice studies from Milwaukee Area Technical College
Central Texas College placed #21 among the best criminal justice studies schools. Located in the suburb of Killeen, Central Texas College is a large public university. There were roughly 47 criminal justice studies students who graduated with this degree at Central Texas College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice studies degree recipients from Central Texas College generally make around $39,465. Typical student debt for the program is $10,521.
See the full criminal justice studies program report for Central Texas College
Sam Houston State University earned the #22 position for criminal justice studies this year. Sam Houston State University is a very large public school located in the town of Huntsville. About 55% of students finish within six years. About 14 criminal justice studies degrees were awarded at Sam Houston State University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice studies degree recipients from Sam Houston State University generally make around $44,668. Sam Houston State University graduates carry a median of $23,218 in student loans.
Get the full criminal justice studies details for Sam Houston State University
Suny College Of Technology At Alfred ranked #23 on our 2027 list of the best criminal justice studies schools. Located in the rural area of Alfred, Suny College Of Technology At Alfred is a mid-sized public university. The six-year graduation rate is 54%. There were roughly 16 criminal justice studies students who graduated with this degree at Suny College Of Technology At Alfred in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice studies degree recipients from Suny College Of Technology At Alfred generally make around $43,831. Students borrow a median of $19,721 to complete this degree.
See the full criminal justice studies program report for Suny College Of Technology At Alfred
Southern Maine Community College came in at #24 for criminal justice studies this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of South Portland. Southern Maine Community College awarded about 20 criminal justice studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice studies degree from Southern Maine Community College earn around $44,869 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $8,750 to complete this degree.
See the full criminal justice studies program report for Southern Maine Community College
Bristol Community College ranked #25 on our 2027 list of the best criminal justice studies schools. This large public university is located in the suburb of Fall River. There were roughly 32 criminal justice studies students who graduated with this degree at Bristol Community College in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice Studies graduates of Bristol Community College earn a median of $36,706 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $6,700.
More information about a degree in criminal justice studies from Bristol Community College
Rest of the Top 50 Criminal Justice Studies Schools
Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong criminal justice studies education:
Honorable Mentions
These schools earned honorable mentions for criminal justice studies:
Other Criminal Justice Studies Degree Levels
Looking for a different degree level? Compare Criminal Justice Studies rankings across degree levels:
View All Criminal Justice Studies Rankings >
Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 160 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.
