2026 Best Criminal Justice Studies Schools in the Far Western Region
Criminal Justice Studies is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. The schools below stand out for the quality of their criminal justice studies programs.
College Factual analyzed 53 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best criminal justice studies schools.
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Best Schools for Criminal Justice Studies 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 studies degrees they offer, see the list below.
Top Schools in Criminal Justice Studies
Our analysis ranked University Of Southern California the best school in the country for a degree in criminal justice studies. Set in the city of Los Angeles, University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit institution. University Of Southern California graduates 92% of students within six years. About 58 criminal justice studies degrees were awarded at University Of Southern California in the most recent year. Criminal Justice Studies graduates of University Of Southern California earn a median of $75,677 early in their careers. University Of Southern California graduates carry a median of $15,625 in student loans.
Read more about the criminal justice studies program at University Of Southern California
San Jose State University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in criminal justice studies, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the city of San Jose, San Jose State University is a very large public university. About 69% of students finish within six years. About 224 criminal justice studies degrees were awarded at San Jose State University in the most recent year.
Get the full criminal justice studies details for San Jose State University
Sonoma State University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in criminal justice studies, ranking #3. Set in the suburb of Rohnert Park, Sonoma State University is a moderately-sized public institution. Sonoma State University graduates 58% of students within six years. About 64 criminal justice studies degrees were awarded at Sonoma State University in the most recent year. Graduates of the criminal justice studies program make about $38,444 in their early career. Sonoma State University graduates carry a median of $20,000 in student loans.
See the full criminal justice studies program report for Sonoma State University
Students looking for a strong criminal justice studies program will find one at California State University Sacramento, which ranked #4. This very large public university is located in the city of Sacramento. About 56% of students finish within six years. California State University Sacramento awarded about 560 criminal justice studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice studies degree from California State University Sacramento earn around $38,606 in the first couple years of their career. California State University Sacramento graduates carry a median of $13,745 in student loans.
Read more about the criminal justice studies program at California State University Sacramento
California State University East Bay came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best criminal justice studies schools. This large public university is located in the suburb of Hayward. The six-year graduation rate is 48%. There were roughly 119 criminal justice studies students who graduated with this degree at California State University East Bay in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice studies degree from California State University East Bay earn around $45,387 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $15,500 to complete this degree.
Read more about the criminal justice studies program at California State University East Bay
San Francisco State University landed the #6 spot for criminal justice studies this year. San Francisco State University is a very large public school located in the city of San Francisco. About 50% of students finish within six years. San Francisco State University awarded about 168 criminal justice studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice studies degree from San Francisco State University earn around $42,211 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $13,518 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in criminal justice studies from San Francisco State University
Point Loma Nazarene University landed the #7 spot for criminal justice studies this year. Point Loma Nazarene University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of San Diego. Roughly 77% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 24 criminal justice studies degrees were awarded at Point Loma Nazarene University in the most recent year. Graduates of the criminal justice studies program make about $45,022 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $14,000.
More information about a degree in criminal justice studies from Point Loma Nazarene University
California State University Long Beach placed #8 among the best criminal justice studies schools. California State University Long Beach is a very large public school located in the city of Long Beach. About 69% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 354 criminal justice studies students who graduated with this degree at California State University Long Beach in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice Studies graduates of California State University Long Beach earn a median of $40,836 early in their careers. California State University Long Beach graduates carry a median of $15,000 in student loans.
Read more about the criminal justice studies program at California State University Long Beach
California State University Fullerton landed the #9 spot for criminal justice studies this year. Located in the suburb of Fullerton, California State University Fullerton is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 70%. There were roughly 380 criminal justice studies students who graduated with this degree at California State University Fullerton in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice studies degree from California State University Fullerton earn around $34,570 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $11,000 to complete this degree.
See the full criminal justice studies program report for California State University Fullerton
San Diego State University earned the #10 position for criminal justice studies this year. Set in the city of San Diego, San Diego State University is a very large public institution. About 76% of students finish within six years. San Diego State University awarded about 542 criminal justice studies degrees in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice Studies graduates of San Diego State University earn a median of $33,261 early in their careers. San Diego State University graduates carry a median of $12,998 in student loans.
Get the full criminal justice studies details for San Diego State University
Seattle University earned the #11 position for criminal justice studies this year. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Seattle. The six-year graduation rate is 76%. There were roughly 37 criminal justice studies students who graduated with this degree at Seattle University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice studies program make about $49,831 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,247.
Get the full criminal justice studies details for Seattle University
California State University Chico earned the #12 position for criminal justice studies this year. Located in the city of Chico, California State University Chico is a large public university. Roughly 63% of students complete a degree within six years here. California State University Chico awarded about 118 criminal justice studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice studies degree from California State University Chico earn around $36,045 in the first couple years of their career. California State University Chico graduates carry a median of $16,331 in student loans.
Get the full criminal justice studies details for California State University Chico
California State University Los Angeles landed the #13 spot for criminal justice studies this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Los Angeles. About 53% of students finish within six years. About 385 criminal justice studies degrees were awarded at California State University Los Angeles in the most recent year. Graduates of the criminal justice studies program make about $32,974 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $11,679 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in criminal justice studies from California State University Los Angeles
California State University Stanislaus came in at #14 for criminal justice studies this year. This large public university is located in the suburb of Turlock. About 53% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 185 criminal justice studies students who graduated with this degree at California State University Stanislaus in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice studies degree from California State University Stanislaus earn around $34,806 in the first couple years of their career. California State University Stanislaus graduates carry a median of $12,500 in student loans.
Read more about the criminal justice studies program at California State University Stanislaus
Central Washington University placed #15 among the best criminal justice studies schools. Located in the town of Ellensburg, Central Washington University is a very large public university. Central Washington University graduates 54% of students within six years. About 131 criminal justice studies degrees were awarded at Central Washington University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice studies degree recipients from Central Washington University generally make around $44,172. Typical student debt for the program is $21,954.
Read more about the criminal justice studies program at Central Washington University
California State University Dominguez Hills placed #16 among the best criminal justice studies schools. Set in the city of Carson, California State University Dominguez Hills is a large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 43%. California State University Dominguez Hills awarded about 198 criminal justice studies degrees in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice Studies graduates of California State University Dominguez Hills earn a median of $36,092 early in their careers. California State University Dominguez Hills graduates carry a median of $12,256 in student loans.
See the full criminal justice studies program report for California State University Dominguez Hills
California State University San Bernardino earned the #17 position for criminal justice studies this year. Located in the city of San Bernardino, California State University San Bernardino is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 55%. California State University San Bernardino awarded about 254 criminal justice studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice studies program make about $35,029 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $14,917 to complete this degree.
See the full criminal justice studies program report for California State University San Bernardino
California State University Bakersfield landed the #18 spot for criminal justice studies this year. Located in the city of Bakersfield, California State University Bakersfield is a large public university. California State University Bakersfield graduates 50% of students within six years. California State University Bakersfield awarded about 138 criminal justice studies degrees in the most recent data year.
See the full criminal justice studies program report for California State University Bakersfield
California State University Northridge came in at #19 for criminal justice studies this year. Located in the city of Northridge, California State University Northridge is a very large public university. Roughly 57% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 395 criminal justice studies students who graduated with this degree at California State University Northridge in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice Studies graduates of California State University Northridge earn a median of $34,870 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $11,000.
Read more about the criminal justice studies program at California State University Northridge
University Of Nevada Las Vegas landed the #20 spot for criminal justice studies this year. Set in the city of Las Vegas, University Of Nevada Las Vegas is a very large public institution. About 50% of students finish within six years. About 303 criminal justice studies degrees were awarded at University Of Nevada Las Vegas in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice studies degree recipients from University Of Nevada Las Vegas generally make around $37,639. Typical student debt for the program is $20,484.
More information about a degree in criminal justice studies from University Of Nevada Las Vegas
Brandman University Part Of The Chapman University System landed the #21 spot for criminal justice studies this year. Brandman University Part Of The Chapman University System is a large public school located in the suburb of Aliso Viejo. Brandman University Part Of The Chapman University System awarded about 22 criminal justice studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice studies program make about $65,898 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $27,471 to complete this degree.
Get the full criminal justice studies details for Brandman University Part Of The Chapman University System
Portland State University earned the #22 position for criminal justice studies this year. Portland State University is a very large public school located in the city of Portland. The six-year graduation rate is 53%. About 136 criminal justice studies degrees were awarded at Portland State University in the most recent year. Graduates of the criminal justice studies program make about $45,401 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,641.
See the full criminal justice studies program report for Portland State University
College Of Southern Nevada landed the #23 spot for criminal justice studies this year. College Of Southern Nevada is a very large public school located in the city of Las Vegas. About 138 criminal justice studies degrees were awarded at College Of Southern Nevada in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice studies degree recipients from College Of Southern Nevada generally make around $26,301. College Of Southern Nevada graduates carry a median of $6,687 in student loans.
Get the full criminal justice studies details for College Of Southern Nevada
Southern Oregon University landed the #24 spot for criminal justice studies this year. Southern Oregon University is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Ashland. About 42% of students finish within six years. About 30 criminal justice studies degrees were awarded at Southern Oregon University in the most recent year. Students who receive their criminal justice studies degree from Southern Oregon University earn around $40,553 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $22,000 to complete this degree.
Read more about the criminal justice studies program at Southern Oregon University
Saint Martins University earned the #25 position for criminal justice studies this year. Saint Martins University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Lacey. Saint Martins University graduates 52% of students within six years. About 14 criminal justice studies degrees were awarded at Saint Martins University in the most recent year. Students who receive their criminal justice studies degree from Saint Martins University earn around $60,864 in the first couple years of their career. Saint Martins University graduates carry a median of $22,818 in student loans.
More information about a degree in criminal justice studies from Saint Martins University
Rest of the Top 34 Criminal Justice Studies Schools
These schools also placed among the best for criminal justice studies this year:
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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 · 53 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.
