2026 Best Criminal Justice Studies Schools in the New England Region
Criminal Justice Studies degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. The schools below stand out for the quality of their criminal justice studies programs.
College Factual analyzed 56 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 New England Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall criminal justice studies education in the New England Region.
Top Schools in Criminal Justice Studies
Our analysis ranked University Of Massachusetts Amherst the best school in the country for a degree in criminal justice studies. Set in the city of Amherst, University Of Massachusetts Amherst is a very large public institution. About 83% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 37 criminal justice studies students who graduated with this degree at University Of Massachusetts Amherst in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice studies degree from University Of Massachusetts Amherst earn around $53,543 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,234.
See the full criminal justice studies program report for University Of Massachusetts Amherst
Boston University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in criminal justice studies, ranking #2. Set in the city of Boston, Boston University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Boston University graduates 89% of students within six years. About 102 criminal justice studies degrees were awarded at Boston University in the most recent year. Graduates of the criminal justice studies program make about $63,965 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $25,232 to complete this degree.
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Students looking for a strong criminal justice studies program will find one at Northeastern University, which ranked #3. Located in the city of Boston, Northeastern University is a very large private not-for-profit university. About 90% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 104 criminal justice studies students who graduated with this degree at Northeastern University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice studies degree from Northeastern University earn around $49,316 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,809.
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Westfield State University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in criminal justice studies, landing the #4 spot this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the suburb of Westfield. The six-year graduation rate is 54%. There were roughly 175 criminal justice studies students who graduated with this degree at Westfield State University in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice Studies graduates of Westfield State University earn a median of $42,228 early in their careers. Westfield State University graduates carry a median of $24,422 in student loans.
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A rank of #5 makes University Of Massachusetts Lowell one of the top schools for criminal justice studies. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Lowell. Roughly 65% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 31 criminal justice studies students who graduated with this degree at University Of Massachusetts Lowell in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice studies degree recipients from University Of Massachusetts Lowell generally make around $61,649. Students borrow a median of $24,822 to complete this degree.
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Quinnipiac University came in at #6 for criminal justice studies this year. Set in the suburb of Hamden, Quinnipiac University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 76% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 36 criminal justice studies students who graduated with this degree at Quinnipiac University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice studies degree from Quinnipiac University earn around $41,989 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
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Bridgewater State University landed the #7 spot for criminal justice studies this year. Bridgewater State University is a large public school located in the suburb of Bridgewater. Bridgewater State University graduates 53% of students within six years. There were roughly 132 criminal justice studies students who graduated with this degree at Bridgewater State University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice studies program make about $50,327 in their early career. Bridgewater State University graduates carry a median of $26,696 in student loans.
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Worcester State University placed #8 among the best criminal justice studies schools. Set in the city of Worcester, Worcester State University is a moderately-sized public institution. About 62% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 82 criminal justice studies students who graduated with this degree at Worcester State University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice studies program make about $41,132 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,953.
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Sacred Heart University placed #9 among the best criminal justice studies schools. Located in the suburb of Fairfield, Sacred Heart University is a large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 74%. Sacred Heart University awarded about 54 criminal justice studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice studies program make about $43,245 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
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University Of Massachusetts Boston earned the #10 position for criminal justice studies this year. This large public university is located in the city of Boston. About 49% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 127 criminal justice studies students who graduated with this degree at University Of Massachusetts Boston in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice Studies graduates of University Of Massachusetts Boston earn a median of $42,325 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
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Endicott College landed the #11 spot for criminal justice studies this year. Located in the suburb of Beverly, Endicott College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Endicott College graduates 75% of students within six years. There were roughly 35 criminal justice studies students who graduated with this degree at Endicott College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice studies program make about $38,900 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
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Curry College earned the #12 position for criminal justice studies this year. Set in the suburb of Milton, Curry College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 51%. Curry College awarded about 45 criminal justice studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice studies program make about $83,293 in their early career. Curry College graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans.
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Rhode Island College earned the #13 position for criminal justice studies this year. Located in the suburb of Providence, Rhode Island College is a large public university. Rhode Island College graduates 48% of students within six years. About 43 criminal justice studies degrees were awarded at Rhode Island College in the most recent year. Students who receive their criminal justice studies degree from Rhode Island College earn around $38,163 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $21,625 to complete this degree.
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Nichols College placed #14 among the best criminal justice studies schools. Nichols College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Dudley. About 63% of students finish within six years. About 16 criminal justice studies degrees were awarded at Nichols College in the most recent year. Students who receive their criminal justice studies degree from Nichols College earn around $45,774 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
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Holyoke Community College ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best criminal justice studies schools. Located in the rural area of Holyoke, Holyoke Community College is a moderately-sized public university. There were roughly 28 criminal justice studies students who graduated with this degree at Holyoke Community College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice studies degree recipients from Holyoke Community College generally make around $37,533. Typical student debt for the program is $5,658.
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Central Connecticut State University landed the #16 spot for criminal justice studies this year. Central Connecticut State University is a large public school located in the suburb of New Britain. About 48% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 15 criminal justice studies students who graduated with this degree at Central Connecticut State University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice studies program make about $60,151 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,340.
See the full criminal justice studies program report for Central Connecticut State University
Plymouth State University earned the #17 position for criminal justice studies this year. This mid-sized public university is located in the town of Plymouth. About 52% of students finish within six years. About 54 criminal justice studies degrees were awarded at Plymouth State University in the most recent year. Graduates of the criminal justice studies program make about $39,171 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
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Middlesex Community College Bedford landed the #18 spot for criminal justice studies this year. Middlesex Community College Bedford is a large public school located in the suburb of Bedford. Middlesex Community College Bedford awarded about 25 criminal justice studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice studies degree recipients from Middlesex Community College Bedford generally make around $41,796. Students borrow a median of $10,950 to complete this degree.
See the full criminal justice studies program report for Middlesex Community College Bedford
Springfield College earned the #19 position for criminal justice studies this year. Springfield College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Springfield. About 74% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 16 criminal justice studies students who graduated with this degree at Springfield College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice studies program make about $41,441 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,500.
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Southern Maine Community College placed #20 among the best criminal justice studies schools. Set in the city of South Portland, Southern Maine Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Southern Maine Community College awarded about 12 criminal justice studies degrees in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice Studies graduates of Southern Maine Community College earn a median of $44,869 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $8,750 to complete this degree.
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North Shore Community College landed the #21 spot for criminal justice studies this year. Located in the suburb of Danvers, North Shore Community College is a moderately-sized public university. About 20 criminal justice studies degrees were awarded at North Shore Community College in the most recent year. Graduates of the criminal justice studies program make about $32,379 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $9,656 to complete this degree.
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Bristol Community College ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best criminal justice studies schools. Located in the suburb of Fall River, Bristol Community College is a moderately-sized public university. About 29 criminal justice studies degrees were awarded at Bristol Community College in the most recent year. Students who receive their criminal justice studies degree from Bristol Community College earn around $36,706 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $6,700 to complete this degree.
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Western New England University came in at #23 for criminal justice studies this year. Set in the city of Springfield, Western New England University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Western New England University graduates 64% of students within six years. Western New England University awarded about 30 criminal justice studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice studies program make about $41,564 in their early career. Western New England University graduates carry a median of $26,399 in student loans.
More information about a degree in criminal justice studies from Western New England University
Central Maine Community College landed the #24 spot for criminal justice studies this year. Central Maine Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Auburn. Central Maine Community College awarded about 28 criminal justice studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice studies program make about $43,112 in their early career. Central Maine Community College graduates carry a median of $11,000 in student loans.
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Vermont Technical College came in at #25 for criminal justice studies this year. Set in the rural area of Randolph, Vermont Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 44%. There were roughly 17 criminal justice studies students who graduated with this degree at Vermont Technical College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice studies degree from Vermont Technical College earn around $33,093 in the first couple years of their career. Vermont Technical College graduates carry a median of $24,208 in student loans.
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Rest of the Top 32 Criminal Justice Studies Schools
These schools also placed among the best for criminal justice studies this year:
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 56 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.