2026 Best Criminal Justice Studies Schools in Connecticut
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 10 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best criminal justice studies schools.
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Best Schools for Criminal Justice Studies in Connecticut
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall criminal justice studies education in Connecticut.
Top Schools in Criminal Justice Studies
Quinnipiac University tops our 2026 ranking of the best criminal justice studies schools. Set in the suburb of Hamden, Quinnipiac University is a large private not-for-profit institution. About 76% of students finish within six years. 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. Quinnipiac University graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
See the full criminal justice studies program report for Quinnipiac University
Sacred Heart University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in criminal justice studies, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the suburb of Fairfield, Sacred Heart University is a large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 74%. About 54 criminal justice studies degrees were awarded at Sacred Heart University in the most recent year. Graduates of the criminal justice studies program make about $43,245 in their early career. Sacred Heart University graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
See the full criminal justice studies program report for Sacred Heart University
Students looking for a strong criminal justice studies program will find one at Central Connecticut State University, which ranked #3. Central Connecticut State University is a large public school located in the suburb of New Britain. The six-year graduation rate is 48%. Central Connecticut State University awarded about 15 criminal justice studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice studies degree recipients from Central Connecticut State University generally make around $60,151. Students borrow a median of $24,340 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in criminal justice studies from Central Connecticut State University
University Of Bridgeport came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best criminal justice studies schools. University Of Bridgeport is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Bridgeport. The six-year graduation rate is 41%. There were roughly 21 criminal justice studies students who graduated with this degree at University Of Bridgeport in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice Studies graduates of University Of Bridgeport earn a median of $29,284 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $26,250 to complete this degree.
Get the full criminal justice studies details for University Of Bridgeport
A rank of #5 makes Albertus Magnus College one of the top schools for criminal justice studies. Albertus Magnus College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of New Haven. About 50% of students finish within six years. About 40 criminal justice studies degrees were awarded at Albertus Magnus College in the most recent year. Students who receive their criminal justice studies degree from Albertus Magnus College earn around $43,581 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $40,000 to complete this degree.
Get the full criminal justice studies details for Albertus Magnus College
Post University came in at #6 for criminal justice studies this year. Set in the city of Waterbury, Post University is a very large private for-profit institution. Post University graduates 24% of students within six years. About 204 criminal justice studies degrees were awarded at Post University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice studies degree recipients from Post University generally make around $39,887. Typical student debt for the program is $33,444.
Read more about the criminal justice studies program at Post University
Mitchell College placed #7 among the best criminal justice studies schools. Set in the city of New London, Mitchell College is a small private not-for-profit institution. About 41% of students finish within six years. Mitchell College awarded about 10 criminal justice studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice studies degree recipients from Mitchell College generally make around $32,782. Mitchell College graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
Read more about the criminal justice studies program at Mitchell College
More Criminal Justice Studies Rankings
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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 · 10 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.