2027 Best Criminal Justice Studies Schools in North Carolina
Criminal Justice Studies is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. 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 59 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for criminal justice studies students pursuing a degree.
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Best Schools for Criminal Justice Studies in North Carolina
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall criminal justice studies education in North Carolina.
Top Schools in Criminal Justice Studies
No school ranked higher than High Point University this year for criminal justice studies. Set in the city of High Point, High Point University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 72% of students finish within six years. High Point University awarded about 46 criminal justice studies degrees in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice Studies graduates of High Point University earn a median of $113,352 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $23,785.
Read more about the criminal justice studies program at High Point University
Appalachian State University came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best criminal justice studies schools. Located in the town of Boone, Appalachian State University is a very large public university. Appalachian State University graduates 74% of students within six years. There were roughly 120 criminal justice studies students who graduated with this degree at Appalachian State University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice studies program make about $35,796 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $18,750.
Read more about the criminal justice studies program at Appalachian State University
Students looking for a strong criminal justice studies program will find one at Western Carolina University, which ranked #3. Western Carolina University is a large public school located in the town of Cullowhee. Roughly 60% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 119 criminal justice studies students who graduated with this degree at Western Carolina University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice studies degree recipients from Western Carolina University generally make around $38,682. Western Carolina University graduates carry a median of $21,461 in student loans.
See the full criminal justice studies program report for Western Carolina University
A rank of #4 makes University Of North Carolina At Charlotte one of the top schools for criminal justice studies. Set in the city of Charlotte, University Of North Carolina At Charlotte is a very large public institution. About 69% of students finish within six years. About 167 criminal justice studies degrees were awarded at University Of North Carolina At Charlotte in the most recent year. Students who receive their criminal justice studies degree from University Of North Carolina At Charlotte earn around $36,155 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,250.
Get the full criminal justice studies details for University Of North Carolina At Charlotte
Cape Fear Community College is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in criminal justice studies, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the city of Wilmington, Cape Fear Community College is a very large public institution. Cape Fear Community College awarded about 28 criminal justice studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice studies degree recipients from Cape Fear Community College generally make around $52,282. Cape Fear Community College graduates carry a median of $16,042 in student loans.
See the full criminal justice studies program report for Cape Fear Community College
Lenoir Community College landed the #6 spot for criminal justice studies this year. This mid-sized public university is located in the town of Kinston. Lenoir Community College awarded about 11 criminal justice studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice studies program make about $38,736 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $9,984 to complete this degree.
Read more about the criminal justice studies program at Lenoir Community College
Vance Granville Community College landed the #7 spot for criminal justice studies this year. Vance Granville Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Henderson. About 18 criminal justice studies degrees were awarded at Vance Granville Community College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice studies degree recipients from Vance Granville Community College generally make around $39,750. Students borrow a median of $14,833 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in criminal justice studies from Vance Granville Community College
Rowan Cabarrus Community College landed the #8 spot for criminal justice studies this year. Rowan Cabarrus Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Salisbury. About 25 criminal justice studies degrees were awarded at Rowan Cabarrus Community College in the most recent year. Criminal Justice Studies graduates of Rowan Cabarrus Community College earn a median of $46,993 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $10,625 to complete this degree.
Get the full criminal justice studies details for Rowan Cabarrus Community College
Stanly Community College came in at #9 for criminal justice studies this year. Stanly Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Albemarle. Stanly Community College awarded about 23 criminal justice studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice studies degree recipients from Stanly Community College generally make around $41,920.
Read more about the criminal justice studies program at Stanly Community College
Montgomery Community College earned the #10 position for criminal justice studies this year. This small public university is located in the rural area of Troy. About 20 criminal justice studies degrees were awarded at Montgomery Community College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice studies degree recipients from Montgomery Community College generally make around $38,983.
See the full criminal justice studies program report for Montgomery Community College
Wilkes Community College ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best criminal justice studies schools. This mid-sized public university is located in the town of Wilkesboro. Wilkes Community College awarded about 44 criminal justice studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice studies degree recipients from Wilkes Community College generally make around $41,251. Typical student debt for the program is $11,000.
Read more about the criminal justice studies program at Wilkes Community College
Wayne Community College earned the #12 position for criminal justice studies this year. This mid-sized public university is located in the city of Goldsboro. Wayne Community College awarded about 17 criminal justice studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice studies program make about $40,557 in their early career. Wayne Community College graduates carry a median of $5,500 in student loans.
Read more about the criminal justice studies program at Wayne Community College
Pitt Community College ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best criminal justice studies schools. Set in the suburb of Winterville, Pitt Community College is a large public institution. Pitt Community College awarded about 39 criminal justice studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice studies degree recipients from Pitt Community College generally make around $33,018. Typical student debt for the program is $15,900.
See the full criminal justice studies program report for Pitt Community College
University Of North Carolina At Pembroke ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best criminal justice studies schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the town of Pembroke. University Of North Carolina At Pembroke graduates 44% of students within six years. There were roughly 116 criminal justice studies students who graduated with this degree at University Of North Carolina At Pembroke in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice studies degree recipients from University Of North Carolina At Pembroke generally make around $35,553. University Of North Carolina At Pembroke graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
See the full criminal justice studies program report for University Of North Carolina At Pembroke
Wake Technical Community College ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best criminal justice studies schools. Located in the suburb of Raleigh, Wake Technical Community College is a very large public university. Wake Technical Community College awarded about 81 criminal justice studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice studies degree from Wake Technical Community College earn around $38,673 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,093.
See the full criminal justice studies program report for Wake Technical Community College
Gaston College placed #16 among the best criminal justice studies schools. Located in the suburb of Dallas, Gaston College is a moderately-sized public university. Gaston College awarded about 29 criminal justice studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice studies degree from Gaston College earn around $50,038 in the first couple years of their career. Gaston College graduates carry a median of $10,915 in student loans.
More information about a degree in criminal justice studies from Gaston College
North Carolina A And T State University earned the #17 position for criminal justice studies this year. This large public university is located in the city of Greensboro. Roughly 57% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 115 criminal justice studies degrees were awarded at North Carolina A And T State University in the most recent year. Graduates of the criminal justice studies program make about $32,152 in their early career. North Carolina A And T State University graduates carry a median of $27,798 in student loans.
Read more about the criminal justice studies program at North Carolina A And T State University
Pfeiffer University placed #18 among the best criminal justice studies schools. Set in the rural area of Misenheimer, Pfeiffer University is a small private not-for-profit institution. Pfeiffer University graduates 35% of students within six years. There were roughly 10 criminal justice studies students who graduated with this degree at Pfeiffer University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice studies degree from Pfeiffer University earn around $54,891 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $25,125 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in criminal justice studies from Pfeiffer University
Forsyth Technical Community College landed the #19 spot for criminal justice studies this year. Forsyth Technical Community College is a large public school located in the city of Winston-Salem. There were roughly 29 criminal justice studies students who graduated with this degree at Forsyth Technical Community College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice studies program make about $35,389 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,066.
See the full criminal justice studies program report for Forsyth Technical Community College
Winston Salem State University placed #20 among the best criminal justice studies schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Winston-Salem. The six-year graduation rate is 47%. Winston Salem State University awarded about 32 criminal justice studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice studies degree recipients from Winston Salem State University generally make around $31,564. Winston Salem State University graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
Read more about the criminal justice studies program at Winston Salem State University
Catawba Valley Community College came in at #21 for criminal justice studies this year. Located in the city of Hickory, Catawba Valley Community College is a moderately-sized public university. About 13 criminal justice studies degrees were awarded at Catawba Valley Community College in the most recent year. Criminal Justice Studies graduates of Catawba Valley Community College earn a median of $38,219 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $9,842 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in criminal justice studies from Catawba Valley Community College
Randolph Community College ranked #22 on our 2027 list of the best criminal justice studies schools. This mid-sized public university is located in the town of Asheboro. Randolph Community College awarded about 41 criminal justice studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice studies program make about $32,198 in their early career.
See the full criminal justice studies program report for Randolph Community College
Johnston Community College placed #23 among the best criminal justice studies schools. Set in the town of Smithfield, Johnston Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Johnston Community College awarded about 19 criminal justice studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice studies degree from Johnston Community College earn around $37,472 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $9,490 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in criminal justice studies from Johnston Community College
Central Piedmont Community College earned the #24 position for criminal justice studies this year. Set in the city of Charlotte, Central Piedmont Community College is a very large public institution. About 37 criminal justice studies degrees were awarded at Central Piedmont Community College in the most recent year. Students who receive their criminal justice studies degree from Central Piedmont Community College earn around $44,616 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $11,861 to complete this degree.
See the full criminal justice studies program report for Central Piedmont Community College
Wilson Community College ranked #25 on our 2027 list of the best criminal justice studies schools. This mid-sized public university is located in the town of Wilson. There were roughly 24 criminal justice studies students who graduated with this degree at Wilson Community College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice studies degree from Wilson Community College earn around $48,304 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $17,060 to complete this degree.
See the full criminal justice studies program report for Wilson Community College
Rest of the Top 50 Criminal Justice Studies Schools
These schools also placed among the best for criminal justice studies this year:
More Criminal Justice Studies Rankings
View All Criminal Justice Studies Rankings >
Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 59 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.
