2027 Best Criminal Justice Studies Schools in Tennessee
Criminal Justice Studies programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 9 schools to find the best for criminal justice studies students.
What’s on this page:
Best Schools for Criminal Justice Studies in Tennessee
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
Middle Tennessee State University tops our 2027 ranking of the best criminal justice studies schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Murfreesboro. The six-year graduation rate is 54%. Middle Tennessee State University awarded about 50 criminal justice studies degrees in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice Studies graduates of Middle Tennessee State University earn a median of $37,952 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $24,093.
Get the full criminal justice studies details for Middle Tennessee State University
Bryan College Dayton is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in criminal justice studies, landing the #2 spot this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the town of Dayton. The six-year graduation rate is 50%. About 12 criminal justice studies degrees were awarded at Bryan College Dayton in the most recent year. Graduates of the criminal justice studies program make about $44,067 in their early career. Bryan College Dayton graduates carry a median of $25,652 in student loans.
More information about a degree in criminal justice studies from Bryan College Dayton
Austin Peay State University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in criminal justice studies, ranking #3. This large public university is located in the city of Clarksville. The six-year graduation rate is 39%. Austin Peay State University awarded about 18 criminal justice studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice studies program make about $36,749 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,281.
See the full criminal justice studies program report for Austin Peay State University
A rank of #4 makes Volunteer State Community College one of the top schools for criminal justice studies. This moderately-sized public university is located in the suburb of Gallatin. Volunteer State Community College awarded about 33 criminal justice studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice studies degree from Volunteer State Community College earn around $40,137 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $12,462.
More information about a degree in criminal justice studies from Volunteer State Community College
Bethel University Tennessee is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in criminal justice studies, landing the #5 spot this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the town of McKenzie. Bethel University Tennessee graduates 17% of students within six years. About 103 criminal justice studies degrees were awarded at Bethel University Tennessee in the most recent year. Criminal Justice Studies graduates of Bethel University Tennessee earn a median of $54,442 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $24,444 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in criminal justice studies from Bethel University Tennessee
South College ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best criminal justice studies schools. South College is a very large private for-profit school located in the city of Knoxville. About 53% of students finish within six years. About 16 criminal justice studies degrees were awarded at South College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice studies degree recipients from South College generally make around $24,095. South College graduates carry a median of $24,533 in student loans.
See the full criminal justice studies program report for South College
Pellissippi State Community College ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best criminal justice studies schools. Set in the suburb of Knoxville, Pellissippi State Community College is a large public institution. About 14 criminal justice studies degrees were awarded at Pellissippi State Community College in the most recent year. Criminal Justice Studies graduates of Pellissippi State Community College earn a median of $43,816 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $8,951 to complete this degree.
Get the full criminal justice studies details for Pellissippi State Community College
Northeast State Community College landed the #8 spot for criminal justice studies this year. Set in the rural area of Blountville, Northeast State Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. About 11 criminal justice studies degrees were awarded at Northeast State Community College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice studies degree recipients from Northeast State Community College generally make around $39,673. Northeast State Community College graduates carry a median of $6,404 in student loans.
See the full criminal justice studies program report for Northeast State Community College
Lane College came in at #9 for criminal justice studies this year. Lane College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Jackson. Roughly 18% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 16 criminal justice studies degrees were awarded at Lane College in the most recent year. Students who receive their criminal justice studies degree from Lane College earn around $35,917 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $38,680 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in criminal justice studies from Lane College
More Criminal Justice Studies Rankings
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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 · 9 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.
