2027 Best Criminal Justice Studies Schools in Virginia
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.
For its 2027 ranking, College Factual looked at 12 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 Virginia
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall criminal justice studies education in Virginia.
Top Schools in Criminal Justice Studies
No school ranked higher than University Of Virginia Main Campus this year for criminal justice studies. Set in the suburb of Charlottesville, University Of Virginia Main Campus is a very large public institution. About 96% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 994 criminal justice studies students who graduated with this degree at University Of Virginia Main Campus in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice studies degree recipients from University Of Virginia Main Campus generally make around $69,126. Students borrow a median of $18,627 to complete this degree.
Read more about the criminal justice studies program at University Of Virginia Main Campus
Students looking for a strong criminal justice studies program will find one at George Mason University, which ranked #2. George Mason University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Fairfax. George Mason University graduates 68% of students within six years. George Mason University awarded about 29 criminal justice studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice studies program make about $49,815 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,761.
Read more about the criminal justice studies program at George Mason University
A rank of #3 makes Roanoke College one of the top schools for criminal justice studies. Located in the suburb of Salem, Roanoke College is a small private not-for-profit university. Roughly 67% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 22 criminal justice studies degrees were awarded at Roanoke College in the most recent year. Students who receive their criminal justice studies degree from Roanoke College earn around $33,725 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
Get the full criminal justice studies details for Roanoke College
Radford University came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best criminal justice studies schools. Located in the town of Radford, Radford University is a moderately-sized public university. About 49% of students finish within six years. Radford University awarded about 81 criminal justice studies degrees in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice Studies graduates of Radford University earn a median of $35,935 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $25,000.
Read more about the criminal justice studies program at Radford University
A rank of #5 makes Longwood University one of the top schools for criminal justice studies. Located in the town of Farmville, Longwood University is a moderately-sized public university. Roughly 61% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 38 criminal justice studies degrees were awarded at Longwood University in the most recent year. Criminal Justice Studies graduates of Longwood University earn a median of $36,254 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $23,375 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in criminal justice studies from Longwood University
Liberty University earned the #6 position for criminal justice studies this year. Set in the city of Lynchburg, Liberty University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Liberty University graduates 67% of students within six years. About 1,252 criminal justice studies degrees were awarded at Liberty University in the most recent year. Students who receive their criminal justice studies degree from Liberty University earn around $49,329 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $29,323 to complete this degree.
Read more about the criminal justice studies program at Liberty University
Northern Virginia Community College came in at #7 for criminal justice studies this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Annandale. There were roughly 162 criminal justice studies students who graduated with this degree at Northern Virginia Community College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice studies degree recipients from Northern Virginia Community College generally make around $40,126. Northern Virginia Community College graduates carry a median of $25,999 in student loans.
Read more about the criminal justice studies program at Northern Virginia Community College
Bluefield College ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best criminal justice studies schools. Located in the town of Bluefield, Bluefield College is a small private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 18%. About 20 criminal justice studies degrees were awarded at Bluefield College in the most recent year. Criminal Justice Studies graduates of Bluefield College earn a median of $41,005 early in their careers. Bluefield College graduates carry a median of $24,250 in student loans.
Read more about the criminal justice studies program at Bluefield College
Virginia Wesleyan College placed #9 among the best criminal justice studies schools. Set in the city of Virginia Beach, Virginia Wesleyan College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 42% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 21 criminal justice studies students who graduated with this degree at Virginia Wesleyan College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice studies degree recipients from Virginia Wesleyan College generally make around $39,404. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
Read more about the criminal justice studies program at Virginia Wesleyan College
Ecpi University landed the #10 spot for criminal justice studies this year. Ecpi University is a large private for-profit school located in the city of Virginia Beach. About 28% of students finish within six years. About 54 criminal justice studies degrees were awarded at Ecpi University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice studies degree recipients from Ecpi University generally make around $36,287. Typical student debt for the program is $29,903.
More information about a degree in criminal justice studies from Ecpi University
Norfolk State University ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best criminal justice studies schools. Set in the city of Norfolk, Norfolk State University is a moderately-sized public institution. About 39% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 11 criminal justice studies students who graduated with this degree at Norfolk State University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice studies degree recipients from Norfolk State University generally make around $54,971.
Read more about the criminal justice studies program at Norfolk State University
Virginia State University came in at #12 for criminal justice studies this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the suburb of Petersburg. The six-year graduation rate is 39%. Virginia State University awarded about 70 criminal justice studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice studies degree recipients from Virginia State University generally make around $34,604. Typical student debt for the program is $30,000.
More information about a degree in criminal justice studies from Virginia State University
More Criminal Justice Studies Rankings
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 12 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.
