2026 Best Criminal Justice Studies Schools in Kansas
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 Kansas
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
Our analysis ranked Pittsburg State University the best school in the country for a degree in criminal justice studies. Set in the town of Pittsburg, Pittsburg State University is a moderately-sized public institution. About 51% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 24 criminal justice studies students who graduated with this degree at Pittsburg State University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice studies degree recipients from Pittsburg State University generally make around $50,003. Typical student debt for the program is $24,843.
More information about a degree in criminal justice studies from Pittsburg State University
Southwestern College came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best criminal justice studies schools. Set in the town of Winfield, Southwestern College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Southwestern College graduates 36% of students within six years. About 11 criminal justice studies degrees were awarded at Southwestern College in the most recent year. Criminal Justice Studies graduates of Southwestern College earn a median of $60,820 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $26,874.
More information about a degree in criminal justice studies from Southwestern College
Fort Hays State University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in criminal justice studies, landing the #3 spot this year. This large public university is located in the town of Hays. Fort Hays State University graduates 46% of students within six years. There were roughly 43 criminal justice studies students who graduated with this degree at Fort Hays State University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice studies degree recipients from Fort Hays State University generally make around $42,428. Students borrow a median of $28,750 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in criminal justice studies from Fort Hays State University
Friends University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best criminal justice studies schools. Located in the city of Wichita, Friends University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Friends University graduates 43% of students within six years. Friends University awarded about 13 criminal justice studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice studies program make about $34,522 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $29,721 to complete this degree.
Get the full criminal justice studies details for Friends University
Wichita State University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in criminal justice studies, ranking #5. Located in the city of Wichita, Wichita State University is a large public university. About 51% of students finish within six years. About 84 criminal justice studies degrees were awarded at Wichita State University in the most recent year. Criminal Justice Studies graduates of Wichita State University earn a median of $44,013 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
Get the full criminal justice studies details for Wichita State University
Butler Community College earned the #6 position for criminal justice studies this year. Set in the town of El Dorado, Butler Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Butler Community College awarded about 18 criminal justice studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice studies degree recipients from Butler Community College generally make around $39,404. Typical student debt for the program is $16,670.
Read more about the criminal justice studies program at Butler Community College
More Criminal Justice Studies Rankings
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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.
