2027 Best Criminal Justice Associate’s Degree Schools
Criminal Justice degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. The schools below stand out for the quality of their criminal justice programs.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 208 schools to find the best for criminal justice students.
What’s on this page:
Best Schools for Criminal Justice in the United States
These are the top schools for a associate’s degree in criminal justice, based on student outcomes and program quality.
Top Schools in Criminal Justice
Diablo Valley College tops our 2027 ranking of the best criminal justice schools. Diablo Valley College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Pleasant Hill. About 51 criminal justice degrees were awarded at Diablo Valley College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from Diablo Valley College generally make around $27,813. Typical student debt for the program is $9,205.
More information about a degree in criminal justice from Diablo Valley College
Grossmont College came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best criminal justice schools. Grossmont College is a very large public school located in the suburb of El Cajon. Grossmont College awarded about 89 criminal justice degrees in the most recent data year.
See the full criminal justice program report for Grossmont College
Park University came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best criminal justice schools. Located in the suburb of Parkville, Park University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Park University graduates 37% of students within six years. About 21 criminal justice degrees were awarded at Park University in the most recent year. Graduates of the criminal justice program make about $49,305 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $18,299 to complete this degree.
Read more about the criminal justice program at Park University
Ferris State University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in criminal justice, landing the #4 spot this year. Ferris State University is a large public school located in the town of Big Rapids. Roughly 56% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 22 criminal justice students who graduated with this degree at Ferris State University in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice graduates of Ferris State University earn a median of $48,203 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $18,500 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in criminal justice from Ferris State University
Santa Rosa Junior College is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in criminal justice, ranking #5. Santa Rosa Junior College is a very large public school located in the city of Santa Rosa. About 27 criminal justice degrees were awarded at Santa Rosa Junior College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from Santa Rosa Junior College generally make around $111,649. Typical student debt for the program is $14,125.
Get the full criminal justice details for Santa Rosa Junior College
Chaffey College landed the #6 spot for criminal justice this year. Chaffey College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Rancho Cucamonga. About 93 criminal justice degrees were awarded at Chaffey College in the most recent year. Graduates of the criminal justice program make about $23,532 in their early career. Chaffey College graduates carry a median of $6,952 in student loans.
Get the full criminal justice details for Chaffey College
Massachusetts Bay Community College ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best criminal justice schools. Located in the suburb of Wellesley Hills, Massachusetts Bay Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Massachusetts Bay Community College awarded about 28 criminal justice degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice program make about $45,144 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $6,333.
Get the full criminal justice details for Massachusetts Bay Community College
Commonwealth University Of Pennsylvania came in at #8 for criminal justice this year. Located in the town of Bloomsburg, Commonwealth University Of Pennsylvania is a large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 56%. There were roughly 12 criminal justice students who graduated with this degree at Commonwealth University Of Pennsylvania in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from Commonwealth University Of Pennsylvania generally make around $37,839. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
Read more about the criminal justice program at Commonwealth University Of Pennsylvania
De Anza College came in at #9 for criminal justice this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Cupertino. About 33 criminal justice degrees were awarded at De Anza College in the most recent year. Typical student debt for the program is $7,271.
Read more about the criminal justice program at De Anza College
Nassau Community College landed the #10 spot for criminal justice this year. Located in the suburb of Garden City, Nassau Community College is a large public university. Nassau Community College awarded about 108 criminal justice degrees in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice graduates of Nassau Community College earn a median of $29,837 early in their careers. Nassau Community College graduates carry a median of $10,750 in student loans.
See the full criminal justice program report for Nassau Community College
Lake Superior State University landed the #11 spot for criminal justice this year. Located in the town of Sault Ste Marie, Lake Superior State University is a small public university. Roughly 50% of students complete a degree within six years here. Lake Superior State University awarded about 22 criminal justice degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from Lake Superior State University generally make around $44,635. Typical student debt for the program is $14,375.
Get the full criminal justice details for Lake Superior State University
Raritan Valley Community College earned the #12 position for criminal justice this year. Raritan Valley Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Branchburg. About 41 criminal justice degrees were awarded at Raritan Valley Community College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from Raritan Valley Community College generally make around $47,248. Students borrow a median of $5,500 to complete this degree.
See the full criminal justice program report for Raritan Valley Community College
Pennsylvania College Of Technology placed #13 among the best criminal justice schools. Located in the city of Williamsport, Pennsylvania College Of Technology is a moderately-sized public university. Pennsylvania College Of Technology graduates 45% of students within six years. Pennsylvania College Of Technology awarded about 21 criminal justice degrees in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice graduates of Pennsylvania College Of Technology earn a median of $52,133 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $24,371 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in criminal justice from Pennsylvania College Of Technology
Utah Valley University ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best criminal justice schools. Utah Valley University is a very large public school located in the city of Orem. About 40% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 96 criminal justice students who graduated with this degree at Utah Valley University in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice graduates of Utah Valley University earn a median of $44,051 early in their careers. Utah Valley University graduates carry a median of $18,016 in student loans.
See the full criminal justice program report for Utah Valley University
Los Medanos College landed the #15 spot for criminal justice this year. Los Medanos College is a large public school located in the suburb of Pittsburg. About 58 criminal justice degrees were awarded at Los Medanos College in the most recent year. Criminal Justice graduates of Los Medanos College earn a median of $32,581 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $9,500 to complete this degree.
See the full criminal justice program report for Los Medanos College
Rio Hondo College earned the #16 position for criminal justice this year. This very large public university is located in the rural area of Whittier. There were roughly 106 criminal justice students who graduated with this degree at Rio Hondo College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice degree from Rio Hondo College earn around $95,666 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,510.
More information about a degree in criminal justice from Rio Hondo College
City College Of San Francisco landed the #17 spot for criminal justice this year. Set in the city of San Francisco, City College Of San Francisco is a very large public institution. There were roughly 30 criminal justice students who graduated with this degree at City College Of San Francisco in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice degree from City College Of San Francisco earn around $100,031 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $10,332 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in criminal justice from City College Of San Francisco
Southwestern College Chula Vista earned the #18 position for criminal justice this year. Located in the city of Chula Vista, Southwestern College Chula Vista is a very large public university. Southwestern College Chula Vista awarded about 129 criminal justice degrees in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice graduates of Southwestern College Chula Vista earn a median of $30,983 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $11,205 to complete this degree.
Read more about the criminal justice program at Southwestern College Chula Vista
Los Angeles Pierce College came in at #19 for criminal justice this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Woodland Hills. About 51 criminal justice degrees were awarded at Los Angeles Pierce College in the most recent year. Students borrow a median of $12,477 to complete this degree.
Get the full criminal justice details for Los Angeles Pierce College
College Of The Desert ranked #20 on our 2027 list of the best criminal justice schools. Set in the city of Palm Desert, College Of The Desert is a large public institution. There were roughly 60 criminal justice students who graduated with this degree at College Of The Desert in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice degree from College Of The Desert earn around $32,482 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $7,826.
See the full criminal justice program report for College Of The Desert
Columbia Southern University came in at #21 for criminal justice this year. This very large private for-profit university is located in the town of Orange Beach. About 26% of students finish within six years. About 363 criminal justice degrees were awarded at Columbia Southern University in the most recent year. Graduates of the criminal justice program make about $58,241 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $17,078.
More information about a degree in criminal justice from Columbia Southern University
West Valley College ranked #22 on our 2027 list of the best criminal justice schools. Located in the suburb of Saratoga, West Valley College is a large public university. There were roughly 24 criminal justice students who graduated with this degree at West Valley College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from West Valley College generally make around $25,378. Typical student debt for the program is $14,308.
Get the full criminal justice details for West Valley College
Chabot College landed the #23 spot for criminal justice this year. Located in the suburb of Hayward, Chabot College is a large public university. Chabot College awarded about 25 criminal justice degrees in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice graduates of Chabot College earn a median of $85,175 early in their careers. Chabot College graduates carry a median of $14,122 in student loans.
Get the full criminal justice details for Chabot College
Macomb Community College placed #24 among the best criminal justice schools. Located in the city of Warren, Macomb Community College is a very large public university. There were roughly 24 criminal justice students who graduated with this degree at Macomb Community College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from Macomb Community College generally make around $38,758. Students borrow a median of $6,964 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in criminal justice from Macomb Community College
Mt San Antonio College ranked #25 on our 2027 list of the best criminal justice schools. Mt San Antonio College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Walnut. There were roughly 87 criminal justice students who graduated with this degree at Mt San Antonio College in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice graduates of Mt San Antonio College earn a median of $33,692 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $9,384 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in criminal justice from Mt San Antonio College
Rest of the Top 50 Criminal Justice Schools
These schools also placed among the best for criminal justice this year:
Honorable Mentions
A few more criminal justice schools worth a look:
- #51 — Union County College · Cranford, NJ
- #52 — Gavilan College · Gilroy, CA
- #53 — San Diego Miramar College · San Diego, CA
- #54 — Moreno Valley College · Moreno Valley, CA
- #55 — El Camino Community College District · Torrance, CA
- #56 — Indian River State College · Fort Pierce, FL
- #57 — Cuesta College · San Luis Obispo, CA
- #58 — Daytona State College · Daytona Beach, FL
- #59 — Ohlone Community College · Fremont, CA
- #60 — Polk State College · Winter Haven, FL
Other Criminal Justice Degree Levels
Looking for a different degree level? Compare Criminal Justice rankings across degree levels:
View All Criminal Justice Rankings >
Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 208 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.
