2026 Best Criminal Justice Schools in California
Criminal Justice degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
College Factual analyzed 117 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best criminal justice schools.
What’s on this page:
Best Schools for Criminal Justice in California
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 degrees they offer, see the list below.
Top Schools in Criminal Justice
University Of San Diego tops our 2026 ranking of the best criminal justice schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of San Diego. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 103 criminal justice degrees were awarded at University Of San Diego in the most recent year. Criminal Justice graduates of University Of San Diego earn a median of $143,943 early in their careers. University Of San Diego graduates carry a median of $23,795 in student loans.
More information about a degree in criminal justice from University Of San Diego
A rank of #2 makes Santa Rosa Junior College one of the top schools for criminal justice. Located in the city of Santa Rosa, Santa Rosa Junior College is a very large public university. There were roughly 367 criminal justice students who graduated with this degree at Santa Rosa Junior College in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice graduates of Santa Rosa Junior College earn a median of $111,649 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $14,125 to complete this degree.
Get the full criminal justice details for Santa Rosa Junior College
College Of San Mateo is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in criminal justice, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the city of San Mateo, College Of San Mateo is a large public university. About 48 criminal justice degrees were awarded at College Of San Mateo in the most recent year. Students borrow a median of $12,831 to complete this degree.
Get the full criminal justice details for College Of San Mateo
Students looking for a strong criminal justice program will find one at Grossmont College, which ranked #4. Set in the suburb of El Cajon, Grossmont College is a large public institution. Grossmont College awarded about 94 criminal justice degrees in the most recent data year.
Get the full criminal justice details for Grossmont College
A rank of #5 makes Mt San Antonio College one of the top schools for criminal justice. Mt San Antonio College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Walnut. Mt San Antonio College awarded about 78 criminal justice degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice degree from Mt San Antonio College earn around $33,692 in the first couple years of their career. Mt San Antonio College graduates carry a median of $9,384 in student loans.
See the full criminal justice program report for Mt San Antonio College
Butte College landed the #6 spot for criminal justice this year. Located in the rural area of Oroville, Butte College is a large public university. About 74 criminal justice degrees were awarded at Butte College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from Butte College generally make around $73,170. Typical student debt for the program is $15,414.
More information about a degree in criminal justice from Butte College
Sacramento City College landed the #7 spot for criminal justice this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Sacramento. There were roughly 108 criminal justice students who graduated with this degree at Sacramento City College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice degree from Sacramento City College earn around $31,146 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $11,760.
Read more about the criminal justice program at Sacramento City College
Chabot College placed #8 among the best criminal justice schools. Chabot College is a large public school located in the suburb of Hayward. Chabot College awarded about 40 criminal justice degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice program make about $85,175 in their early career. Chabot College graduates carry a median of $14,122 in student loans.
See the full criminal justice program report for Chabot College
College Of The Canyons landed the #9 spot for criminal justice this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Santa Clarita. About 81 criminal justice degrees were awarded at College Of The Canyons in the most recent year. Graduates of the criminal justice program make about $51,913 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $9,776.
Read more about the criminal justice program at College Of The Canyons
Rio Hondo College came in at #10 for criminal justice this year. Located in the rural area of Whittier, Rio Hondo College is a very large public university. Rio Hondo College awarded about 152 criminal justice degrees 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. Students borrow a median of $15,510 to complete this degree.
Get the full criminal justice details for Rio Hondo College
Southwestern College Chula Vista earned the #11 position for criminal justice this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Chula Vista. There were roughly 137 criminal justice students who graduated with this degree at Southwestern College Chula Vista in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from Southwestern College Chula Vista generally make around $30,983. Typical student debt for the program is $11,205.
Read more about the criminal justice program at Southwestern College Chula Vista
College Of The Desert placed #12 among the best criminal justice schools. College Of The Desert is a large public school located in the city of Palm Desert. About 88 criminal justice degrees were awarded at College Of The Desert in the most recent year. Graduates of the criminal justice program make about $32,482 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $7,826.
See the full criminal justice program report for College Of The Desert
De Anza College placed #13 among the best criminal justice schools. De Anza College is a very large public school located in the city of Cupertino. About 40 criminal justice degrees were awarded at De Anza College in the most recent year. Students borrow a median of $7,271 to complete this degree.
Get the full criminal justice details for De Anza College
California Baptist University landed the #14 spot for criminal justice this year. California Baptist University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Riverside. About 62% of students finish within six years. California Baptist University awarded about 56 criminal justice degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice degree from California Baptist University earn around $35,960 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $26,372 to complete this degree.
Get the full criminal justice details for California Baptist University
Pasadena City College ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best criminal justice schools. Located in the city of Pasadena, Pasadena City College is a very large public university. About 68 criminal justice degrees were awarded at Pasadena City College in the most recent year. Graduates of the criminal justice program make about $28,492 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $9,191 to complete this degree.
Read more about the criminal justice program at Pasadena City College
Yuba College earned the #16 position for criminal justice this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the suburb of Marysville. About 24 criminal justice degrees were awarded at Yuba College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from Yuba College generally make around $62,350. Students borrow a median of $8,729 to complete this degree.
Read more about the criminal justice program at Yuba College
Ohlone Community College earned the #17 position for criminal justice this year. This large public university is located in the city of Fremont. Ohlone Community College awarded about 20 criminal justice degrees in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice graduates of Ohlone Community College earn a median of $22,545 early in their careers. Ohlone Community College graduates carry a median of $5,500 in student loans.
Read more about the criminal justice program at Ohlone Community College
Napa Valley College placed #18 among the best criminal justice schools. Set in the city of Napa, Napa Valley College is a moderately-sized public institution. Napa Valley College awarded about 17 criminal justice degrees in the most recent data year.
Read more about the criminal justice program at Napa Valley College
Diablo Valley College placed #19 among the best criminal justice schools. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Pleasant Hill. About 64 criminal justice degrees were awarded at Diablo Valley College in the most recent year. Criminal Justice graduates of Diablo Valley College earn a median of $27,813 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $9,205 to complete this degree.
Get the full criminal justice details for Diablo Valley College
East Los Angeles College earned the #20 position for criminal justice this year. Located in the suburb of Monterey Park, East Los Angeles College is a very large public university. East Los Angeles College awarded about 303 criminal justice degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice program make about $33,595 in their early career. East Los Angeles College graduates carry a median of $8,180 in student loans.
Read more about the criminal justice program at East Los Angeles College
Moorpark College came in at #21 for criminal justice this year. Set in the suburb of Moorpark, Moorpark College is a very large public institution. There were roughly 60 criminal justice students who graduated with this degree at Moorpark College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from Moorpark College generally make around $105,599. Typical student debt for the program is $17,075.
More information about a degree in criminal justice from Moorpark College
Los Angeles Pierce College placed #22 among the best criminal justice schools. Located in the city of Woodland Hills, Los Angeles Pierce College is a very large public university. Los Angeles Pierce College awarded about 82 criminal justice degrees in the most recent data year. Students borrow a median of $12,477 to complete this degree.
See the full criminal justice program report for Los Angeles Pierce College
City College Of San Francisco ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best criminal justice schools. City College Of San Francisco is a very large public school located in the city of San Francisco. About 47 criminal justice degrees were awarded at City College Of San Francisco in the most recent year. Criminal Justice graduates of City College Of San Francisco earn a median of $100,031 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $10,332 to complete this degree.
Get the full criminal justice details for City College Of San Francisco
Moreno Valley College placed #24 among the best criminal justice schools. Moreno Valley College is a large public school located in the suburb of Moreno Valley. About 60 criminal justice degrees were awarded at Moreno Valley College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from Moreno Valley College generally make around $81,339. Students borrow a median of $12,643 to complete this degree.
Read more about the criminal justice program at Moreno Valley College
El Camino Community College District landed the #25 spot for criminal justice this year. El Camino Community College District is a very large public school located in the suburb of Torrance. El Camino Community College District awarded about 86 criminal justice degrees in the most recent data year.
More information about a degree in criminal justice from El Camino Community College District
Rest of the Top 50 Criminal Justice Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s criminal justice ranking:
More Criminal Justice Rankings
View All Criminal Justice Rankings >
Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 117 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.
