2027 Best Criminal Justice Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region
Criminal Justice is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
College Factual analyzed 78 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best criminal justice schools.
What’s on this page:
Best Schools for Criminal Justice in the Middle Atlantic Region
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
Leading the list is The College Of New Jersey, our #1 school for criminal justice. Located in the suburb of Ewing, The College Of New Jersey is a large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. The College Of New Jersey awarded about 61 criminal justice degrees in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice graduates of The College Of New Jersey earn a median of $36,070 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $20,500 to complete this degree.
See the full criminal justice program report for The College Of New Jersey
Robert Morris University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in criminal justice, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Moon Township, Robert Morris University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 66%. About 22 criminal justice degrees were awarded at Robert Morris University in the most recent year. Criminal Justice graduates of Robert Morris University earn a median of $58,900 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $26,748 to complete this degree.
Get the full criminal justice details for Robert Morris University
Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in criminal justice, ranking #3. Set in the city of New York, Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice is a large public institution. Roughly 56% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 1,201 criminal justice students who graduated with this degree at Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice program make about $50,103 in their early career. Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice graduates carry a median of $10,500 in student loans.
Get the full criminal justice details for Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice
A rank of #4 makes Pennsylvania State University Main Campus one of the top schools for criminal justice. Located in the city of University Park, Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public university. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus graduates 86% of students within six years. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus awarded about 250 criminal justice degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice degree from Pennsylvania State University Main Campus earn around $37,240 in the first couple years of their career. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans.
Read more about the criminal justice program at Pennsylvania State University Main Campus
A rank of #5 makes Marist College one of the top schools for criminal justice. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Poughkeepsie. The six-year graduation rate is 80%. Marist College awarded about 59 criminal justice degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice degree from Marist College earn around $36,765 in the first couple years of their career. Marist College graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans.
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St Johns University New York ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best criminal justice schools. St Johns University New York is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Queens. The six-year graduation rate is 66%. About 139 criminal justice degrees were awarded at St Johns University New York in the most recent year. Students who receive their criminal justice degree from St Johns University New York earn around $45,896 in the first couple years of their career. St Johns University New York graduates carry a median of $26,719 in student loans.
Read more about the criminal justice program at St Johns University New York
Stevenson University placed #7 among the best criminal justice schools. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Owings Mills. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. Stevenson University awarded about 35 criminal justice degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from Stevenson University generally make around $38,745. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
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Pace University New York ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best criminal justice schools. Located in the city of New York, Pace University New York is a large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 60% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 44 criminal justice students who graduated with this degree at Pace University New York in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice program make about $36,734 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $24,098 to complete this degree.
Get the full criminal justice details for Pace University New York
Kean University placed #9 among the best criminal justice schools. This large public university is located in the suburb of Union. About 47% of students finish within six years. Kean University awarded about 153 criminal justice degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from Kean University generally make around $39,408. Typical student debt for the program is $25,993.
Read more about the criminal justice program at Kean University
Nassau Community College earned the #10 position for criminal justice this year. This large public university is located in the suburb of Garden City. There were roughly 108 criminal justice students who graduated with this degree at Nassau Community College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice degree from Nassau Community College earn around $29,837 in the first couple years of their career. Nassau Community College graduates carry a median of $10,750 in student loans.
See the full criminal justice program report for Nassau Community College
York College Pennsylvania earned the #11 position for criminal justice this year. Set in the suburb of York, York College Pennsylvania is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 64% of students complete a degree within six years here. York College Pennsylvania awarded about 33 criminal justice degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice degree from York College Pennsylvania earn around $42,175 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete this degree.
Read more about the criminal justice program at York College Pennsylvania
Raritan Valley Community College came in at #12 for criminal justice this year. Located in the rural area of Branchburg, Raritan Valley Community College is a moderately-sized public university. There were roughly 41 criminal justice students who graduated with this degree at Raritan Valley Community College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from Raritan Valley Community College generally make around $47,248. Raritan Valley Community College graduates carry a median of $5,500 in student loans.
More information about a degree in criminal justice from Raritan Valley Community College
Commonwealth University Of Pennsylvania placed #13 among the best criminal justice schools. Set in the town of Bloomsburg, Commonwealth University Of Pennsylvania is a large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 56%. About 74 criminal justice degrees were awarded at Commonwealth University Of Pennsylvania in the most recent year. Graduates of the criminal justice program make about $37,839 in their early career. Commonwealth University Of Pennsylvania graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
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Wilmington University ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best criminal justice schools. Wilmington University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of New Castle. Wilmington University graduates 22% of students within six years. Wilmington University awarded about 68 criminal justice degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice program make about $48,799 in their early career. Wilmington University graduates carry a median of $24,000 in student loans.
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Pennsylvania College Of Technology came in at #15 for criminal justice this year. Pennsylvania College Of Technology is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Williamsport. Roughly 45% of students complete a degree within six years here. Pennsylvania College Of Technology awarded about 36 criminal justice degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice program make about $52,133 in their early career. Pennsylvania College Of Technology graduates carry a median of $24,371 in student loans.
Read more about the criminal justice program at Pennsylvania College Of Technology
Cuny Kingsborough Community College landed the #16 spot for criminal justice this year. Located in the city of Brooklyn, Cuny Kingsborough Community College is a very large public university. Cuny Kingsborough Community College awarded about 134 criminal justice degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice program make about $29,606 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $6,167 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in criminal justice from Cuny Kingsborough Community College
Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best criminal justice schools. This large public university is located in the town of Indiana. The six-year graduation rate is 54%. About 38 criminal justice degrees were awarded at Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus in the most recent year. Students who receive their criminal justice degree from Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus earn around $42,972 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,513.
More information about a degree in criminal justice from Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus
Cuny Laguardia Community College earned the #18 position for criminal justice this year. Located in the city of Long Island City, Cuny Laguardia Community College is a large public university. There were roughly 133 criminal justice students who graduated with this degree at Cuny Laguardia Community College in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice graduates of Cuny Laguardia Community College earn a median of $25,515 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $6,750.
See the full criminal justice program report for Cuny Laguardia Community College
Saint Josephs College New York came in at #19 for criminal justice this year. Saint Josephs College New York is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Brooklyn. Saint Josephs College New York graduates 69% of students within six years. There were roughly 40 criminal justice students who graduated with this degree at Saint Josephs College New York in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice program make about $35,794 in their early career. Saint Josephs College New York graduates carry a median of $25,062 in student loans.
Read more about the criminal justice program at Saint Josephs College New York
Hudson Valley Community College earned the #20 position for criminal justice this year. Set in the city of Troy, Hudson Valley Community College is a large public institution. About 49 criminal justice degrees were awarded at Hudson Valley Community College in the most recent year. Graduates of the criminal justice program make about $30,093 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $10,700 to complete this degree.
Read more about the criminal justice program at Hudson Valley Community College
Seton Hall University ranked #21 on our 2027 list of the best criminal justice schools. Seton Hall University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of South Orange. The six-year graduation rate is 70%. There were roughly 12 criminal justice students who graduated with this degree at Seton Hall University in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice graduates of Seton Hall University earn a median of $27,167 early in their careers. Seton Hall University graduates carry a median of $23,250 in student loans.
Get the full criminal justice details for Seton Hall University
College Of Southern Maryland ranked #22 on our 2027 list of the best criminal justice schools. College Of Southern Maryland is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of La Plata. About 28 criminal justice degrees were awarded at College Of Southern Maryland in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from College Of Southern Maryland generally make around $51,719. Students borrow a median of $9,728 to complete this degree.
Get the full criminal justice details for College Of Southern Maryland
Excelsior College earned the #23 position for criminal justice this year. Located in the city of Albany, Excelsior College is a large private not-for-profit university. There were roughly 43 criminal justice students who graduated with this degree at Excelsior College in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice graduates of Excelsior College earn a median of $69,725 early in their careers. Excelsior College graduates carry a median of $14,875 in student loans.
See the full criminal justice program report for Excelsior College
Suny College Of Technology At Alfred ranked #24 on our 2027 list of the best criminal justice schools. Located in the rural area of Alfred, Suny College Of Technology At Alfred is a mid-sized public university. About 54% of students finish within six years. Suny College Of Technology At Alfred awarded about 26 criminal justice degrees in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice graduates of Suny College Of Technology At Alfred earn a median of $43,831 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $19,721.
Read more about the criminal justice program at Suny College Of Technology At Alfred
Erie Community College placed #25 among the best criminal justice schools. Erie Community College is a large public school located in the city of Buffalo. About 37 criminal justice degrees were awarded at Erie Community College in the most recent year. Graduates of the criminal justice program make about $51,676 in their early career. Erie Community College graduates carry a median of $12,938 in student loans.
See the full criminal justice program report for Erie Community College
Rest of the Top 50 Criminal Justice Schools
Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong criminal justice education:
Narrow Criminal Justice Schools by State
More Criminal Justice Rankings
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 78 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.