2027 Best Criminal Justice Schools in New York
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.
For its 2027 ranking, College Factual looked at 44 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for criminal justice students pursuing a degree.
What’s on this page:
Best Schools for Criminal Justice in New York
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall criminal justice education in New York.
Top Schools in Criminal Justice
Leading the list is Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice, our #1 school for criminal justice. This large public university is located in the city of New York. Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice graduates 56% of students within six years. Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice awarded about 1,201 criminal justice degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice generally make around $50,103. 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
Marist College is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in criminal justice, landing the #2 spot this year. Marist College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Poughkeepsie. About 80% of students finish within six years. 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. Typical student debt for the program is $26,000.
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St Johns University New York is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in criminal justice, landing the #3 spot this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Queens. Roughly 66% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 139 criminal justice students who graduated with this degree at St Johns University New York in the most recent data 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.
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Students looking for a strong criminal justice program will find one at Pace University New York, which ranked #4. Located in the city of New York, Pace University New York is a large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 60%. Pace University New York awarded about 44 criminal justice degrees in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice graduates of Pace University New York earn a median of $36,734 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $24,098 to complete this degree.
Get the full criminal justice details for Pace University New York
Students looking for a strong criminal justice program will find one at Nassau Community College, which ranked #5. Set in the suburb of Garden City, Nassau Community College is a large public institution. About 108 criminal justice degrees were awarded at Nassau Community College in the most recent year. Graduates of the criminal justice program make about $29,837 in their early 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
Cuny Kingsborough Community College ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best criminal justice schools. 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. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from Cuny Kingsborough Community College generally make around $29,606. Students borrow a median of $6,167 to complete this degree.
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Cuny Laguardia Community College ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best criminal justice schools. This large public university is located in the city of Long Island City. About 133 criminal justice degrees were awarded at Cuny Laguardia Community College in the most recent year. Students who receive their criminal justice degree from Cuny Laguardia Community College earn around $25,515 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $6,750 to complete this degree.
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Saint Josephs College New York placed #8 among the best criminal justice schools. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Brooklyn. The six-year graduation rate is 69%. There were roughly 40 criminal justice students who graduated with this degree at Saint Josephs College New York in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from Saint Josephs College New York generally make around $35,794. Students borrow a median of $25,062 to complete this degree.
Read more about the criminal justice program at Saint Josephs College New York
Hudson Valley Community College ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best criminal justice schools. This large public university is located in the city of Troy. Hudson Valley Community College awarded about 49 criminal justice degrees in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice graduates of Hudson Valley Community College earn a median of $30,093 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $10,700 to complete this degree.
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Excelsior College landed the #10 spot for criminal justice this year. Set in the city of Albany, Excelsior College is a large private not-for-profit institution. There were roughly 43 criminal justice students who graduated with this degree at Excelsior College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice degree from Excelsior College earn around $69,725 in the first couple years of their career. Excelsior College graduates carry a median of $14,875 in student loans.
Read more about the criminal justice program at Excelsior College
Suny College Of Technology At Alfred landed the #11 spot for criminal justice this year. This mid-sized public university is located in the rural area of Alfred. Roughly 54% of students complete a degree within six years here. Suny College Of Technology At Alfred awarded about 26 criminal justice degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice program make about $43,831 in their early career. Suny College Of Technology At Alfred graduates carry a median of $19,721 in student loans.
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Erie Community College landed the #12 spot for criminal justice this year. Erie Community College is a large public school located in the city of Buffalo. There were roughly 37 criminal justice students who graduated with this degree at Erie Community College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice degree from Erie Community College earn around $51,676 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $12,938.
Read more about the criminal justice program at Erie Community College
Canisius College earned the #13 position for criminal justice this year. Set in the city of Buffalo, Canisius College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Canisius College graduates 66% of students within six years. There were roughly 15 criminal justice students who graduated with this degree at Canisius College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice degree from Canisius College earn around $33,843 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
Read more about the criminal justice program at Canisius College
Hartwick College earned the #14 position for criminal justice this year. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the town of Oneonta. Hartwick College graduates 53% of students within six years. About 14 criminal justice degrees were awarded at Hartwick College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from Hartwick College generally make around $41,061. Students borrow a median of $25,740 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in criminal justice from Hartwick College
Suny College Of Technology At Canton placed #15 among the best criminal justice schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the town of Canton. Roughly 42% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 13 criminal justice degrees were awarded at Suny College Of Technology At Canton in the most recent year. Criminal Justice graduates of Suny College Of Technology At Canton earn a median of $33,827 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $19,079 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in criminal justice from Suny College Of Technology At Canton
Rockland Community College ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best criminal justice schools. Located in the suburb of Suffern, Rockland Community College is a moderately-sized public university. About 48 criminal justice degrees were awarded at Rockland Community College in the most recent year. Criminal Justice graduates of Rockland Community College earn a median of $29,633 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $10,510 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in criminal justice from Rockland Community College
Cuny Bronx Community College landed the #17 spot for criminal justice this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Bronx. About 64 criminal justice degrees were awarded at Cuny Bronx Community College in the most recent year. Graduates of the criminal justice program make about $28,940 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $6,021 to complete this degree.
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Monroe Community College placed #18 among the best criminal justice schools. Set in the suburb of Rochester, Monroe Community College is a very large public institution. Monroe Community College awarded about 33 criminal justice degrees in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice graduates of Monroe Community College earn a median of $56,846 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $13,750.
See the full criminal justice program report for Monroe Community College
Niagara County Community College landed the #19 spot for criminal justice this year. Niagara County Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Sanborn. About 22 criminal justice degrees were awarded at Niagara County Community College in the most recent year. Criminal Justice graduates of Niagara County Community College earn a median of $27,970 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $11,000 to complete this degree.
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Orange County Community College earned the #20 position for criminal justice this year. Located in the suburb of Middletown, Orange County Community College is a moderately-sized public university. There were roughly 25 criminal justice students who graduated with this degree at Orange County Community College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice program make about $36,111 in their early career. Orange County Community College graduates carry a median of $14,250 in student loans.
More information about a degree in criminal justice from Orange County Community College
Genesee Community College earned the #21 position for criminal justice this year. Set in the town of Batavia, Genesee Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Genesee Community College awarded about 21 criminal justice degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from Genesee Community College generally make around $38,483. Typical student debt for the program is $11,500.
More information about a degree in criminal justice from Genesee Community College
Iona College came in at #22 for criminal justice this year. Set in the suburb of New Rochelle, Iona College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Iona College graduates 56% of students within six years. Iona College awarded about 54 criminal justice degrees in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice graduates of Iona College earn a median of $38,414 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
Read more about the criminal justice program at Iona College
Mercy College ranked #23 on our 2027 list of the best criminal justice schools. Mercy College is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Dobbs Ferry. About 45% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 54 criminal justice students who graduated with this degree at Mercy College in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice graduates of Mercy College earn a median of $34,472 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in criminal justice from Mercy College
Keuka College landed the #24 spot for criminal justice this year. Set in the town of Keuka Park, Keuka College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Keuka College graduates 58% of students within six years. There were roughly 17 criminal justice students who graduated with this degree at Keuka College in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice graduates of Keuka College earn a median of $40,753 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
Get the full criminal justice details for Keuka College
Cuny Hostos Community College ranked #25 on our 2027 list of the best criminal justice schools. Cuny Hostos Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Bronx. There were roughly 43 criminal justice students who graduated with this degree at Cuny Hostos Community College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice program make about $28,343 in their early career. Cuny Hostos Community College graduates carry a median of $6,256 in student loans.
Read more about the criminal justice program at Cuny Hostos Community College
Rest of the Top 44 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), 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 · 44 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.
