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2026 Best Criminal Justice Schools in the New England Region

19 Colleges in the United States
1,418 Criminal Justice Degrees Awarded
$49,225 Avg Early-Career Salary

Criminal Justice programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. The schools below stand out for the quality of their criminal justice programs.

For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 42 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 the New England 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

1

Charter Oak State College tops our 2026 ranking of the best criminal justice schools. Charter Oak State College is a mid-sized public school located in the suburb of New Britain. The six-year graduation rate is 100%. Charter Oak State College awarded about 16 criminal justice degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from Charter Oak State College generally make around $68,956. Typical student debt for the program is $23,000. More information about a degree in criminal justice from Charter Oak State College

2
University Of New Haven crest
University Of New Haven
West Haven, CT

University Of New Haven is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in criminal justice, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the suburb of West Haven, University Of New Haven is a large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 63% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 249 criminal justice degrees were awarded at University Of New Haven in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from University Of New Haven generally make around $47,026. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000. Get the full criminal justice details for University Of New Haven

3

University Of Massachusetts Lowell is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in criminal justice, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Lowell, University Of Massachusetts Lowell is a very large public institution. About 65% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 294 criminal justice students who graduated with this degree at University Of Massachusetts Lowell in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice degree from University Of Massachusetts Lowell earn around $61,649 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Massachusetts Lowell graduates carry a median of $24,822 in student loans. Read more about the criminal justice program at University Of Massachusetts Lowell

4

Roger Williams University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best criminal justice schools. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Bristol. Roger Williams University graduates 69% of students within six years. There were roughly 122 criminal justice students who graduated with this degree at Roger Williams University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from Roger Williams University generally make around $49,996. Typical student debt for the program is $26,000. Get the full criminal justice details for Roger Williams University

5

Salve Regina University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in criminal justice, ranking #5. Salve Regina University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Newport. Roughly 77% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 82 criminal justice degrees were awarded at Salve Regina University in the most recent year. Graduates of the criminal justice program make about $62,637 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000. More information about a degree in criminal justice from Salve Regina University

6
Norwich University crest
Norwich University
Northfield, VT

Norwich University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best criminal justice schools. Norwich University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Northfield. The six-year graduation rate is 60%. About 128 criminal justice degrees were awarded at Norwich University in the most recent year. Students who receive their criminal justice degree from Norwich University earn around $43,523 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 Norwich University

7

Massachusetts Bay Community College came in at #7 for criminal justice this year. Massachusetts Bay Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Wellesley Hills. There were roughly 20 criminal justice students who graduated with this degree at Massachusetts Bay Community College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from Massachusetts Bay Community College generally make around $45,144. Typical student debt for the program is $6,333. Read more about the criminal justice program at Massachusetts Bay Community College

8

Salem State University ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best criminal justice schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the suburb of Salem. The six-year graduation rate is 50%. Salem State University awarded about 89 criminal justice degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice degree from Salem State University earn around $51,953 in the first couple years of their career. Salem State University graduates carry a median of $26,220 in student loans. See the full criminal justice program report for Salem State University

9
Merrimack College crest
Merrimack College
North Andover, MA

Merrimack College ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best criminal justice schools. Set in the suburb of North Andover, Merrimack College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 70% of students finish within six years. About 99 criminal justice degrees were awarded at Merrimack College in the most recent year. Students who receive their criminal justice degree from Merrimack College earn around $54,859 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000. See the full criminal justice program report for Merrimack College

10

Anna Maria College came in at #10 for criminal justice this year. Set in the rural area of Paxton, Anna Maria College is a small private not-for-profit institution. About 46% of students finish within six years. Anna Maria College awarded about 75 criminal justice degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice program make about $81,066 in their early career. Anna Maria College graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Read more about the criminal justice program at Anna Maria College

11

Bristol Community College earned the #11 position for criminal justice this year. Located in the suburb of Fall River, Bristol Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Bristol Community College awarded about 28 criminal justice degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice degree from Bristol Community College earn around $36,706 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $6,700 to complete this degree. Read more about the criminal justice program at Bristol Community College

12

Johnson And Wales University Providence came in at #12 for criminal justice this year. Johnson And Wales University Providence is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Providence. Johnson And Wales University Providence graduates 50% of students within six years. There were roughly 37 criminal justice students who graduated with this degree at Johnson And Wales University Providence in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from Johnson And Wales University Providence generally make around $44,913. Johnson And Wales University Providence graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. More information about a degree in criminal justice from Johnson And Wales University Providence

13
Roxbury Community College crest
Roxbury Community College
Roxbury Crossing, MA

Roxbury Community College placed #13 among the best criminal justice schools. Set in the city of Roxbury Crossing, Roxbury Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Roxbury Community College awarded about 13 criminal justice degrees in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice graduates of Roxbury Community College earn a median of $46,124 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $11,665 to complete this degree. Read more about the criminal justice program at Roxbury Community College

14

Nhti Concords Community College ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best criminal justice schools. Located in the town of Concord, Nhti Concords Community College is a mid-sized public university. About 22 criminal justice degrees were awarded at Nhti Concords Community College in the most recent year. Graduates of the criminal justice program make about $40,670 in their early career. Nhti Concords Community College graduates carry a median of $12,000 in student loans. More information about a degree in criminal justice from Nhti Concords Community College

15
Husson University crest
Husson University
Bangor, ME

Husson University placed #15 among the best criminal justice schools. Set in the city of Bangor, Husson University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 59%. About 59 criminal justice degrees were awarded at Husson University in the most recent year. Graduates of the criminal justice program make about $46,523 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $27,178 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in criminal justice from Husson University

16

Franklin Pierce University came in at #16 for criminal justice this year. Franklin Pierce University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Rindge. Franklin Pierce University graduates 54% of students within six years. There were roughly 18 criminal justice students who graduated with this degree at Franklin Pierce University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice degree from Franklin Pierce University earn around $39,031 in the first couple years of their career. Franklin Pierce University graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. More information about a degree in criminal justice from Franklin Pierce University

17
Quincy College crest
Quincy College
Quincy, MA

Quincy College placed #17 among the best criminal justice schools. Quincy College is a mid-sized public school located in the suburb of Quincy. About 18 criminal justice degrees were awarded at Quincy College in the most recent year. Typical student debt for the program is $15,600. Read more about the criminal justice program at Quincy College

18

Mount Wachusett Community College ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best criminal justice schools. Set in the suburb of Gardner, Mount Wachusett Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Mount Wachusett Community College awarded about 24 criminal justice degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice degree from Mount Wachusett Community College earn around $27,226 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $13,753 to complete this degree. Get the full criminal justice details for Mount Wachusett Community College

19

Great Bay Community College earned the #19 position for criminal justice this year. Set in the suburb of Portsmouth, Great Bay Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Great Bay Community College awarded about 11 criminal justice degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice degree from Great Bay Community College earn around $48,692 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $17,639. Read more about the criminal justice program at Great Bay Community College

20

University Of Maine At Augusta ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best criminal justice schools. University Of Maine At Augusta is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Augusta. University Of Maine At Augusta graduates 26% of students within six years. There were roughly 14 criminal justice students who graduated with this degree at University Of Maine At Augusta in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice degree from University Of Maine At Augusta earn around $38,588 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Maine At Augusta graduates carry a median of $36,010 in student loans. More information about a degree in criminal justice from University Of Maine At Augusta

View All Criminal Justice Rankings >

Notes and References

This list is compiled 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 · 42 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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