2026 Best Criminal Justice Schools in Massachusetts
Criminal Justice is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
College Factual analyzed 18 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best criminal justice schools.
What’s on this page:
Best Schools for Criminal Justice in Massachusetts
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 University Of Massachusetts Lowell, our #1 school for criminal justice. Located in the suburb of Lowell, University Of Massachusetts Lowell is a very large public university. 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. Graduates of the criminal justice program make about $61,649 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $24,822 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in criminal justice from University Of Massachusetts Lowell
Massachusetts Bay Community College is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in criminal justice, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Wellesley Hills, Massachusetts Bay Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. About 20 criminal justice degrees were awarded at Massachusetts Bay Community College in the most recent year. Students who receive their criminal justice degree from Massachusetts Bay Community College earn around $45,144 in the first couple years of their career. Massachusetts Bay Community College graduates carry a median of $6,333 in student loans.
Get the full criminal justice details for Massachusetts Bay Community College
Salem State University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in criminal justice, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Salem, Salem State University is a moderately-sized public institution. About 50% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 89 criminal justice students who graduated with this degree at Salem State University in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice graduates of Salem State University earn a median of $51,953 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $26,220 to complete this degree.
Read more about the criminal justice program at Salem State University
Merrimack College is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in criminal justice, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the suburb of North Andover, Merrimack College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 70%. There were roughly 99 criminal justice students who graduated with this degree at Merrimack College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice degree from Merrimack College earn around $54,859 in the first couple years of their career. Merrimack College graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
Get the full criminal justice details for Merrimack College
Anna Maria College is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in criminal justice, landing the #5 spot this year. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the rural area of Paxton. Anna Maria College graduates 46% of students within six years. There were roughly 75 criminal justice students who graduated with this degree at Anna Maria College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice degree from Anna Maria College earn around $81,066 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
More information about a degree in criminal justice from Anna Maria College
Bristol Community College ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best criminal justice schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the suburb of Fall River. Bristol Community College awarded about 28 criminal justice degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice program make about $36,706 in their early career. Bristol Community College graduates carry a median of $6,700 in student loans.
More information about a degree in criminal justice from Bristol Community College
Roxbury Community College ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best criminal justice schools. Set in the city of Roxbury Crossing, Roxbury Community College is a mid-sized public institution. About 13 criminal justice degrees were awarded at Roxbury Community College in the most recent year. Students who receive their criminal justice degree from Roxbury Community College earn around $46,124 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $11,665 to complete this degree.
Get the full criminal justice details for Roxbury Community College
Quincy College ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best criminal justice schools. Located in the suburb of Quincy, Quincy College is a mid-sized public university. There were roughly 18 criminal justice students who graduated with this degree at Quincy College in the most recent data year. Students borrow a median of $15,600 to complete this degree.
See the full criminal justice program report for Quincy College
Mount Wachusett Community College earned the #9 position for criminal justice this year. Located in the suburb of Gardner, Mount Wachusett Community College is a mid-sized public university. There were roughly 24 criminal justice students who graduated with this degree at Mount Wachusett Community College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice program make about $27,226 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $13,753 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in criminal justice from Mount Wachusett Community College
More Criminal Justice Rankings
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 18 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.