2027 Best Criminal Justice Schools in the Southeast Region
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.
College Factual analyzed 132 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best criminal justice schools.
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Best Schools for Criminal Justice in the Southeast Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall criminal justice education in the Southeast Region.
Top Schools in Criminal Justice
University Of Virginia Main Campus is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in criminal justice. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Charlottesville. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. There were roughly 135 criminal justice students who graduated with this degree at University Of Virginia Main Campus in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice graduates of University Of Virginia Main Campus earn a median of $69,126 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $18,627.
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George Mason University came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best criminal justice schools. Located in the suburb of Fairfax, George Mason University is a very large public university. George Mason University graduates 68% of students within six years. George Mason University awarded about 16 criminal justice degrees in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice graduates of George Mason University earn a median of $49,815 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $20,761.
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A rank of #3 makes Virginia Commonwealth University one of the top schools for criminal justice. Set in the city of Richmond, Virginia Commonwealth University is a very large public institution. Roughly 63% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 151 criminal justice degrees were awarded at Virginia Commonwealth University in the most recent year. Criminal Justice graduates of Virginia Commonwealth University earn a median of $38,495 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $23,250.
More information about a degree in criminal justice from Virginia Commonwealth University
University Of Louisville came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best criminal justice schools. Located in the city of Louisville, University Of Louisville is a very large public university. About 61% of students finish within six years. About 220 criminal justice degrees were awarded at University Of Louisville in the most recent year. Criminal Justice graduates of University Of Louisville earn a median of $74,173 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $18,258.
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A rank of #5 makes University Of Georgia one of the top schools for criminal justice. University Of Georgia is a very large public school located in the city of Athens. Roughly 90% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Georgia awarded about 76 criminal justice degrees in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice graduates of University Of Georgia earn a median of $37,405 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $22,978 to complete this degree.
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University Of South Florida Main Campus ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best criminal justice schools. Set in the city of Tampa, University Of South Florida Main Campus is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 77%. About 16 criminal justice degrees were awarded at University Of South Florida Main Campus in the most recent year. Students who receive their criminal justice degree from University Of South Florida Main Campus earn around $58,306 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $21,829 to complete this degree.
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University Of South Carolina Columbia placed #7 among the best criminal justice schools. Located in the city of Columbia, University Of South Carolina Columbia is a very large public university. About 79% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 220 criminal justice students who graduated with this degree at University Of South Carolina Columbia in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice program make about $35,781 in their early career. University Of South Carolina Columbia graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans.
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Citadel Military College Of South Carolina placed #8 among the best criminal justice schools. This mid-sized public university is located in the city of Charleston. The six-year graduation rate is 75%. Citadel Military College Of South Carolina awarded about 36 criminal justice degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice degree from Citadel Military College Of South Carolina earn around $45,235 in the first couple years of their career. Citadel Military College Of South Carolina graduates carry a median of $24,966 in student loans.
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Southern Arkansas University Tech came in at #9 for criminal justice this year. Set in the rural area of Camden, Southern Arkansas University Tech is a small public institution. Southern Arkansas University Tech awarded about 73 criminal justice degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from Southern Arkansas University Tech generally make around $34,302. Southern Arkansas University Tech graduates carry a median of $8,488 in student loans.
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Florida Atlantic University placed #10 among the best criminal justice schools. Florida Atlantic University is a very large public school located in the city of Boca Raton. Florida Atlantic University graduates 63% of students within six years. Florida Atlantic University awarded about 16 criminal justice degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice degree from Florida Atlantic University earn around $41,963 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $18,750 to complete this degree.
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Lynn University landed the #11 spot for criminal justice this year. Set in the city of Boca Raton, Lynn University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Lynn University graduates 52% of students within six years. About 43 criminal justice degrees were awarded at Lynn University in the most recent year. Criminal Justice graduates of Lynn University earn a median of $39,496 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $19,500 to complete this degree.
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Indian River State College came in at #12 for criminal justice this year. Set in the suburb of Fort Pierce, Indian River State College is a very large public institution. Indian River State College awarded about 33 criminal justice degrees in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice graduates of Indian River State College earn a median of $51,825 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $9,176.
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University Of Mississippi Main Campus ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best criminal justice schools. Set in the town of University, University Of Mississippi Main Campus is a very large public institution. About 72% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 160 criminal justice students who graduated with this degree at University Of Mississippi Main Campus in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice degree from University Of Mississippi Main Campus earn around $40,243 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,171.
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Shenandoah University ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best criminal justice schools. Set in the city of Winchester, Shenandoah University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 66% of students finish within six years. Shenandoah University awarded about 20 criminal justice degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice program make about $46,816 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $25,810 to complete this degree.
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Marymount University came in at #15 for criminal justice this year. Set in the city of Arlington, Marymount University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 54%. Marymount University awarded about 19 criminal justice degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice program make about $35,642 in their early career. Marymount University graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans.
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Seminole State College Of Florida placed #16 among the best criminal justice schools. Seminole State College Of Florida is a very large public school located in the city of Sanford. There were roughly 29 criminal justice students who graduated with this degree at Seminole State College Of Florida in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice graduates of Seminole State College Of Florida earn a median of $36,589 early in their careers. Seminole State College Of Florida graduates carry a median of $12,942 in student loans.
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Broward College placed #17 among the best criminal justice schools. Broward College is a very large public school located in the city of Fort Lauderdale. Broward College awarded about 123 criminal justice degrees in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice graduates of Broward College earn a median of $34,607 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $10,724.
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The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga placed #18 among the best criminal justice schools. The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga is a large public school located in the city of Chattanooga. Roughly 50% of students complete a degree within six years here. The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga awarded about 107 criminal justice degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice degree from The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga earn around $37,403 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $22,995 to complete this degree.
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Middle Tennessee State University ranked #19 on our 2027 list of the best criminal justice schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Murfreesboro. Middle Tennessee State University graduates 54% of students within six years. There were roughly 49 criminal justice students who graduated with this degree at Middle Tennessee State University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice degree from Middle Tennessee State University earn around $37,952 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $24,093 to complete this degree.
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American Public University System landed the #20 spot for criminal justice this year. American Public University System is a very large private for-profit school located in the town of Charles Town. Roughly 47% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 12 criminal justice students who graduated with this degree at American Public University System in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice degree from American Public University System earn around $62,012 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,243.
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Kennesaw State University ranked #21 on our 2027 list of the best criminal justice schools. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Kennesaw. The six-year graduation rate is 52%. Kennesaw State University awarded about 15 criminal justice degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice degree from Kennesaw State University earn around $39,566 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete this degree.
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Columbia Southern University landed the #22 spot for criminal justice this year. Located in the town of Orange Beach, Columbia Southern University is a very large private for-profit university. Columbia Southern University graduates 26% of students within six years. There were roughly 363 criminal justice students who graduated with this degree at Columbia Southern University in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice graduates of Columbia Southern University earn a median of $60,232 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $23,641.
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Eastern Florida State College ranked #23 on our 2027 list of the best criminal justice schools. Located in the city of Melbourne, Eastern Florida State College is a large public university. About 14 criminal justice degrees were awarded at Eastern Florida State College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from Eastern Florida State College generally make around $51,461. Eastern Florida State College graduates carry a median of $8,635 in student loans.
See the full criminal justice program report for Eastern Florida State College
Valencia College placed #24 among the best criminal justice schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Orlando. There were roughly 97 criminal justice students who graduated with this degree at Valencia College in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice graduates of Valencia College earn a median of $33,246 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $10,500.
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Georgia College And State University ranked #25 on our 2027 list of the best criminal justice schools. Georgia College And State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Milledgeville. Roughly 64% of students complete a degree within six years here. Georgia College And State University awarded about 33 criminal justice degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice program make about $39,133 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,000.
See the full criminal justice program report for Georgia College And State University
Rest of the Top 50 Criminal Justice Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s criminal justice ranking:
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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 · 132 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.