2027 Best Criminal Justice Schools in Florida
Criminal Justice degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. The schools below stand out for the quality of their criminal justice programs.
College Factual analyzed 24 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best criminal justice schools.
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Best Schools for Criminal Justice in Florida
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall criminal justice education in Florida.
Top Schools in Criminal Justice
University Of South Florida Main Campus tops our 2027 ranking of the best criminal justice schools. Located in the city of Tampa, University Of South Florida Main Campus is a very large public university. Roughly 77% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of South Florida Main Campus awarded about 16 criminal justice degrees in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice graduates of University Of South Florida Main Campus earn a median of $58,306 early in their careers. University Of South Florida Main Campus graduates carry a median of $21,829 in student loans.
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Florida Atlantic University came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best criminal justice schools. Set in the city of Boca Raton, Florida Atlantic University is a very large public institution. Roughly 63% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 16 criminal justice degrees were awarded at Florida Atlantic University in the most recent year. Graduates of the criminal justice program make about $41,963 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $18,750.
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Lynn University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in criminal justice, ranking #3. Located in the city of Boca Raton, Lynn University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. About 52% of students finish within six years. Lynn University awarded about 43 criminal justice degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from Lynn University generally make around $39,496. Typical student debt for the program is $19,500.
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Indian River State College is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in criminal justice, ranking #4. Located in the suburb of Fort Pierce, Indian River State College is a very large public university. There were roughly 33 criminal justice students who graduated with this degree at Indian River State College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from Indian River State College generally make around $51,825. Students borrow a median of $9,176 to complete this degree.
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Seminole State College Of Florida is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in criminal justice, landing the #5 spot this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Sanford. About 29 criminal justice degrees were awarded at Seminole State College Of Florida in the most recent year. Graduates of the criminal justice program make about $36,589 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $12,942 to complete this degree.
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Broward College came in at #6 for criminal justice this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Fort Lauderdale. About 123 criminal justice degrees were awarded at Broward College in the most recent 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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Eastern Florida State College earned the #7 position for criminal justice this year. This large public university is located in the city of Melbourne. There were roughly 14 criminal justice students who graduated with this degree at Eastern Florida State College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice degree from Eastern Florida State College earn around $51,461 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $8,635 to complete this degree.
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Valencia College ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best criminal justice schools. Located in the city of Orlando, Valencia College is a very large public university. There were roughly 97 criminal justice students who graduated with this degree at Valencia College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice degree from Valencia College earn around $33,246 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $10,500 to complete this degree.
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Miami Dade College earned the #9 position for criminal justice this year. Set in the city of Miami, Miami Dade College is a very large public institution. There were roughly 16 criminal justice students who graduated with this degree at Miami Dade College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice degree from Miami Dade College earn around $34,209 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $9,563.
More information about a degree in criminal justice from Miami Dade College
Florida State College At Jacksonville placed #10 among the best criminal justice schools. Set in the city of Jacksonville, Florida State College At Jacksonville is a very large public institution. Florida State College At Jacksonville awarded about 36 criminal justice degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice program make about $60,055 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $15,796 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in criminal justice from Florida State College At Jacksonville
St Petersburg College landed the #11 spot for criminal justice this year. Located in the city of St. Petersburg, St Petersburg College is a very large public university. St Petersburg College awarded about 18 criminal justice degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from St Petersburg College generally make around $48,218. Typical student debt for the program is $14,080.
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Hillsborough Community College ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best criminal justice schools. Hillsborough Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Tampa. Hillsborough Community College awarded about 49 criminal justice degrees in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice graduates of Hillsborough Community College earn a median of $47,631 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $15,789.
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Polk State College ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best criminal justice schools. This large public university is located in the city of Winter Haven. About 29 criminal justice degrees were awarded at Polk State College in the most recent year. Graduates of the criminal justice program make about $47,071 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $14,451 to complete this degree.
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Daytona State College ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best criminal justice schools. Located in the city of Daytona Beach, Daytona State College is a large public university. About 21 criminal justice degrees were awarded at Daytona State College in the most recent year. Students who receive their criminal justice degree from Daytona State College earn around $52,755 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $8,169.
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Edison State College ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best criminal justice schools. Edison State College is a large public school located in the suburb of Fort Myers. There were roughly 25 criminal justice students who graduated with this degree at Edison State College in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice graduates of Edison State College earn a median of $52,597 early in their careers. Edison State College graduates carry a median of $13,356 in student loans.
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Saint Leo University came in at #16 for criminal justice this year. Saint Leo University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the town of Saint Leo. About 44% of students finish within six years. Saint Leo University awarded about 30 criminal justice degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice degree from Saint Leo University earn around $46,596 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $30,476 to complete this degree.
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College Of Central Florida placed #17 among the best criminal justice schools. College Of Central Florida is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Ocala. About 15 criminal justice degrees were awarded at College Of Central Florida in the most recent year. Students who receive their criminal justice degree from College Of Central Florida earn around $48,055 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $18,934 to complete this degree.
See the full criminal justice program report for College Of Central Florida
Keiser University Ft Lauderdale came in at #18 for criminal justice this year. Set in the city of Fort Lauderdale, Keiser University Ft Lauderdale is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 58%. About 165 criminal justice degrees were awarded at Keiser University Ft Lauderdale in the most recent year. Graduates of the criminal justice program make about $37,734 in their early career. Keiser University Ft Lauderdale graduates carry a median of $34,608 in student loans.
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Pensacola State College earned the #19 position for criminal justice this year. This large public university is located in the city of Pensacola. About 19 criminal justice degrees were awarded at Pensacola State College in the most recent year. Graduates of the criminal justice program make about $45,811 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $9,191 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in criminal justice from Pensacola State College
State College Of Florida Manatee Sarasota landed the #20 spot for criminal justice this year. State College Of Florida Manatee Sarasota is a large public school located in the suburb of Bradenton. State College Of Florida Manatee Sarasota awarded about 26 criminal justice degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from State College Of Florida Manatee Sarasota generally make around $50,906. State College Of Florida Manatee Sarasota graduates carry a median of $17,360 in student loans.
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Webber International University earned the #21 position for criminal justice this year. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the rural area of Babson Park. Roughly 25% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 15 criminal justice students who graduated with this degree at Webber International University in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice graduates of Webber International University earn a median of $35,052 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $26,831 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in criminal justice from Webber International University
Strayer University Florida landed the #22 spot for criminal justice this year. This small private for-profit university is located in the suburb of Tampa. Strayer University Florida graduates 100% of students within six years. About 23 criminal justice degrees were awarded at Strayer University Florida in the most recent year. Graduates of the criminal justice program make about $43,405 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $56,937.
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Florida Memorial University placed #23 among the best criminal justice schools. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Miami Gardens. Roughly 31% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 15 criminal justice degrees were awarded at Florida Memorial University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from Florida Memorial University generally make around $48,602. Typical student debt for the program is $31,300.
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Florida National University Main Campus placed #24 among the best criminal justice schools. Located in the suburb of Hialeah, Florida National University Main Campus is a moderately-sized private for-profit university. Florida National University Main Campus graduates 39% of students within six years. About 17 criminal justice degrees were awarded at Florida National University Main Campus in the most recent year. Criminal Justice graduates of Florida National University Main Campus earn a median of $45,302 early in their careers. Florida National University Main Campus graduates carry a median of $27,884 in student loans.
Read more about the criminal justice program at Florida National University Main Campus
More Criminal Justice Rankings
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 24 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.