2027 Best Criminal Justice Schools in North Carolina
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 10 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best criminal justice schools.
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Best Schools for Criminal Justice in North Carolina
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
Wingate University tops our 2027 ranking of the best criminal justice schools. Wingate University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Wingate. Wingate University graduates 46% of students within six years. There were roughly 22 criminal justice students who graduated with this degree at Wingate University in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice graduates of Wingate University earn a median of $39,498 early in their careers. Wingate University graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
Get the full criminal justice details for Wingate University
Campbell University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in criminal justice, ranking #2. Set in the town of Buies Creek, Campbell University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 60% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 27 criminal justice degrees were awarded at Campbell University in the most recent year. Students who receive their criminal justice degree from Campbell University earn around $40,590 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in criminal justice from Campbell University
Lenoir Rhyne University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in criminal justice, ranking #3. Located in the city of Hickory, Lenoir Rhyne University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. About 48% of students finish within six years. Lenoir Rhyne University awarded about 10 criminal justice degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice degree from Lenoir Rhyne University earn around $49,985 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $26,900 to complete this degree.
See the full criminal justice program report for Lenoir Rhyne University
Lees Mcrae College is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in criminal justice, landing the #4 spot this year. Lees Mcrae College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Banner Elk. About 42% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 34 criminal justice students who graduated with this degree at Lees Mcrae College in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice graduates of Lees Mcrae College earn a median of $39,811 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $15,000 to complete this degree.
See the full criminal justice program report for Lees Mcrae College
Gardner Webb University came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best criminal justice schools. Located in the rural area of Boiling Springs, Gardner Webb University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Gardner Webb University graduates 54% of students within six years. There were roughly 19 criminal justice students who graduated with this degree at Gardner Webb University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice degree from Gardner Webb University earn around $35,433 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete this degree.
Read more about the criminal justice program at Gardner Webb University
North Carolina Wesleyan College landed the #6 spot for criminal justice this year. Set in the city of Rocky Mount, North Carolina Wesleyan College is a small private not-for-profit institution. North Carolina Wesleyan College graduates 42% of students within six years. About 45 criminal justice degrees were awarded at North Carolina Wesleyan College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from North Carolina Wesleyan College generally make around $43,121. North Carolina Wesleyan College graduates carry a median of $29,500 in student loans.
Read more about the criminal justice program at North Carolina Wesleyan College
North Carolina Central University earned the #7 position for criminal justice this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Durham. The six-year graduation rate is 42%. North Carolina Central University awarded about 22 criminal justice degrees in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice graduates of North Carolina Central University earn a median of $37,808 early in their careers. North Carolina Central University graduates carry a median of $29,500 in student loans.
Get the full criminal justice details for North Carolina Central University
Brevard College placed #8 among the best criminal justice schools. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the town of Brevard. Brevard College graduates 49% of students within six years. Brevard College awarded about 24 criminal justice degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice degree from Brevard College earn around $39,000 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete this degree.
See the full criminal justice program report for Brevard College
Mars Hill College earned the #9 position for criminal justice this year. Mars Hill College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Mars Hill. Roughly 45% of students complete a degree within six years here. Mars Hill College awarded about 37 criminal justice degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice degree from Mars Hill College earn around $43,031 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
Get the full criminal justice details for Mars Hill College
Strayer University North Carolina earned the #10 position for criminal justice this year. Strayer University North Carolina is a mid-sized private for-profit school located in the city of Greensboro. About 33% of students finish within six years. About 42 criminal justice degrees were awarded at Strayer University North Carolina in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from Strayer University North Carolina generally make around $43,405. Students borrow a median of $56,937 to complete this degree.
Read more about the criminal justice program at Strayer University North Carolina
More Criminal Justice Rankings
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 10 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.
