2027 Best Criminal Justice Schools in Tennessee
Criminal Justice programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 14 schools to find the best for criminal justice students.
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Best Schools for Criminal Justice in Tennessee
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall criminal justice education in Tennessee.
Top Schools in Criminal Justice
The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in criminal justice. This large public university is located in the city of Chattanooga. About 50% of students finish within six years. The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga awarded about 107 criminal justice degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga generally make around $37,403. Typical student debt for the program is $22,995.
Get the full criminal justice details for The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga
Middle Tennessee State University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in criminal justice, ranking #2. Located in the city of Murfreesboro, Middle Tennessee State University is a very large public university. About 54% of students finish within six years. About 49 criminal justice degrees were awarded at Middle Tennessee State University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from Middle Tennessee State University generally make around $37,952. Typical student debt for the program is $24,093.
More information about a degree in criminal justice from Middle Tennessee State University
Students looking for a strong criminal justice program will find one at Trevecca Nazarene University, which ranked #3. Located in the city of Nashville, Trevecca Nazarene University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. About 53% of students finish within six years. About 11 criminal justice degrees were awarded at Trevecca Nazarene University in the most recent year. Criminal Justice graduates of Trevecca Nazarene University earn a median of $52,004 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $24,962.
More information about a degree in criminal justice from Trevecca Nazarene University
Cumberland University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in criminal justice, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the town of Lebanon, Cumberland University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Cumberland University graduates 42% of students within six years. Cumberland University awarded about 16 criminal justice degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from Cumberland University generally make around $45,223. Typical student debt for the program is $21,902.
More information about a degree in criminal justice from Cumberland University
Students looking for a strong criminal justice program will find one at Austin Peay State University, which ranked #5. Located in the city of Clarksville, Austin Peay State University is a large public university. Austin Peay State University graduates 39% of students within six years. There were roughly 79 criminal justice students who graduated with this degree at Austin Peay State University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice program make about $36,749 in their early career. Austin Peay State University graduates carry a median of $25,281 in student loans.
See the full criminal justice program report for Austin Peay State University
East Tennessee State University landed the #6 spot for criminal justice this year. This large public university is located in the city of Johnson City. About 53% of students finish within six years. East Tennessee State University awarded about 92 criminal justice degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice degree from East Tennessee State University earn around $30,097 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,942.
Get the full criminal justice details for East Tennessee State University
University Of Memphis placed #7 among the best criminal justice schools. Located in the city of Memphis, University Of Memphis is a very large public university. University Of Memphis graduates 51% of students within six years. About 79 criminal justice degrees were awarded at University Of Memphis in the most recent year. Criminal Justice graduates of University Of Memphis earn a median of $35,900 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
Get the full criminal justice details for University Of Memphis
Bethel University Tennessee placed #8 among the best criminal justice schools. Set in the town of McKenzie, Bethel University Tennessee is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Bethel University Tennessee graduates 17% of students within six years. There were roughly 28 criminal justice students who graduated with this degree at Bethel University Tennessee in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from Bethel University Tennessee generally make around $54,442. Bethel University Tennessee graduates carry a median of $24,444 in student loans.
More information about a degree in criminal justice from Bethel University Tennessee
The University Of Tennessee Martin placed #9 among the best criminal justice schools. Set in the town of Martin, The University Of Tennessee Martin is a moderately-sized public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 52%. About 51 criminal justice degrees were awarded at The University Of Tennessee Martin in the most recent year. Graduates of the criminal justice program make about $32,167 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $22,671 to complete this degree.
Read more about the criminal justice program at The University Of Tennessee Martin
Martin Methodist College came in at #10 for criminal justice this year. Martin Methodist College is a small public school located in the town of Pulaski. The six-year graduation rate is 35%. About 18 criminal justice degrees were awarded at Martin Methodist College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from Martin Methodist College generally make around $40,832. Typical student debt for the program is $23,308.
See the full criminal justice program report for Martin Methodist College
Tennessee State University placed #11 among the best criminal justice schools. Set in the city of Nashville, Tennessee State University is a moderately-sized public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 35%. There were roughly 39 criminal justice students who graduated with this degree at Tennessee State University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice degree from Tennessee State University earn around $32,555 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $28,001 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in criminal justice from Tennessee State University
Lincoln Memorial University earned the #12 position for criminal justice this year. Lincoln Memorial University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Harrogate. About 47% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 19 criminal justice students who graduated with this degree at Lincoln Memorial University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice program make about $64,307 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,693.
More information about a degree in criminal justice from Lincoln Memorial University
Strayer University Tennessee placed #13 among the best criminal justice schools. Located in the city of Nashville, Strayer University Tennessee is a mid-sized private for-profit university. There were roughly 20 criminal justice students who graduated with this degree at Strayer University Tennessee in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice degree from Strayer University Tennessee earn around $43,405 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $56,937.
Read more about the criminal justice program at Strayer University Tennessee
Le Moyne Owen College came in at #14 for criminal justice this year. Set in the city of Memphis, Le Moyne Owen College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Le Moyne Owen College graduates 32% of students within six years. Le Moyne Owen College awarded about 16 criminal justice degrees in the most recent data year.
Get the full criminal justice details for Le Moyne Owen College
More Criminal Justice Rankings
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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 · 14 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.
