by our College Data Analytics Team
[Criminal Justice And Corrections](/majors/protective-security-safety-services/criminal-justice-and-corrections/) graduates earn very different salaries depending on where they study. The highest-paying schools turn a criminal justice and corrections degree into the strongest early-career earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 100 schools on the early-career earnings of their criminal justice and corrections graduates.
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If you want to know which schools send criminal justice and corrections graduates into the highest-paying careers, see the list below.
Red Rocks Community College tops our 2026 list of the highest-paying criminal justice and corrections schools in the United States. Located in the suburb of Lakewood, Red Rocks Community College is a public institution. After graduating, criminal justice and corrections degree recipients from Red Rocks Community College typically earn about $86,955 annually.
Mendocino College came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying criminal justice and corrections schools. Located in the rural area of Ukiah, Mendocino College is a public institution. Early-career criminal justice and corrections graduates from Mendocino College make a median of around $71,345 per year.
A rank of #3 makes Macomb Community College one of the highest-paying schools for criminal justice and corrections. Set in the city of Warren, Macomb Community College is a public institution. Early-career criminal justice and corrections graduates from Macomb Community College make a median of around $70,778 per year.
The Community College Of Baltimore County produces some of the highest-paid graduates in criminal justice and corrections, landing the #4 spot this year. The Community College Of Baltimore County is a public school located in the suburb of Baltimore. After graduating, criminal justice and corrections degree recipients from The Community College Of Baltimore County typically earn about $69,093 annually.
Strong graduate earnings at Normandale Community College earned it the #5 place for criminal justice and corrections. Located in the city of Bloomington, Normandale Community College is a public institution. After graduating, criminal justice and corrections degree recipients from Normandale Community College typically earn about $67,481 annually.
Santa Rosa Junior College earned the #6 position for criminal justice and corrections graduate earnings this year. Santa Rosa Junior College is a public school located in the city of Santa Rosa. Early-career criminal justice and corrections graduates from Santa Rosa Junior College make a median of around $66,405 per year.
Chabot College earned the #7 position for criminal justice and corrections graduate earnings this year. Set in the suburb of Hayward, Chabot College is a public institution. After graduating, criminal justice and corrections degree recipients from Chabot College typically earn about $65,901 annually.
College Of San Mateo landed the #8 spot for criminal justice and corrections salaries this year. Set in the city of San Mateo, College Of San Mateo is a public institution. Students who complete the criminal justice and corrections program here go on to a median salary of roughly $60,987.
Prince Georges Community College earned the #9 position for criminal justice and corrections graduate earnings this year. Set in the suburb of Largo, Prince Georges Community College is a public institution. After graduating, criminal justice and corrections degree recipients from Prince Georges Community College typically earn about $60,798 annually.
College Of Southern Maryland landed the #10 spot for criminal justice and corrections salaries this year. Set in the rural area of La Plata, College Of Southern Maryland is a public institution. Students who complete the criminal justice and corrections program here go on to a median salary of roughly $60,563.
Jefferson College ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying criminal justice and corrections schools. Located in the rural area of Hillsboro, Jefferson College is a public institution. Criminal Justice And Corrections graduates of Jefferson College earn a median of about $60,380 a year early in their careers.
Rio Hondo College came in at #12 for criminal justice and corrections graduate earnings this year. Rio Hondo College is a public school located in the rural area of Whittier. Early-career criminal justice and corrections graduates from Rio Hondo College make a median of around $60,123 per year.
Columbia Southern University ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying criminal justice and corrections schools. Located in the town of Orange Beach, Columbia Southern University is a private for-profit institution. Early-career criminal justice and corrections graduates from Columbia Southern University make a median of around $62,396 per year.
Lake Region State College landed the #14 spot for criminal justice and corrections salaries this year. Located in the town of Devils Lake, Lake Region State College is a public institution. After graduating, criminal justice and corrections degree recipients from Lake Region State College typically earn about $59,640 annually.
Akron Institute Of Herzing University landed the #15 spot for criminal justice and corrections salaries this year. Located in the suburb of Akron, Akron Institute Of Herzing University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career criminal justice and corrections graduates from Akron Institute Of Herzing University make a median of around $59,370 per year.
Herzing University Kenner ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying criminal justice and corrections schools. Herzing University Kenner is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Metairie. Criminal Justice And Corrections graduates of Herzing University Kenner earn a median of about $59,370 a year early in their careers.
Herzing University Madison placed #17 among the highest-paying schools for criminal justice and corrections. Located in the city of Madison, Herzing University Madison is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, criminal justice and corrections degree recipients from Herzing University Madison typically earn about $59,370 annually.
Northern Michigan University earned the #18 position for criminal justice and corrections graduate earnings this year. Northern Michigan University is a public school located in the town of Marquette. Early-career criminal justice and corrections graduates from Northern Michigan University make a median of around $59,142 per year.
Lansing Community College placed #19 among the highest-paying schools for criminal justice and corrections. Set in the city of Lansing, Lansing Community College is a public institution. Students who complete the criminal justice and corrections program here go on to a median salary of roughly $58,809.
Oakland Community College came in at #20 for criminal justice and corrections graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of Auburn Hills, Oakland Community College is a public institution. Criminal Justice And Corrections graduates of Oakland Community College earn a median of about $68,864 a year early in their careers.
Hibbing Community College A Technical And Community College landed the #21 spot for criminal justice and corrections salaries this year. Located in the town of Hibbing, Hibbing Community College A Technical And Community College is a public institution. Early-career criminal justice and corrections graduates from Hibbing Community College A Technical And Community College make a median of around $62,955 per year.
Moraine Valley Community College placed #22 among the highest-paying schools for criminal justice and corrections. Located in the suburb of Palos Hills, Moraine Valley Community College is a public institution. Early-career criminal justice and corrections graduates from Moraine Valley Community College make a median of around $57,275 per year.
College Of The Canyons earned the #23 position for criminal justice and corrections graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of Santa Clarita, College Of The Canyons is a public institution. Criminal Justice And Corrections graduates of College Of The Canyons earn a median of about $56,909 a year early in their careers.
Pierce College At Fort Steilacoom ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying criminal justice and corrections schools. Located in the city of Lakewood, Pierce College At Fort Steilacoom is a public institution. Early-career criminal justice and corrections graduates from Pierce College At Fort Steilacoom make a median of around $56,859 per year.
Kalamazoo Valley Community College placed #25 among the highest-paying schools for criminal justice and corrections. Kalamazoo Valley Community College is a public school located in the suburb of Kalamazoo. Criminal Justice And Corrections graduates of Kalamazoo Valley Community College earn a median of about $56,618 a year early in their careers.
Not far behind, these schools also produced high-earning criminal justice and corrections graduates:
The following schools rounded out the strongest criminal justice and corrections earnings:
These schools earned honorable mentions for criminal justice and corrections graduate pay:
Explore the highest-paying criminal justice and corrections schools at other degree levels:
The ranking above is published by College Factual, 2026 edition. The methodology measures the salaries criminal justice and corrections graduates go on to earn early in their careers, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).
Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 100 schools evaluated.
*Salary figures reflect median early-career earnings (about 5 years after graduation) and may vary by how long a person takes to complete their degree.
More about our data sources and methodologies.