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 schools below stand out for the salaries their criminal justice and corrections graduates go on to command.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 100 schools on the early-career earnings of their criminal justice and corrections graduates.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools whose criminal justice and corrections graduates go on to earn the most.
Leading the list is University Of San Diego, our #1 for criminal justice and corrections graduate salaries in the Far Western Region. University Of San Diego is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of San Diego. Students who complete the criminal justice and corrections program here go on to a median salary of roughly $143,943.
A rank of #2 makes Santa Rosa Junior College one of the highest-paying schools for criminal justice and corrections. Santa Rosa Junior College is a public school located in the city of Santa Rosa. Criminal Justice And Corrections graduates of Santa Rosa Junior College earn a median of about $90,954 a year early in their careers.
A rank of #3 makes Mendocino College one of the highest-paying schools for criminal justice and corrections. Mendocino College is a public school located in the rural area of Ukiah. Criminal Justice And Corrections graduates of Mendocino College earn a median of about $71,345 a year early in their careers.
A rank of #4 makes San Jose State University one of the highest-paying schools for criminal justice and corrections. San Jose State University is a public school located in the city of San Jose. Early-career criminal justice and corrections graduates from San Jose State University make a median of around $71,738 per year.
Chabot College came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying criminal justice and corrections schools. Set in the suburb of Hayward, Chabot College is a public institution. Early-career criminal justice and corrections graduates from Chabot College make a median of around $65,901 per year.
Moreno Valley College came in at #6 for criminal justice and corrections graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of Moreno Valley, Moreno Valley College is a public institution. Students who complete the criminal justice and corrections program here go on to a median salary of roughly $81,339.
College Of San Mateo came in at #7 for criminal justice and corrections graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of San Mateo, College Of San Mateo is a public institution. Early-career criminal justice and corrections graduates from College Of San Mateo make a median of around $60,987 per year.
Rio Hondo College placed #8 among the highest-paying schools for criminal justice and corrections. Rio Hondo College is a public school located in the rural area of Whittier. After graduating, criminal justice and corrections degree recipients from Rio Hondo College typically earn about $60,123 annually.
Butte College landed the #9 spot for criminal justice and corrections salaries this year. Butte College is a public school located in the rural area of Oroville. Early-career criminal justice and corrections graduates from Butte College make a median of around $84,378 per year.
California State University Bakersfield placed #10 among the highest-paying schools for criminal justice and corrections. Located in the city of Bakersfield, California State University Bakersfield is a public institution. After graduating, criminal justice and corrections degree recipients from California State University Bakersfield typically earn about $61,462 annually.
College Of The Canyons earned the #11 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. Students who complete the criminal justice and corrections program here go on to a median salary of roughly $56,909.
Pierce College At Fort Steilacoom came in at #12 for criminal justice and corrections graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Lakewood, Pierce College At Fort Steilacoom is a public institution. Students who complete the criminal justice and corrections program here go on to a median salary of roughly $56,859.
Saint Martins University came in at #13 for criminal justice and corrections graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Lacey, Saint Martins University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career criminal justice and corrections graduates from Saint Martins University make a median of around $57,229 per year.
California State University East Bay landed the #14 spot for criminal justice and corrections salaries this year. Located in the suburb of Hayward, California State University East Bay is a public institution. After graduating, criminal justice and corrections degree recipients from California State University East Bay typically earn about $69,766 annually.
Napa Valley College landed the #15 spot for criminal justice and corrections salaries this year. Located in the city of Napa, Napa Valley College is a public institution. Criminal Justice And Corrections graduates of Napa Valley College earn a median of about $54,673 a year early in their careers.
Evergreen Valley College ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying criminal justice and corrections schools. Set in the city of San Jose, Evergreen Valley College is a public institution. After graduating, criminal justice and corrections degree recipients from Evergreen Valley College typically earn about $54,562 annually.
City College Of San Francisco came in at #17 for criminal justice and corrections graduate earnings this year. City College Of San Francisco is a public school located in the city of San Francisco. Criminal Justice And Corrections graduates of City College Of San Francisco earn a median of about $53,240 a year early in their careers.
Truckee Meadows Community College ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying criminal justice and corrections schools. Set in the city of Reno, Truckee Meadows Community College is a public institution. Criminal Justice And Corrections graduates of Truckee Meadows Community College earn a median of about $52,679 a year early in their careers.
California Lutheran University came in at #19 for criminal justice and corrections graduate earnings this year. California Lutheran University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Thousand Oaks. Early-career criminal justice and corrections graduates from California Lutheran University make a median of around $67,177 per year.
Grossmont College earned the #20 position for criminal justice and corrections graduate earnings this year. Set in the suburb of El Cajon, Grossmont College is a public institution. Students who complete the criminal justice and corrections program here go on to a median salary of roughly $51,705.
San Bernardino Valley College placed #21 among the highest-paying schools for criminal justice and corrections. San Bernardino Valley College is a public school located in the city of San Bernardino. Early-career criminal justice and corrections graduates from San Bernardino Valley College make a median of around $44,889 per year.
Los Angeles Pierce College ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying criminal justice and corrections schools. Located in the city of Woodland Hills, Los Angeles Pierce College is a public institution. Early-career criminal justice and corrections graduates from Los Angeles Pierce College make a median of around $50,414 per year.
Central Washington University landed the #23 spot for criminal justice and corrections salaries this year. Located in the town of Ellensburg, Central Washington University is a public institution. Early-career criminal justice and corrections graduates from Central Washington University make a median of around $61,698 per year.
San Francisco State University placed #24 among the highest-paying schools for criminal justice and corrections. Set in the city of San Francisco, San Francisco State University is a public institution. After graduating, criminal justice and corrections degree recipients from San Francisco State University typically earn about $64,458 annually.
National University placed #25 among the highest-paying schools for criminal justice and corrections. National University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of San Diego. Students who complete the criminal justice and corrections program here go on to a median salary of roughly $59,833.
These schools also send criminal justice and corrections graduates into strong-paying careers this year:
This ranking is produced by College Factual, 2026 edition. Schools are ranked on the median early-career earnings of their criminal justice and corrections graduates, 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.