by our College Data Analytics Team
[Criminal Justice And Corrections](/majors/protective-security-safety-services/criminal-justice-and-corrections/) programs reward a close look at where graduates go on to earn the most. 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 16 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.
University Of Chicago tops our 2026 list of the highest-paying criminal justice and corrections schools in the Great Lakes Region. Set in the city of Chicago, University Of Chicago is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the criminal justice and corrections program here go on to a median salary of roughly $101,305.
Lewis University produces some of the highest-paid graduates in criminal justice and corrections, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the suburb of Romeoville, Lewis University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career criminal justice and corrections graduates from Lewis University make a median of around $87,368 per year.
Michigan State University produces some of the highest-paid graduates in criminal justice and corrections, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the city of East Lansing, Michigan State University is a public institution. Early-career criminal justice and corrections graduates from Michigan State University make a median of around $86,157 per year.
Tiffin University produces some of the highest-paid graduates in criminal justice and corrections, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the town of Tiffin, Tiffin University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career criminal justice and corrections graduates from Tiffin University make a median of around $61,467 per year.
Western Illinois University came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying criminal justice and corrections schools. Western Illinois University is a public school located in the town of Macomb. Criminal Justice And Corrections graduates of Western Illinois University earn a median of about $71,813 a year early in their careers.
University Of Cincinnati Main Campus ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying criminal justice and corrections schools. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a public school located in the city of Cincinnati. Early-career criminal justice and corrections graduates from University Of Cincinnati Main Campus make a median of around $66,456 per year.
Indiana Wesleyan University National And Global earned the #7 position for criminal justice and corrections graduate earnings this year. Located in the rural area of Marion, Indiana Wesleyan University National And Global is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, criminal justice and corrections degree recipients from Indiana Wesleyan University National And Global typically earn about $58,102 annually.
Xavier University earned the #8 position for criminal justice and corrections graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Cincinnati, Xavier University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career criminal justice and corrections graduates from Xavier University make a median of around $55,144 per year.
University Of Wisconsin Platteville landed the #9 spot for criminal justice and corrections salaries this year. Located in the town of Platteville, University Of Wisconsin Platteville is a public institution. Early-career criminal justice and corrections graduates from University Of Wisconsin Platteville make a median of around $54,819 per year.
Wayne State University earned the #10 position for criminal justice and corrections graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Detroit, Wayne State University is a public institution. Students who complete the criminal justice and corrections program here go on to a median salary of roughly $54,708.
Ferris State University landed the #11 spot for criminal justice and corrections salaries this year. Located in the town of Big Rapids, Ferris State University is a public institution. Students who complete the criminal justice and corrections program here go on to a median salary of roughly $59,104.
Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis landed the #12 spot for criminal justice and corrections salaries this year. Located in the city of Indianapolis, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis is a public institution. After graduating, criminal justice and corrections degree recipients from Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis typically earn about $63,650 annually.
Purdue University Global came in at #13 for criminal justice and corrections graduate earnings this year. Purdue University Global is a public school located in the city of West Lafayette. Early-career criminal justice and corrections graduates from Purdue University Global make a median of around $50,237 per year.
Trine University Fort Wayne Regional Campus earned the #14 position for criminal justice and corrections graduate earnings this year. Located in the town of Angola, Trine University Fort Wayne Regional Campus is a private not-for-profit institution. Criminal Justice And Corrections graduates of Trine University Fort Wayne Regional Campus earn a median of about $54,984 a year early in their careers.
Governors State University placed #15 among the highest-paying schools for criminal justice and corrections. Located in the suburb of University Park, Governors State University is a public institution. Students who complete the criminal justice and corrections program here go on to a median salary of roughly $45,334.
Loyola University Chicago landed the #16 spot for criminal justice and corrections salaries this year. Loyola University Chicago is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. Criminal Justice And Corrections graduates of Loyola University Chicago earn a median of about $45,302 a year early in their careers.
This list is compiled 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 · 16 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.