by our College Data Analytics Team
[Criminal Justice And Corrections](/majors/protective-security-safety-services/criminal-justice-and-corrections/) is a field where your choice of school can shape what you earn after graduation. A top-earning program sends graduates into careers with strong starting pay.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 38 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.
Moraine Valley Community College earned the #1 spot for highest-paid criminal justice and corrections graduates in Illinois. Moraine Valley Community College is a public school located in the suburb of Palos Hills. Early-career criminal justice and corrections graduates from Moraine Valley Community College make a median of around $57,275 per year.
Kankakee Community College produces some of the highest-paid graduates in criminal justice and corrections, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the city of Kankakee, Kankakee Community College is a public institution. Criminal Justice And Corrections graduates of Kankakee Community College earn a median of about $56,277 a year early in their careers.
Students chasing top earnings in criminal justice and corrections will find them at Mchenry County College, which ranked #3. Set in the rural area of Crystal Lake, Mchenry County College is a public institution. Criminal Justice And Corrections graduates of Mchenry County College earn a median of about $54,740 a year early in their careers.
Students chasing top earnings in criminal justice and corrections will find them at Elgin Community College, which ranked #4. Set in the city of Elgin, Elgin Community College is a public institution. Early-career criminal justice and corrections graduates from Elgin Community College make a median of around $52,833 per year.
A rank of #5 makes Bradley University one of the highest-paying schools for criminal justice and corrections. Located in the city of Peoria, Bradley University is a private not-for-profit institution. Criminal Justice And Corrections graduates of Bradley University earn a median of about $52,932 a year early in their careers.
Elmhurst College ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying criminal justice and corrections schools. Set in the suburb of Elmhurst, Elmhurst College is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career criminal justice and corrections graduates from Elmhurst College make a median of around $72,219 per year.
Triton College ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying criminal justice and corrections schools. Set in the suburb of River Grove, Triton College is a public institution. Students who complete the criminal justice and corrections program here go on to a median salary of roughly $50,257.
Loyola University Chicago landed the #8 spot for criminal justice and corrections salaries this year. Set in the city of Chicago, Loyola University Chicago is a private not-for-profit institution. Criminal Justice And Corrections graduates of Loyola University Chicago earn a median of about $69,197 a year early in their careers.
Western Illinois University earned the #9 position for criminal justice and corrections graduate earnings this year. Located in the town of Macomb, Western Illinois University is a public institution. After graduating, criminal justice and corrections degree recipients from Western Illinois University typically earn about $65,120 annually.
North Park University earned the #10 position for criminal justice and corrections graduate earnings this year. North Park University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. Criminal Justice And Corrections graduates of North Park University earn a median of about $60,960 a year early in their careers.
Aurora University landed the #11 spot for criminal justice and corrections salaries this year. Set in the suburb of Aurora, Aurora University 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 $59,192.
Saint Xavier University placed #12 among the highest-paying schools for criminal justice and corrections. Located in the city of Chicago, Saint Xavier University 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 $66,567.
Rasmussen College Illinois earned the #13 position for criminal justice and corrections graduate earnings this year. Rasmussen College Illinois is a private for-profit school located in the city of Rockford. Criminal Justice And Corrections graduates of Rasmussen College Illinois earn a median of about $49,266 a year early in their careers.
Governors State University came in at #14 for criminal justice and corrections graduate earnings this year. Governors State University is a public school located in the suburb of University Park. After graduating, criminal justice and corrections degree recipients from Governors State University typically earn about $58,832 annually.
Northeastern Illinois University placed #15 among the highest-paying schools for criminal justice and corrections. Northeastern Illinois University is a public school located in the city of Chicago. Early-career criminal justice and corrections graduates from Northeastern Illinois University make a median of around $59,188 per year.
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville came in at #16 for criminal justice and corrections graduate earnings this year. Set in the suburb of Edwardsville, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is a public institution. Students who complete the criminal justice and corrections program here go on to a median salary of roughly $59,204.
Roosevelt University landed the #17 spot for criminal justice and corrections salaries this year. Located in the city of Chicago, Roosevelt University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career criminal justice and corrections graduates from Roosevelt University make a median of around $54,962 per year.
Illinois State University ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying criminal justice and corrections schools. Set in the suburb of Normal, Illinois State University is a public institution. After graduating, criminal justice and corrections degree recipients from Illinois State University typically earn about $59,928 annually.
University Of Illinois At Springfield placed #19 among the highest-paying schools for criminal justice and corrections. Set in the city of Springfield, University Of Illinois At Springfield is a public institution. Students who complete the criminal justice and corrections program here go on to a median salary of roughly $53,930.
Devry University Illinois came in at #20 for criminal justice and corrections graduate earnings this year. Set in the suburb of Lisle, Devry University Illinois is a private for-profit institution. Early-career criminal justice and corrections graduates from Devry University Illinois make a median of around $50,750 per year.
Benedictine University landed the #21 spot for criminal justice and corrections salaries this year. Benedictine University is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Lisle. After graduating, criminal justice and corrections degree recipients from Benedictine University typically earn about $46,020 annually.
Lewis And Clark Community College placed #22 among the highest-paying schools for criminal justice and corrections. Lewis And Clark Community College is a public school located in the suburb of Godfrey. After graduating, criminal justice and corrections degree recipients from Lewis And Clark Community College typically earn about $56,190 annually.
Southwestern Illinois College landed the #23 spot for criminal justice and corrections salaries this year. Southwestern Illinois College is a public school located in the suburb of Belleville. Criminal Justice And Corrections graduates of Southwestern Illinois College earn a median of about $52,043 a year early in their careers.
Parkland College earned the #24 position for criminal justice and corrections graduate earnings this year. Parkland College is a public school located in the city of Champaign. After graduating, criminal justice and corrections degree recipients from Parkland College typically earn about $40,818 annually.
University Of St Francis ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying criminal justice and corrections schools. Located in the suburb of Joliet, University Of St Francis is a private not-for-profit institution. Criminal Justice And Corrections graduates of University Of St Francis earn a median of about $47,897 a year early in their careers.
These schools also send criminal justice and corrections graduates into strong-paying careers this year:
The ranking above is published 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 · 38 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.