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. A top-earning program sends graduates into careers with strong starting pay.
College Factual analyzed 54 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the highest-paying criminal justice and corrections schools.
What’s on this page:
If you want to know which schools send criminal justice and corrections graduates into the highest-paying careers, see the list below.
For graduate earnings in criminal justice and corrections, no school beat Central Piedmont Community College this year. Central Piedmont Community College is a public school located in the city of Charlotte. Early-career criminal justice and corrections graduates from Central Piedmont Community College make a median of around $50,524 per year.
Strong graduate earnings at Wake Technical Community College earned it the #2 place for criminal justice and corrections. Located in the suburb of Raleigh, Wake Technical Community College is a public institution. After graduating, criminal justice and corrections degree recipients from Wake Technical Community College typically earn about $46,809 annually.
Strong graduate earnings at Strayer University North Carolina earned it the #3 place for criminal justice and corrections. Located in the city of Greensboro, Strayer University North Carolina is a private for-profit institution. Students who complete the criminal justice and corrections program here go on to a median salary of roughly $54,929.
A rank of #4 makes Catawba Valley Community College one of the highest-paying schools for criminal justice and corrections. Located in the city of Hickory, Catawba Valley Community College is a public institution. Early-career criminal justice and corrections graduates from Catawba Valley Community College make a median of around $51,026 per year.
A rank of #5 makes Mayland Community College one of the highest-paying schools for criminal justice and corrections. Set in the rural area of Spruce Pine, Mayland Community College is a public institution. After graduating, criminal justice and corrections degree recipients from Mayland Community College typically earn about $42,962 annually.
Cape Fear Community College came in at #6 for criminal justice and corrections graduate earnings this year. Cape Fear Community College is a public school located in the city of Wilmington. Early-career criminal justice and corrections graduates from Cape Fear Community College make a median of around $47,840 per year.
Gaston College came in at #7 for criminal justice and corrections graduate earnings this year. Set in the suburb of Dallas, Gaston College is a public institution. Students who complete the criminal justice and corrections program here go on to a median salary of roughly $45,493.
Wingate University ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying criminal justice and corrections schools. Wingate University is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Wingate. After graduating, criminal justice and corrections degree recipients from Wingate University typically earn about $54,532 annually.
Rowan Cabarrus Community College placed #9 among the highest-paying schools for criminal justice and corrections. Set in the suburb of Salisbury, Rowan Cabarrus Community College is a public institution. Students who complete the criminal justice and corrections program here go on to a median salary of roughly $55,540.
Durham Technical Community College placed #10 among the highest-paying schools for criminal justice and corrections. Set in the city of Durham, Durham Technical Community College is a public institution. After graduating, criminal justice and corrections degree recipients from Durham Technical Community College typically earn about $49,893 annually.
Vance Granville Community College came in at #11 for criminal justice and corrections graduate earnings this year. Located in the town of Henderson, Vance Granville Community College is a public institution. Early-career criminal justice and corrections graduates from Vance Granville Community College make a median of around $44,839 per year.
Western Carolina University earned the #12 position for criminal justice and corrections graduate earnings this year. Set in the town of Cullowhee, Western Carolina University is a public institution. Criminal Justice And Corrections graduates of Western Carolina University earn a median of about $53,478 a year early in their careers.
Guilford Technical Community College came in at #13 for criminal justice and corrections graduate earnings this year. Guilford Technical Community College is a public school located in the suburb of Jamestown. Criminal Justice And Corrections graduates of Guilford Technical Community College earn a median of about $48,768 a year early in their careers.
Campbell University placed #14 among the highest-paying schools for criminal justice and corrections. Located in the town of Buies Creek, Campbell University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career criminal justice and corrections graduates from Campbell University make a median of around $50,442 per year.
Wilson Community College placed #15 among the highest-paying schools for criminal justice and corrections. Wilson Community College is a public school located in the town of Wilson. Students who complete the criminal justice and corrections program here go on to a median salary of roughly $48,304.
South Piedmont Community College placed #16 among the highest-paying schools for criminal justice and corrections. South Piedmont Community College is a public school located in the rural area of Polkton. Early-career criminal justice and corrections graduates from South Piedmont Community College make a median of around $47,748 per year.
Western Piedmont Community College placed #17 among the highest-paying schools for criminal justice and corrections. Located in the city of Morganton, Western Piedmont Community College is a public institution. After graduating, criminal justice and corrections degree recipients from Western Piedmont Community College typically earn about $51,065 annually.
Richmond Community College placed #18 among the highest-paying schools for criminal justice and corrections. Set in the town of Hamlet, Richmond Community College is a public institution. Criminal Justice And Corrections graduates of Richmond Community College earn a median of about $38,926 a year early in their careers.
Mount Olive College ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying criminal justice and corrections schools. Located in the rural area of Mount Olive, Mount Olive College is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career criminal justice and corrections graduates from Mount Olive College make a median of around $47,788 per year.
Barton College earned the #20 position for criminal justice and corrections graduate earnings this year. Located in the town of Wilson, Barton College is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, criminal justice and corrections degree recipients from Barton College typically earn about $43,187 annually.
Coastal Carolina Community College earned the #21 position for criminal justice and corrections graduate earnings this year. Coastal Carolina Community College is a public school located in the city of Jacksonville. Criminal Justice And Corrections graduates of Coastal Carolina Community College earn a median of about $49,701 a year early in their careers.
University Of North Carolina At Charlotte earned the #22 position for criminal justice and corrections graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Charlotte, University Of North Carolina At Charlotte is a public institution. Criminal Justice And Corrections graduates of University Of North Carolina At Charlotte earn a median of about $53,251 a year early in their careers.
Cleveland Community College earned the #23 position for criminal justice and corrections graduate earnings this year. Set in the town of Shelby, Cleveland Community College is a public institution. Criminal Justice And Corrections graduates of Cleveland Community College earn a median of about $44,800 a year early in their careers.
Wilkes Community College earned the #24 position for criminal justice and corrections graduate earnings this year. Wilkes Community College is a public school located in the town of Wilkesboro. Students who complete the criminal justice and corrections program here go on to a median salary of roughly $43,654.
Robeson Community College placed #25 among the highest-paying schools for criminal justice and corrections. Set in the town of Lumberton, Robeson Community College is a public institution. After graduating, criminal justice and corrections degree recipients from Robeson Community College typically earn about $39,506 annually.
Not far behind, these schools also produced high-earning criminal justice and corrections graduates:
This list is compiled 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 · 54 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.