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 22 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the highest-paying criminal justice and corrections schools.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools whose criminal justice and corrections graduates go on to earn the most.
Our analysis ranked Columbia College South Carolina the top school for criminal justice and corrections graduate earnings in South Carolina. Set in the city of Columbia, Columbia College South Carolina is a private not-for-profit institution. Criminal Justice And Corrections graduates of Columbia College South Carolina earn a median of about $60,613 a year early in their careers.
Citadel Military College Of South Carolina came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying criminal justice and corrections schools. Located in the city of Charleston, Citadel Military College Of South Carolina is a public institution. Early-career criminal justice and corrections graduates from Citadel Military College Of South Carolina make a median of around $67,591 per year.
Students chasing top earnings in criminal justice and corrections will find them at York Technical College, which ranked #3. Located in the city of Rock Hill, York Technical College is a public institution. After graduating, criminal justice and corrections degree recipients from York Technical College typically earn about $49,286 annually.
Strayer University South Carolina produces some of the highest-paid graduates in criminal justice and corrections, landing the #4 spot this year. Strayer University South Carolina is a private for-profit school located in the city of Greenville. Students who complete the criminal justice and corrections program here go on to a median salary of roughly $54,929.
Students chasing top earnings in criminal justice and corrections will find them at Anderson University Sc, which ranked #5. Anderson University Sc is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Anderson. Criminal Justice And Corrections graduates of Anderson University Sc earn a median of about $49,990 a year early in their careers.
Tri County Technical College placed #6 among the highest-paying schools for criminal justice and corrections. Set in the suburb of Pendleton, Tri County Technical College is a public institution. After graduating, criminal justice and corrections degree recipients from Tri County Technical College typically earn about $45,011 annually.
Bob Jones University landed the #7 spot for criminal justice and corrections salaries this year. Bob Jones University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Greenville. After graduating, criminal justice and corrections degree recipients from Bob Jones University typically earn about $58,864 annually.
South University Columbia ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying criminal justice and corrections schools. South University Columbia is a private for-profit school located in the suburb of Columbia. Criminal Justice And Corrections graduates of South University Columbia earn a median of about $47,301 a year early in their careers.
Piedmont Technical College placed #9 among the highest-paying schools for criminal justice and corrections. Piedmont Technical College is a public school located in the town of Greenwood. Criminal Justice And Corrections graduates of Piedmont Technical College earn a median of about $42,853 a year early in their careers.
University Of South Carolina Columbia earned the #10 position for criminal justice and corrections graduate earnings this year. University Of South Carolina Columbia is a public school located in the city of Columbia. Students who complete the criminal justice and corrections program here go on to a median salary of roughly $49,134.
Greenville Technical College earned the #11 position for criminal justice and corrections graduate earnings this year. Greenville Technical College is a public school located in the city of Greenville. After graduating, criminal justice and corrections degree recipients from Greenville Technical College typically earn about $40,921 annually.
Florence Darlington Technical College landed the #12 spot for criminal justice and corrections salaries this year. Set in the rural area of Florence, Florence Darlington Technical College is a public institution. Students who complete the criminal justice and corrections program here go on to a median salary of roughly $39,609.
University Of South Carolina Upstate earned the #13 position for criminal justice and corrections graduate earnings this year. University Of South Carolina Upstate is a public school located in the suburb of Spartanburg. Early-career criminal justice and corrections graduates from University Of South Carolina Upstate make a median of around $50,300 per year.
Horry Georgetown Technical College landed the #14 spot for criminal justice and corrections salaries this year. Set in the city of Conway, Horry Georgetown Technical College is a public institution. Criminal Justice And Corrections graduates of Horry Georgetown Technical College earn a median of about $42,298 a year early in their careers.
North Greenville University ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying criminal justice and corrections schools. North Greenville University is a private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Tigerville. Criminal Justice And Corrections graduates of North Greenville University earn a median of about $39,415 a year early in their careers.
Limestone College landed the #16 spot for criminal justice and corrections salaries this year. Located in the town of Gaffney, Limestone College is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career criminal justice and corrections graduates from Limestone College make a median of around $39,181 per year.
Charleston Southern University landed the #17 spot for criminal justice and corrections salaries this year. Set in the city of Charleston, Charleston Southern 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 $44,413.
South Carolina State University ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying criminal justice and corrections schools. South Carolina State University is a public school located in the town of Orangeburg. Students who complete the criminal justice and corrections program here go on to a median salary of roughly $45,814.
Morris College ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying criminal justice and corrections schools. Set in the city of Sumter, Morris College is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, criminal justice and corrections degree recipients from Morris College typically earn about $33,679 annually.
Claflin University landed the #20 spot for criminal justice and corrections salaries this year. Set in the town of Orangeburg, Claflin 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 $38,694.
Midlands Technical College came in at #21 for criminal justice and corrections graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of West Columbia, Midlands Technical College is a public institution. Students who complete the criminal justice and corrections program here go on to a median salary of roughly $40,524.
Benedict College placed #22 among the highest-paying schools for criminal justice and corrections. Set in the city of Columbia, Benedict College is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career criminal justice and corrections graduates from Benedict College make a median of around $42,829 per 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 · 22 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.