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. A top-earning program sends graduates into careers with strong starting pay.
For its 2026 highest-paid-graduates ranking, College Factual looked at 14 schools to find where criminal justice and corrections graduates earn the most.
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 Mesa Community College, our #1 for criminal justice and corrections graduate salaries in Arizona. Mesa Community College is a public school located in the city of Mesa. Students who complete the criminal justice and corrections program here go on to a median salary of roughly $50,391.
Phoenix College came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying criminal justice and corrections schools. Located in the city of Phoenix, Phoenix College is a public institution. Students who complete the criminal justice and corrections program here go on to a median salary of roughly $49,977.
Strong graduate earnings at Yavapai College earned it the #3 place for criminal justice and corrections. Yavapai College is a public school located in the city of Prescott. After graduating, criminal justice and corrections degree recipients from Yavapai College typically earn about $66,587 annually.
Strong graduate earnings at Glendale Community College Glendale Az earned it the #4 place for criminal justice and corrections. Located in the suburb of Glendale, Glendale Community College Glendale Az is a public institution. Early-career criminal justice and corrections graduates from Glendale Community College Glendale Az make a median of around $46,034 per year.
A rank of #5 makes Arizona State University one of the highest-paying schools for criminal justice and corrections. Set in the city of Tempe, Arizona State University is a public institution. Criminal Justice And Corrections graduates of Arizona State University earn a median of about $56,419 a year early in their careers.
Arizona State University Skysong placed #6 among the highest-paying schools for criminal justice and corrections. Located in the city of Scottsdale, Arizona State University Skysong is a public institution. After graduating, criminal justice and corrections degree recipients from Arizona State University Skysong typically earn about $56,419 annually.
University Of Phoenix Arizona earned the #7 position for criminal justice and corrections graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Phoenix, University Of Phoenix Arizona is a private for-profit institution. After graduating, criminal justice and corrections degree recipients from University Of Phoenix Arizona typically earn about $46,928 annually.
Arizona Western College ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying criminal justice and corrections schools. Set in the city of Yuma, Arizona Western College is a public institution. Early-career criminal justice and corrections graduates from Arizona Western College make a median of around $44,773 per year.
Rio Salado College placed #9 among the highest-paying schools for criminal justice and corrections. Set in the city of Tempe, Rio Salado College is a public institution. Students who complete the criminal justice and corrections program here go on to a median salary of roughly $56,820.
Pima Community College landed the #10 spot for criminal justice and corrections salaries this year. Pima Community College is a public school located in the city of Tucson. After graduating, criminal justice and corrections degree recipients from Pima Community College typically earn about $49,049 annually.
Grand Canyon University placed #11 among the highest-paying schools for criminal justice and corrections. Located in the city of Phoenix, Grand Canyon University is a private for-profit institution. Students who complete the criminal justice and corrections program here go on to a median salary of roughly $53,284.
Cochise College came in at #12 for criminal justice and corrections graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Sierra Vista, Cochise College is a public institution. Students who complete the criminal justice and corrections program here go on to a median salary of roughly $39,582.
Estrella Mountain Community College came in at #13 for criminal justice and corrections graduate earnings this year. Estrella Mountain Community College is a public school located in the suburb of Avondale. Early-career criminal justice and corrections graduates from Estrella Mountain Community College make a median of around $40,417 per year.
American Intercontinental University Online landed the #14 spot for criminal justice and corrections salaries this year. American Intercontinental University Online is a private for-profit school located in the city of Chandler. Criminal Justice And Corrections graduates of American Intercontinental University Online earn a median of about $38,520 a year early in their careers.
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 · 14 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.