Criminal Justice & Corrections is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. The schools below stand out for the quality of their criminal justice & corrections programs.
College Factual analyzed 228 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best criminal justice & corrections schools.
Best Schools for Criminal Justice & Corrections in the Far Western Region
If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the criminal justice & corrections degrees they offer, see the list below.
No school ranked higher than University Of Southern California this year for criminal justice & corrections. Set in the city of Los Angeles, University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit institution. About 92% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 58 criminal justice & corrections students who graduated with this degree at University Of Southern California in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from University Of Southern California generally make around $75,677. University Of Southern California graduates carry a median of $15,625 in student loans.
Get the full criminal justice & corrections details for University Of Southern California
A rank of #2 makes University Of San Diego one of the top schools for criminal justice & corrections. Located in the city of San Diego, University Of San Diego is a large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 103 criminal justice & corrections degrees were awarded at University Of San Diego in the most recent year. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of University Of San Diego earn a median of $143,943 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $23,795.
Read more about the criminal justice & corrections program at University Of San Diego
San Jose State University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in criminal justice & corrections, ranking #3. Set in the city of San Jose, San Jose State University is a very large public institution. San Jose State University graduates 69% of students within six years. San Jose State University awarded about 224 criminal justice & corrections degrees in the most recent data year.
More information about a degree in criminal justice & corrections from San Jose State University
Sonoma State University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in criminal justice & corrections, ranking #4. Sonoma State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Rohnert Park. About 58% of students finish within six years. About 64 criminal justice & corrections degrees were awarded at Sonoma State University in the most recent year. Students who receive their criminal justice & corrections degree from Sonoma State University earn around $38,444 in the first couple years of their career. Sonoma State University graduates carry a median of $20,000 in student loans.
More information about a degree in criminal justice & corrections from Sonoma State University
A rank of #5 makes California State University Sacramento one of the top schools for criminal justice & corrections. This very large public university is located in the city of Sacramento. The six-year graduation rate is 56%. There were roughly 560 criminal justice & corrections students who graduated with this degree at California State University Sacramento in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of California State University Sacramento earn a median of $38,606 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $13,745 to complete this degree.
Get the full criminal justice & corrections details for California State University Sacramento
California State University East Bay landed the #6 spot for criminal justice & corrections this year. Set in the suburb of Hayward, California State University East Bay is a large public institution. About 48% of students finish within six years. California State University East Bay awarded about 119 criminal justice & corrections degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice & corrections degree from California State University East Bay earn around $45,387 in the first couple years of their career. California State University East Bay graduates carry a median of $15,500 in student loans.
Get the full criminal justice & corrections details for California State University East Bay
San Francisco State University came in at #7 for criminal justice & corrections this year. This very large public university is located in the city of San Francisco. San Francisco State University graduates 50% of students within six years. San Francisco State University awarded about 168 criminal justice & corrections degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice & corrections program make about $42,211 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $13,518 to complete this degree.
Get the full criminal justice & corrections details for San Francisco State University
Point Loma Nazarene University placed #8 among the best criminal justice & corrections schools. Point Loma Nazarene University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of San Diego. Point Loma Nazarene University graduates 77% of students within six years. There were roughly 24 criminal justice & corrections students who graduated with this degree at Point Loma Nazarene University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice & corrections degree from Point Loma Nazarene University earn around $45,022 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $14,000.
More information about a degree in criminal justice & corrections from Point Loma Nazarene University
California State University Long Beach placed #9 among the best criminal justice & corrections schools. Set in the city of Long Beach, California State University Long Beach is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 69%. California State University Long Beach awarded about 354 criminal justice & corrections degrees in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of California State University Long Beach earn a median of $40,836 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $15,000.
Read more about the criminal justice & corrections program at California State University Long Beach
California State University Fullerton earned the #10 position for criminal justice & corrections this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Fullerton. California State University Fullerton graduates 70% of students within six years. California State University Fullerton awarded about 380 criminal justice & corrections degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice & corrections degree from California State University Fullerton earn around $34,570 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $11,000 to complete this degree.
Read more about the criminal justice & corrections program at California State University Fullerton
San Diego State University earned the #11 position for criminal justice & corrections this year. Set in the city of San Diego, San Diego State University is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 76%. About 542 criminal justice & corrections degrees were awarded at San Diego State University in the most recent year. Students who receive their criminal justice & corrections degree from San Diego State University earn around $33,261 in the first couple years of their career. San Diego State University graduates carry a median of $12,998 in student loans.
More information about a degree in criminal justice & corrections from San Diego State University
University Of Nevada Reno came in at #12 for criminal justice & corrections this year. Set in the city of Reno, University Of Nevada Reno is a very large public institution. University Of Nevada Reno graduates 61% of students within six years. About 150 criminal justice & corrections degrees were awarded at University Of Nevada Reno in the most recent year. Graduates of the criminal justice & corrections program make about $50,691 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $19,918.
See the full criminal justice & corrections program report for University Of Nevada Reno
Seattle University landed the #13 spot for criminal justice & corrections this year. Seattle University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Seattle. The six-year graduation rate is 76%. About 37 criminal justice & corrections degrees were awarded at Seattle University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Seattle University generally make around $49,831. Typical student debt for the program is $21,247.
More information about a degree in criminal justice & corrections from Seattle University
California State University Chico placed #14 among the best criminal justice & corrections schools. This large public university is located in the city of Chico. About 63% of students finish within six years. About 118 criminal justice & corrections degrees were awarded at California State University Chico in the most recent year. Graduates of the criminal justice & corrections program make about $36,045 in their early career. California State University Chico graduates carry a median of $16,331 in student loans.
See the full criminal justice & corrections program report for California State University Chico
California State University Los Angeles came in at #15 for criminal justice & corrections this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Los Angeles. The six-year graduation rate is 53%. About 385 criminal justice & corrections degrees were awarded at California State University Los Angeles in the most recent year. Students who receive their criminal justice & corrections degree from California State University Los Angeles earn around $32,974 in the first couple years of their career. California State University Los Angeles graduates carry a median of $11,679 in student loans.
More information about a degree in criminal justice & corrections from California State University Los Angeles
Santa Rosa Junior College earned the #16 position for criminal justice & corrections this year. Located in the city of Santa Rosa, Santa Rosa Junior College is a very large public university. Santa Rosa Junior College awarded about 540 criminal justice & corrections degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice & corrections degree from Santa Rosa Junior College earn around $111,649 in the first couple years of their career. Santa Rosa Junior College graduates carry a median of $14,125 in student loans.
Get the full criminal justice & corrections details for Santa Rosa Junior College
California State University Stanislaus came in at #17 for criminal justice & corrections this year. California State University Stanislaus is a large public school located in the suburb of Turlock. California State University Stanislaus graduates 53% of students within six years. There were roughly 185 criminal justice & corrections students who graduated with this degree at California State University Stanislaus in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice & corrections program make about $34,806 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $12,500.
More information about a degree in criminal justice & corrections from California State University Stanislaus
Central Washington University placed #18 among the best criminal justice & corrections schools. Set in the town of Ellensburg, Central Washington University is a very large public institution. About 54% of students finish within six years. About 131 criminal justice & corrections degrees were awarded at Central Washington University in the most recent year. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Central Washington University earn a median of $44,172 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $21,954 to complete this degree.
Get the full criminal justice & corrections details for Central Washington University
University Of Washington Tacoma Campus placed #19 among the best criminal justice & corrections schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Tacoma. Roughly 63% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 61 criminal justice & corrections degrees were awarded at University Of Washington Tacoma Campus in the most recent year. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of University Of Washington Tacoma Campus earn a median of $40,669 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $15,269.
See the full criminal justice & corrections program report for University Of Washington Tacoma Campus
California State University Dominguez Hills came in at #20 for criminal justice & corrections this year. This large public university is located in the city of Carson. Roughly 43% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 198 criminal justice & corrections students who graduated with this degree at California State University Dominguez Hills in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice & corrections program make about $36,092 in their early career. California State University Dominguez Hills graduates carry a median of $12,256 in student loans.
More information about a degree in criminal justice & corrections from California State University Dominguez Hills
College Of San Mateo ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best criminal justice & corrections schools. Set in the city of San Mateo, College Of San Mateo is a large public institution. About 54 criminal justice & corrections degrees were awarded at College Of San Mateo in the most recent year. Typical student debt for the program is $12,831.
See the full criminal justice & corrections program report for College Of San Mateo
Grossmont College came in at #22 for criminal justice & corrections this year. Grossmont College is a large public school located in the suburb of El Cajon. Grossmont College awarded about 96 criminal justice & corrections degrees in the most recent data year.
Read more about the criminal justice & corrections program at Grossmont College
California State University San Bernardino ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best criminal justice & corrections schools. This very large public university is located in the city of San Bernardino. About 55% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 254 criminal justice & corrections students who graduated with this degree at California State University San Bernardino in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice & corrections program make about $35,029 in their early career. California State University San Bernardino graduates carry a median of $14,917 in student loans.
More information about a degree in criminal justice & corrections from California State University San Bernardino
California State University Bakersfield earned the #24 position for criminal justice & corrections this year. This large public university is located in the city of Bakersfield. California State University Bakersfield graduates 50% of students within six years. There were roughly 138 criminal justice & corrections students who graduated with this degree at California State University Bakersfield in the most recent data year.
Get the full criminal justice & corrections details for California State University Bakersfield
Mt San Antonio College landed the #25 spot for criminal justice & corrections this year. Mt San Antonio College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Walnut. About 78 criminal justice & corrections degrees were awarded at Mt San Antonio College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Mt San Antonio College generally make around $33,692. Students borrow a median of $9,384 to complete this degree.
Read more about the criminal justice & corrections program at Mt San Antonio College
Rest of the Top 50 Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s criminal justice & corrections ranking:
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 228 schools evaluated.
The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
