Criminal Justice & Corrections degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 1884 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for criminal justice & corrections students pursuing a degree.
Our analysis ranked University Of Virginia Main Campus the best school in the country for a degree in criminal justice & corrections. Set in the suburb of Charlottesville, University Of Virginia Main Campus is a very large public institution. About 96% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 728 criminal justice & corrections students who graduated with this degree at University Of Virginia Main Campus in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of University Of Virginia Main Campus earn a median of $69,126 early in their careers. University Of Virginia Main Campus graduates carry a median of $18,627 in student loans.
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University Of Southern California came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best criminal justice & corrections schools. 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. University Of Southern California awarded about 58 criminal justice & corrections degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice & corrections program make about $75,677 in their early career. University Of Southern California graduates carry a median of $15,625 in student loans.
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University Of San Diego is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in criminal justice & corrections, ranking #3. Located in the city of San Diego, University Of San Diego is a large private not-for-profit university. University Of San Diego graduates 84% of students within six years. 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.
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American University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best criminal justice & corrections schools. Located in the city of Washington, American University is a large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 76%. There were roughly 38 criminal justice & corrections students who graduated with this degree at American University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from American University generally make around $62,067. Typical student debt for the program is $23,250.
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Students looking for a strong criminal justice & corrections program will find one at University Of Denver, which ranked #5. University Of Denver is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Denver. University Of Denver graduates 76% of students within six years. About 10 criminal justice & corrections degrees were awarded at University Of Denver in the most recent year. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of University Of Denver earn a median of $56,999 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $22,534 to complete this degree.
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Boston University earned the #6 position for criminal justice & corrections this year. Located in the city of Boston, Boston University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Boston University graduates 89% of students within six years. Boston University awarded about 116 criminal justice & corrections degrees in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Boston University earn a median of $63,965 early in their careers. Boston University graduates carry a median of $25,232 in student loans.
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San Jose State University came in at #7 for criminal justice & corrections this year. 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. There were roughly 10 criminal justice & corrections students who graduated with this degree at San Jose State University in the most recent data year.
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Michigan State University came in at #8 for criminal justice & corrections this year. Set in the city of East Lansing, Michigan State University is a very large public institution. Michigan State University graduates 81% of students within six years. About 32 criminal justice & corrections degrees were awarded at Michigan State University in the most recent year. Students who receive their criminal justice & corrections degree from Michigan State University earn around $75,435 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete this degree.
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Florida State University earned the #9 position for criminal justice & corrections this year. Set in the city of Tallahassee, Florida State University is a very large public institution. Florida State University graduates 86% of students within six years. There were roughly 172 criminal justice & corrections students who graduated with this degree at Florida State University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice & corrections program make about $57,568 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $21,170 to complete this degree.
See the full criminal justice & corrections program report for Florida State University
Northeastern University landed the #10 spot for criminal justice & corrections this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Boston. Northeastern University graduates 90% of students within six years. There were roughly 103 criminal justice & corrections students who graduated with this degree at Northeastern University in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Northeastern University earn a median of $47,269 early in their careers. Northeastern University graduates carry a median of $22,809 in student loans.
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George Mason University came in at #11 for criminal justice & corrections this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Fairfax. George Mason University graduates 68% of students within six years. George Mason University awarded about 358 criminal justice & corrections degrees in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of George Mason University earn a median of $56,018 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $20,761.
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Suny At Albany landed the #12 spot for criminal justice & corrections this year. Suny At Albany is a very large public school located in the city of Albany. Suny At Albany graduates 61% of students within six years. About 50 criminal justice & corrections degrees were awarded at Suny At Albany in the most recent year. Students who receive their criminal justice & corrections degree from Suny At Albany earn around $44,736 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $23,521 to complete this degree.
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Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best criminal justice & corrections schools. Set in the city of New York, Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice is a large public institution. About 56% of students finish within six years. Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice awarded about 320 criminal justice & corrections degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice generally make around $62,921. Typical student debt for the program is $10,500.
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University Of Massachusetts Lowell ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best criminal justice & corrections schools. University Of Massachusetts Lowell is a very large public school located in the suburb of Lowell. Roughly 65% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 109 criminal justice & corrections students who graduated with this degree at University Of Massachusetts Lowell in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from University Of Massachusetts Lowell generally make around $93,930. Typical student debt for the program is $24,822.
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Lewis University landed the #15 spot for criminal justice & corrections this year. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Romeoville. The six-year graduation rate is 67%. Lewis University awarded about 23 criminal justice & corrections degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice & corrections degree from Lewis University earn around $96,146 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,000.
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Illinois State University ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best criminal justice & corrections schools. Illinois State University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Normal. Roughly 64% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 14 criminal justice & corrections students who graduated with this degree at Illinois State University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Illinois State University generally make around $37,584. Illinois State University graduates carry a median of $22,531 in student loans.
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Texas Christian University placed #17 among the best criminal justice & corrections schools. Located in the city of Fort Worth, Texas Christian University is a large private not-for-profit university. Texas Christian University graduates 85% of students within six years. About 28 criminal justice & corrections degrees were awarded at Texas Christian University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Texas Christian University generally make around $34,556. Typical student debt for the program is $20,429.
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California State University Long Beach came in at #18 for criminal justice & corrections this year. California State University Long Beach is a very large public school located in the city of Long Beach. The six-year graduation rate is 69%. There were roughly 26 criminal justice & corrections students who graduated with this degree at California State University Long Beach in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of California State University Long Beach earn a median of $47,425 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $15,000 to complete this degree.
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Seattle University placed #19 among the best criminal justice & corrections schools. Located in the city of Seattle, Seattle University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 76% of students complete a degree within six years here. Seattle University awarded about 18 criminal justice & corrections degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Seattle University generally make around $48,561. Students borrow a median of $21,247 to complete this degree.
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University Of New Haven came in at #20 for criminal justice & corrections this year. Set in the suburb of West Haven, University Of New Haven is a large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 63% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 159 criminal justice & corrections students who graduated with this degree at University Of New Haven in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from University Of New Haven generally make around $57,596. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
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University Of South Florida Main Campus came in at #21 for criminal justice & corrections this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Tampa. The six-year graduation rate is 77%. University Of South Florida Main Campus awarded about 25 criminal justice & corrections degrees in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of University Of South Florida Main Campus earn a median of $58,306 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $21,829.
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Aurora University ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best criminal justice & corrections schools. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Aurora. The six-year graduation rate is 60%. There were roughly 83 criminal justice & corrections students who graduated with this degree at Aurora University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice & corrections program make about $44,150 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,635.
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Westfield State University placed #23 among the best criminal justice & corrections schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the suburb of Westfield. Westfield State University graduates 54% of students within six years. About 25 criminal justice & corrections degrees were awarded at Westfield State University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Westfield State University generally make around $42,228. Students borrow a median of $24,422 to complete this degree.
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Salve Regina University earned the #24 position for criminal justice & corrections this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Newport. Roughly 77% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 41 criminal justice & corrections degrees were awarded at Salve Regina University in the most recent year. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Salve Regina University earn a median of $78,042 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
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Pennsylvania State University World Campus landed the #25 spot for criminal justice & corrections this year. Set in the city of University Park, Pennsylvania State University World Campus is a large public institution. Roughly 34% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 91 criminal justice & corrections degrees were awarded at Pennsylvania State University World Campus in the most recent year.
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Rest of the Top 50 Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s criminal justice & corrections ranking:
This ranking is produced 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 · 1884 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).
