2027 Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools in North Carolina
Criminal Justice & Corrections degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
College Factual analyzed 72 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best criminal justice & corrections schools.
What’s on this page:
Best Schools for Criminal Justice & Corrections in North Carolina
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.
Top Schools in Criminal Justice & Corrections
Leading the list is High Point University, our #1 school for criminal justice & corrections. High Point University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of High Point. Roughly 72% of students complete a degree within six years here. High Point University awarded about 46 criminal justice & corrections degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from High Point University generally make around $113,352. Typical student debt for the program is $23,785.
Read more about the criminal justice & corrections program at High Point University
Appalachian State University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in criminal justice & corrections, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the town of Boone, Appalachian State University is a very large public institution. Roughly 74% of students complete a degree within six years here. Appalachian State University awarded about 120 criminal justice & corrections degrees in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Appalachian State University earn a median of $35,796 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $18,750 to complete this degree.
Read more about the criminal justice & corrections program at Appalachian State University
Students looking for a strong criminal justice & corrections program will find one at Western Carolina University, which ranked #3. This large public university is located in the town of Cullowhee. The six-year graduation rate is 60%. About 119 criminal justice & corrections degrees were awarded at Western Carolina University in the most recent year. Students who receive their criminal justice & corrections degree from Western Carolina University earn around $38,682 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $21,461 to complete this degree.
Get the full criminal justice & corrections details for Western Carolina University
University Of North Carolina At Charlotte is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in criminal justice & corrections, ranking #4. This very large public university is located in the city of Charlotte. The six-year graduation rate is 69%. University Of North Carolina At Charlotte awarded about 167 criminal justice & corrections degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice & corrections degree from University Of North Carolina At Charlotte earn around $36,155 in the first couple years of their career. University Of North Carolina At Charlotte graduates carry a median of $23,250 in student loans.
See the full criminal justice & corrections program report for University Of North Carolina At Charlotte
Wingate University came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best criminal justice & corrections schools. Wingate University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Wingate. Roughly 46% of students complete a degree within six years here. Wingate University awarded about 22 criminal justice & corrections degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice & corrections degree from Wingate University earn around $39,498 in the first couple years of their career. Wingate University graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
Get the full criminal justice & corrections details for Wingate University
Campbell University came in at #6 for criminal justice & corrections this year. Campbell University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Buies Creek. About 60% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 27 criminal justice & corrections students who graduated with this degree at Campbell University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Campbell University generally make around $40,590. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
Read more about the criminal justice & corrections program at Campbell University
Lenoir Rhyne University came in at #7 for criminal justice & corrections this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Hickory. Roughly 48% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 10 criminal justice & corrections degrees were awarded at Lenoir Rhyne University in the most recent year. Students who receive their criminal justice & corrections degree from Lenoir Rhyne University earn around $49,985 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,900.
More information about a degree in criminal justice & corrections from Lenoir Rhyne University
Cape Fear Community College came in at #8 for criminal justice & corrections this year. Set in the city of Wilmington, Cape Fear Community College is a very large public institution. About 107 criminal justice & corrections degrees were awarded at Cape Fear Community College in the most recent year. Graduates of the criminal justice & corrections program make about $52,282 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $16,042 to complete this degree.
Get the full criminal justice & corrections details for Cape Fear Community College
Lenoir Community College earned the #9 position for criminal justice & corrections this year. Located in the town of Kinston, Lenoir Community College is a mid-sized public university. There were roughly 20 criminal justice & corrections students who graduated with this degree at Lenoir Community College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice & corrections program make about $38,736 in their early career. Lenoir Community College graduates carry a median of $9,984 in student loans.
Get the full criminal justice & corrections details for Lenoir Community College
Vance Granville Community College came in at #10 for criminal justice & corrections this year. Vance Granville Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Henderson. About 18 criminal justice & corrections degrees were awarded at Vance Granville Community College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Vance Granville Community College generally make around $39,750. Vance Granville Community College graduates carry a median of $14,833 in student loans.
Read more about the criminal justice & corrections program at Vance Granville Community College
Rowan Cabarrus Community College earned the #11 position for criminal justice & corrections this year. Located in the suburb of Salisbury, Rowan Cabarrus Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Rowan Cabarrus Community College awarded about 25 criminal justice & corrections degrees in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Rowan Cabarrus Community College earn a median of $46,993 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $10,625 to complete this degree.
Get the full criminal justice & corrections details for Rowan Cabarrus Community College
Stanly Community College placed #12 among the best criminal justice & corrections schools. Set in the town of Albemarle, Stanly Community College is a mid-sized public institution. There were roughly 25 criminal justice & corrections students who graduated with this degree at Stanly Community College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice & corrections degree from Stanly Community College earn around $41,920 in the first couple years of their career.
More information about a degree in criminal justice & corrections from Stanly Community College
Montgomery Community College placed #13 among the best criminal justice & corrections schools. This small public university is located in the rural area of Troy. About 28 criminal justice & corrections degrees were awarded at Montgomery Community College in the most recent year. Students who receive their criminal justice & corrections degree from Montgomery Community College earn around $38,983 in the first couple years of their career.
See the full criminal justice & corrections program report for Montgomery Community College
Wilkes Community College placed #14 among the best criminal justice & corrections schools. This mid-sized public university is located in the town of Wilkesboro. There were roughly 83 criminal justice & corrections students who graduated with this degree at Wilkes Community College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice & corrections degree from Wilkes Community College earn around $41,251 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $11,000.
Read more about the criminal justice & corrections program at Wilkes Community College
Wayne Community College ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best criminal justice & corrections schools. Set in the city of Goldsboro, Wayne Community College is a mid-sized public institution. About 48 criminal justice & corrections degrees were awarded at Wayne Community College in the most recent year. Graduates of the criminal justice & corrections program make about $40,557 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $5,500.
See the full criminal justice & corrections program report for Wayne Community College
Lees Mcrae College placed #16 among the best criminal justice & corrections schools. Lees Mcrae College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Banner Elk. Roughly 42% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 34 criminal justice & corrections degrees were awarded at Lees Mcrae College in the most recent year. Students who receive their criminal justice & corrections degree from Lees Mcrae College earn around $39,811 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,000.
Read more about the criminal justice & corrections program at Lees Mcrae College
Pitt Community College earned the #17 position for criminal justice & corrections this year. This large public university is located in the suburb of Winterville. About 40 criminal justice & corrections degrees were awarded at Pitt Community College in the most recent year. Graduates of the criminal justice & corrections program make about $33,018 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $15,900 to complete this degree.
Read more about the criminal justice & corrections program at Pitt Community College
University Of North Carolina At Pembroke came in at #18 for criminal justice & corrections this year. Located in the town of Pembroke, University Of North Carolina At Pembroke is a moderately-sized public university. University Of North Carolina At Pembroke graduates 44% of students within six years. There were roughly 116 criminal justice & corrections students who graduated with this degree at University Of North Carolina At Pembroke in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice & corrections degree from University Of North Carolina At Pembroke earn around $35,553 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
Get the full criminal justice & corrections details for University Of North Carolina At Pembroke
Gardner Webb University earned the #19 position for criminal justice & corrections this year. Located in the rural area of Boiling Springs, Gardner Webb University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 54% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 19 criminal justice & corrections students who graduated with this degree at Gardner Webb University in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Gardner Webb University earn a median of $35,433 early in their careers. Gardner Webb University graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans.
Get the full criminal justice & corrections details for Gardner Webb University
Wake Technical Community College placed #20 among the best criminal justice & corrections schools. Set in the suburb of Raleigh, Wake Technical Community College is a very large public institution. About 81 criminal justice & corrections degrees were awarded at Wake Technical Community College in the most recent year. Graduates of the criminal justice & corrections program make about $38,673 in their early career. Wake Technical Community College graduates carry a median of $20,093 in student loans.
See the full criminal justice & corrections program report for Wake Technical Community College
Gaston College placed #21 among the best criminal justice & corrections schools. Gaston College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Dallas. There were roughly 59 criminal justice & corrections students who graduated with this degree at Gaston College in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Gaston College earn a median of $50,038 early in their careers. Gaston College graduates carry a median of $10,915 in student loans.
Read more about the criminal justice & corrections program at Gaston College
North Carolina A And T State University ranked #22 on our 2027 list of the best criminal justice & corrections schools. Set in the city of Greensboro, North Carolina A And T State University is a large public institution. North Carolina A And T State University graduates 57% of students within six years. There were roughly 115 criminal justice & corrections students who graduated with this degree at North Carolina A And T State University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from North Carolina A And T State University generally make around $32,152. Typical student debt for the program is $27,798.
See the full criminal justice & corrections program report for North Carolina A And T State University
North Carolina Wesleyan College earned the #23 position for criminal justice & corrections this year. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Rocky Mount. About 42% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 45 criminal justice & corrections students who graduated with this degree at North Carolina Wesleyan College in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of North Carolina Wesleyan College earn a median of $43,121 early in their careers. North Carolina Wesleyan College graduates carry a median of $29,500 in student loans.
See the full criminal justice & corrections program report for North Carolina Wesleyan College
Pfeiffer University ranked #24 on our 2027 list of the best criminal justice & corrections schools. Set in the rural area of Misenheimer, Pfeiffer University is a small private not-for-profit institution. About 35% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 10 criminal justice & corrections students who graduated with this degree at Pfeiffer University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Pfeiffer University generally make around $54,891. Typical student debt for the program is $25,125.
Read more about the criminal justice & corrections program at Pfeiffer University
Durham Technical Community College placed #25 among the best criminal justice & corrections schools. Durham Technical Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Durham. About 26 criminal justice & corrections degrees were awarded at Durham Technical Community College in the most recent year. Graduates of the criminal justice & corrections program make about $49,893 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $17,750.
See the full criminal justice & corrections program report for Durham Technical Community College
Rest of the Top 50 Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools
These schools also placed among the best for criminal justice & corrections this year:
More Criminal Justice & Corrections Rankings
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 72 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
