2027 Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools in Tennessee
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.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 23 schools to find the best for criminal justice & corrections students.
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Best Schools for Criminal Justice & Corrections in Tennessee
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall criminal justice & corrections education in Tennessee.
Top Schools in Criminal Justice & Corrections
Leading the list is The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga, our #1 school for criminal justice & corrections. The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga is a large public school located in the city of Chattanooga. About 50% of students finish within six years. The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga awarded about 107 criminal justice & corrections degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga generally make around $37,403. The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga graduates carry a median of $22,995 in student loans.
More information about a degree in criminal justice & corrections from The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga
Middle Tennessee State University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in criminal justice & corrections, ranking #2. This very large public university is located in the city of Murfreesboro. Middle Tennessee State University graduates 54% of students within six years. There were roughly 99 criminal justice & corrections students who graduated with this degree at Middle Tennessee State University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Middle Tennessee State University generally make around $37,952. Middle Tennessee State University graduates carry a median of $24,093 in student loans.
See the full criminal justice & corrections program report for Middle Tennessee State University
Trevecca Nazarene University came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best criminal justice & corrections schools. Set in the city of Nashville, Trevecca Nazarene University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 53% of students finish within six years. Trevecca Nazarene University awarded about 11 criminal justice & corrections degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice & corrections degree from Trevecca Nazarene University earn around $52,004 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,962.
More information about a degree in criminal justice & corrections from Trevecca Nazarene University
Cumberland University came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best criminal justice & corrections schools. Located in the town of Lebanon, Cumberland University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 42%. About 32 criminal justice & corrections degrees were awarded at Cumberland University in the most recent year. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Cumberland University earn a median of $45,223 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $21,902.
More information about a degree in criminal justice & corrections from Cumberland University
Students looking for a strong criminal justice & corrections program will find one at Bryan College Dayton, which ranked #5. Set in the town of Dayton, Bryan College Dayton is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Bryan College Dayton graduates 50% of students within six years. There were roughly 12 criminal justice & corrections students who graduated with this degree at Bryan College Dayton in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice & corrections degree from Bryan College Dayton earn around $44,067 in the first couple years of their career. Bryan College Dayton graduates carry a median of $25,652 in student loans.
See the full criminal justice & corrections program report for Bryan College Dayton
Austin Peay State University ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best criminal justice & corrections schools. This large public university is located in the city of Clarksville. Austin Peay State University graduates 39% of students within six years. Austin Peay State University awarded about 97 criminal justice & corrections degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice & corrections degree from Austin Peay State University earn around $36,749 in the first couple years of their career. Austin Peay State University graduates carry a median of $25,281 in student loans.
Read more about the criminal justice & corrections program at Austin Peay State University
Volunteer State Community College came in at #7 for criminal justice & corrections this year. Set in the suburb of Gallatin, Volunteer State Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. About 36 criminal justice & corrections degrees were awarded at Volunteer State Community College in the most recent year. Students who receive their criminal justice & corrections degree from Volunteer State Community College earn around $40,137 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $12,462 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in criminal justice & corrections from Volunteer State Community College
East Tennessee State University came in at #8 for criminal justice & corrections this year. This large public university is located in the city of Johnson City. About 53% of students finish within six years. About 92 criminal justice & corrections degrees were awarded at East Tennessee State University in the most recent year. Graduates of the criminal justice & corrections program make about $30,097 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,942.
See the full criminal justice & corrections program report for East Tennessee State University
University Of Memphis placed #9 among the best criminal justice & corrections schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Memphis. The six-year graduation rate is 51%. University Of Memphis awarded about 79 criminal justice & corrections degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from University Of Memphis generally make around $35,900. University Of Memphis graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
Read more about the criminal justice & corrections program at University Of Memphis
Bethel University Tennessee ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best criminal justice & corrections schools. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the town of McKenzie. Roughly 17% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 131 criminal justice & corrections students who graduated with this degree at Bethel University Tennessee in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice & corrections degree from Bethel University Tennessee earn around $54,442 in the first couple years of their career. Bethel University Tennessee graduates carry a median of $24,444 in student loans.
See the full criminal justice & corrections program report for Bethel University Tennessee
Cleveland State Community College landed the #11 spot for criminal justice & corrections this year. This mid-sized public university is located in the city of Cleveland. About 80 criminal justice & corrections degrees were awarded at Cleveland State Community College in the most recent year. Graduates of the criminal justice & corrections program make about $41,488 in their early career. Cleveland State Community College graduates carry a median of $6,318 in student loans.
See the full criminal justice & corrections program report for Cleveland State Community College
The University Of Tennessee Martin landed the #12 spot for criminal justice & corrections this year. The University Of Tennessee Martin is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Martin. The University Of Tennessee Martin graduates 52% of students within six years. About 51 criminal justice & corrections degrees were awarded at The University Of Tennessee Martin in the most recent year. Students who receive their criminal justice & corrections degree from The University Of Tennessee Martin earn around $32,167 in the first couple years of their career. The University Of Tennessee Martin graduates carry a median of $22,671 in student loans.
Get the full criminal justice & corrections details for The University Of Tennessee Martin
Walters State Community College earned the #13 position for criminal justice & corrections this year. Set in the city of Morristown, Walters State Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. About 208 criminal justice & corrections degrees were awarded at Walters State Community College in the most recent year. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Walters State Community College earn a median of $44,624 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $16,702 to complete this degree.
Get the full criminal justice & corrections details for Walters State Community College
Dyersburg State Community College came in at #14 for criminal justice & corrections this year. Dyersburg State Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Dyersburg. There were roughly 14 criminal justice & corrections students who graduated with this degree at Dyersburg State Community College in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Dyersburg State Community College earn a median of $41,177 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $10,611 to complete this degree.
See the full criminal justice & corrections program report for Dyersburg State Community College
Martin Methodist College ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best criminal justice & corrections schools. Set in the town of Pulaski, Martin Methodist College is a small public institution. Martin Methodist College graduates 35% of students within six years. Martin Methodist College awarded about 18 criminal justice & corrections degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice & corrections degree from Martin Methodist College earn around $40,832 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,308.
See the full criminal justice & corrections program report for Martin Methodist College
South College placed #16 among the best criminal justice & corrections schools. South College is a very large private for-profit school located in the city of Knoxville. About 53% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 42 criminal justice & corrections students who graduated with this degree at South College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice & corrections degree from South College earn around $24,095 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $24,533 to complete this degree.
Read more about the criminal justice & corrections program at South College
Pellissippi State Community College landed the #17 spot for criminal justice & corrections this year. Located in the suburb of Knoxville, Pellissippi State Community College is a large public university. About 14 criminal justice & corrections degrees were awarded at Pellissippi State Community College in the most recent year. Graduates of the criminal justice & corrections program make about $43,816 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $8,951 to complete this degree.
Read more about the criminal justice & corrections program at Pellissippi State Community College
Tennessee State University ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best criminal justice & corrections schools. Located in the city of Nashville, Tennessee State University is a moderately-sized public university. The six-year graduation rate is 35%. Tennessee State University awarded about 39 criminal justice & corrections degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice & corrections program make about $32,555 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $28,001 to complete this degree.
Get the full criminal justice & corrections details for Tennessee State University
Northeast State Community College landed the #19 spot for criminal justice & corrections this year. Located in the rural area of Blountville, Northeast State Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Northeast State Community College awarded about 11 criminal justice & corrections degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice & corrections degree from Northeast State Community College earn around $39,673 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $6,404 to complete this degree.
See the full criminal justice & corrections program report for Northeast State Community College
Lincoln Memorial University earned the #20 position for criminal justice & corrections this year. Set in the town of Harrogate, Lincoln Memorial University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Lincoln Memorial University graduates 47% of students within six years. About 19 criminal justice & corrections degrees were awarded at Lincoln Memorial University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Lincoln Memorial University generally make around $64,307. Lincoln Memorial University graduates carry a median of $20,693 in student loans.
See the full criminal justice & corrections program report for Lincoln Memorial University
Strayer University Tennessee came in at #21 for criminal justice & corrections this year. Strayer University Tennessee is a mid-sized private for-profit school located in the city of Nashville. Strayer University Tennessee awarded about 20 criminal justice & corrections degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice & corrections program make about $43,405 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $56,937 to complete this degree.
Read more about the criminal justice & corrections program at Strayer University Tennessee
Lane College placed #22 among the best criminal justice & corrections schools. Lane College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Jackson. About 18% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 16 criminal justice & corrections students who graduated with this degree at Lane College in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Lane College earn a median of $35,917 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $38,680 to complete this degree.
Read more about the criminal justice & corrections program at Lane College
Le Moyne Owen College ranked #23 on our 2027 list of the best criminal justice & corrections schools. Located in the city of Memphis, Le Moyne Owen College is a small private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 32%. Le Moyne Owen College awarded about 16 criminal justice & corrections degrees in the most recent data year.
See the full criminal justice & corrections program report for Le Moyne Owen College
More Criminal Justice & Corrections Rankings
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 23 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.
