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2027 Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools in Virginia

33 Colleges in the United States
4,070 Criminal Justice & Corrections Degrees Awarded
$40,268 Avg Early-Career Salary

Criminal Justice & Corrections degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. The schools below stand out for the quality of their criminal justice & corrections programs.

For its 2027 ranking, College Factual looked at 33 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for criminal justice & corrections students pursuing a degree.

What’s on this page:

Best Schools for Criminal Justice & Corrections in Virginia

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

1

University Of Virginia Main Campus is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in criminal justice & corrections. University Of Virginia Main Campus is a very large public school located in the suburb of Charlottesville. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. About 1,171 criminal justice & corrections degrees were awarded at University Of Virginia Main Campus in the most recent year. Graduates of the criminal justice & corrections program make about $69,126 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $18,627. More information about a degree in criminal justice & corrections from University Of Virginia Main Campus

2

George Mason University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in criminal justice & corrections, ranking #2. George Mason University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Fairfax. About 68% of students finish within six years. About 361 criminal justice & corrections degrees were awarded at George Mason University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from George Mason University generally make around $49,815. Students borrow a median of $20,761 to complete this degree. See the full criminal justice & corrections program report for George Mason University

3

Virginia Commonwealth University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in criminal justice & corrections, landing the #3 spot this year. Virginia Commonwealth University is a very large public school located in the city of Richmond. The six-year graduation rate is 63%. About 151 criminal justice & corrections degrees were awarded at Virginia Commonwealth University in the most recent year. Students who receive their criminal justice & corrections degree from Virginia Commonwealth University earn around $38,495 in the first couple years of their career. Virginia Commonwealth University graduates carry a median of $23,250 in student loans. Read more about the criminal justice & corrections program at Virginia Commonwealth University

4
Shenandoah University crest
Shenandoah University
Winchester, VA

A rank of #4 makes Shenandoah University one of the top schools for criminal justice & corrections. Located in the city of Winchester, Shenandoah University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Shenandoah University graduates 66% of students within six years. There were roughly 20 criminal justice & corrections students who graduated with this degree at Shenandoah University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice & corrections program make about $46,816 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $25,810 to complete this degree. Get the full criminal justice & corrections details for Shenandoah University

5
Marymount University crest
Marymount University
Arlington, VA

Marymount University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in criminal justice & corrections, ranking #5. Set in the city of Arlington, Marymount University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Marymount University graduates 54% of students within six years. There were roughly 19 criminal justice & corrections students who graduated with this degree at Marymount University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice & corrections program make about $35,642 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete this degree. See the full criminal justice & corrections program report for Marymount University

6
Roanoke College crest
Roanoke College
Salem, VA

Roanoke College landed the #6 spot for criminal justice & corrections this year. Located in the suburb of Salem, Roanoke College is a small private not-for-profit university. Roanoke College graduates 67% of students within six years. There were roughly 22 criminal justice & corrections students who graduated with this degree at Roanoke College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Roanoke College generally make around $33,725. Roanoke College graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. See the full criminal justice & corrections program report for Roanoke College

7
Radford University crest
Radford University
Radford, VA

Radford University earned the #7 position for criminal justice & corrections this year. Radford University is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Radford. Roughly 49% of students complete a degree within six years here. Radford University awarded about 81 criminal justice & corrections degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Radford University generally make around $35,935. Radford University graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Read more about the criminal justice & corrections program at Radford University

8
Longwood University crest
Longwood University
Farmville, VA

Longwood University ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best criminal justice & corrections schools. Set in the town of Farmville, Longwood University is a moderately-sized public institution. Roughly 61% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 38 criminal justice & corrections degrees were awarded at Longwood University in the most recent year. Students who receive their criminal justice & corrections degree from Longwood University earn around $36,254 in the first couple years of their career. Longwood University graduates carry a median of $23,375 in student loans. Read more about the criminal justice & corrections program at Longwood University

9
Liberty University crest
Liberty University
Lynchburg, VA

Liberty University ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best criminal justice & corrections schools. Located in the city of Lynchburg, Liberty University is a very large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 67%. There were roughly 1,252 criminal justice & corrections students who graduated with this degree at Liberty University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice & corrections degree from Liberty University earn around $49,329 in the first couple years of their career. Liberty University graduates carry a median of $29,323 in student loans. Read more about the criminal justice & corrections program at Liberty University

10

Northern Virginia Community College landed the #10 spot for criminal justice & corrections this year. Northern Virginia Community College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Annandale. About 191 criminal justice & corrections degrees were awarded at Northern Virginia Community College in the most recent year. Graduates of the criminal justice & corrections program make about $40,126 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,999. More information about a degree in criminal justice & corrections from Northern Virginia Community College

11
Bluefield College crest
Bluefield College
Bluefield, VA

Bluefield College earned the #11 position for criminal justice & corrections this year. Located in the town of Bluefield, Bluefield College is a small private not-for-profit university. Roughly 18% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 20 criminal justice & corrections degrees were awarded at Bluefield College in the most recent year. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Bluefield College earn a median of $41,005 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $24,250. See the full criminal justice & corrections program report for Bluefield College

12
Regent University crest
Regent University
Virginia Beach, VA

Regent University earned the #12 position for criminal justice & corrections this year. Located in the city of Virginia Beach, Regent University is a large private not-for-profit university. Regent University graduates 58% of students within six years. About 15 criminal justice & corrections degrees were awarded at Regent University in the most recent year. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Regent University earn a median of $46,005 early in their careers. Regent University graduates carry a median of $21,237 in student loans. Read more about the criminal justice & corrections program at Regent University

13

Blue Ridge Community College Weyers Cave placed #13 among the best criminal justice & corrections schools. Set in the rural area of Weyers Cave, Blue Ridge Community College Weyers Cave is a moderately-sized public institution. Blue Ridge Community College Weyers Cave awarded about 19 criminal justice & corrections degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice & corrections degree from Blue Ridge Community College Weyers Cave earn around $40,020 in the first couple years of their career. Blue Ridge Community College Weyers Cave graduates carry a median of $11,768 in student loans. Get the full criminal justice & corrections details for Blue Ridge Community College Weyers Cave

14
Virginia Wesleyan College crest
Virginia Wesleyan College
Virginia Beach, VA

Virginia Wesleyan College placed #14 among the best criminal justice & corrections schools. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Virginia Beach. Roughly 42% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 21 criminal justice & corrections students who graduated with this degree at Virginia Wesleyan College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Virginia Wesleyan College generally make around $39,404. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000. See the full criminal justice & corrections program report for Virginia Wesleyan College

15

J Sargeant Reynolds Community College landed the #15 spot for criminal justice & corrections this year. J Sargeant Reynolds Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Richmond. J Sargeant Reynolds Community College awarded about 32 criminal justice & corrections degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from J Sargeant Reynolds Community College generally make around $36,965. J Sargeant Reynolds Community College graduates carry a median of $16,131 in student loans. Read more about the criminal justice & corrections program at J Sargeant Reynolds Community College

16
Averett University crest
Averett University
Danville, VA

Averett University landed the #16 spot for criminal justice & corrections this year. Located in the town of Danville, Averett University is a small private not-for-profit university. About 48% of students finish within six years. About 25 criminal justice & corrections degrees were awarded at Averett University in the most recent year. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Averett University earn a median of $43,494 early in their careers. Averett University graduates carry a median of $29,703 in student loans. See the full criminal justice & corrections program report for Averett University

17
Ecpi University crest
Ecpi University
Virginia Beach, VA

Ecpi University came in at #17 for criminal justice & corrections this year. Located in the city of Virginia Beach, Ecpi University is a large private for-profit university. Roughly 28% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 54 criminal justice & corrections degrees were awarded at Ecpi University in the most recent year. Students who receive their criminal justice & corrections degree from Ecpi University earn around $36,287 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $29,903 to complete this degree. See the full criminal justice & corrections program report for Ecpi University

18
Hampton University crest
Hampton University
Hampton, VA

Hampton University placed #18 among the best criminal justice & corrections schools. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Hampton. The six-year graduation rate is 57%. About 22 criminal justice & corrections degrees were awarded at Hampton University in the most recent year. Students who receive their criminal justice & corrections degree from Hampton University earn around $31,335 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000. More information about a degree in criminal justice & corrections from Hampton University

19

John Tyler Community College placed #19 among the best criminal justice & corrections schools. This large public university is located in the suburb of Chester. There were roughly 61 criminal justice & corrections students who graduated with this degree at John Tyler Community College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice & corrections degree from John Tyler Community College earn around $33,766 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $11,262. Get the full criminal justice & corrections details for John Tyler Community College

20

Norfolk State University landed the #20 spot for criminal justice & corrections this year. Located in the city of Norfolk, Norfolk State University is a moderately-sized public university. The six-year graduation rate is 39%. About 11 criminal justice & corrections degrees were awarded at Norfolk State University in the most recent year. Students who receive their criminal justice & corrections degree from Norfolk State University earn around $54,971 in the first couple years of their career. Read more about the criminal justice & corrections program at Norfolk State University

21

Central Virginia Community College placed #21 among the best criminal justice & corrections schools. Set in the city of Lynchburg, Central Virginia Community College is a mid-sized public institution. About 68 criminal justice & corrections degrees were awarded at Central Virginia Community College in the most recent year. Students who receive their criminal justice & corrections degree from Central Virginia Community College earn around $32,309 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $10,384. More information about a degree in criminal justice & corrections from Central Virginia Community College

22

Tidewater Community College landed the #22 spot for criminal justice & corrections this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Norfolk. Tidewater Community College awarded about 83 criminal justice & corrections degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice & corrections degree from Tidewater Community College earn around $26,965 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $14,795. Get the full criminal justice & corrections details for Tidewater Community College

23

Lord Fairfax Community College ranked #23 on our 2027 list of the best criminal justice & corrections schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the rural area of Middletown. There were roughly 10 criminal justice & corrections students who graduated with this degree at Lord Fairfax Community College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Lord Fairfax Community College generally make around $37,531. Students borrow a median of $10,698 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in criminal justice & corrections from Lord Fairfax Community College

24

Wytheville Community College earned the #24 position for criminal justice & corrections this year. Located in the town of Wytheville, Wytheville Community College is a mid-sized public university. About 53 criminal justice & corrections degrees were awarded at Wytheville Community College in the most recent year. Students who receive their criminal justice & corrections degree from Wytheville Community College earn around $38,907 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $9,542. See the full criminal justice & corrections program report for Wytheville Community College

25

Virginia State University landed the #25 spot for criminal justice & corrections this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the suburb of Petersburg. About 39% of students finish within six years. Virginia State University awarded about 80 criminal justice & corrections degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice & corrections program make about $34,604 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $30,000. Get the full criminal justice & corrections details for Virginia State University

Rest of the Top 33 Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools

These schools also placed among the best for criminal justice & corrections this year:

26
Germanna Community College crest
Germanna Community College
Locust Grove, VA
27
28
29
30
31
32
33

View All Criminal Justice & Corrections Rankings >

Notes and References

This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 33 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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