2026 Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools in Virginia
Criminal Justice & Corrections programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 48 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
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. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. About 728 criminal justice & corrections degrees were awarded at University Of Virginia Main Campus in the most recent year. Students who receive their criminal justice & corrections degree from University Of Virginia Main Campus earn around $69,126 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $18,627 to complete this degree.
See the full criminal justice & corrections program report for University Of Virginia Main Campus
Students looking for a strong criminal justice & corrections program will find one at George Mason University, which ranked #2. Located in the suburb of Fairfax, George Mason University is a very large public university. About 68% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 365 criminal justice & corrections students who graduated with this degree at George Mason University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from George Mason University generally make around $49,815. Typical student debt for the program is $20,761.
See the full criminal justice & corrections program report for George Mason University
Students looking for a strong criminal justice & corrections program will find one at Virginia Commonwealth University, which ranked #3. Set in the city of Richmond, Virginia Commonwealth University is a very large public institution. About 63% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 152 criminal justice & corrections students who graduated with this degree at Virginia Commonwealth University in the most recent data 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.
More information about a degree in criminal justice & corrections from Virginia Commonwealth University
Marymount University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in criminal justice & corrections, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the city of Arlington, Marymount University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 54% of students finish within six years. About 24 criminal justice & corrections degrees were awarded at Marymount University in the most recent year. Graduates of the criminal justice & corrections program make about $35,642 in their early career. Marymount University graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans.
See the full criminal justice & corrections program report for Marymount University
A rank of #5 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. The six-year graduation rate is 66%. There were roughly 19 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. Typical student debt for the program is $25,810.
More information about a degree in criminal justice & corrections from Shenandoah University
Radford University came in at #6 for criminal justice & corrections this year. Radford University is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Radford. About 49% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 82 criminal justice & corrections students who graduated with this degree at Radford University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice & corrections program make about $35,935 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete this degree.
Get the full criminal justice & corrections details for Radford University
Roanoke College placed #7 among the best criminal justice & corrections schools. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Salem. About 67% of students finish within six years. About 17 criminal justice & corrections degrees were awarded at Roanoke College in the most recent year. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Roanoke College earn a median of $33,725 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
Get the full criminal justice & corrections details for Roanoke College
Longwood University placed #8 among the best criminal justice & corrections schools. Located in the town of Farmville, Longwood University is a moderately-sized public university. Roughly 61% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 31 criminal justice & corrections students who graduated with this degree at Longwood University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Longwood University generally make around $36,254. Longwood University graduates carry a median of $23,375 in student loans.
Read more about the criminal justice & corrections program at Longwood University
Liberty University earned the #9 position for criminal justice & corrections this year. Located in the city of Lynchburg, Liberty University is a very large private not-for-profit university. About 67% of students finish within six years. About 1,196 criminal justice & corrections degrees were awarded at Liberty University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Liberty University generally make around $49,329. Students borrow a median of $29,323 to complete this degree.
See the full criminal justice & corrections program report for Liberty University
Regent University landed the #10 spot 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. There were roughly 14 criminal justice & corrections students who graduated with this degree at Regent University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice & corrections program make about $46,005 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,237.
See the full criminal justice & corrections program report for Regent University
Northern Virginia Community College landed the #11 spot for criminal justice & corrections this year. Northern Virginia Community College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Annandale. There were roughly 190 criminal justice & corrections students who graduated with this degree at Northern Virginia Community College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice & corrections degree from Northern Virginia Community College earn around $40,126 in the first couple years of their career. Northern Virginia Community College graduates carry a median of $25,999 in student loans.
Read more about the criminal justice & corrections program at Northern Virginia Community College
Bluefield College came in at #12 for criminal justice & corrections this year. Bluefield College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of Bluefield. Roughly 18% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 25 criminal justice & corrections degrees were awarded at Bluefield College in the most recent year. Students who receive their criminal justice & corrections degree from Bluefield College earn around $41,005 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $24,250 to complete this degree.
See the full criminal justice & corrections program report for Bluefield College
Virginia Wesleyan College earned the #13 position for criminal justice & corrections this year. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Virginia Beach. The six-year graduation rate is 42%. About 14 criminal justice & corrections degrees were awarded at Virginia Wesleyan College in the most recent year. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Virginia Wesleyan College earn a median of $39,404 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
See the full criminal justice & corrections program report for Virginia Wesleyan College
Blue Ridge Community College Weyers Cave came in at #14 for criminal justice & corrections this year. Blue Ridge Community College Weyers Cave is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Weyers Cave. Blue Ridge Community College Weyers Cave awarded about 26 criminal justice & corrections degrees in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Blue Ridge Community College Weyers Cave earn a median of $40,020 early in their careers. Blue Ridge Community College Weyers Cave graduates carry a median of $11,768 in student loans.
More information about a degree in criminal justice & corrections from Blue Ridge Community College Weyers Cave
Hampton University ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best criminal justice & corrections schools. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Hampton. Hampton University graduates 57% of students within six years. There were roughly 23 criminal justice & corrections students who graduated with this degree at Hampton University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Hampton University generally make around $31,335. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
More information about a degree in criminal justice & corrections from Hampton University
Averett University ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best criminal justice & corrections schools. Located in the town of Danville, Averett University is a small private not-for-profit university. Roughly 48% of students complete a degree within six years here. Averett University awarded about 25 criminal justice & corrections degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Averett University generally make around $43,494. Students borrow a median of $29,703 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in criminal justice & corrections from Averett University
John Tyler Community College placed #17 among the best criminal justice & corrections schools. John Tyler Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Chester. There were roughly 57 criminal justice & corrections students who graduated with this degree at John Tyler Community College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice & corrections program make about $33,766 in their early career. John Tyler Community College graduates carry a median of $11,262 in student loans.
Read more about the criminal justice & corrections program at John Tyler Community College
Ecpi University came in at #18 for criminal justice & corrections this year. This large private for-profit university is located in the city of Virginia Beach. About 28% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 55 criminal justice & corrections students who graduated with this degree at Ecpi University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Ecpi University generally make around $36,287. Typical student debt for the program is $29,903.
See the full criminal justice & corrections program report for Ecpi University
J Sargeant Reynolds Community College came in at #19 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 25 criminal justice & corrections degrees in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of J Sargeant Reynolds Community College earn a median of $36,965 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $16,131.
Get the full criminal justice & corrections details for J Sargeant Reynolds Community College
Germanna Community College came in at #20 for criminal justice & corrections this year. Located in the rural area of Locust Grove, Germanna Community College is a large public university. There were roughly 26 criminal justice & corrections students who graduated with this degree at Germanna Community College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Germanna Community College generally make around $41,880. Students borrow a median of $10,999 to complete this degree.
See the full criminal justice & corrections program report for Germanna Community College
Lord Fairfax Community College earned the #21 position for criminal justice & corrections this year. Located in the rural area of Middletown, Lord Fairfax Community College is a moderately-sized public university. About 18 criminal justice & corrections degrees were awarded at Lord Fairfax Community College in the most recent year. Graduates of the criminal justice & corrections program make about $37,531 in their early career. Lord Fairfax Community College graduates carry a median of $10,698 in student loans.
Read more about the criminal justice & corrections program at Lord Fairfax Community College
Wytheville Community College ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best criminal justice & corrections schools. Located in the town of Wytheville, Wytheville Community College is a mid-sized public university. There were roughly 78 criminal justice & corrections students who graduated with this degree at Wytheville Community College in the most recent data 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. Students borrow a median of $9,542 to complete this degree.
Get the full criminal justice & corrections details for Wytheville Community College
Central Virginia Community College came in at #23 for criminal justice & corrections this year. This mid-sized public university is located in the city of Lynchburg. About 64 criminal justice & corrections degrees were awarded at Central Virginia Community College in the most recent year. Graduates of the criminal justice & corrections program make about $32,309 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $10,384 to complete this degree.
Get the full criminal justice & corrections details for Central Virginia Community College
Tidewater Community College ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best criminal justice & corrections schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Norfolk. Tidewater Community College awarded about 110 criminal justice & corrections degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice & corrections program make about $26,965 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $14,795 to complete this degree.
See the full criminal justice & corrections program report for Tidewater Community College
Virginia State University placed #25 among the best criminal justice & corrections schools. Set in the suburb of Petersburg, Virginia State University is a moderately-sized public institution. Virginia State University graduates 39% of students within six years. About 59 criminal justice & corrections degrees were awarded at Virginia State University in the most recent year. Graduates of the criminal justice & corrections program make about $34,604 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $30,000 to complete this degree.
See the full criminal justice & corrections program report for Virginia State University
Rest of the Top 35 Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools
Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong criminal justice & corrections education:
More Criminal Justice & Corrections Rankings
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Notes and References
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 · 48 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.