2026 Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools in West Virginia
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.
College Factual analyzed 24 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best criminal justice & corrections schools.
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Best Schools for Criminal Justice & Corrections in West Virginia
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall criminal justice & corrections education in West Virginia.
Top Schools in Criminal Justice & Corrections
American Public University System is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in criminal justice & corrections. American Public University System is a very large private for-profit school located in the town of Charles Town. American Public University System graduates 47% of students within six years. American Public University System awarded about 864 criminal justice & corrections degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from American Public University System generally make around $62,012. Students borrow a median of $21,243 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in criminal justice & corrections from American Public University System
Shepherd University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in criminal justice & corrections, landing the #2 spot this year. This mid-sized public university is located in the rural area of Shepherdstown. The six-year graduation rate is 51%. There were roughly 21 criminal justice & corrections students who graduated with this degree at Shepherd University in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Shepherd University earn a median of $40,748 early in their careers. Shepherd University graduates carry a median of $23,326 in student loans.
Read more about the criminal justice & corrections program at Shepherd University
Fairmont State University came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best criminal justice & corrections schools. Fairmont State University is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Fairmont. About 44% of students finish within six years. Fairmont State University awarded about 85 criminal justice & corrections degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Fairmont State University generally make around $36,490. Fairmont State University graduates carry a median of $25,557 in student loans.
See the full criminal justice & corrections program report for Fairmont State University
Students looking for a strong criminal justice & corrections program will find one at West Liberty University, which ranked #4. West Liberty University is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of West Liberty. Roughly 56% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 10 criminal justice & corrections degrees were awarded at West Liberty University in the most recent year. Graduates of the criminal justice & corrections program make about $48,761 in their early career. West Liberty University graduates carry a median of $26,250 in student loans.
Get the full criminal justice & corrections details for West Liberty University
Marshall University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in criminal justice & corrections, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the city of Huntington, Marshall University is a large public institution. About 51% of students finish within six years. About 39 criminal justice & corrections degrees were awarded at Marshall University in the most recent year. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Marshall University earn a median of $32,747 early in their careers. Marshall University graduates carry a median of $25,873 in student loans.
More information about a degree in criminal justice & corrections from Marshall University
West Virginia University Institute Of Technology placed #6 among the best criminal justice & corrections schools. Located in the city of Beckley, West Virginia University Institute Of Technology is a small public university. West Virginia University Institute Of Technology graduates 33% of students within six years. About 17 criminal justice & corrections degrees were awarded at West Virginia University Institute Of Technology in the most recent year. Graduates of the criminal justice & corrections program make about $50,754 in their early career. West Virginia University Institute Of Technology graduates carry a median of $24,864 in student loans.
More information about a degree in criminal justice & corrections from West Virginia University Institute Of Technology
Blue Ridge Community And Technical College landed the #7 spot for criminal justice & corrections this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the rural area of Martinsburg. Blue Ridge Community And Technical College awarded about 31 criminal justice & corrections degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Blue Ridge Community And Technical College generally make around $41,032. Blue Ridge Community And Technical College graduates carry a median of $12,000 in student loans.
Read more about the criminal justice & corrections program at Blue Ridge Community And Technical College
West Virginia Wesleyan College earned the #8 position for criminal justice & corrections this year. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the town of Buckhannon. Roughly 57% of students complete a degree within six years here. West Virginia Wesleyan College awarded about 15 criminal justice & corrections degrees in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of West Virginia Wesleyan College earn a median of $31,400 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
More information about a degree in criminal justice & corrections from West Virginia Wesleyan College
Potomac State College Of West Virginia University placed #9 among the best criminal justice & corrections schools. Potomac State College Of West Virginia University is a small public school located in the town of Keyser. About 10 criminal justice & corrections degrees were awarded at Potomac State College Of West Virginia University in the most recent year. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Potomac State College Of West Virginia University earn a median of $42,670 early in their careers. Potomac State College Of West Virginia University graduates carry a median of $19,858 in student loans.
See the full criminal justice & corrections program report for Potomac State College Of West Virginia University
West Virginia State University landed the #10 spot for criminal justice & corrections this year. West Virginia State University is a mid-sized public school located in the suburb of Institute. Roughly 39% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 39 criminal justice & corrections degrees were awarded at West Virginia State University in the most recent year. Students who receive their criminal justice & corrections degree from West Virginia State University earn around $39,056 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $25,860 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in criminal justice & corrections from West Virginia State University
West Virginia University At Parkersburg ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best criminal justice & corrections schools. West Virginia University At Parkersburg is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Parkersburg. About 32 criminal justice & corrections degrees were awarded at West Virginia University At Parkersburg in the most recent year. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of West Virginia University At Parkersburg earn a median of $45,400 early in their careers. West Virginia University At Parkersburg graduates carry a median of $15,595 in student loans.
Read more about the criminal justice & corrections program at West Virginia University At Parkersburg
Salem International University came in at #12 for criminal justice & corrections this year. Salem International University is a small private for-profit school located in the rural area of Salem. Roughly 17% of students complete a degree within six years here. Salem International University awarded about 41 criminal justice & corrections degrees in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Salem International University earn a median of $25,665 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $30,949 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in criminal justice & corrections from Salem International University
Bluefield State College earned the #13 position for criminal justice & corrections this year. Bluefield State College is a small public school located in the town of Bluefield. About 30% of students finish within six years. Bluefield State College awarded about 10 criminal justice & corrections degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice & corrections program make about $30,506 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $30,250 to complete this degree.
See the full criminal justice & corrections program report for Bluefield State College
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 · 24 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.
