by our College Data Analytics TeamA major in Corrections Administration involves the study of Corrections Administration. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Plan And Manage Institutional Facilities And Programs For Housing And Rehabilitating Prisoners In The Public And/or Private Sectors. Includes Instruction In The Principles And Practice Of Correction, Facilities Planning And Management, Safety And Security, Social And Health Services, Staff And Inmate Management, Budgeting, Communication Skills, Correctional Psychology, And Applications To Specific Types Of Correctional Facilities Approaches. Continue reading for the key facts every corrections administration student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering corrections administration programs.
Across the country, corrections administration is a popular field of study, with 97 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Corrections Administration Schools ranking analyzes these 9 schools to determine the best overall colleges for corrections administration students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of corrections administration programs later in this article.
Studies in Corrections Administration develop a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations corrections administration graduates commonly enter.
The skill set built by a corrections administration program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Based on O*NET data, a corrections administration major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several corrections administration degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 11 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 7 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 70 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 9 |
People currently working in careers related to corrections administration tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| High school diploma or equivalent | 49.8% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 20.6% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 9.7% |
| Master’s degree | 6.3% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 6.1% |
| Doctoral degree | 4.1% |
| Some college courses | 1.9% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 1.4% |
| First professional degree | 0.3% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in corrections administration careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Majoring in corrections administration can lead to numerous career paths. Below are some of the most common occupations related to corrections administration.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to corrections administration.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers | 263,811 | 8.8% |
| Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Teachers, Postsecondary | 52,113 | 12.0% |
College Scorecard reports median earnings of corrections administration graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. These numbers tend to grow as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $40,812 |
| 4 years | $44,073 |
| 5 years | $49,815 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for corrections administration graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers corrections administration grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Teachers, Postsecondary | $91,449 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers | $78,129 |
With 9 different corrections administration programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased corrections administration school rankings to help you.
Those considering corrections administration, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Criminal Justice/Safety Studies | 41,895 |
| Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement Administration | 26,997 |
| Criminal Justice/Police Science | 20,474 |
| Corrections | 4,967 |
| Corrections and Criminal Justice, Other | 4,327 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | 2,175 |
| Securities Services Administration/Management | 662 |
| Security and Loss Prevention Services | 494 |
| Law Enforcement Investigation and Interviewing | 300 |
| Juvenile Corrections | 68 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
