Criminal Justice & Police Science 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.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 706 schools to find the best for criminal justice & police science students.
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Choosing a Great Criminal Justice & Police Science School
Where you study criminal justice & police science matters for your future. That is why we developed our collection of Best Schools for Criminal Justice & Police Science rankings. For our Best Overall Criminal Justice & Police Science School ranking, we roll up the results of our degree-level rankings, weighted by the number of degrees awarded at that level.
In order to find the schools that are the best fit for you, you may want to filter to one of the degree levels below.
Criminal Justice & Police Science Rankings by Degree Level
We offer several rankings, including this Best Criminal Justice & Police Science Schools list, to help you decide. Want schools in a particular part of the country? Narrow the list by region or state.
Want to compare schools head to head? Try our College Combat tool to weigh the factors that matter most to you.
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Best Schools for Criminal Justice & Police Science in the United States
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 & police science degrees they offer, see the list below.
University Of Virginia Main Campus tops our 2026 ranking of the best criminal justice & police science schools. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Charlottesville. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Virginia Main Campus awarded about 25 criminal justice & police science degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from University Of Virginia Main Campus generally make around $69,126. Typical student debt for the program is $18,627.
See the full criminal justice & police science program report for University Of Virginia Main Campus
George Mason University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in criminal justice & police science, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the suburb of Fairfax, George Mason University is a very large public university. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. George Mason University awarded about 328 criminal justice & police science degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from George Mason University generally make around $49,815. George Mason University graduates carry a median of $20,761 in student loans.
Read more about the criminal justice & police science program at George Mason University
A rank of #3 makes Florida State University one of the top schools for criminal justice & police science. Florida State University is a very large public school located in the city of Tallahassee. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. Florida State University awarded about 43 criminal justice & police science degrees in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Florida State University earn a median of $46,245 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $21,170.
See the full criminal justice & police science program report for Florida State University
Minnesota State University Mankato is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in criminal justice & police science, landing the #4 spot this year. This large public university is located in the city of Mankato. Minnesota State University Mankato graduates 54% of students within six years. Minnesota State University Mankato awarded about 30 criminal justice & police science degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice & police science program make about $49,019 in their early career. Minnesota State University Mankato graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans.
Get the full criminal justice & police science details for Minnesota State University Mankato
Students looking for a strong criminal justice & police science program will find one at Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice, which ranked #5. This large public university is located in the city of New York. The six-year graduation rate is 56%. There were roughly 62 criminal justice & police science students who graduated with this degree at Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice & police science program make about $50,103 in their early career. Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice graduates carry a median of $10,500 in student loans.
Read more about the criminal justice & police science program at Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice
Rowan University placed #6 among the best criminal justice & police science schools. Located in the suburb of Glassboro, Rowan University is a very large public university. About 67% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 230 criminal justice & police science students who graduated with this degree at Rowan University in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Rowan University earn a median of $33,254 early in their careers. Rowan University graduates carry a median of $23,250 in student loans.
Read more about the criminal justice & police science program at Rowan University
Santa Rosa Junior College landed the #7 spot for criminal justice & police science this year. Located in the city of Santa Rosa, Santa Rosa Junior College is a very large public university. About 112 criminal justice & police science degrees were awarded at Santa Rosa Junior College in the most recent year. Students who receive their criminal justice & police science degree from Santa Rosa Junior College earn around $111,649 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $14,125.
Read more about the criminal justice & police science program at Santa Rosa Junior College
Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College placed #8 among the best criminal justice & police science schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the town of Rice Lake. There were roughly 10 criminal justice & police science students who graduated with this degree at Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice & police science program make about $44,966 in their early career. Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College graduates carry a median of $10,252 in student loans.
Get the full criminal justice & police science details for Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College
Fox Valley Technical College placed #9 among the best criminal justice & police science schools. This large public university is located in the suburb of Appleton. Fox Valley Technical College awarded about 178 criminal justice & police science degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Fox Valley Technical College generally make around $52,156. Fox Valley Technical College graduates carry a median of $17,125 in student loans.
Get the full criminal justice & police science details for Fox Valley Technical College
Western Iowa Tech Community College earned the #10 position for criminal justice & police science this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Sioux City. About 15 criminal justice & police science degrees were awarded at Western Iowa Tech Community College in the most recent year. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Western Iowa Tech Community College earn a median of $43,547 early in their careers. Western Iowa Tech Community College graduates carry a median of $11,500 in student loans.
Get the full criminal justice & police science details for Western Iowa Tech Community College
Fitchburg State University ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best criminal justice & police science schools. Located in the suburb of Fitchburg, Fitchburg State University is a moderately-sized public university. The six-year graduation rate is 55%. There were roughly 84 criminal justice & police science students who graduated with this degree at Fitchburg State University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice & police science degree from Fitchburg State University earn around $43,418 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in criminal justice & police science from Fitchburg State University
Ferris State University came in at #12 for criminal justice & police science this year. This large public university is located in the town of Big Rapids. The six-year graduation rate is 56%. About 207 criminal justice & police science degrees were awarded at Ferris State University in the most recent year. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Ferris State University earn a median of $48,266 early in their careers. Ferris State University graduates carry a median of $21,880 in student loans.
Read more about the criminal justice & police science program at Ferris State University
Southeast Technical Institute placed #13 among the best criminal justice & police science schools. Set in the city of Sioux Falls, Southeast Technical Institute is a mid-sized public institution. About 15 criminal justice & police science degrees were awarded at Southeast Technical Institute in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Southeast Technical Institute generally make around $49,560. Students borrow a median of $12,000 to complete this degree.
See the full criminal justice & police science program report for Southeast Technical Institute
University Of Washington Tacoma Campus ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best criminal justice & police science schools. University Of Washington Tacoma Campus is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Tacoma. About 63% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 61 criminal justice & police science students who graduated with this degree at University Of Washington Tacoma Campus in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice & police science degree from University Of Washington Tacoma Campus earn around $40,669 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,269.
More information about a degree in criminal justice & police science from University Of Washington Tacoma Campus
Madison Area Technical College placed #15 among the best criminal justice & police science schools. Madison Area Technical College is a large public school located in the city of Madison. Madison Area Technical College awarded about 81 criminal justice & police science degrees in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Madison Area Technical College earn a median of $39,174 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $13,750.
Get the full criminal justice & police science details for Madison Area Technical College
Bunker Hill Community College earned the #16 position for criminal justice & police science this year. Set in the city of Boston, Bunker Hill Community College is a large public institution. Bunker Hill Community College awarded about 49 criminal justice & police science degrees in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Bunker Hill Community College earn a median of $47,573 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $5,500 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in criminal justice & police science from Bunker Hill Community College
Cedarville University came in at #17 for criminal justice & police science this year. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the rural area of Cedarville. About 72% of students finish within six years. Cedarville University awarded about 14 criminal justice & police science degrees in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Cedarville University earn a median of $57,104 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $22,110 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in criminal justice & police science from Cedarville University
Eastern Illinois University landed the #18 spot for criminal justice & police science this year. Located in the town of Charleston, Eastern Illinois University is a large public university. Eastern Illinois University graduates 47% of students within six years. About 33 criminal justice & police science degrees were awarded at Eastern Illinois University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Eastern Illinois University generally make around $40,489. Students borrow a median of $24,293 to complete this degree.
See the full criminal justice & police science program report for Eastern Illinois University
Hawkeye Community College ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best criminal justice & police science schools. Hawkeye Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Waterloo. About 23 criminal justice & police science degrees were awarded at Hawkeye Community College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Hawkeye Community College generally make around $49,572. Students borrow a median of $11,000 to complete this degree.
Read more about the criminal justice & police science program at Hawkeye Community College
Normandale Community College ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best criminal justice & police science schools. Set in the city of Bloomington, Normandale Community College is a large public institution. Normandale Community College awarded about 18 criminal justice & police science degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice & police science degree from Normandale Community College earn around $53,871 in the first couple years of their career. Normandale Community College graduates carry a median of $12,891 in student loans.
See the full criminal justice & police science program report for Normandale Community College
Harper College landed the #21 spot for criminal justice & police science this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Palatine. There were roughly 17 criminal justice & police science students who graduated with this degree at Harper College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Harper College generally make around $38,474. Harper College graduates carry a median of $10,963 in student loans.
Get the full criminal justice & police science details for Harper College
Montgomery County Community College came in at #22 for criminal justice & police science this year. Set in the suburb of Blue Bell, Montgomery County Community College is a large public institution. Montgomery County Community College awarded about 32 criminal justice & police science degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice & police science degree from Montgomery County Community College earn around $58,964 in the first couple years of their career. Montgomery County Community College graduates carry a median of $16,112 in student loans.
Get the full criminal justice & police science details for Montgomery County Community College
Schoolcraft College came in at #23 for criminal justice & police science this year. Schoolcraft College is a large public school located in the city of Livonia. About 37 criminal justice & police science degrees were awarded at Schoolcraft College in the most recent year. Graduates of the criminal justice & police science program make about $49,224 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $11,868 to complete this degree.
Read more about the criminal justice & police science program at Schoolcraft College
Suffolk University landed the #24 spot for criminal justice & police science this year. Suffolk University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Boston. About 61% of students finish within six years. About 16 criminal justice & police science degrees were awarded at Suffolk University in the most recent year. Students who receive their criminal justice & police science degree from Suffolk University earn around $50,806 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,670.
See the full criminal justice & police science program report for Suffolk University
Middlesex County College earned the #25 position for criminal justice & police science this year. This large public university is located in the suburb of Edison. There were roughly 41 criminal justice & police science students who graduated with this degree at Middlesex County College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Middlesex County College generally make around $32,712. Typical student debt for the program is $8,119.
See the full criminal justice & police science program report for Middlesex County College
Rest of the Top 50 Criminal Justice & Police Science Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s criminal justice & police science ranking:
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Criminal Justice & Police Science Related Rankings by Major
Criminal Justice & Police Science is one of many programs to choose from within the area of study. See all related rankings.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 706 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).
