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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2026 Best Criminal Justice & Police Science Associate’s Degree Schools

120 Colleges in the United States
7,336 Criminal Justice & Police Science Degrees Awarded
$42,211 Avg Early-Career Salary

Criminal Justice & Police Science is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.

College Factual analyzed 706 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best criminal justice & police science schools.

What’s on this page:

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Best Schools for Criminal Justice & Police Science in the United States

These are the top schools for a associate’s degree in criminal justice & police science, based on student outcomes and program quality.

Top Schools in Criminal Justice & Police Science

1

Our analysis ranked Fox Valley Technical College the best school in the country for a degree in criminal justice & police science. This large public university is located in the suburb of Appleton. There were roughly 69 criminal justice & police science students who graduated with this degree at Fox Valley Technical College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice & police science program make about $39,571 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $12,000. See the full criminal justice & police science program report for Fox Valley Technical College

2

Students looking for a strong criminal justice & police science program will find one at Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College, which ranked #2. Located in the town of Rice Lake, Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. 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. Students borrow a median of $10,252 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in criminal justice & police science from Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College

3
Ferris State University crest
Ferris State University
Big Rapids, MI

Ferris State University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in criminal justice & police science, ranking #3. Ferris State University is a large public school located in the town of Big Rapids. Ferris State University graduates 56% of students within six years. Ferris State University awarded about 67 criminal justice & police science degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Ferris State University generally make around $48,203. Typical student debt for the program is $18,500. Get the full criminal justice & police science details for Ferris State University

4

Students looking for a strong criminal justice & police science program will find one at Alexandria Technical And Community College, which ranked #4. Alexandria Technical And Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Alexandria. About 62 criminal justice & police science degrees were awarded at Alexandria Technical And Community College in the most recent year. Graduates of the criminal justice & police science program make about $46,511 in their early career. Alexandria Technical And Community College graduates carry a median of $12,000 in student loans. Read more about the criminal justice & police science program at Alexandria Technical And Community College

5

Madison Area Technical College is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in criminal justice & police science, landing the #5 spot this year. This large public university is located in the city of Madison. About 30 criminal justice & police science degrees were awarded at Madison Area Technical College in the most recent year. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Madison Area Technical College earn a median of $39,174 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $13,750 to complete this degree. Get the full criminal justice & police science details for Madison Area Technical College

6

Western Iowa Tech Community College came in at #6 for criminal justice & police science this year. Located in the city of Sioux City, Western Iowa Tech Community College is a moderately-sized public university. There were roughly 15 criminal justice & police science students who graduated with this degree at Western Iowa Tech Community College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Western Iowa Tech Community College generally make around $43,547. Students borrow a median of $11,500 to complete this degree. See the full criminal justice & police science program report for Western Iowa Tech Community College

7

Southeast Technical Institute placed #7 among the best criminal justice & police science schools. Southeast Technical Institute is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Sioux Falls. About 15 criminal justice & police science degrees were awarded at Southeast Technical Institute in the most recent year. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Southeast Technical Institute earn a median of $49,560 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $12,000 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in criminal justice & police science from Southeast Technical Institute

8

Chippewa Valley Technical College landed the #8 spot for criminal justice & police science this year. Set in the city of Eau Claire, Chippewa Valley Technical College is a large public institution. There were roughly 19 criminal justice & police science students who graduated with this degree at Chippewa Valley Technical College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice & police science program make about $37,671 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $11,739 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in criminal justice & police science from Chippewa Valley Technical College

9

Bunker Hill Community College placed #9 among the best criminal justice & police science schools. Located in the city of Boston, Bunker Hill Community College is a large public university. Bunker Hill Community College awarded about 49 criminal justice & police science degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice & police science program make about $47,573 in their early career. Bunker Hill Community College graduates carry a median of $5,500 in student loans. More information about a degree in criminal justice & police science from Bunker Hill Community College

10

Hawkeye Community College landed the #10 spot for criminal justice & police science this year. 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. Typical student debt for the program is $11,000. Get the full criminal justice & police science details for Hawkeye Community College

11

Lansing Community College landed the #11 spot for criminal justice & police science this year. This large public university is located in the city of Lansing. Lansing Community College awarded about 24 criminal justice & police science degrees in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Lansing Community College earn a median of $46,103 early in their careers. Lansing Community College graduates carry a median of $16,700 in student loans. Get the full criminal justice & police science details for Lansing Community College

12

Hibbing Community College A Technical And Community College ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best criminal justice & police science schools. Hibbing Community College A Technical And Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Hibbing. Hibbing Community College A Technical And Community College awarded about 18 criminal justice & police science degrees in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Hibbing Community College A Technical And Community College earn a median of $54,328 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $25,125 to complete this degree. See the full criminal justice & police science program report for Hibbing Community College A Technical And Community College

13

Normandale Community College landed the #13 spot for criminal justice & police science this year. Located in the city of Bloomington, Normandale Community College is a large public university. Normandale Community College awarded about 13 criminal justice & police science degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice & police science program make about $53,871 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $12,891. Get the full criminal justice & police science details for Normandale Community College

14
Harper College crest
Harper College
Palatine, IL

Harper College came in at #14 for criminal justice & police science this year. Set in the suburb of Palatine, Harper College is a very large public institution. About 17 criminal justice & police science degrees were awarded at Harper College in the most recent year. Students who receive their criminal justice & police science degree from Harper College earn around $38,474 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $10,963. Read more about the criminal justice & police science program at Harper College

15

Montgomery County Community College earned the #15 position for criminal justice & police science this year. Montgomery County Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Blue Bell. About 32 criminal justice & police science degrees were awarded at Montgomery County Community College in the most recent year. Graduates of the criminal justice & police science program make about $47,990 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $13,335. See the full criminal justice & police science program report for Montgomery County Community College

16

Gateway Technical College ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best criminal justice & police science schools. Located in the city of Kenosha, Gateway Technical College is a large public university. There were roughly 68 criminal justice & police science students who graduated with this degree at Gateway Technical College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice & police science degree from Gateway Technical College earn around $38,881 in the first couple years of their career. Gateway Technical College graduates carry a median of $13,417 in student loans. Read more about the criminal justice & police science program at Gateway Technical College

17

Schoolcraft College placed #17 among the best criminal justice & police science schools. This large public university is located in the city of Livonia. About 37 criminal justice & police science degrees were awarded at Schoolcraft College in the most recent year. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Schoolcraft College earn a median of $49,224 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $11,868. Get the full criminal justice & police science details for Schoolcraft College

18
Chabot College crest
Chabot College
Hayward, CA

Chabot College came in at #18 for criminal justice & police science this year. Chabot College is a large public school located in the suburb of Hayward. There were roughly 26 criminal justice & police science students who graduated with this degree at Chabot College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice & police science program make about $85,175 in their early career. Chabot College graduates carry a median of $14,122 in student loans. Read more about the criminal justice & police science program at Chabot College

19

Middlesex County College landed the #19 spot for criminal justice & police science this year. This large public university is located in the suburb of Edison. About 41 criminal justice & police science degrees were awarded at Middlesex County College in the most recent year. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Middlesex County College earn a median of $32,712 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $8,119 to complete this degree. Get the full criminal justice & police science details for Middlesex County College

20

Des Moines Area Community College ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best criminal justice & police science schools. Set in the suburb of Ankeny, Des Moines Area Community College is a very large public institution. About 45 criminal justice & police science degrees were awarded at Des Moines Area Community College in the most recent year. Students who receive their criminal justice & police science degree from Des Moines Area Community College earn around $42,555 in the first couple years of their career. Des Moines Area Community College graduates carry a median of $12,000 in student loans. Get the full criminal justice & police science details for Des Moines Area Community College

21

The Community College Of Baltimore County came in at #21 for criminal justice & police science this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Baltimore. About 28 criminal justice & police science degrees were awarded at The Community College Of Baltimore County in the most recent year. Graduates of the criminal justice & police science program make about $70,610 in their early career. The Community College Of Baltimore County graduates carry a median of $11,125 in student loans. Read more about the criminal justice & police science program at The Community College Of Baltimore County

22

Cuny Borough Of Manhattan Community College earned the #22 position for criminal justice & police science this year. Set in the city of New York, Cuny Borough Of Manhattan Community College is a very large public institution. There were roughly 247 criminal justice & police science students who graduated with this degree at Cuny Borough Of Manhattan Community College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Cuny Borough Of Manhattan Community College generally make around $25,302. Typical student debt for the program is $6,500. Read more about the criminal justice & police science program at Cuny Borough Of Manhattan Community College

23

Lake Area Technical Institute came in at #23 for criminal justice & police science this year. Lake Area Technical Institute is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Watertown. Lake Area Technical Institute awarded about 18 criminal justice & police science degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice & police science degree from Lake Area Technical Institute earn around $41,230 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $12,000. See the full criminal justice & police science program report for Lake Area Technical Institute

24
Broward College crest
Broward College
Fort Lauderdale, FL

Broward College ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best criminal justice & police science schools. Located in the city of Fort Lauderdale, Broward College is a very large public university. About 236 criminal justice & police science degrees were awarded at Broward College in the most recent year. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Broward College earn a median of $34,607 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $10,724. Read more about the criminal justice & police science program at Broward College

25

Modesto Junior College placed #25 among the best criminal justice & police science schools. Set in the city of Modesto, Modesto Junior College is a very large public institution. There were roughly 22 criminal justice & police science students who graduated with this degree at Modesto Junior College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice & police science program make about $28,102 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $8,575. More information about a degree in criminal justice & police science from Modesto Junior College

Rest of the Top 50 Criminal Justice & Police Science Schools

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

26
27
Rio Hondo College crest
Rio Hondo College
Whittier, CA
28
29
30
Butte College crest
Butte College
Oroville, CA
31
32
33
Del Mar College crest
Del Mar College
Corpus Christi, TX
34
35
36
Oakland Community College crest
Oakland Community College
Auburn Hills, MI
37
38
Santa Ana College crest
Santa Ana College
Santa Ana, CA
39
40
41
Mid State Technical College crest
Mid State Technical College
Wisconsin Rapids, WI
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
Jefferson College crest
Jefferson College
Hillsboro, MO

Additional Criminal Justice & Police Science Award Winners

The following schools placed in the top tier for criminal justice & police science:

Rank School Location
#53 Fond Du Lac Tribal And Community College Cloquet, MN
#69 Century College White Bear Lake, MN
#91 Monroe College Main Campus Bronx, NY
#99 Grand Rapids Community College Grand Rapids, MI
#100 Rio Salado College Tempe, AZ
#134 South Texas College McAllen, TX

Honorable Mentions

A few more criminal justice & police science schools worth a look:

Other Criminal Justice & Police Science Degree Levels

Looking for a different degree level? Compare Criminal Justice & Police Science rankings across degree levels:

All Degree Levels in Criminal Justice & Police Science
Bachelor's Degrees in Criminal Justice & Police Science
Master's Degrees in Criminal Justice & Police Science
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View All Criminal Justice & Police Science 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 · 706 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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