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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

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

2 Colleges in the United States
1,596 Criminal Justice & Police Science Degrees Awarded
$50,870 Avg Early-Career Salary

Criminal Justice & Police Science is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.

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 master’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 University Of Virginia Main Campus the best school in the country for a degree in criminal justice & police science. University Of Virginia Main Campus is a very large public school located in the suburb of Charlottesville. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. About 25 criminal justice & police science degrees were awarded at University Of Virginia Main Campus in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from University Of Virginia Main Campus generally make around $69,126. Students borrow a median of $18,627 to complete this degree. Read more about the criminal justice & police science program at University Of Virginia Main Campus

2
Florida State University crest
Florida State University
Tallahassee, FL

Florida State University came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best criminal justice & police science schools. Florida State University is a very large public school located in the city of Tallahassee. Florida State University graduates 86% of students within six years. About 43 criminal justice & police science degrees were awarded at Florida State University in the most recent year. Students who receive their criminal justice & police science degree from Florida State University earn around $57,568 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $21,170 to complete this degree. Get the full criminal justice & police science details for Florida State University

3

George Mason University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in criminal justice & police science, ranking #3. Set in the suburb of Fairfax, George Mason University is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 68%. About 328 criminal justice & police science degrees were awarded at George Mason University in the most recent year. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of George Mason University earn a median of $56,018 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $20,761 to complete this degree. See the full criminal justice & police science program report for George Mason University

4

Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in criminal justice & police science, ranking #4. Set in the city of New York, Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice is a large public institution. Roughly 56% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 62 criminal justice & police science degrees were awarded at Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice in the most recent year. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice earn a median of $62,921 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $10,500 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in criminal justice & police science from Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice

5

Fitchburg State University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in criminal justice & police science, ranking #5. 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 31 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. Get the full criminal justice & police science details for Fitchburg State University

6

Pennsylvania Western University came in at #6 for criminal justice & police science this year. Located in the town of California, Pennsylvania Western University is a large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 52%. About 33 criminal justice & police science degrees were awarded at Pennsylvania Western University in the most recent year. See the full criminal justice & police science program report for Pennsylvania Western University

7

Suffolk University placed #7 among the best criminal justice & police science schools. Located in the city of Boston, Suffolk University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. 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. Graduates of the criminal justice & police science program make about $50,806 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,670. Get the full criminal justice & police science details for Suffolk University

8

University Of Baltimore landed the #8 spot for criminal justice & police science this year. This mid-sized public university is located in the city of Baltimore. About 38% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 19 criminal justice & police science students who graduated with this degree at University Of Baltimore in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of University Of Baltimore earn a median of $48,991 early in their careers. University Of Baltimore graduates carry a median of $25,500 in student loans. See the full criminal justice & police science program report for University Of Baltimore

9
Ferris State University crest
Ferris State University
Big Rapids, MI

Ferris State University ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best criminal justice & police science schools. Set in the town of Big Rapids, Ferris State University is a large public institution. Ferris State University graduates 56% of students within six years. Ferris State University awarded about 207 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 $51,699. Typical student debt for the program is $21,880. More information about a degree in criminal justice & police science from Ferris State University

10

Texas A And M International University ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best criminal justice & police science schools. This large public university is located in the city of Laredo. Roughly 46% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 166 criminal justice & police science students who graduated with this degree at Texas A And M International University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice & police science program make about $46,596 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,500. Read more about the criminal justice & police science program at Texas A And M International University

11

Monroe College Main Campus ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best criminal justice & police science schools. This large private for-profit university is located in the city of Bronx. Roughly 60% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 107 criminal justice & police science degrees were awarded at Monroe College Main Campus in the most recent year. Graduates of the criminal justice & police science program make about $58,544 in their early career. Monroe College Main Campus graduates carry a median of $20,975 in student loans. See the full criminal justice & police science program report for Monroe College Main Campus

12

Columbia Southern University came in at #12 for criminal justice & police science this year. Located in the town of Orange Beach, Columbia Southern University is a very large private for-profit university. About 26% of students finish within six years. About 188 criminal justice & police science degrees were awarded at Columbia Southern University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Columbia Southern University generally make around $61,993. Typical student debt for the program is $23,641. Read more about the criminal justice & police science program at Columbia Southern University

13

Grand Canyon University ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best criminal justice & police science schools. This very large private for-profit university is located in the city of Phoenix. The six-year graduation rate is 44%. Grand Canyon University awarded about 298 criminal justice & police science degrees in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Grand Canyon University earn a median of $50,294 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $27,048 to complete this degree. See the full criminal justice & police science program report for Grand Canyon University

14

University Of Arkansas At Little Rock landed the #14 spot for criminal justice & police science this year. Located in the city of Little Rock, University Of Arkansas At Little Rock is a large public university. University Of Arkansas At Little Rock graduates 37% of students within six years. About 30 criminal justice & police science degrees were awarded at University Of Arkansas At Little Rock in the most recent year. Graduates of the criminal justice & police science program make about $40,989 in their early career. University Of Arkansas At Little Rock graduates carry a median of $30,026 in student loans. Get the full criminal justice & police science details for University Of Arkansas At Little Rock

15
Universidad Del Este crest
Universidad Del Este
Carolina, PR

Universidad Del Este landed the #15 spot for criminal justice & police science this year. Universidad Del Este is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Carolina. Roughly 32% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 11 criminal justice & police science students who graduated with this degree at Universidad Del Este in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Universidad Del Este generally make around $22,186. Students borrow a median of $12,620 to complete this degree. Read more about the criminal justice & police science program at Universidad Del Este

16

South Universitysavannah Online earned the #16 position for criminal justice & police science this year. This large private for-profit university is located in the city of Savannah. The six-year graduation rate is 6%. There were roughly 32 criminal justice & police science students who graduated with this degree at South Universitysavannah Online in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice & police science degree from South Universitysavannah Online earn around $41,898 in the first couple years of their career. South Universitysavannah Online graduates carry a median of $55,652 in student loans. Read more about the criminal justice & police science program at South Universitysavannah Online

Other Criminal Justice & Police Science Degree Levels

Explore the best criminal justice & police science schools at other degree levels:

All Degree Levels in Criminal Justice & Police Science
Associate's Degrees in Criminal Justice & Police Science
Bachelor'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

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.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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