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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2026 Best Criminal Justice & Police Science Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region

2 Colleges in the United States
673 Criminal Justice & Police Science Degrees Awarded
$52,980 Avg Early-Career Salary

Criminal Justice & Police Science programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.

For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 21 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for criminal justice & police science students pursuing a degree.

What’s on this page:

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Best Schools for Criminal Justice & Police Science in the Rocky Mountains Region

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.

Top Schools in Criminal Justice & Police Science

1

Idaho State University tops our 2026 ranking of the best criminal justice & police science schools. Set in the city of Pocatello, Idaho State University is a large public institution. Roughly 35% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 32 criminal justice & police science degrees were awarded at Idaho State University in the most recent year. Graduates of the criminal justice & police science program make about $51,446 in their early career. Idaho State University graduates carry a median of $24,640 in student loans. More information about a degree in criminal justice & police science from Idaho State University

2
Mesa State College crest
Mesa State College
Grand Junction, CO

Mesa State College is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in criminal justice & police science, landing the #2 spot this year. This large public university is located in the city of Grand Junction. About 47% of students finish within six years. Mesa State College awarded about 42 criminal justice & police science degrees in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Mesa State College earn a median of $51,921 early in their careers. Mesa State College graduates carry a median of $18,000 in student loans. See the full criminal justice & police science program report for Mesa State College

3

A rank of #3 makes Pueblo Community College one of the top schools for criminal justice & police science. Set in the city of Pueblo, Pueblo Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Pueblo Community College awarded about 56 criminal justice & police science degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice & police science program make about $52,241 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $7,656 to complete this degree. See the full criminal justice & police science program report for Pueblo Community College

4

A rank of #4 makes Aims Community College one of the top schools for criminal justice & police science. This large public university is located in the city of Greeley. About 32 criminal justice & police science degrees were awarded at Aims Community College in the most recent year. Graduates of the criminal justice & police science program make about $57,841 in their early career. Aims Community College graduates carry a median of $9,062 in student loans. Get the full criminal justice & police science details for Aims Community College

5

Red Rocks Community College is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in criminal justice & police science, ranking #5. Red Rocks Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Lakewood. About 121 criminal justice & police science degrees were awarded at Red Rocks Community College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Red Rocks Community College generally make around $72,583. Students borrow a median of $17,667 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in criminal justice & police science from Red Rocks Community College

6
Pikes Peak Community College crest
Pikes Peak Community College
Colorado Springs, CO

Pikes Peak Community College placed #6 among the best criminal justice & police science schools. This large public university is located in the suburb of Colorado Springs. There were roughly 37 criminal justice & police science students who graduated with this degree at Pikes Peak Community College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice & police science degree from Pikes Peak Community College earn around $50,546 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $16,066 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in criminal justice & police science from Pikes Peak Community College

7

Southern Utah University earned the #7 position for criminal justice & police science this year. Southern Utah University is a very large public school located in the town of Cedar City. The six-year graduation rate is 50%. There were roughly 52 criminal justice & police science students who graduated with this degree at Southern Utah University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice & police science degree from Southern Utah University earn around $39,744 in the first couple years of their career. Southern Utah University graduates carry a median of $17,500 in student loans. Get the full criminal justice & police science details for Southern Utah University

8

Front Range Community College landed the #8 spot for criminal justice & police science this year. Front Range Community College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Westminster. There were roughly 47 criminal justice & police science students who graduated with this degree at Front Range Community College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Front Range Community College generally make around $69,776. Students borrow a median of $24,774 to complete this degree. Get the full criminal justice & police science details for Front Range Community College

9
Colorado Mountain College crest
Colorado Mountain College
Glenwood Springs, CO

Colorado Mountain College earned the #9 position for criminal justice & police science this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the town of Glenwood Springs. Colorado Mountain College graduates 14% of students within six years. Colorado Mountain College awarded about 54 criminal justice & police science degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice & police science program make about $68,129 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $19,500. See the full criminal justice & police science program report for Colorado Mountain College

10

Laramie County Community College earned the #10 position for criminal justice & police science this year. Located in the rural area of Cheyenne, Laramie County Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Laramie County Community College awarded about 26 criminal justice & police science degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice & police science degree from Laramie County Community College earn around $51,302 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,309. Read more about the criminal justice & police science program at Laramie County Community College

11

Arapahoe Community College placed #11 among the best criminal justice & police science schools. Set in the suburb of Littleton, Arapahoe Community College is a large public institution. About 70 criminal justice & police science degrees were awarded at Arapahoe Community College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Arapahoe Community College generally make around $54,371. Arapahoe Community College graduates carry a median of $21,351 in student loans. See the full criminal justice & police science program report for Arapahoe Community College

12

Trinidad State Junior College landed the #12 spot for criminal justice & police science this year. This mid-sized public university is located in the town of Trinidad. Trinidad State Junior College awarded about 14 criminal justice & police science degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Trinidad State Junior College generally make around $42,381. Typical student debt for the program is $10,502. More information about a degree in criminal justice & police science from Trinidad State Junior College

13
North Idaho College crest
North Idaho College
Coeur d'Alene, ID

North Idaho College ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best criminal justice & police science schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Coeur d'Alene. About 22 criminal justice & police science degrees were awarded at North Idaho College in the most recent year. Graduates of the criminal justice & police science program make about $49,489 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $14,688 to complete this degree. Read more about the criminal justice & police science program at North Idaho College

14
Otero Junior College crest
Otero Junior College
La Junta, CO

Otero Junior College landed the #14 spot for criminal justice & police science this year. Located in the town of La Junta, Otero Junior College is a small public university. Otero Junior College awarded about 28 criminal justice & police science degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice & police science program make about $50,431 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $21,759 to complete this degree. See the full criminal justice & police science program report for Otero Junior College

15

Delta Montrose Technical College came in at #15 for criminal justice & police science this year. Located in the rural area of Delta, Delta Montrose Technical College is a small public university. Delta Montrose Technical College awarded about 10 criminal justice & police science degrees in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Delta Montrose Technical College earn a median of $56,589 early in their careers. Delta Montrose Technical College graduates carry a median of $4,750 in student loans. Get the full criminal justice & police science details for Delta Montrose Technical College

16

Bridgerland Technical College ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best criminal justice & police science schools. Bridgerland Technical College is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Logan. Bridgerland Technical 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 $28,884 in their early career. Bridgerland Technical College graduates carry a median of $12,000 in student loans. Get the full criminal justice & police science details for Bridgerland Technical College

17

Tooele Technical College ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best criminal justice & police science schools. Tooele Technical College is a small public school located in the town of Tooele. About 17 criminal justice & police science degrees were awarded at Tooele Technical College in the most recent year. See the full criminal justice & police science program report for Tooele Technical College

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Notes and References

This ranking is produced 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 · 21 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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