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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2026 Best Criminal Justice & Police Science Schools in the Southeast Region

13 Colleges in the United States
4,721 Criminal Justice & Police Science Degrees Awarded
$44,022 Avg Early-Career Salary

Criminal Justice & Police Science degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. The schools below stand out for the quality of their criminal justice & police science programs.

For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 154 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 Southeast 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

No school ranked higher than University Of Virginia Main Campus this year for criminal justice & police science. Located in the suburb of Charlottesville, University Of Virginia Main Campus is a very large public university. 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. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of University Of Virginia Main Campus earn a median of $69,126 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $18,627. Get the full criminal justice & police science details for University Of Virginia Main Campus

2

George Mason University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in criminal justice & police science, landing the #2 spot this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Fairfax. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 328 criminal justice & police science degrees were awarded at George Mason University in the most recent year. Graduates of the criminal justice & police science program make about $49,815 in their early career. George Mason University graduates carry a median of $20,761 in student loans. See the full criminal justice & police science program report for George Mason University

3
Florida State University crest
Florida State University
Tallahassee, FL

Florida State University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in criminal justice & police science, ranking #3. Set in the city of Tallahassee, Florida State University is a very large public institution. About 86% of students finish within six years. About 43 criminal justice & police science degrees were awarded at Florida State University in the most recent year. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Florida State University earn a median of $46,245 early in their careers. Florida State University graduates carry a median of $21,170 in student loans. See the full criminal justice & police science program report for Florida State University

4

Indian River State College came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best criminal justice & police science schools. Indian River State College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Fort Pierce. About 115 criminal justice & police science degrees were awarded at Indian River State College in the most recent year. Students who receive their criminal justice & police science degree from Indian River State College earn around $51,825 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $9,176. See the full criminal justice & police science program report for Indian River State College

5
Broward College crest
Broward College
Fort Lauderdale, FL

Broward College is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in criminal justice & police science, ranking #5. This very large public university is located in the city of Fort Lauderdale. About 236 criminal justice & police science degrees were awarded at Broward College in the most recent year. Students who receive their criminal justice & police science degree from Broward College earn around $34,607 in the first couple years of their career. Broward College graduates carry a median of $10,724 in student loans. Get the full criminal justice & police science details for Broward College

6

Palm Beach State College landed the #6 spot for criminal justice & police science this year. Located in the suburb of Lake Worth, Palm Beach State College is a very large public university. About 86 criminal justice & police science degrees were awarded at Palm Beach State College in the most recent year. Graduates of the criminal justice & police science program make about $69,415 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,000. More information about a degree in criminal justice & police science from Palm Beach State College

7

Seminole State College Of Florida earned the #7 position for criminal justice & police science this year. Located in the city of Sanford, Seminole State College Of Florida is a very large public university. Seminole State College Of Florida awarded about 85 criminal justice & police science degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice & police science program make about $36,589 in their early career. Seminole State College Of Florida graduates carry a median of $12,942 in student loans. Get the full criminal justice & police science details for Seminole State College Of Florida

8
St Petersburg College crest
St Petersburg College
St. Petersburg, FL

St Petersburg College earned the #8 position for criminal justice & police science this year. St Petersburg College is a very large public school located in the city of St. Petersburg. There were roughly 78 criminal justice & police science students who graduated with this degree at St Petersburg College in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of St Petersburg College earn a median of $48,218 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $14,080. Get the full criminal justice & police science details for St Petersburg College

9

Columbia Southern University ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best criminal justice & police science schools. Located in the town of Orange Beach, Columbia Southern University is a very large private for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 26%. About 188 criminal justice & police science degrees were awarded at Columbia Southern University in the most recent year. Students who receive their criminal justice & police science degree from Columbia Southern University earn around $60,232 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $23,641 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in criminal justice & police science from Columbia Southern University

10

Eastern Florida State College came in at #10 for criminal justice & police science this year. Located in the city of Melbourne, Eastern Florida State College is a large public university. Eastern Florida State College awarded about 90 criminal justice & police science degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice & police science degree from Eastern Florida State College earn around $51,461 in the first couple years of their career. Eastern Florida State College graduates carry a median of $8,635 in student loans. See the full criminal justice & police science program report for Eastern Florida State College

11
Daytona State College crest
Daytona State College
Daytona Beach, FL

Daytona State College earned the #11 position for criminal justice & police science this year. This large public university is located in the city of Daytona Beach. There were roughly 67 criminal justice & police science students who graduated with this degree at Daytona State College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice & police science program make about $52,755 in their early career. Daytona State College graduates carry a median of $8,169 in student loans. More information about a degree in criminal justice & police science from Daytona State College

12
Valencia College crest
Valencia College
Orlando, FL

Valencia College ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best criminal justice & police science schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Orlando. Valencia College awarded about 140 criminal justice & police science degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Valencia College generally make around $33,246. Valencia College graduates carry a median of $10,500 in student loans. More information about a degree in criminal justice & police science from Valencia College

13

Hillsborough Community College earned the #13 position for criminal justice & police science this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Tampa. Hillsborough Community College awarded about 48 criminal justice & police science degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Hillsborough Community College generally make around $47,631. Typical student debt for the program is $15,789. See the full criminal justice & police science program report for Hillsborough Community College

14

Florida State College At Jacksonville came in at #14 for criminal justice & police science this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Jacksonville. About 80 criminal justice & police science degrees were awarded at Florida State College At Jacksonville in the most recent year. Students who receive their criminal justice & police science degree from Florida State College At Jacksonville earn around $60,055 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $15,796 to complete this degree. Read more about the criminal justice & police science program at Florida State College At Jacksonville

15
Polk State College crest
Polk State College
Winter Haven, FL

Polk State College earned the #15 position for criminal justice & police science this year. Polk State College is a large public school located in the city of Winter Haven. There were roughly 138 criminal justice & police science students who graduated with this degree at Polk State College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice & police science degree from Polk State College earn around $47,071 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $14,451. Get the full criminal justice & police science details for Polk State College

16

George C Wallace State Community College Hanceville came in at #16 for criminal justice & police science this year. Located in the rural area of Hanceville, George C Wallace State Community College Hanceville is a moderately-sized public university. George C Wallace State Community College Hanceville awarded about 51 criminal justice & police science degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice & police science program make about $35,238 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $13,146. Read more about the criminal justice & police science program at George C Wallace State Community College Hanceville

17

Miami Dade College landed the #17 spot for criminal justice & police science this year. Set in the city of Miami, Miami Dade College is a very large public institution. About 98 criminal justice & police science degrees were awarded at Miami Dade College in the most recent year. Graduates of the criminal justice & police science program make about $34,209 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $9,563 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in criminal justice & police science from Miami Dade College

18

Augusta Technical College ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best criminal justice & police science schools. Set in the city of Augusta, Augusta Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. There were roughly 30 criminal justice & police science students who graduated with this degree at Augusta Technical College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice & police science degree from Augusta Technical College earn around $46,165 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $11,400 to complete this degree. See the full criminal justice & police science program report for Augusta Technical College

19

Central Georgia Technical College Warner Robins placed #19 among the best criminal justice & police science schools. Located in the city of Warner Robins, Central Georgia Technical College Warner Robins is a large public university. Central Georgia Technical College Warner Robins awarded about 15 criminal justice & police science degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Central Georgia Technical College Warner Robins generally make around $39,765. Central Georgia Technical College Warner Robins graduates carry a median of $11,693 in student loans. Get the full criminal justice & police science details for Central Georgia Technical College Warner Robins

20

Florida Gateway College placed #20 among the best criminal justice & police science schools. Set in the town of Lake City, Florida Gateway College is a mid-sized public institution. Florida Gateway College awarded about 44 criminal justice & police science degrees in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Florida Gateway College earn a median of $44,048 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $7,500 to complete this degree. Read more about the criminal justice & police science program at Florida Gateway College

21

Black River Technical College landed the #21 spot for criminal justice & police science this year. This mid-sized public university is located in the town of Pocahontas. Black River Technical College awarded about 72 criminal justice & police science degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Black River Technical College generally make around $40,468. Students borrow a median of $7,100 to complete this degree. Get the full criminal justice & police science details for Black River Technical College

22

Northwest Florida State College landed the #22 spot for criminal justice & police science this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the suburb of Niceville. There were roughly 31 criminal justice & police science students who graduated with this degree at Northwest Florida State College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice & police science degree from Northwest Florida State College earn around $48,087 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $11,808 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in criminal justice & police science from Northwest Florida State College

23

Georgia Northwestern Technical College landed the #23 spot for criminal justice & police science this year. Located in the city of Rome, Georgia Northwestern Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. Georgia Northwestern Technical College awarded about 23 criminal justice & police science degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice & police science degree from Georgia Northwestern Technical College earn around $41,229 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $8,492. See the full criminal justice & police science program report for Georgia Northwestern Technical College

24

Volunteer State Community College placed #24 among the best criminal justice & police science schools. Located in the suburb of Gallatin, Volunteer State Community College is a moderately-sized public university. There were roughly 39 criminal justice & police science students who graduated with this degree at Volunteer State Community College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Volunteer State Community College generally make around $40,137. Students borrow a median of $12,462 to complete this degree. Read more about the criminal justice & police science program at Volunteer State Community College

25
Gulf Coast State College crest
Gulf Coast State College
Panama City, FL

Gulf Coast State College ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best criminal justice & police science schools. Set in the city of Panama City, Gulf Coast State College is a moderately-sized public institution. There were roughly 23 criminal justice & police science students who graduated with this degree at Gulf Coast State College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice & police science degree from Gulf Coast State College earn around $45,648 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $6,250 to complete this degree. Read more about the criminal justice & police science program at Gulf Coast State 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
Santa Fe College crest
Santa Fe College
Gainesville, FL
27
28
29
Gaston College crest
Gaston College
Dallas, NC
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
Chipola College crest
Chipola College
Marianna, FL
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
Midway College crest
Midway College
Midway, KY
47
48
49
50

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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 · 154 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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