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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2026 Best Criminal Justice & Police Science Schools in Arizona

2 Colleges in the United States
1,159 Criminal Justice & Police Science Degrees Awarded
$52,964 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.

To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 18 schools to find the best for criminal justice & police science students.

What’s on this page:

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Best Schools for Criminal Justice & Police Science in Arizona

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

Our analysis ranked Mesa Community College the best school in the country for a degree in criminal justice & police science. Located in the city of Mesa, Mesa Community College is a very large public university. There were roughly 17 criminal justice & police science students who graduated with this degree at Mesa Community College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice & police science degree from Mesa Community College earn around $54,730 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $13,750 to complete this degree. See the full criminal justice & police science program report for Mesa Community College

2

Chandler Gilbert Community College came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best criminal justice & police science schools. Located in the city of Chandler, Chandler Gilbert Community College is a large public university. About 60 criminal justice & police science degrees were awarded at Chandler Gilbert Community College in the most recent year. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Chandler Gilbert Community College earn a median of $46,943 early in their careers. Chandler Gilbert Community College graduates carry a median of $10,447 in student loans. More information about a degree in criminal justice & police science from Chandler Gilbert Community College

3

A rank of #3 makes Pima Community College one of the top schools for criminal justice & police science. Set in the city of Tucson, Pima Community College is a very large public institution. There were roughly 161 criminal justice & police science students who graduated with this degree at Pima Community College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice & police science program make about $47,820 in their early career. Pima Community College graduates carry a median of $7,562 in student loans. Get the full criminal justice & police science details for Pima Community College

4

Rio Salado College came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best criminal justice & police science schools. Rio Salado College is a very large public school located in the city of Tempe. About 453 criminal justice & police science degrees were awarded at Rio Salado College in the most recent year. Graduates of the criminal justice & police science program make about $51,384 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $11,500 to complete this degree. Read more about the criminal justice & police science program at Rio Salado College

5

Students looking for a strong criminal justice & police science program will find one at Glendale Community College Glendale Az, which ranked #5. Set in the suburb of Glendale, Glendale Community College Glendale Az is a very large public institution. Glendale Community College Glendale Az awarded about 45 criminal justice & police science degrees in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Glendale Community College Glendale Az earn a median of $51,483 early in their careers. Glendale Community College Glendale Az graduates carry a median of $15,996 in student loans. See the full criminal justice & police science program report for Glendale Community College Glendale Az

6

Grand Canyon University placed #6 among the best criminal justice & police science schools. Set in the city of Phoenix, Grand Canyon University is a very large private for-profit institution. Roughly 44% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 298 criminal justice & police science degrees were awarded at Grand Canyon University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Grand Canyon University generally make around $45,737. Grand Canyon University graduates carry a median of $27,048 in student loans. Get the full criminal justice & police science details for Grand Canyon University

7
Yavapai College crest
Yavapai College
Prescott, AZ

Yavapai College earned the #7 position for criminal justice & police science this year. Yavapai College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Prescott. There were roughly 45 criminal justice & police science students who graduated with this degree at Yavapai College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Yavapai College generally make around $59,511. Students borrow a median of $17,625 to complete this degree. See the full criminal justice & police science program report for Yavapai College

8
Cochise College crest
Cochise College
Sierra Vista, AZ

Cochise College earned the #8 position for criminal justice & police science this year. Set in the city of Sierra Vista, Cochise College is a moderately-sized public institution. About 57 criminal justice & police science degrees were awarded at Cochise College in the most recent year. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Cochise College earn a median of $40,712 early in their careers. Cochise College graduates carry a median of $12,013 in student loans. Get the full criminal justice & police science details for Cochise College

9

Estrella Mountain Community College ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best criminal justice & police science schools. Located in the suburb of Avondale, Estrella Mountain Community College is a large public university. There were roughly 23 criminal justice & police science students who graduated with this degree at Estrella Mountain Community College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice & police science program make about $78,359 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,752. Read more about the criminal justice & police science program at Estrella Mountain Community College

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Notes and References

This ranking is produced 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 · 18 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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