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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2026 Best Criminal Justice Studies Schools in Illinois

13 Colleges in the United States
904 Criminal Justice Studies Degrees Awarded
$39,168 Avg Early-Career Salary

Criminal Justice Studies programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. The schools below stand out for the quality of their criminal justice studies programs.

For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 25 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for criminal justice studies students pursuing a degree.

What’s on this page:

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Best Schools for Criminal Justice Studies in Illinois

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall criminal justice studies education in Illinois.

Top Schools in Criminal Justice Studies

1

Leading the list is Illinois State University, our #1 school for criminal justice studies. Set in the suburb of Normal, Illinois State University is a very large public institution. About 64% of students finish within six years. About 170 criminal justice studies degrees were awarded at Illinois State University in the most recent year. Graduates of the criminal justice studies program make about $37,584 in their early career. Illinois State University graduates carry a median of $22,531 in student loans. More information about a degree in criminal justice studies from Illinois State University

2

University Of Illinois At Chicago is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in criminal justice studies, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of Chicago, University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public institution. Roughly 62% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 134 criminal justice studies degrees were awarded at University Of Illinois At Chicago in the most recent year. Criminal Justice Studies graduates of University Of Illinois At Chicago earn a median of $34,551 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $15,875. More information about a degree in criminal justice studies from University Of Illinois At Chicago

3
Aurora University crest
Aurora University
Aurora, IL

Students looking for a strong criminal justice studies program will find one at Aurora University, which ranked #3. Located in the suburb of Aurora, Aurora University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Aurora University graduates 60% of students within six years. About 60 criminal justice studies degrees were awarded at Aurora University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice studies degree recipients from Aurora University generally make around $44,150. Typical student debt for the program is $23,635. More information about a degree in criminal justice studies from Aurora University

4
Lewis University crest
Lewis University
Romeoville, IL

Lewis University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in criminal justice studies, ranking #4. Set in the suburb of Romeoville, Lewis University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 67% of students finish within six years. Lewis University awarded about 93 criminal justice studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice studies program make about $66,865 in their early career. Lewis University graduates carry a median of $20,000 in student loans. More information about a degree in criminal justice studies from Lewis University

5

Northeastern Illinois University came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best criminal justice studies schools. Set in the city of Chicago, Northeastern Illinois University is a moderately-sized public institution. Roughly 22% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 34 criminal justice studies students who graduated with this degree at Northeastern Illinois University in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice Studies graduates of Northeastern Illinois University earn a median of $40,719 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $13,625 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in criminal justice studies from Northeastern Illinois University

6

Saint Xavier University earned the #6 position for criminal justice studies this year. Located in the city of Chicago, Saint Xavier University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. About 57% of students finish within six years. Saint Xavier University awarded about 35 criminal justice studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice studies degree from Saint Xavier University earn around $39,033 in the first couple years of their career. Saint Xavier University graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. More information about a degree in criminal justice studies from Saint Xavier University

7

University Of Illinois At Springfield earned the #7 position for criminal justice studies this year. University Of Illinois At Springfield is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Springfield. University Of Illinois At Springfield graduates 52% of students within six years. About 26 criminal justice studies degrees were awarded at University Of Illinois At Springfield in the most recent year. Graduates of the criminal justice studies program make about $41,064 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $22,418 to complete this degree. Read more about the criminal justice studies program at University Of Illinois At Springfield

8

Benedictine University came in at #8 for criminal justice studies this year. Benedictine University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Lisle. Roughly 50% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 10 criminal justice studies students who graduated with this degree at Benedictine University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice studies degree from Benedictine University earn around $46,020 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $25,979 to complete this degree. See the full criminal justice studies program report for Benedictine University

9

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville came in at #9 for criminal justice studies this year. Located in the suburb of Edwardsville, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is a large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 55%. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville awarded about 75 criminal justice studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice studies degree recipients from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville generally make around $39,279. Typical student debt for the program is $25,000. More information about a degree in criminal justice studies from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville

10

Roosevelt University ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best criminal justice studies schools. Set in the city of Chicago, Roosevelt University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 46%. About 14 criminal justice studies degrees were awarded at Roosevelt University in the most recent year. Criminal Justice Studies graduates of Roosevelt University earn a median of $41,203 early in their careers. Roosevelt University graduates carry a median of $24,625 in student loans. Read more about the criminal justice studies program at Roosevelt University

11
Governors State University crest
Governors State University
University Park, IL

Governors State University placed #11 among the best criminal justice studies schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the suburb of University Park. Roughly 21% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 48 criminal justice studies students who graduated with this degree at Governors State University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice studies degree recipients from Governors State University generally make around $42,456. Students borrow a median of $22,889 to complete this degree. Read more about the criminal justice studies program at Governors State University

12

Olivet Nazarene University placed #12 among the best criminal justice studies schools. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Bourbonnais. About 61% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 27 criminal justice studies students who graduated with this degree at Olivet Nazarene University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice studies degree recipients from Olivet Nazarene University generally make around $34,877. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000. Read more about the criminal justice studies program at Olivet Nazarene University

13

City Colleges Of Chicago Richard J Daley College earned the #13 position for criminal justice studies this year. Set in the city of Chicago, City Colleges Of Chicago Richard J Daley College is a moderately-sized public institution. About 21 criminal justice studies degrees were awarded at City Colleges Of Chicago Richard J Daley College in the most recent year. Criminal Justice Studies graduates of City Colleges Of Chicago Richard J Daley College earn a median of $33,326 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $7,500. Read more about the criminal justice studies program at City Colleges Of Chicago Richard J Daley College

14

Kishwaukee College landed the #14 spot for criminal justice studies this year. Set in the rural area of Malta, Kishwaukee College is a mid-sized public institution. Kishwaukee College awarded about 19 criminal justice studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice studies degree recipients from Kishwaukee College generally make around $30,398. Kishwaukee College graduates carry a median of $10,328 in student loans. See the full criminal justice studies program report for Kishwaukee College

15

City Colleges Of Chicago Wilbur Wright College earned the #15 position for criminal justice studies this year. City Colleges Of Chicago Wilbur Wright College is a large public school located in the city of Chicago. There were roughly 21 criminal justice studies students who graduated with this degree at City Colleges Of Chicago Wilbur Wright College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice studies program make about $33,073 in their early career. City Colleges Of Chicago Wilbur Wright College graduates carry a median of $8,093 in student loans. See the full criminal justice studies program report for City Colleges Of Chicago Wilbur Wright College

16

City Colleges Of Chicago Olive Harvey College came in at #16 for criminal justice studies this year. Located in the city of Chicago, City Colleges Of Chicago Olive Harvey College is a mid-sized public university. City Colleges Of Chicago Olive Harvey College awarded about 94 criminal justice studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice studies degree recipients from City Colleges Of Chicago Olive Harvey College generally make around $25,842. Students borrow a median of $8,478 to complete this degree. Get the full criminal justice studies details for City Colleges Of Chicago Olive Harvey College

17

Chicago State University placed #17 among the best criminal justice studies schools. Located in the city of Chicago, Chicago State University is a mid-sized public university. Chicago State University graduates 16% of students within six years. About 23 criminal justice studies degrees were awarded at Chicago State University in the most recent year. Students who receive their criminal justice studies degree from Chicago State University earn around $35,419 in the first couple years of their career. Chicago State University graduates carry a median of $32,974 in student loans. See the full criminal justice studies program report for Chicago State University

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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 · 25 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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