Criminal Justice Studies 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.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 901 schools to find the best for criminal justice studies students.
DEBUG: Before URL cleaning = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/protective-security-safety-services/criminal-justice-and-corrections/criminal-justice-studies/offers.json"
DEBUG: After TrimSuffix = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/protective-security-safety-services/criminal-justice-and-corrections/criminal-justice-studies/offers.json"
DEBUG: After HTTPS placeholder = "HTTPS_TEMP_PLACEHOLDERwww.collegefactual.com/majors/protective-security-safety-services/criminal-justice-and-corrections/criminal-justice-studies/offers.json"
DEBUG: After slash cleaning = "HTTPS_TEMP_PLACEHOLDERwww.collegefactual.com/majors/protective-security-safety-services/criminal-justice-and-corrections/criminal-justice-studies/offers.json"
DEBUG: After URL cleaning = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/protective-security-safety-services/criminal-justice-and-corrections/criminal-justice-studies/offers.json"
No school ranked higher than University Of Virginia Main Campus this year for criminal justice studies. Set in the suburb of Charlottesville, University Of Virginia Main Campus is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. There were roughly 594 criminal justice studies students who graduated with this degree at University Of Virginia Main Campus in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice studies program make about $69,126 in their early career. University Of Virginia Main Campus graduates carry a median of $18,627 in student loans.
Get the full criminal justice studies details for University Of Virginia Main Campus
University Of Southern California came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best criminal justice studies schools. University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Los Angeles. Roughly 92% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 58 criminal justice studies degrees were awarded at University Of Southern California in the most recent year. Graduates of the criminal justice studies program make about $75,677 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $15,625 to complete this degree.
Get the full criminal justice studies details for University Of Southern California
American University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in criminal justice studies, landing the #3 spot this year. American University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Washington. American University graduates 76% of students within six years. American University awarded about 29 criminal justice studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice studies degree from American University earn around $62,067 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $23,250 to complete this degree.
Read more about the criminal justice studies program at American University
Boston University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in criminal justice studies, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the city of Boston, Boston University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 89%. About 99 criminal justice studies degrees were awarded at Boston University in the most recent year. Graduates of the criminal justice studies program make about $63,965 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,232.
See the full criminal justice studies program report for Boston University
San Jose State University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in criminal justice studies, ranking #5. Set in the city of San Jose, San Jose State University is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 69%. San Jose State University awarded about 10 criminal justice studies degrees in the most recent data year.
See the full criminal justice studies program report for San Jose State University
Florida State University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best criminal justice studies schools. Florida State University is a very large public school located in the city of Tallahassee. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. Florida State University awarded about 129 criminal justice studies degrees in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice Studies graduates of Florida State University earn a median of $57,568 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $21,170.
Get the full criminal justice studies details for Florida State University
Northeastern University landed the #7 spot for criminal justice studies this year. Located in the city of Boston, Northeastern University is a very large private not-for-profit university. About 90% of students finish within six years. Northeastern University awarded about 64 criminal justice studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice studies program make about $47,269 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,809.
Read more about the criminal justice studies program at Northeastern University
George Mason University earned the #8 position for criminal justice studies this year. Set in the suburb of Fairfax, George Mason University is a very large public institution. About 68% of students finish within six years. George Mason University awarded about 29 criminal justice studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice studies program make about $56,018 in their early career. George Mason University graduates carry a median of $20,761 in student loans.
Read more about the criminal justice studies program at George Mason University
Suny At Albany placed #9 among the best criminal justice studies schools. Suny At Albany is a very large public school located in the city of Albany. About 61% of students finish within six years. Suny At Albany awarded about 50 criminal justice studies degrees in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice Studies graduates of Suny At Albany earn a median of $44,736 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $23,521.
Get the full criminal justice studies details for Suny At Albany
University Of Massachusetts Lowell landed the #10 spot for criminal justice studies this year. Set in the suburb of Lowell, University Of Massachusetts Lowell is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 65%. About 31 criminal justice studies degrees were awarded at University Of Massachusetts Lowell in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice studies degree recipients from University Of Massachusetts Lowell generally make around $93,930. University Of Massachusetts Lowell graduates carry a median of $24,822 in student loans.
Read more about the criminal justice studies program at University Of Massachusetts Lowell
Lewis University earned the #11 position for criminal justice studies this year. Lewis University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Romeoville. Roughly 67% of students complete a degree within six years here. Lewis University awarded about 15 criminal justice studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice studies program make about $96,146 in their early career. Lewis University graduates carry a median of $20,000 in student loans.
Read more about the criminal justice studies program at Lewis University
Illinois State University placed #12 among the best criminal justice studies schools. Set in the suburb of Normal, Illinois State University is a very large public institution. Illinois State University graduates 64% of students within six years. Illinois State University awarded about 14 criminal justice studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice studies degree recipients from Illinois State University generally make around $37,584. Typical student debt for the program is $22,531.
Read more about the criminal justice studies program at Illinois State University
Texas Christian University landed the #13 spot for criminal justice studies this year. Texas Christian University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Fort Worth. About 85% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 20 criminal justice studies students who graduated with this degree at Texas Christian University in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice Studies graduates of Texas Christian University earn a median of $34,556 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $20,429 to complete this degree.
Read more about the criminal justice studies program at Texas Christian University
California State University Long Beach earned the #14 position for criminal justice studies this year. Set in the city of Long Beach, California State University Long Beach is a very large public institution. About 69% of students finish within six years. About 26 criminal justice studies degrees were awarded at California State University Long Beach in the most recent year. Students who receive their criminal justice studies degree from California State University Long Beach earn around $47,425 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $15,000 to complete this degree.
Read more about the criminal justice studies program at California State University Long Beach
Seattle University placed #15 among the best criminal justice studies schools. Located in the city of Seattle, Seattle University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. About 76% of students finish within six years. About 18 criminal justice studies degrees were awarded at Seattle University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice studies degree recipients from Seattle University generally make around $48,561. Students borrow a median of $21,247 to complete this degree.
Read more about the criminal justice studies program at Seattle University
Aurora University ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best criminal justice studies schools. Set in the suburb of Aurora, Aurora University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 60%. There were roughly 60 criminal justice studies students who graduated with this degree at Aurora University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice studies program make about $44,150 in their early career. Aurora University graduates carry a median of $23,635 in student loans.
See the full criminal justice studies program report for Aurora University
Westfield State University came in at #17 for criminal justice studies this year. Set in the suburb of Westfield, Westfield State University is a moderately-sized public institution. Roughly 54% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 25 criminal justice studies degrees were awarded at Westfield State University in the most recent year. Criminal Justice Studies graduates of Westfield State University earn a median of $42,228 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $24,422 to complete this degree.
See the full criminal justice studies program report for Westfield State University
Pennsylvania State University World Campus ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best criminal justice studies schools. Located in the city of University Park, Pennsylvania State University World Campus is a large public university. About 34% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 73 criminal justice studies students who graduated with this degree at Pennsylvania State University World Campus in the most recent data year.
Get the full criminal justice studies details for Pennsylvania State University World Campus
The Richard Stockton College Of New Jersey landed the #19 spot for criminal justice studies this year. Located in the rural area of Galloway, The Richard Stockton College Of New Jersey is a large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 68%. The Richard Stockton College Of New Jersey awarded about 13 criminal justice studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice studies degree recipients from The Richard Stockton College Of New Jersey generally make around $43,490. The Richard Stockton College Of New Jersey graduates carry a median of $24,990 in student loans.
More information about a degree in criminal justice studies from The Richard Stockton College Of New Jersey
Rutgers University Newark earned the #20 position for criminal justice studies this year. Rutgers University Newark is a large public school located in the city of Newark. Roughly 64% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 35 criminal justice studies students who graduated with this degree at Rutgers University Newark in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice studies degree recipients from Rutgers University Newark generally make around $55,752. Typical student debt for the program is $22,431.
Get the full criminal justice studies details for Rutgers University Newark
Sam Houston State University placed #21 among the best criminal justice studies schools. Sam Houston State University is a very large public school located in the town of Huntsville. Roughly 55% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 39 criminal justice studies degrees were awarded at Sam Houston State University in the most recent year. Criminal Justice Studies graduates of Sam Houston State University earn a median of $51,544 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $23,218.
Get the full criminal justice studies details for Sam Houston State University
The University Of Texas At Arlington placed #22 among the best criminal justice studies schools. Set in the city of Arlington, The University Of Texas At Arlington is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 54%. The University Of Texas At Arlington awarded about 16 criminal justice studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice studies degree from The University Of Texas At Arlington earn around $58,143 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $19,908 to complete this degree.
See the full criminal justice studies program report for The University Of Texas At Arlington
University Of Houston Downtown came in at #23 for criminal justice studies this year. Located in the city of Houston, University Of Houston Downtown is a large public university. University Of Houston Downtown graduates 33% of students within six years. About 15 criminal justice studies degrees were awarded at University Of Houston Downtown in the most recent year. Students who receive their criminal justice studies degree from University Of Houston Downtown earn around $65,137 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,757.
Read more about the criminal justice studies program at University Of Houston Downtown
West Chester University Of Pennsylvania earned the #24 position for criminal justice studies this year. Set in the suburb of West Chester, West Chester University Of Pennsylvania is a large public institution. Roughly 70% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 21 criminal justice studies students who graduated with this degree at West Chester University Of Pennsylvania in the most recent data year.
See the full criminal justice studies program report for West Chester University Of Pennsylvania
University Of Cincinnati Main Campus placed #25 among the best criminal justice studies schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Cincinnati. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus graduates 74% of students within six years. There were roughly 86 criminal justice studies students who graduated with this degree at University Of Cincinnati Main Campus in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice Studies graduates of University Of Cincinnati Main Campus earn a median of $51,130 early in their careers. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus graduates carry a median of $21,253 in student loans.
See the full criminal justice studies program report for University Of Cincinnati Main Campus
Rest of the Top 50 Criminal Justice Studies Schools
These schools also placed among the best for criminal justice studies this year:
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 · 901 schools evaluated.
The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
