Criminal Justice Studies degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. The schools below stand out for the quality of their criminal justice studies programs.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 112 schools to find the best for criminal justice studies students.
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No school ranked higher than George Washington University this year for criminal justice studies. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Washington. George Washington University graduates 84% of students within six years. About 52 criminal justice studies degrees were awarded at George Washington University in the most recent year. Graduates of the criminal justice studies program make about $51,256 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,500.
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A rank of #2 makes American University one of the top schools for criminal justice studies. Set in the city of Washington, American University is a large private not-for-profit institution. About 76% of students finish within six years. About 131 criminal justice studies degrees were awarded at American University in the most recent year. Students who receive their criminal justice studies degree from American University earn around $49,607 in the first couple years of their career. American University graduates carry a median of $23,250 in student loans.
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A rank of #3 makes West Chester University Of Pennsylvania one of the top schools for criminal justice studies. This large public university is located in the suburb of West Chester. West Chester University Of Pennsylvania graduates 70% of students within six years. West Chester University Of Pennsylvania awarded about 161 criminal justice studies degrees in the most recent data year.
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Rutgers University New Brunswick is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in criminal justice studies, ranking #4. Rutgers University New Brunswick is a very large public school located in the city of New Brunswick. Rutgers University New Brunswick graduates 84% of students within six years. About 172 criminal justice studies degrees were awarded at Rutgers University New Brunswick in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice studies degree recipients from Rutgers University New Brunswick generally make around $45,182. Typical student debt for the program is $22,431.
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Students looking for a strong criminal justice studies program will find one at The Richard Stockton College Of New Jersey, which ranked #5. This large public university is located in the rural area of Galloway. About 68% of students finish within six years. About 152 criminal justice studies degrees were awarded at The Richard Stockton College Of New Jersey in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice studies degree recipients from The Richard Stockton College Of New Jersey generally make around $43,490. Typical student debt for the program is $24,990.
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University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus earned the #6 position for criminal justice studies this year. University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Pittsburgh. About 86% of students finish within six years. University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus awarded about 72 criminal justice studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice studies program make about $36,959 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in criminal justice studies from University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus
Commonwealth University Of Pennsylvania earned the #7 position for criminal justice studies this year. This large public university is located in the town of Bloomsburg. Roughly 56% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 59 criminal justice studies students who graduated with this degree at Commonwealth University Of Pennsylvania in the most recent data year.
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Rutgers University Newark placed #8 among the best criminal justice studies schools. This large public university is located in the city of Newark. Roughly 64% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 197 criminal justice studies students who graduated with this degree at Rutgers University Newark in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice studies degree from Rutgers University Newark earn around $45,182 in the first couple years of their career. Rutgers University Newark graduates carry a median of $22,431 in student loans.
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Suny College At Oneonta placed #9 among the best criminal justice studies schools. Located in the town of Oneonta, Suny College At Oneonta is a moderately-sized public university. The six-year graduation rate is 69%. About 48 criminal justice studies degrees were awarded at Suny College At Oneonta in the most recent year. Graduates of the criminal justice studies program make about $32,043 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $19,740.
More information about a degree in criminal justice studies from Suny College At Oneonta
Suffolk County Community College came in at #10 for criminal justice studies this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Selden. About 153 criminal justice studies degrees were awarded at Suffolk County Community College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice studies degree recipients from Suffolk County Community College generally make around $31,617. Suffolk County Community College graduates carry a median of $7,625 in student loans.
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Pennsylvania State University World Campus landed the #11 spot for criminal justice studies this year. Pennsylvania State University World Campus is a large public school located in the city of University Park. Roughly 34% of students complete a degree within six years here. Pennsylvania State University World Campus awarded about 73 criminal justice studies degrees in the most recent data year.
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Temple University placed #12 among the best criminal justice studies schools. Located in the city of Philadelphia, Temple University is a very large public university. Temple University graduates 75% of students within six years. About 185 criminal justice studies degrees were awarded at Temple University in the most recent year. Students who receive their criminal justice studies degree from Temple University earn around $38,612 in the first couple years of their career. Temple University graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans.
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William Paterson University Of New Jersey ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best criminal justice studies schools. William Paterson University Of New Jersey is a large public school located in the suburb of Wayne. Roughly 44% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 142 criminal justice studies degrees were awarded at William Paterson University Of New Jersey in the most recent year. Students who receive their criminal justice studies degree from William Paterson University Of New Jersey earn around $35,864 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,000.
Read more about the criminal justice studies program at William Paterson University Of New Jersey
University Of Scranton earned the #14 position for criminal justice studies this year. Located in the city of Scranton, University Of Scranton is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. University Of Scranton graduates 80% of students within six years. There were roughly 20 criminal justice studies students who graduated with this degree at University Of Scranton in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice studies degree from University Of Scranton earn around $32,300 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
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University Of Maryland University College came in at #15 for criminal justice studies this year. Set in the suburb of Adelphi, University Of Maryland University College is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 20%. There were roughly 352 criminal justice studies students who graduated with this degree at University Of Maryland University College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice studies degree recipients from University Of Maryland University College generally make around $55,479. Students borrow a median of $25,062 to complete this degree.
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Frostburg State University ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best criminal justice studies schools. Frostburg State University is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Frostburg. Frostburg State University graduates 50% of students within six years. Frostburg State University awarded about 33 criminal justice studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice studies program make about $40,844 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete this degree.
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Mcdaniel College landed the #17 spot for criminal justice studies this year. Mcdaniel College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Westminster. The six-year graduation rate is 63%. About 17 criminal justice studies degrees were awarded at Mcdaniel College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice studies degree recipients from Mcdaniel College generally make around $54,904. Typical student debt for the program is $23,247.
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Gannon University landed the #18 spot for criminal justice studies this year. Set in the city of Erie, Gannon University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 67%. There were roughly 34 criminal justice studies students who graduated with this degree at Gannon University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice studies degree from Gannon University earn around $39,788 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,594.
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Pennsylvania State University Penn State Abington came in at #19 for criminal justice studies this year. Located in the suburb of Abington, Pennsylvania State University Penn State Abington is a mid-sized public university. The six-year graduation rate is 20%. Pennsylvania State University Penn State Abington awarded about 34 criminal justice studies degrees in the most recent data year.
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Kutztown University Of Pennsylvania ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best criminal justice studies schools. Kutztown University Of Pennsylvania is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Kutztown. Roughly 54% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 71 criminal justice studies students who graduated with this degree at Kutztown University Of Pennsylvania in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice studies degree recipients from Kutztown University Of Pennsylvania generally make around $37,311. Kutztown University Of Pennsylvania graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans.
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Pennsylvania Western University ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best criminal justice studies schools. Set in the town of California, Pennsylvania Western University is a large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 52%. About 27 criminal justice studies degrees were awarded at Pennsylvania Western University in the most recent year.
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Rutgers University Camden placed #22 among the best criminal justice studies schools. Located in the city of Camden, Rutgers University Camden is a moderately-sized public university. The six-year graduation rate is 67%. There were roughly 61 criminal justice studies students who graduated with this degree at Rutgers University Camden in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice studies degree from Rutgers University Camden earn around $45,182 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $22,431 to complete this degree.
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Suny At Albany placed #23 among the best criminal justice studies schools. Located in the city of Albany, Suny At Albany is a very large public university. Suny At Albany graduates 61% of students within six years. There were roughly 186 criminal justice studies students who graduated with this degree at Suny At Albany 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.
See the full criminal justice studies program report for Suny At Albany
Suny College At Oswego landed the #24 spot for criminal justice studies this year. Set in the town of Oswego, Suny College At Oswego is a moderately-sized public institution. Suny College At Oswego graduates 60% of students within six years. Suny College At Oswego awarded about 101 criminal justice studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice studies degree from Suny College At Oswego earn around $34,561 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,788.
More information about a degree in criminal justice studies from Suny College At Oswego
Pennsylvania State University Penn State Harrisburg earned the #25 position for criminal justice studies this year. Pennsylvania State University Penn State Harrisburg is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Middletown. Pennsylvania State University Penn State Harrisburg graduates 26% of students within six years. About 28 criminal justice studies degrees were awarded at Pennsylvania State University Penn State Harrisburg in the most recent year.
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Rest of the Top 50 Criminal Justice Studies Schools
These schools also placed among the best for criminal justice studies this year:
The ranking above is published 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 · 112 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).
