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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2026 Best Criminal Justice Studies Schools in Massachusetts

16 Colleges in the United States
1,054 Criminal Justice Studies Degrees Awarded
$46,738 Avg Early-Career Salary

Criminal Justice Studies degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.

College Factual analyzed 30 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best criminal justice studies schools.

What’s on this page:

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Best Schools for Criminal Justice Studies in Massachusetts

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 studies degrees they offer, see the list below.

Top Schools in Criminal Justice Studies

1

No school ranked higher than University Of Massachusetts Amherst this year for criminal justice studies. University Of Massachusetts Amherst is a very large public school located in the city of Amherst. About 83% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 37 criminal justice studies students who graduated with this degree at University Of Massachusetts Amherst in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice studies degree recipients from University Of Massachusetts Amherst generally make around $53,543. University Of Massachusetts Amherst graduates carry a median of $25,234 in student loans. More information about a degree in criminal justice studies from University Of Massachusetts Amherst

2
Boston University crest
Boston University
Boston, MA

Boston University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in criminal justice studies, ranking #2. Located in the city of Boston, Boston University is a very large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 89%. About 102 criminal justice studies degrees were awarded at Boston University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice studies degree recipients from Boston University generally make around $63,965. Students borrow a median of $25,232 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in criminal justice studies from Boston University

3

A rank of #3 makes Northeastern University one of the top schools for criminal justice studies. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Boston. The six-year graduation rate is 90%. There were roughly 104 criminal justice studies students who graduated with this degree at Northeastern University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice studies program make about $49,316 in their early career. Northeastern University graduates carry a median of $22,809 in student loans. Read more about the criminal justice studies program at Northeastern University

4

Westfield State University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in criminal justice studies, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the suburb of Westfield, Westfield State University is a moderately-sized public university. Westfield State University graduates 54% of students within six years. Westfield State University awarded about 175 criminal justice studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice studies program make about $42,228 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $24,422 to complete this degree. Get the full criminal justice studies details for Westfield State University

5

University Of Massachusetts Lowell is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in criminal justice studies, ranking #5. Set in the suburb of Lowell, University Of Massachusetts Lowell is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 65%. University Of Massachusetts Lowell awarded about 31 criminal justice studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice studies program make about $61,649 in their early career. University Of Massachusetts Lowell graduates carry a median of $24,822 in student loans. See the full criminal justice studies program report for University Of Massachusetts Lowell

6

Bridgewater State University earned the #6 position for criminal justice studies this year. Set in the suburb of Bridgewater, Bridgewater State University is a large public institution. Roughly 53% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 132 criminal justice studies degrees were awarded at Bridgewater State University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice studies degree recipients from Bridgewater State University generally make around $50,327. Typical student debt for the program is $26,696. Read more about the criminal justice studies program at Bridgewater State University

7

Worcester State University placed #7 among the best criminal justice studies schools. Located in the city of Worcester, Worcester State University is a moderately-sized public university. The six-year graduation rate is 62%. Worcester State University awarded about 82 criminal justice studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice studies degree recipients from Worcester State University generally make around $41,132. Typical student debt for the program is $24,953. See the full criminal justice studies program report for Worcester State University

8

University Of Massachusetts Boston earned the #8 position for criminal justice studies this year. University Of Massachusetts Boston is a large public school located in the city of Boston. University Of Massachusetts Boston graduates 49% of students within six years. There were roughly 127 criminal justice studies students who graduated with this degree at University Of Massachusetts Boston in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice studies degree recipients from University Of Massachusetts Boston generally make around $42,325. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree. Read more about the criminal justice studies program at University Of Massachusetts Boston

9
Endicott College crest
Endicott College
Beverly, MA

Endicott College landed the #9 spot for criminal justice studies this year. Located in the suburb of Beverly, Endicott College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Endicott College graduates 75% of students within six years. About 35 criminal justice studies degrees were awarded at Endicott College in the most recent year. Criminal Justice Studies graduates of Endicott College earn a median of $38,900 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree. Read more about the criminal justice studies program at Endicott College

10
Curry College crest
Curry College
Milton, MA

Curry College ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best criminal justice studies schools. Curry College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Milton. About 51% of students finish within six years. About 45 criminal justice studies degrees were awarded at Curry College in the most recent year. Students who receive their criminal justice studies degree from Curry College earn around $83,293 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 Curry College

11
Nichols College crest
Nichols College
Dudley, MA

Nichols College earned the #11 position for criminal justice studies this year. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Dudley. The six-year graduation rate is 63%. About 16 criminal justice studies degrees were awarded at Nichols College in the most recent year. Students who receive their criminal justice studies degree from Nichols College earn around $45,774 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000. Read more about the criminal justice studies program at Nichols College

12

Holyoke Community College earned the #12 position for criminal justice studies this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the rural area of Holyoke. There were roughly 28 criminal justice studies students who graduated with this degree at Holyoke Community College in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice Studies graduates of Holyoke Community College earn a median of $37,533 early in their careers. Holyoke Community College graduates carry a median of $5,658 in student loans. Get the full criminal justice studies details for Holyoke Community College

13

Middlesex Community College Bedford ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best criminal justice studies schools. Located in the suburb of Bedford, Middlesex Community College Bedford is a large public university. About 25 criminal justice studies degrees were awarded at Middlesex Community College Bedford in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice studies degree recipients from Middlesex Community College Bedford generally make around $41,796. Typical student debt for the program is $10,950. More information about a degree in criminal justice studies from Middlesex Community College Bedford

14
Springfield College crest
Springfield College
Springfield, MA

Springfield College ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best criminal justice studies schools. Located in the city of Springfield, Springfield College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Springfield College graduates 74% of students within six years. About 16 criminal justice studies degrees were awarded at Springfield College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice studies degree recipients from Springfield College generally make around $41,441. Typical student debt for the program is $25,500. See the full criminal justice studies program report for Springfield College

15

North Shore Community College came in at #15 for criminal justice studies this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the suburb of Danvers. North Shore Community College awarded about 20 criminal justice studies degrees in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice Studies graduates of North Shore Community College earn a median of $32,379 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $9,656. Get the full criminal justice studies details for North Shore Community College

16

Bristol Community College landed the #16 spot for criminal justice studies this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the suburb of Fall River. About 29 criminal justice studies degrees were awarded at Bristol Community College in the most recent year. Criminal Justice Studies graduates of Bristol Community College earn a median of $36,706 early in their careers. Bristol Community College graduates carry a median of $6,700 in student loans. See the full criminal justice studies program report for Bristol Community College

17

Western New England University came in at #17 for criminal justice studies this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Springfield. Western New England University graduates 64% of students within six years. There were roughly 30 criminal justice studies students who graduated with this degree at Western New England University in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice Studies graduates of Western New England University earn a median of $41,564 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $26,399 to complete this degree. Get the full criminal justice studies details for Western New England University

18

American International College came in at #18 for criminal justice studies this year. Set in the city of Springfield, American International College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 46% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 20 criminal justice studies degrees were awarded at American International College in the most recent year. Criminal Justice Studies graduates of American International College earn a median of $37,408 early in their careers. American International College graduates carry a median of $29,750 in student loans. Get the full criminal justice studies details for American International College

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Notes and References

This list is compiled 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 · 30 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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