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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2026 Best Criminal Justice Studies Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region

12 Colleges in the United States
1,422 Criminal Justice Studies Degrees Awarded
$42,317 Avg Early-Career Salary

Criminal Justice Studies degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.

To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 26 schools to find the best for criminal justice studies students.

What’s on this page:

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Best Schools for Criminal Justice Studies in the Rocky Mountains Region

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
Salt Lake Community College crest
Salt Lake Community College
Salt Lake City, UT

No school ranked higher than Salt Lake Community College this year for criminal justice studies. Set in the suburb of Salt Lake City, Salt Lake Community College is a very large public institution. Salt Lake Community College awarded about 70 criminal justice studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice studies program make about $44,042 in their early career. Salt Lake Community College graduates carry a median of $6,334 in student loans. More information about a degree in criminal justice studies from Salt Lake Community College

2

University Of Wyoming is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in criminal justice studies, landing the #2 spot this year. This large public university is located in the town of Laramie. Roughly 59% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 68 criminal justice studies students who graduated with this degree at University Of Wyoming in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice studies program make about $38,797 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $19,393 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in criminal justice studies from University Of Wyoming

3

Students looking for a strong criminal justice studies program will find one at University Of Northern Colorado, which ranked #3. University Of Northern Colorado is a large public school located in the city of Greeley. Roughly 51% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Northern Colorado awarded about 75 criminal justice studies degrees in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice Studies graduates of University Of Northern Colorado earn a median of $38,422 early in their careers. University Of Northern Colorado graduates carry a median of $18,568 in student loans. See the full criminal justice studies program report for University Of Northern Colorado

4

Weber State University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in criminal justice studies, ranking #4. This very large public university is located in the city of Ogden. About 47% of students finish within six years. About 151 criminal justice studies degrees were awarded at Weber State University in the most recent year. Graduates of the criminal justice studies program make about $43,281 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $19,828. More information about a degree in criminal justice studies from Weber State University

5

Idaho State University came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best criminal justice studies schools. Located in the city of Pocatello, Idaho State University is a large public university. Roughly 35% of students complete a degree within six years here. Idaho State University awarded about 11 criminal justice studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice studies degree from Idaho State University earn around $51,446 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,640. See the full criminal justice studies program report for Idaho State University

6

Boise State University came in at #6 for criminal justice studies this year. Located in the city of Boise, Boise State University is a very large public university. Boise State University graduates 59% of students within six years. There were roughly 128 criminal justice studies students who graduated with this degree at Boise State University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice studies degree recipients from Boise State University generally make around $37,891. Students borrow a median of $22,071 to complete this degree. Read more about the criminal justice studies program at Boise State University

7

Metropolitan State College Of Denver placed #7 among the best criminal justice studies schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Denver. About 31% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 126 criminal justice studies students who graduated with this degree at Metropolitan State College Of Denver in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice studies program make about $44,497 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $26,130 to complete this degree. Read more about the criminal justice studies program at Metropolitan State College Of Denver

8
Mesa State College crest
Mesa State College
Grand Junction, CO

Mesa State College placed #8 among the best criminal justice studies schools. Mesa State College is a large public school located in the city of Grand Junction. The six-year graduation rate is 47%. There were roughly 66 criminal justice studies students who graduated with this degree at Mesa State College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice studies program make about $51,921 in their early career. Mesa State College graduates carry a median of $18,000 in student loans. More information about a degree in criminal justice studies from Mesa State College

9

College Of Southern Idaho ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best criminal justice studies schools. Set in the city of Twin Falls, College Of Southern Idaho is a large public institution. There were roughly 24 criminal justice studies students who graduated with this degree at College Of Southern Idaho in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice Studies graduates of College Of Southern Idaho earn a median of $30,479 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $11,130 to complete this degree. Get the full criminal justice studies details for College Of Southern Idaho

10
Snow College crest
Snow College
Ephraim, UT

Snow College landed the #10 spot for criminal justice studies this year. Located in the town of Ephraim, Snow College is a moderately-sized public university. There were roughly 23 criminal justice studies students who graduated with this degree at Snow College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice studies degree from Snow College earn around $42,776 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $10,440. See the full criminal justice studies program report for Snow College

11
Casper College crest
Casper College
Casper, WY

Casper College earned the #11 position for criminal justice studies this year. Located in the city of Casper, Casper College is a mid-sized public university. About 10 criminal justice studies degrees were awarded at Casper College in the most recent year. Students who receive their criminal justice studies degree from Casper College earn around $49,729 in the first couple years of their career. Casper College graduates carry a median of $12,598 in student loans. Get the full criminal justice studies details for Casper College

12

College Of Western Idaho placed #12 among the best criminal justice studies schools. College Of Western Idaho is a very large public school located in the rural area of Nampa. College Of Western Idaho awarded about 30 criminal justice studies degrees in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice Studies graduates of College Of Western Idaho earn a median of $35,959 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $7,381 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in criminal justice studies from College Of Western Idaho

13
Sheridan College crest
Sheridan College
Sheridan, WY

Sheridan College landed the #13 spot for criminal justice studies this year. Sheridan College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Sheridan. There were roughly 11 criminal justice studies students who graduated with this degree at Sheridan College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice studies degree recipients from Sheridan College generally make around $49,039. Typical student debt for the program is $13,910. Read more about the criminal justice studies program at Sheridan College

14

Dixie State College Of Utah earned the #14 position for criminal justice studies this year. Located in the city of Saint George, Dixie State College Of Utah is a large public university. Roughly 28% of students complete a degree within six years here. Dixie State College Of Utah awarded about 49 criminal justice studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice studies degree from Dixie State College Of Utah earn around $31,558 in the first couple years of their career. Dixie State College Of Utah graduates carry a median of $17,399 in student loans. See the full criminal justice studies program report for Dixie State College Of Utah

15

Lewis Clark State College placed #15 among the best criminal justice studies schools. This mid-sized public university is located in the city of Lewiston. About 32% of students finish within six years. About 21 criminal justice studies degrees were awarded at Lewis Clark State College in the most recent year. Graduates of the criminal justice studies program make about $40,442 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $26,458 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in criminal justice studies from Lewis Clark State College

16

Colorado Technical University Colorado Springs came in at #16 for criminal justice studies this year. Set in the city of Colorado Springs, Colorado Technical University Colorado Springs is a very large private for-profit institution. Colorado Technical University Colorado Springs graduates 14% of students within six years. About 542 criminal justice studies degrees were awarded at Colorado Technical University Colorado Springs in the most recent year. Graduates of the criminal justice studies program make about $40,342 in their early career. Colorado Technical University Colorado Springs graduates carry a median of $50,705 in student loans. More information about a degree in criminal justice studies from Colorado Technical University Colorado Springs

17

Montana State University Billings ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best criminal justice studies schools. Located in the city of Billings, Montana State University Billings is a moderately-sized public university. About 34% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 17 criminal justice studies students who graduated with this degree at Montana State University Billings in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice Studies graduates of Montana State University Billings earn a median of $48,764 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $25,465. See the full criminal justice studies program report for Montana State University Billings

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Notes and References

The ranking above is published 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 · 26 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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