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.
College Factual analyzed 293 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best criminal justice studies schools.
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Leading the list is University Of Virginia Main Campus, our #1 school for criminal justice studies. Located in the suburb of Charlottesville, University Of Virginia Main Campus is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. About 594 criminal justice studies degrees were awarded at University Of Virginia Main Campus in the most recent year. Students who receive their criminal justice studies degree from University Of Virginia Main Campus earn around $69,126 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Virginia Main Campus graduates carry a median of $18,627 in student loans.
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George Mason University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in criminal justice studies, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the suburb of Fairfax, George Mason University is a very large public university. About 68% of students finish within six years. About 29 criminal justice studies degrees were awarded at George Mason University in the most recent year. Graduates of the criminal justice studies program make about $49,815 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,761.
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Students looking for a strong criminal justice studies program will find one at Florida State University, which ranked #3. This very large public university is located in the city of Tallahassee. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. Florida State University awarded about 577 criminal justice studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice studies program make about $46,245 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,170.
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Appalachian State University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best criminal justice studies schools. Located in the town of Boone, Appalachian State University is a very large public university. Appalachian State University graduates 74% of students within six years. About 107 criminal justice studies degrees were awarded at Appalachian State University in the most recent year. Graduates of the criminal justice studies program make about $35,796 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $18,750 to complete this degree.
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High Point University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in criminal justice studies, landing the #5 spot this year. High Point University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of High Point. High Point University graduates 72% of students within six years. There were roughly 44 criminal justice studies students who graduated with this degree at High Point University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice studies degree from High Point University earn around $113,352 in the first couple years of their career. High Point University graduates carry a median of $23,785 in student loans.
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Florida International University landed the #6 spot for criminal justice studies this year. Located in the suburb of Miami, Florida International University is a very large public university. About 74% of students finish within six years. About 470 criminal justice studies degrees were awarded at Florida International University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice studies degree recipients from Florida International University generally make around $42,215. Students borrow a median of $18,623 to complete this degree.
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Western Carolina University placed #7 among the best criminal justice studies schools. This large public university is located in the town of Cullowhee. Roughly 60% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 139 criminal justice studies degrees were awarded at Western Carolina University in the most recent year. Graduates of the criminal justice studies program make about $38,682 in their early career. Western Carolina University graduates carry a median of $21,461 in student loans.
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University Of North Carolina At Charlotte earned the #8 position for criminal justice studies this year. Set in the city of Charlotte, University Of North Carolina At Charlotte is a very large public institution. University Of North Carolina At Charlotte graduates 69% of students within six years. University Of North Carolina At Charlotte awarded about 200 criminal justice studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice studies degree from University Of North Carolina At Charlotte earn around $36,155 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,250.
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Florida Gulf Coast University ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best criminal justice studies schools. Florida Gulf Coast University is a large public school located in the suburb of Fort Myers. Roughly 57% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 122 criminal justice studies degrees were awarded at Florida Gulf Coast University in the most recent year. Criminal Justice Studies graduates of Florida Gulf Coast University earn a median of $40,079 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $21,660.
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University Of North Florida landed the #10 spot for criminal justice studies this year. Set in the city of Jacksonville, University Of North Florida is a large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 65%. About 158 criminal justice studies degrees were awarded at University Of North Florida in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice studies degree recipients from University Of North Florida generally make around $44,450. Typical student debt for the program is $19,375.
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Florida Atlantic University placed #11 among the best criminal justice studies schools. Located in the city of Boca Raton, Florida Atlantic University is a very large public university. Florida Atlantic University graduates 63% of students within six years. Florida Atlantic University awarded about 241 criminal justice studies degrees in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice Studies graduates of Florida Atlantic University earn a median of $41,963 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $18,750.
More information about a degree in criminal justice studies from Florida Atlantic University
Indian River State College earned the #12 position for criminal justice studies this year. Set in the suburb of Fort Pierce, Indian River State College is a very large public institution. About 68 criminal justice studies degrees were awarded at Indian River State College in the most recent year. Graduates of the criminal justice studies program make about $51,825 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $9,176.
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University Of Central Florida landed the #13 spot for criminal justice studies this year. Located in the suburb of Orlando, University Of Central Florida is a very large public university. University Of Central Florida graduates 78% of students within six years. University Of Central Florida awarded about 530 criminal justice studies degrees in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice Studies graduates of University Of Central Florida earn a median of $41,273 early in their careers. University Of Central Florida graduates carry a median of $21,731 in student loans.
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Nova Southeastern University landed the #14 spot for criminal justice studies this year. Located in the suburb of Fort Lauderdale, Nova Southeastern University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Nova Southeastern University graduates 63% of students within six years. Nova Southeastern University awarded about 67 criminal justice studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice studies degree from Nova Southeastern University earn around $71,836 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $25,021 to complete this degree.
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University Of Arkansas came in at #15 for criminal justice studies this year. Set in the city of Fayetteville, University Of Arkansas is a very large public institution. Roughly 70% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Arkansas awarded about 73 criminal justice studies degrees in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice Studies graduates of University Of Arkansas earn a median of $38,083 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $25,385 to complete this degree.
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Middle Tennessee State University earned the #16 position for criminal justice studies this year. Set in the city of Murfreesboro, Middle Tennessee State University is a very large public institution. Roughly 54% of students complete a degree within six years here. Middle Tennessee State University awarded about 13 criminal justice studies degrees in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice Studies graduates of Middle Tennessee State University earn a median of $37,952 early in their careers. Middle Tennessee State University graduates carry a median of $24,093 in student loans.
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Chattahoochee Technical College landed the #17 spot for criminal justice studies this year. Set in the suburb of Marietta, Chattahoochee Technical College is a large public institution. There were roughly 115 criminal justice studies students who graduated with this degree at Chattahoochee Technical College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice studies program make about $44,673 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $9,616 to complete this degree.
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Radford University placed #18 among the best criminal justice studies schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the town of Radford. The six-year graduation rate is 49%. Radford University awarded about 82 criminal justice studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice studies degree from Radford University earn around $35,935 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete this degree.
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American Public University System earned the #19 position for criminal justice studies this year. Located in the town of Charles Town, American Public University System is a very large private for-profit university. American Public University System graduates 47% of students within six years. There were roughly 712 criminal justice studies students who graduated with this degree at American Public University System in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice studies degree recipients from American Public University System generally make around $62,012. Typical student debt for the program is $21,243.
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Kennesaw State University landed the #20 spot for criminal justice studies this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Kennesaw. About 52% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 168 criminal justice studies students who graduated with this degree at Kennesaw State University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice studies program make about $39,566 in their early career. Kennesaw State University graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans.
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University Of North Georgia earned the #21 position for criminal justice studies this year. University Of North Georgia is a very large public school located in the town of Dahlonega. The six-year graduation rate is 50%. There were roughly 125 criminal justice studies students who graduated with this degree at University Of North Georgia in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice studies program make about $41,598 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $22,363 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in criminal justice studies from University Of North Georgia
Roanoke College earned the #22 position for criminal justice studies this year. Located in the suburb of Salem, Roanoke College is a small private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 67%. About 17 criminal justice studies degrees were awarded at Roanoke College in the most recent year. Criminal Justice Studies graduates of Roanoke College earn a median of $33,725 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
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Longwood University ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best criminal justice studies schools. Set in the town of Farmville, Longwood University is a moderately-sized public institution. Longwood University graduates 61% of students within six years. There were roughly 31 criminal justice studies students who graduated with this degree at Longwood University in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice Studies graduates of Longwood University earn a median of $36,254 early in their careers. Longwood University graduates carry a median of $23,375 in student loans.
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Liberty University ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best criminal justice studies schools. Set in the city of Lynchburg, Liberty University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Liberty University graduates 67% of students within six years. Liberty University awarded about 1,196 criminal justice studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice studies degree recipients from Liberty University generally make around $49,329. Liberty University graduates carry a median of $29,323 in student loans.
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University Of Southern Mississippi earned the #25 position for criminal justice studies this year. This large public university is located in the city of Hattiesburg. University Of Southern Mississippi graduates 49% of students within six years. University Of Southern Mississippi awarded about 72 criminal justice studies degrees in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice Studies graduates of University Of Southern Mississippi earn a median of $36,315 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $21,125.
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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:
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 · 293 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).
