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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
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2026 Best Criminal Justice Studies Schools in Tennessee

4 Colleges in the United States
261 Criminal Justice Studies Degrees Awarded
$41,361 Avg Early-Career Salary

Criminal Justice Studies is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. The schools below stand out for the quality of their criminal justice studies programs.

College Factual analyzed 23 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 Tennessee

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall criminal justice studies education in Tennessee.

Top Schools in Criminal Justice Studies

1

Leading the list is Middle Tennessee State University, our #1 school for criminal justice studies. Middle Tennessee State University is a very large public school located in the city of Murfreesboro. Roughly 54% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 13 criminal justice studies students who graduated with this degree at Middle Tennessee State University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice studies degree recipients from Middle Tennessee State University generally make around $37,952. Students borrow a median of $24,093 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in criminal justice studies from Middle Tennessee State University

2

Freed Hardeman University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in criminal justice studies, ranking #2. Set in the town of Henderson, Freed Hardeman University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Freed Hardeman University graduates 69% of students within six years. Freed Hardeman University awarded about 14 criminal justice studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice studies degree recipients from Freed Hardeman University generally make around $54,530. Freed Hardeman University graduates carry a median of $24,479 in student loans. Get the full criminal justice studies details for Freed Hardeman University

3

Bryan College Dayton is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in criminal justice studies, ranking #3. Located in the town of Dayton, Bryan College Dayton is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. About 50% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 13 criminal justice studies students who graduated with this degree at Bryan College Dayton in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice Studies graduates of Bryan College Dayton earn a median of $44,067 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $25,652 to complete this degree. Get the full criminal justice studies details for Bryan College Dayton

4

Students looking for a strong criminal justice studies program will find one at Austin Peay State University, which ranked #4. This large public university is located in the city of Clarksville. The six-year graduation rate is 39%. About 11 criminal justice studies degrees were awarded at Austin Peay State University in the most recent year. Graduates of the criminal justice studies program make about $36,749 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $25,281 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in criminal justice studies from Austin Peay State University

5

Volunteer State Community College is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in criminal justice studies, ranking #5. Volunteer State Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Gallatin. There were roughly 17 criminal justice studies students who graduated with this degree at Volunteer State Community College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice studies degree from Volunteer State Community College earn around $40,137 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $12,462. See the full criminal justice studies program report for Volunteer State Community College

6

Bethel University Tennessee came in at #6 for criminal justice studies this year. Set in the town of McKenzie, Bethel University Tennessee is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 17%. There were roughly 112 criminal justice studies students who graduated with this degree at Bethel University Tennessee in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice studies program make about $54,442 in their early career. Bethel University Tennessee graduates carry a median of $24,444 in student loans. More information about a degree in criminal justice studies from Bethel University Tennessee

7

Pellissippi State Community College ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best criminal justice studies schools. Located in the suburb of Knoxville, Pellissippi State Community College is a large public university. There were roughly 18 criminal justice studies students who graduated with this degree at Pellissippi State Community College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice studies degree from Pellissippi State Community College earn around $43,816 in the first couple years of their career. Pellissippi State Community College graduates carry a median of $8,951 in student loans. Get the full criminal justice studies details for Pellissippi State Community College

8

Southwest Tennessee Community College landed the #8 spot for criminal justice studies this year. Located in the city of Memphis, Southwest Tennessee Community College is a moderately-sized public university. There were roughly 16 criminal justice studies students who graduated with this degree at Southwest Tennessee Community College in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice Studies graduates of Southwest Tennessee Community College earn a median of $43,592 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $11,406 to complete this degree. Read more about the criminal justice studies program at Southwest Tennessee Community College

9
South College crest
South College
Knoxville, TN

South College earned the #9 position for criminal justice studies this year. Set in the city of Knoxville, South College is a large private for-profit institution. South College graduates 53% of students within six years. About 22 criminal justice studies degrees were awarded at South College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice studies degree recipients from South College generally make around $24,095. Typical student debt for the program is $24,533. More information about a degree in criminal justice studies from South College

10

Northeast State Community College ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best criminal justice studies schools. Set in the rural area of Blountville, Northeast State Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. There were roughly 12 criminal justice studies students who graduated with this degree at Northeast State Community College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice studies program make about $39,673 in their early career. Northeast State Community College graduates carry a median of $6,404 in student loans. More information about a degree in criminal justice studies from Northeast State Community College

11
Lane College crest
Lane College
Jackson, TN

Lane College earned the #11 position for criminal justice studies this year. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Jackson. About 18% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 13 criminal justice studies students who graduated with this degree at Lane College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice studies degree recipients from Lane College generally make around $35,917. Typical student debt for the program is $38,680. Read more about the criminal justice studies program at Lane College

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Notes and References

This list is compiled 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 · 23 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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