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

8 Colleges in the United States
993 Criminal Justice Studies Degrees Awarded
$39,613 Avg Early-Career Salary

Criminal Justice Studies programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.

For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 17 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for criminal justice studies students pursuing a degree.

What’s on this page:

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Best Schools for Criminal Justice Studies in West Virginia

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

American Public University System is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in criminal justice studies. American Public University System is a very large private for-profit school located in the town of Charles Town. The six-year graduation rate is 47%. American Public University System awarded about 712 criminal justice studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice studies degree recipients from American Public University System generally make around $62,012. Students borrow a median of $21,243 to complete this degree. Get the full criminal justice studies details for American Public University System

2

A rank of #2 makes Fairmont State University one of the top schools for criminal justice studies. This mid-sized public university is located in the town of Fairmont. Roughly 44% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 85 criminal justice studies degrees were awarded at Fairmont State University in the most recent year. Criminal Justice Studies graduates of Fairmont State University earn a median of $36,490 early in their careers. Fairmont State University graduates carry a median of $25,557 in student loans. Read more about the criminal justice studies program at Fairmont State University

3
West Liberty University crest
West Liberty University
West Liberty, WV

West Liberty University came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best criminal justice studies schools. Set in the rural area of West Liberty, West Liberty University is a mid-sized public institution. About 56% of students finish within six years. West Liberty University awarded about 10 criminal justice studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice studies degree from West Liberty University earn around $48,761 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,250. Get the full criminal justice studies details for West Liberty University

4
Marshall University crest
Marshall University
Huntington, WV

Marshall University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best criminal justice studies schools. This large public university is located in the city of Huntington. Roughly 51% of students complete a degree within six years here. Marshall University awarded about 39 criminal justice studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice studies degree from Marshall University earn around $32,747 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $25,873 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in criminal justice studies from Marshall University

5

Blue Ridge Community And Technical College came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best criminal justice studies schools. Located in the rural area of Martinsburg, Blue Ridge Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. There were roughly 18 criminal justice studies students who graduated with this degree at Blue Ridge Community And Technical College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice studies degree from Blue Ridge Community And Technical College earn around $41,032 in the first couple years of their career. Blue Ridge Community And Technical College graduates carry a median of $12,000 in student loans. See the full criminal justice studies program report for Blue Ridge Community And Technical College

6

West Virginia Wesleyan College came in at #6 for criminal justice studies this year. West Virginia Wesleyan College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of Buckhannon. West Virginia Wesleyan College graduates 57% of students within six years. There were roughly 15 criminal justice studies students who graduated with this degree at West Virginia Wesleyan College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice studies program make about $31,400 in their early career. West Virginia Wesleyan College graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Read more about the criminal justice studies program at West Virginia Wesleyan College

7

Potomac State College Of West Virginia University placed #7 among the best criminal justice studies schools. Located in the town of Keyser, Potomac State College Of West Virginia University is a small public university. Potomac State College Of West Virginia University awarded about 10 criminal justice studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice studies degree from Potomac State College Of West Virginia University earn around $42,670 in the first couple years of their career. Potomac State College Of West Virginia University graduates carry a median of $19,858 in student loans. See the full criminal justice studies program report for Potomac State College Of West Virginia University

8

West Virginia State University landed the #8 spot for criminal justice studies this year. This mid-sized public university is located in the suburb of Institute. The six-year graduation rate is 39%. There were roughly 34 criminal justice studies students who graduated with this degree at West Virginia State University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice studies program make about $39,056 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,860. Read more about the criminal justice studies program at West Virginia State University

9

West Virginia University At Parkersburg placed #9 among the best criminal justice studies schools. Set in the rural area of Parkersburg, West Virginia University At Parkersburg is a mid-sized public institution. About 19 criminal justice studies degrees were awarded at West Virginia University At Parkersburg in the most recent year. Students who receive their criminal justice studies degree from West Virginia University At Parkersburg earn around $45,400 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,595. See the full criminal justice studies program report for West Virginia University At Parkersburg

10

Salem International University placed #10 among the best criminal justice studies schools. This small private for-profit university is located in the rural area of Salem. Roughly 17% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 41 criminal justice studies students who graduated with this degree at Salem International University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice studies degree from Salem International University earn around $25,665 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $30,949. Read more about the criminal justice studies program at Salem International University

11

Bluefield State College earned the #11 position for criminal justice studies this year. Located in the town of Bluefield, Bluefield State College is a small public university. Roughly 30% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 10 criminal justice studies students who graduated with this degree at Bluefield State College in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice Studies graduates of Bluefield State College earn a median of $30,506 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $30,250 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in criminal justice studies from Bluefield State College

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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 · 17 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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