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

8 Colleges in the United States
649 Criminal Justice Studies Degrees Awarded
$54,522 Avg Early-Career Salary

Criminal Justice Studies is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.

To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 19 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 Arizona

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

Leading the list is Northern Arizona University, our #1 school for criminal justice studies. Located in the city of Flagstaff, Northern Arizona University is a very large public university. About 61% of students finish within six years. Northern Arizona University awarded about 16 criminal justice studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice studies degree from Northern Arizona University earn around $47,056 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $21,645 to complete this degree. Get the full criminal justice studies details for Northern Arizona University

2

A rank of #2 makes Mesa Community College one of the top schools for criminal justice studies. Mesa Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Mesa. About 111 criminal justice studies degrees were awarded at Mesa Community College in the most recent year. Graduates of the criminal justice studies program make about $54,730 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $13,750. Read more about the criminal justice studies program at Mesa Community College

3
Phoenix College crest
Phoenix College
Phoenix, AZ

Phoenix College is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in criminal justice studies, ranking #3. This large public university is located in the city of Phoenix. About 56 criminal justice studies degrees were awarded at Phoenix College in the most recent year. Criminal Justice Studies graduates of Phoenix College earn a median of $51,053 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $15,204 to complete this degree. See the full criminal justice studies program report for Phoenix College

4

Chandler Gilbert Community College came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best criminal justice studies schools. Set in the city of Chandler, Chandler Gilbert Community College is a large public institution. Chandler Gilbert Community College awarded about 54 criminal justice studies degrees in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice Studies graduates of Chandler Gilbert Community College earn a median of $46,943 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $10,447 to complete this degree. Get the full criminal justice studies details for Chandler Gilbert Community College

5

Rio Salado College is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in criminal justice studies, ranking #5. This very large public university is located in the city of Tempe. There were roughly 23 criminal justice studies students who graduated with this degree at Rio Salado College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice studies degree recipients from Rio Salado College generally make around $51,384. Typical student debt for the program is $11,500. Read more about the criminal justice studies program at Rio Salado College

6

Glendale Community College Glendale Az earned the #6 position for criminal justice studies this year. Set in the suburb of Glendale, Glendale Community College Glendale Az is a very large public institution. About 32 criminal justice studies degrees were awarded at Glendale Community College Glendale Az in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice studies degree recipients from Glendale Community College Glendale Az generally make around $51,483. Students borrow a median of $15,996 to complete this degree. Get the full criminal justice studies details for Glendale Community College Glendale Az

7

Scottsdale Community College landed the #7 spot for criminal justice studies this year. Scottsdale Community College is a large public school located in the rural area of Scottsdale. About 36 criminal justice studies degrees were awarded at Scottsdale Community College in the most recent year. Students who receive their criminal justice studies degree from Scottsdale Community College earn around $48,039 in the first couple years of their career. Scottsdale Community College graduates carry a median of $13,084 in student loans. More information about a degree in criminal justice studies from Scottsdale Community College

8

Grand Canyon University landed the #8 spot for criminal justice studies this year. Located in the city of Phoenix, Grand Canyon University is a very large private for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 44%. There were roughly 100 criminal justice studies students who graduated with this degree at Grand Canyon University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice studies program make about $45,737 in their early career. Grand Canyon University graduates carry a median of $27,048 in student loans. Read more about the criminal justice studies program at Grand Canyon University

9

Paradise Valley Community College earned the #9 position for criminal justice studies this year. Set in the city of Phoenix, Paradise Valley Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. About 23 criminal justice studies degrees were awarded at Paradise Valley Community College in the most recent year. Students who receive their criminal justice studies degree from Paradise Valley Community College earn around $71,136 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $14,204 to complete this degree. See the full criminal justice studies program report for Paradise Valley Community College

10
Yavapai College crest
Yavapai College
Prescott, AZ

Yavapai College came in at #10 for criminal justice studies this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Prescott. Yavapai College awarded about 12 criminal justice studies degrees in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice Studies graduates of Yavapai College earn a median of $59,511 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $17,625. Read more about the criminal justice studies program at Yavapai College

11

Estrella Mountain Community College earned the #11 position for criminal justice studies this year. Set in the suburb of Avondale, Estrella Mountain Community College is a large public institution. About 156 criminal justice studies degrees were awarded at Estrella Mountain Community College in the most recent year. Students who receive their criminal justice studies degree from Estrella Mountain Community College earn around $78,359 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,752. More information about a degree in criminal justice studies from Estrella Mountain Community College

12

Central Arizona College placed #12 among the best criminal justice studies schools. Set in the rural area of Coolidge, Central Arizona College is a moderately-sized public institution. About 11 criminal justice studies degrees were awarded at Central Arizona College in the most recent year. Criminal Justice Studies graduates of Central Arizona College earn a median of $48,826 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $11,635 to complete this degree. Get the full criminal justice studies details for Central Arizona College

13

South Mountain Community College came in at #13 for criminal justice studies this year. Set in the city of Phoenix, South Mountain Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. About 19 criminal justice studies degrees were awarded at South Mountain Community College in the most recent year. See the full criminal justice studies program report for South Mountain Community College

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Notes and References

The ranking above is published 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 · 19 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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