by our College Data Analytics TeamA degree in Criminal Justice explores Criminal Justice/law Enforcement Administration. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Apply Theories And Practices Of Organization Management And Criminal Justice To The Administration Of Public Law Enforcement Agencies And Operations. Includes Instruction In Law Enforcement History And Theory, Operational Command Leadership, Administration Of Public Police Organizations, Labor Relations, Incident Response Strategies, Legal And Regulatory Responsibilities, Budgeting, Public Relations, And Organizational Leadership. Continue reading for the key facts every criminal justice student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering criminal justice programs.
Across the country, criminal justice is a popular field of study, with 26,997 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Criminal Justice Schools ranking analyzes these 653 schools to determine the best overall colleges for criminal justice students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of criminal justice programs later in this article.
Coursework for Criminal Justice emphasize a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations criminal justice graduates commonly enter.
Skills emphasized by a criminal justice program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Per O*NET surveys, a criminal justice major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several criminal justice degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 449 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 8,605 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 12,382 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 5,154 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 85 |
People currently working in careers related to criminal justice tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 51.5% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 16.6% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 8.7% |
| Master’s degree | 7.6% |
| Some college courses | 6.7% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 4.3% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 2.4% |
| Doctoral degree | 1.5% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.7% |
| First professional degree | 0.1% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in criminal justice careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
A degree in criminal justice prepares you for numerous career paths. Below are some of the most common occupations related to criminal justice.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to criminal justice.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Managers, All Other | 468,025 | 6.2% |
| Compliance Managers | 310,203 | 13.0% |
| First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives | 290,410 | 11.9% |
| Loss Prevention Managers | 265,210 | 2.2% |
| Regulatory Affairs Managers | 206,415 | 9.9% |
| Wind Energy Operations Managers | 128,884 | 5.2% |
| Wind Energy Development Managers | 107,541 | 10.1% |
| Brownfield Redevelopment Specialists and Site Managers | 105,398 | -1.9% |
College Scorecard reports median earnings of criminal justice graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Wages typically rise as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $40,812 |
| 4 years | $44,073 |
| 5 years | $49,815 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for criminal justice graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers criminal justice grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Wind Energy Development Managers | $169,952 |
| Loss Prevention Managers | $165,723 |
| Wind Energy Operations Managers | $122,567 |
| Compliance Managers | $117,178 |
| Brownfield Redevelopment Specialists and Site Managers | $99,321 |
| Managers, All Other | $95,684 |
| Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Teachers, Postsecondary | $91,449 |
| Regulatory Affairs Managers | $77,828 |
With 653 different criminal justice programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased criminal justice school rankings to help you.
Those considering criminal justice, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Criminal Justice/Safety Studies | 41,895 |
| Criminal Justice/Police Science | 20,474 |
| Corrections | 4,967 |
| Corrections and Criminal Justice, Other | 4,327 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | 2,175 |
| Securities Services Administration/Management | 662 |
| Security and Loss Prevention Services | 494 |
| Law Enforcement Investigation and Interviewing | 300 |
| Corrections Administration | 97 |
| Juvenile Corrections | 68 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
