Criminal Justice degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
College Factual analyzed 747 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best criminal justice schools.
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No school ranked higher than Santa Rosa Junior College this year for criminal justice. Santa Rosa Junior College is a very large public school located in the city of Santa Rosa. About 49 criminal justice degrees were awarded at Santa Rosa Junior College in the most recent year. Students who receive their criminal justice degree from Santa Rosa Junior College earn around $111,649 in the first couple years of their career. Santa Rosa Junior College graduates carry a median of $14,125 in student loans.
Read more about the criminal justice program at Santa Rosa Junior College
Students looking for a strong criminal justice program will find one at Raritan Valley Community College, which ranked #2. This moderately-sized public university is located in the rural area of Branchburg. There were roughly 37 criminal justice students who graduated with this degree at Raritan Valley Community College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice program make about $47,248 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $5,500.
See the full criminal justice program report for Raritan Valley Community College
Students looking for a strong criminal justice program will find one at Ferris State University, which ranked #3. This large public university is located in the town of Big Rapids. Ferris State University graduates 56% of students within six years. There were roughly 34 criminal justice students who graduated with this degree at Ferris State University in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice graduates of Ferris State University earn a median of $48,203 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $18,500.
Read more about the criminal justice program at Ferris State University
Commonwealth University Of Pennsylvania is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in criminal justice, landing the #4 spot this year. Commonwealth University Of Pennsylvania is a large public school located in the town of Bloomsburg. Roughly 56% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 12 criminal justice students who graduated with this degree at Commonwealth University Of Pennsylvania in the most recent data year.
Read more about the criminal justice program at Commonwealth University Of Pennsylvania
College Of San Mateo is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in criminal justice, landing the #5 spot this year. College Of San Mateo is a large public school located in the city of San Mateo. About 45 criminal justice degrees were awarded at College Of San Mateo in the most recent year. College Of San Mateo graduates carry a median of $12,831 in student loans.
More information about a degree in criminal justice from College Of San Mateo
Grossmont College placed #6 among the best criminal justice schools. This large public university is located in the suburb of El Cajon. About 85 criminal justice degrees were awarded at Grossmont College in the most recent year.
Read more about the criminal justice program at Grossmont College
Nassau Community College landed the #7 spot for criminal justice this year. This large public university is located in the suburb of Garden City. There were roughly 112 criminal justice students who graduated with this degree at Nassau Community College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice degree from Nassau Community College earn around $29,837 in the first couple years of their career. Nassau Community College graduates carry a median of $10,750 in student loans.
See the full criminal justice program report for Nassau Community College
Massachusetts Bay Community College earned the #8 position for criminal justice this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the suburb of Wellesley Hills. There were roughly 20 criminal justice students who graduated with this degree at Massachusetts Bay Community College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from Massachusetts Bay Community College generally make around $45,144. Massachusetts Bay Community College graduates carry a median of $6,333 in student loans.
Get the full criminal justice details for Massachusetts Bay Community College
Utah Valley University landed the #9 spot for criminal justice this year. Set in the city of Orem, Utah Valley University is a very large public institution. About 40% of students finish within six years. About 117 criminal justice degrees were awarded at Utah Valley University in the most recent year. Students who receive their criminal justice degree from Utah Valley University earn around $44,051 in the first couple years of their career. Utah Valley University graduates carry a median of $18,016 in student loans.
More information about a degree in criminal justice from Utah Valley University
College Of The Desert earned the #10 position for criminal justice this year. College Of The Desert is a large public school located in the city of Palm Desert. There were roughly 57 criminal justice students who graduated with this degree at College Of The Desert in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from College Of The Desert generally make around $32,482. Students borrow a median of $7,826 to complete this degree.
See the full criminal justice program report for College Of The Desert
Mt San Antonio College placed #11 among the best criminal justice schools. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Walnut. Mt San Antonio College awarded about 75 criminal justice degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from Mt San Antonio College generally make around $33,692. Typical student debt for the program is $9,384.
See the full criminal justice program report for Mt San Antonio College
Chabot College placed #12 among the best criminal justice schools. Chabot College is a large public school located in the suburb of Hayward. There were roughly 38 criminal justice students who graduated with this degree at Chabot College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice degree from Chabot College earn around $85,175 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $14,122 to complete this degree.
See the full criminal justice program report for Chabot College
Macomb Community College ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best criminal justice schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Warren. Macomb Community College awarded about 16 criminal justice degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice degree from Macomb Community College earn around $38,758 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $6,964.
Get the full criminal justice details for Macomb Community College
Sacramento City College came in at #14 for criminal justice this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Sacramento. There were roughly 108 criminal justice students who graduated with this degree at Sacramento City College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from Sacramento City College generally make around $31,146. Typical student debt for the program is $11,760.
See the full criminal justice program report for Sacramento City College
Southwestern College Chula Vista landed the #15 spot for criminal justice this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Chula Vista. About 137 criminal justice degrees were awarded at Southwestern College Chula Vista in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from Southwestern College Chula Vista generally make around $30,983. Students borrow a median of $11,205 to complete this degree.
See the full criminal justice program report for Southwestern College Chula Vista
Broward College earned the #16 position for criminal justice this year. Set in the city of Fort Lauderdale, Broward College is a very large public institution. About 53 criminal justice degrees were awarded at Broward College in the most recent year. Criminal Justice graduates of Broward College earn a median of $34,607 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $10,724 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in criminal justice from Broward College
Lake Superior State University landed the #17 spot for criminal justice this year. This small public university is located in the town of Sault Ste Marie. About 50% of students finish within six years. About 16 criminal justice degrees were awarded at Lake Superior State University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from Lake Superior State University generally make around $44,635. Students borrow a median of $14,375 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in criminal justice from Lake Superior State University
Rio Hondo College earned the #18 position for criminal justice this year. Rio Hondo College is a very large public school located in the rural area of Whittier. About 107 criminal justice degrees were awarded at Rio Hondo College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from Rio Hondo College generally make around $95,666. Students borrow a median of $15,510 to complete this degree.
Read more about the criminal justice program at Rio Hondo College
College Of The Canyons placed #19 among the best criminal justice schools. Set in the suburb of Santa Clarita, College Of The Canyons is a very large public institution. College Of The Canyons awarded about 73 criminal justice degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from College Of The Canyons generally make around $51,913. Typical student debt for the program is $9,776.
Read more about the criminal justice program at College Of The Canyons
Columbia Southern University placed #20 among the best criminal justice schools. Columbia Southern University is a very large private for-profit school located in the town of Orange Beach. Columbia Southern University graduates 26% of students within six years. Columbia Southern University awarded about 311 criminal justice degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice degree from Columbia Southern University earn around $58,241 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $17,078 to complete this degree.
See the full criminal justice program report for Columbia Southern University
Butte College earned the #21 position for criminal justice this year. This large public university is located in the rural area of Oroville. About 53 criminal justice degrees were awarded at Butte College in the most recent year. Students who receive their criminal justice degree from Butte College earn around $73,170 in the first couple years of their career. Butte College graduates carry a median of $15,414 in student loans.
More information about a degree in criminal justice from Butte College
Erie Community College ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best criminal justice schools. Located in the city of Buffalo, Erie Community College is a large public university. About 52 criminal justice degrees were awarded at Erie Community College in the most recent year. Students who receive their criminal justice degree from Erie Community College earn around $33,340 in the first couple years of their career. Erie Community College graduates carry a median of $8,750 in student loans.
Read more about the criminal justice program at Erie Community College
East Los Angeles College placed #23 among the best criminal justice schools. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Monterey Park. East Los Angeles College awarded about 203 criminal justice degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice program make about $33,595 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $8,180.
See the full criminal justice program report for East Los Angeles College
Pierce College At Fort Steilacoom landed the #24 spot for criminal justice this year. Set in the city of Lakewood, Pierce College At Fort Steilacoom is a large public institution. Pierce College At Fort Steilacoom awarded about 26 criminal justice degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice degree from Pierce College At Fort Steilacoom earn around $39,975 in the first couple years of their career. Pierce College At Fort Steilacoom graduates carry a median of $17,154 in student loans.
See the full criminal justice program report for Pierce College At Fort Steilacoom
City College Of San Francisco landed the #25 spot for criminal justice this year. Located in the city of San Francisco, City College Of San Francisco is a very large public university. About 23 criminal justice degrees were awarded at City College Of San Francisco in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from City College Of San Francisco generally make around $100,031. Students borrow a median of $10,332 to complete this degree.
Read more about the criminal justice program at City College Of San Francisco
Rest of the Top 50 Criminal Justice Schools
These schools also placed among the best for criminal justice this year:
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 · 747 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).
