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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2026 Best Criminal Justice Schools in Illinois

6 Colleges in the United States
523 Criminal Justice Degrees Awarded
$42,347 Avg Early-Career Salary

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.

For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 16 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for criminal justice students pursuing a degree.

What’s on this page:

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Best Schools for Criminal Justice in Illinois

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

Top Schools in Criminal Justice

1
Aurora University crest
Aurora University
Aurora, IL

No school ranked higher than Aurora University this year for criminal justice. Set in the suburb of Aurora, Aurora University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Aurora University graduates 60% of students within six years. Aurora University awarded about 23 criminal justice degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice program make about $44,150 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,635. See the full criminal justice program report for Aurora University

2

Students looking for a strong criminal justice program will find one at Western Illinois University, which ranked #2. Western Illinois University is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Macomb. About 45% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 200 criminal justice students who graduated with this degree at Western Illinois University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from Western Illinois University generally make around $45,140. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in criminal justice from Western Illinois University

3
Elmhurst College crest
Elmhurst College
Elmhurst, IL

Elmhurst College came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best criminal justice schools. Elmhurst College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Elmhurst. Roughly 70% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 23 criminal justice degrees were awarded at Elmhurst College in the most recent year. Students who receive their criminal justice degree from Elmhurst College earn around $38,352 in the first couple years of their career. Elmhurst College graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. More information about a degree in criminal justice from Elmhurst College

4

Bradley University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in criminal justice, ranking #4. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Peoria. The six-year graduation rate is 76%. Bradley University awarded about 15 criminal justice degrees in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice graduates of Bradley University earn a median of $54,513 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000. Get the full criminal justice details for Bradley University

5

Southwestern Illinois College is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in criminal justice, landing the #5 spot this year. Southwestern Illinois College is a large public school located in the suburb of Belleville. Southwestern Illinois College awarded about 26 criminal justice degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice program make about $44,345 in their early career. Southwestern Illinois College graduates carry a median of $11,000 in student loans. See the full criminal justice program report for Southwestern Illinois College

6
Triton College crest
Triton College
River Grove, IL

Triton College landed the #6 spot for criminal justice this year. Located in the suburb of River Grove, Triton College is a large public university. There were roughly 167 criminal justice students who graduated with this degree at Triton College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice degree from Triton College earn around $43,278 in the first couple years of their career. Triton College graduates carry a median of $12,994 in student loans. More information about a degree in criminal justice from Triton College

7
Kaskaskia College crest
Kaskaskia College
Centralia, IL

Kaskaskia College landed the #7 spot for criminal justice this year. Located in the rural area of Centralia, Kaskaskia College is a moderately-sized public university. About 23 criminal justice degrees were awarded at Kaskaskia College in the most recent year. Graduates of the criminal justice program make about $45,658 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $7,875. Read more about the criminal justice program at Kaskaskia College

8

Devry University Illinois came in at #8 for criminal justice this year. Located in the suburb of Lisle, Devry University Illinois is a very large private for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 18%. There were roughly 24 criminal justice students who graduated with this degree at Devry University Illinois in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice degree from Devry University Illinois earn around $43,091 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $54,985. See the full criminal justice program report for Devry University Illinois

9
Greenville College crest
Greenville College
Greenville, IL

Greenville College placed #9 among the best criminal justice schools. Located in the town of Greenville, Greenville College is a small private not-for-profit university. About 40% of students finish within six years. Greenville College awarded about 11 criminal justice degrees in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice graduates of Greenville College earn a median of $36,911 early in their careers. Greenville College graduates carry a median of $25,933 in student loans. More information about a degree in criminal justice from Greenville College

10
Maccormac College crest
Maccormac College
Chicago, IL

Maccormac College came in at #10 for criminal justice this year. Maccormac College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. About 11 criminal justice degrees were awarded at Maccormac College in the most recent year. Graduates of the criminal justice program make about $28,031 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,366. Read more about the criminal justice program at Maccormac College

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Notes and References

This list is compiled 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 · 16 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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