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.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 747 schools to find the best for criminal justice students.
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University Of Virginia Main Campus is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in criminal justice. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Charlottesville. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. There were roughly 109 criminal justice students who graduated with this degree at University Of Virginia Main Campus in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice program make about $69,126 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $18,627.
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University Of San Diego is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in criminal justice, ranking #2. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of San Diego. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of San Diego awarded about 103 criminal justice degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from University Of San Diego generally make around $143,943. Students borrow a median of $23,795 to complete this degree.
See the full criminal justice program report for University Of San Diego
Michigan State University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in criminal justice, ranking #3. Set in the city of East Lansing, Michigan State University is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 81%. Michigan State University awarded about 32 criminal justice degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from Michigan State University generally make around $75,435. Michigan State University graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans.
Read more about the criminal justice program at Michigan State University
A rank of #4 makes Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice one of the top schools for criminal justice. Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice is a large public school located in the city of New York. Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice graduates 56% of students within six years. Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice awarded about 164 criminal justice degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice program make about $62,921 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $10,500.
See the full criminal justice program report for Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice
University Of Massachusetts Lowell is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in criminal justice, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the suburb of Lowell, University Of Massachusetts Lowell is a very large public university. About 65% of students finish within six years. University Of Massachusetts Lowell awarded about 78 criminal justice degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from University Of Massachusetts Lowell generally make around $93,930. Students borrow a median of $24,822 to complete this degree.
See the full criminal justice program report for University Of Massachusetts Lowell
University Of New Haven ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best criminal justice schools. Set in the suburb of West Haven, University Of New Haven is a large private not-for-profit institution. About 63% of students finish within six years. University Of New Haven awarded about 45 criminal justice degrees in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice graduates of University Of New Haven earn a median of $57,596 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
Read more about the criminal justice program at University Of New Haven
University Of South Florida Main Campus came in at #7 for criminal justice this year. Located in the city of Tampa, University Of South Florida Main Campus is a very large public university. University Of South Florida Main Campus graduates 77% of students within six years. About 25 criminal justice degrees were awarded at University Of South Florida Main Campus in the most recent year. Criminal Justice graduates of University Of South Florida Main Campus earn a median of $58,306 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $21,829.
More information about a degree in criminal justice from University Of South Florida Main Campus
Aurora University landed the #8 spot for criminal justice this year. Aurora University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Aurora. Roughly 60% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 23 criminal justice students who graduated with this degree at Aurora University in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice graduates of Aurora University earn a median of $44,150 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $23,635.
Get the full criminal justice details for Aurora University
Salve Regina University landed the #9 spot for criminal justice this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Newport. Salve Regina University graduates 77% of students within six years. There were roughly 41 criminal justice students who graduated with this degree at Salve Regina University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice program make about $78,042 in their early career. Salve Regina University graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
Get the full criminal justice details for Salve Regina University
Pennsylvania State University World Campus came in at #10 for criminal justice this year. Set in the city of University Park, Pennsylvania State University World Campus is a large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 34%. About 18 criminal justice degrees were awarded at Pennsylvania State University World Campus in the most recent year.
See the full criminal justice program report for Pennsylvania State University World Campus
St Johns University New York earned the #11 position for criminal justice this year. St Johns University New York is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Queens. Roughly 66% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 34 criminal justice degrees were awarded at St Johns University New York in the most recent year. Criminal Justice graduates of St Johns University New York earn a median of $57,106 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $26,719 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in criminal justice from St Johns University New York
University Of Colorado Denver ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best criminal justice schools. Set in the city of Denver, University Of Colorado Denver is a very large public institution. Roughly 46% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Colorado Denver awarded about 31 criminal justice degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from University Of Colorado Denver generally make around $45,814. Typical student debt for the program is $22,250.
More information about a degree in criminal justice from University Of Colorado Denver
Sam Houston State University earned the #13 position for criminal justice this year. Set in the town of Huntsville, Sam Houston State University is a very large public institution. About 55% of students finish within six years. About 23 criminal justice degrees were awarded at Sam Houston State University in the most recent year. Graduates of the criminal justice program make about $51,544 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $23,218 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in criminal justice from Sam Houston State University
University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus placed #14 among the best criminal justice schools. Located in the suburb of Norman, University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus is a very large public university. About 75% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 53 criminal justice students who graduated with this degree at University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice program make about $53,003 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $27,156 to complete this degree.
See the full criminal justice program report for University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus
Arizona State University Skysong ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best criminal justice schools. Set in the city of Scottsdale, Arizona State University Skysong is a very large public institution. About 97 criminal justice degrees were awarded at Arizona State University Skysong in the most recent year. Graduates of the criminal justice program make about $65,277 in their early career. Arizona State University Skysong graduates carry a median of $22,000 in student loans.
See the full criminal justice program report for Arizona State University Skysong
Virginia Commonwealth University landed the #16 spot for criminal justice this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Richmond. About 63% of students finish within six years. Virginia Commonwealth University awarded about 12 criminal justice degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice program make about $38,495 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $23,250 to complete this degree.
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Merrimack College landed the #17 spot for criminal justice this year. Merrimack College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of North Andover. About 70% of students finish within six years. About 38 criminal justice degrees were awarded at Merrimack College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from Merrimack College generally make around $66,395. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
Get the full criminal justice details for Merrimack College
University Of Louisville came in at #18 for criminal justice this year. Set in the city of Louisville, University Of Louisville is a very large public institution. University Of Louisville graduates 61% of students within six years. About 32 criminal justice degrees were awarded at University Of Louisville in the most recent year. Students who receive their criminal justice degree from University Of Louisville earn around $81,602 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $18,258 to complete this degree.
See the full criminal justice program report for University Of Louisville
Norwich University landed the #19 spot for criminal justice this year. Norwich University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Northfield. Roughly 60% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 17 criminal justice degrees were awarded at Norwich University in the most recent year. Graduates of the criminal justice program make about $43,523 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete this degree.
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Georgia College And State University earned the #20 position for criminal justice this year. Located in the town of Milledgeville, Georgia College And State University is a moderately-sized public university. About 64% of students finish within six years. Georgia College And State University awarded about 18 criminal justice degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice program make about $39,133 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in criminal justice from Georgia College And State University
College Of Saint Elizabeth earned the #21 position for criminal justice this year. College Of Saint Elizabeth is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Morristown. About 51% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 12 criminal justice students who graduated with this degree at College Of Saint Elizabeth in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from College Of Saint Elizabeth generally make around $76,861. College Of Saint Elizabeth graduates carry a median of $25,496 in student loans.
More information about a degree in criminal justice from College Of Saint Elizabeth
Anna Maria College landed the #22 spot for criminal justice this year. Anna Maria College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Paxton. About 46% of students finish within six years. About 40 criminal justice degrees were awarded at Anna Maria College in the most recent year. Students who receive their criminal justice degree from Anna Maria College earn around $81,066 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
Get the full criminal justice details for Anna Maria College
University Of Colorado At Colorado Springs came in at #23 for criminal justice this year. Set in the city of Colorado Springs, University Of Colorado At Colorado Springs is a large public institution. Roughly 47% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 15 criminal justice degrees were awarded at University Of Colorado At Colorado Springs in the most recent year. Students who receive their criminal justice degree from University Of Colorado At Colorado Springs earn around $42,199 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $18,625 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in criminal justice from University Of Colorado At Colorado Springs
Western Illinois University landed the #24 spot for criminal justice this year. Set in the town of Macomb, Western Illinois University is a moderately-sized public institution. About 45% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 29 criminal justice students who graduated with this degree at Western Illinois University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice degree from Western Illinois University earn around $49,381 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,000.
Read more about the criminal justice program at Western Illinois University
Middle Tennessee State University ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best criminal justice schools. Middle Tennessee State University is a very large public school located in the city of Murfreesboro. About 54% of students finish within six years. About 25 criminal justice degrees were awarded at Middle Tennessee State University in the most recent year. Criminal Justice graduates of Middle Tennessee State University earn a median of $37,952 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $24,093.
More information about a degree in criminal justice from Middle Tennessee State University
Rest of the Top 50 Criminal Justice Schools
These schools also placed among the best for criminal justice this year:
This list is compiled 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).
