2026 Best Criminal Justice Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region

1

Pennsylvania State University Main Campus
University Park, PA

Pennsylvania State University 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 city of University Park. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 253 criminal justice students who graduated with this degree at Pennsylvania State University Main Campus in the most recent data year. More information about a degree in criminal justice from Pennsylvania State University Main Campus

2

The College Of New Jersey
Ewing, NJ

The College Of New Jersey came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best criminal justice schools. Set in the suburb of Ewing, The College Of New Jersey is a moderately-sized public institution. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 39 criminal justice students who graduated with this degree at The College Of New Jersey in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice program make about $36,070 in their early career. The College Of New Jersey graduates carry a median of $20,500 in student loans. Get the full criminal justice details for The College Of New Jersey

3

Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice
New York, NY

Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in criminal justice, landing the #3 spot this year. This large public university is located in the city of New York. Roughly 56% of students complete a degree within six years here. Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice awarded about 1,431 criminal justice degrees in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice graduates of Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice earn a median of $50,103 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $10,500. Get the full criminal justice details for Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice

4

Commonwealth University Of Pennsylvania
Bloomsburg, PA

Commonwealth University Of Pennsylvania is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in criminal justice, ranking #4. Located in the town of Bloomsburg, Commonwealth University Of Pennsylvania is a large public university. About 56% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 67 criminal justice students who graduated with this degree at Commonwealth University Of Pennsylvania in the most recent data year. More information about a degree in criminal justice from Commonwealth University Of Pennsylvania

5

Raritan Valley Community College
Branchburg, NJ

Raritan Valley Community College came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best criminal justice schools. Located in the rural area of Branchburg, Raritan Valley Community College is a moderately-sized public university. About 37 criminal justice degrees were awarded at Raritan Valley Community College in the most recent year. Criminal Justice graduates of Raritan Valley Community College earn a median of $47,248 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $5,500 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in criminal justice from Raritan Valley Community College

6

Pennsylvania State University World Campus
University Park, PA

Pennsylvania State University World Campus placed #6 among the best criminal justice schools. This large public university is located in the city of University Park. Roughly 34% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 23 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

7

Robert Morris University
Moon Township, PA

Robert Morris University came in at #7 for criminal justice this year. Robert Morris University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Moon Township. Robert Morris University graduates 66% of students within six years. There were roughly 14 criminal justice students who graduated with this degree at Robert Morris University in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice graduates of Robert Morris University earn a median of $58,900 early in their careers. Robert Morris University graduates carry a median of $26,748 in student loans. Read more about the criminal justice program at Robert Morris University

8

St Johns University New York
Queens, NY

St Johns University New York placed #8 among the best criminal justice schools. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Queens. About 66% of students finish within six years. About 139 criminal justice degrees were awarded at St Johns University New York in the most recent year. Students who receive their criminal justice degree from St Johns University New York earn around $45,896 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,719. See the full criminal justice program report for St Johns University New York

9

Nassau Community College
Garden City, NY

Nassau Community College landed the #9 spot for criminal justice this year. Nassau Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Garden City. Nassau Community College awarded about 112 criminal justice degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from Nassau Community College generally make around $29,837. Typical student debt for the program is $10,750. Get the full criminal justice details for Nassau Community College

10

Stevenson University
Owings Mills, MD

Stevenson University landed the #10 spot for criminal justice this year. Stevenson University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Owings Mills. The six-year graduation rate is 68%. There were roughly 45 criminal justice students who graduated with this degree at Stevenson University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from Stevenson University generally make around $38,745. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000. More information about a degree in criminal justice from Stevenson University

11

Marist College
Poughkeepsie, NY

Marist College ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best criminal justice schools. Located in the suburb of Poughkeepsie, Marist College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. About 80% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 51 criminal justice students who graduated with this degree at Marist College in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice graduates of Marist College earn a median of $36,765 early in their careers. Marist College graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. More information about a degree in criminal justice from Marist College

12

Kean University
Union, NJ

Kean University placed #12 among the best criminal justice schools. Kean University is a large public school located in the suburb of Union. Kean University graduates 47% of students within six years. Kean University awarded about 201 criminal justice degrees in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice graduates of Kean University earn a median of $39,408 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $25,993. More information about a degree in criminal justice from Kean University

13

Pace University New York
New York, NY

Pace University New York earned the #13 position for criminal justice this year. Pace University New York is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. The six-year graduation rate is 60%. There were roughly 50 criminal justice students who graduated with this degree at Pace University New York in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice program make about $36,734 in their early career. Pace University New York graduates carry a median of $24,098 in student loans. Get the full criminal justice details for Pace University New York

14

York College Pennsylvania
York, PA

York College Pennsylvania ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best criminal justice schools. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of York. York College Pennsylvania graduates 64% of students within six years. York College Pennsylvania awarded about 32 criminal justice degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice program make about $42,175 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,000. Get the full criminal justice details for York College Pennsylvania

15

Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus
Indiana, PA

Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best criminal justice schools. Located in the town of Indiana, Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus is a large public university. About 54% of students finish within six years. About 73 criminal justice degrees were awarded at Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus in the most recent year. Students who receive their criminal justice degree from Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus earn around $42,972 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $26,513 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in criminal justice from Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus

16

Cuny Kingsborough Community College
Brooklyn, NY

Cuny Kingsborough Community College placed #16 among the best criminal justice schools. Cuny Kingsborough Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Brooklyn. Cuny Kingsborough Community College awarded about 132 criminal justice degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice program make about $29,606 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $6,167 to complete this degree. See the full criminal justice program report for Cuny Kingsborough Community College

17

Saint Josephs College New York
Brooklyn, NY

Saint Josephs College New York landed the #17 spot for criminal justice this year. Set in the city of Brooklyn, Saint Josephs College New York is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Saint Josephs College New York graduates 69% of students within six years. There were roughly 45 criminal justice students who graduated with this degree at Saint Josephs College New York in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice degree from Saint Josephs College New York earn around $35,794 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,062. Read more about the criminal justice program at Saint Josephs College New York

18

College Of Saint Elizabeth
Morristown, NJ

College Of Saint Elizabeth ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best criminal justice schools. Located in the suburb of Morristown, College Of Saint Elizabeth is a small private not-for-profit university. Roughly 51% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 12 criminal justice students who graduated with this degree at College Of Saint Elizabeth in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice degree from College Of Saint Elizabeth earn around $76,861 in the first couple years of their career. College Of Saint Elizabeth graduates carry a median of $25,496 in student loans. See the full criminal justice program report for College Of Saint Elizabeth

19

Erie Community College
Buffalo, NY

Erie Community College placed #19 among the best criminal justice schools. This large public university is located in the city of Buffalo. There were roughly 52 criminal justice students who graduated with this degree at Erie Community College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice degree from Erie Community College earn around $51,676 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $12,938 to complete this degree. Get the full criminal justice details for Erie Community College

20

College Of Southern Maryland
La Plata, MD

College Of Southern Maryland placed #20 among the best criminal justice schools. Located in the rural area of La Plata, College Of Southern Maryland is a moderately-sized public university. College Of Southern Maryland awarded about 22 criminal justice degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice program make about $51,719 in their early career. College Of Southern Maryland graduates carry a median of $9,728 in student loans. Read more about the criminal justice program at College Of Southern Maryland

21

Hudson Valley Community College
Troy, NY

Hudson Valley Community College landed the #21 spot for criminal justice this year. This large public university is located in the city of Troy. Hudson Valley Community College awarded about 57 criminal justice degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from Hudson Valley Community College generally make around $30,093. Hudson Valley Community College graduates carry a median of $10,700 in student loans. Read more about the criminal justice program at Hudson Valley Community College

22

Cuny Laguardia Community College
Long Island City, NY

Cuny Laguardia Community College placed #22 among the best criminal justice schools. This large public university is located in the city of Long Island City. There were roughly 149 criminal justice students who graduated with this degree at Cuny Laguardia Community College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice degree from Cuny Laguardia Community College earn around $25,515 in the first couple years of their career. Cuny Laguardia Community College graduates carry a median of $6,750 in student loans. More information about a degree in criminal justice from Cuny Laguardia Community College

23

Wilmington University
New Castle, DE

Wilmington University came in at #23 for criminal justice this year. Wilmington University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of New Castle. Wilmington University graduates 22% of students within six years. There were roughly 67 criminal justice students who graduated with this degree at Wilmington University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from Wilmington University generally make around $48,799. Wilmington University graduates carry a median of $24,000 in student loans. Read more about the criminal justice program at Wilmington University

24

Excelsior College
Albany, NY

Excelsior College earned the #24 position for criminal justice this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Albany. There were roughly 60 criminal justice students who graduated with this degree at Excelsior College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice degree from Excelsior College earn around $69,725 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $14,875 to complete this degree. See the full criminal justice program report for Excelsior College

25

Lehigh Carbon Community College
Schnecksville, PA

Lehigh Carbon Community College came in at #25 for criminal justice this year. Located in the rural area of Schnecksville, Lehigh Carbon Community College is a moderately-sized public university. There were roughly 14 criminal justice students who graduated with this degree at Lehigh Carbon Community College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from Lehigh Carbon Community College generally make around $33,360. Students borrow a median of $11,000 to complete this degree. Get the full criminal justice details for Lehigh Carbon Community College