ADBLOCK #102
College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2026 Best Criminal Justice Schools in New York

41 Colleges in the United States
3,238 Criminal Justice Degrees Awarded
$36,559 Avg Early-Career Salary

Criminal Justice is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.

For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 62 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for criminal justice students pursuing a degree.

What’s on this page:

ADBLOCK #159
DEBUG: Raw major_slug = ""
DEBUG: Initial offers_url = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/protective-security-safety-services/criminal-justice-and-corrections/criminal-justice/offers.json", major_slug = ""
DEBUG: After cleaning major_slug = ""
DEBUG: Before URL cleaning = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/protective-security-safety-services/criminal-justice-and-corrections/criminal-justice/offers.json"
DEBUG: After TrimSuffix = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/protective-security-safety-services/criminal-justice-and-corrections/criminal-justice/offers.json"
DEBUG: After HTTPS placeholder = "HTTPS_TEMP_PLACEHOLDERwww.collegefactual.com/majors/protective-security-safety-services/criminal-justice-and-corrections/criminal-justice/offers.json"
DEBUG: After slash cleaning = "HTTPS_TEMP_PLACEHOLDERwww.collegefactual.com/majors/protective-security-safety-services/criminal-justice-and-corrections/criminal-justice/offers.json"
DEBUG: After URL cleaning = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/protective-security-safety-services/criminal-justice-and-corrections/criminal-justice/offers.json"
DEBUG: offers_url = https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/protective-security-safety-services/criminal-justice-and-corrections/criminal-justice/offers.json
DEBUG: major_slug = ""
DEBUG: offers_url is valid, proceeding to fetch data
DEBUG: offers_data.offers found, count = 6
DEBUG: Specific major detected (cip4 = 43.01), keeping min_relevance at 0.8
DEBUG: Starting relevance filtering - min_relevance = 0.8, max_relevance = 1
DEBUG: Checking offer "Criminal Justice (I Have a HS Diploma or Associate Degree)" with relevance 1
DEBUG: ✓ Offer "Criminal Justice (I Have a HS Diploma or Associate Degree)" ACCEPTED (relevance 1)
DEBUG: Checking offer "BS in Criminal Justice - Criminology & Crime Analysis" with relevance 0.9
DEBUG: ✓ Offer "BS in Criminal Justice - Criminology & Crime Analysis" ACCEPTED (relevance 0.9)
DEBUG: Checking offer "Grad Cert - Law Enforcement (I Have a Bachelors)" with relevance 0.8
DEBUG: ✓ Offer "Grad Cert - Law Enforcement (I Have a Bachelors)" ACCEPTED (relevance 0.8)
DEBUG: Checking offer "Criminal Justice & Law Bachelors Programs (I Have a HS Diploma or Associate Degree)" with relevance 0.7
DEBUG: ✗ Offer "Criminal Justice & Law Bachelors Programs (I Have a HS Diploma or Associate Degree)" REJECTED (relevance 0.7)
DEBUG: Checking offer "Criminology (I Have a HS Diploma or Associate Degree)" with relevance 0.6
DEBUG: ✗ Offer "Criminology (I Have a HS Diploma or Associate Degree)" REJECTED (relevance 0.6)
DEBUG: Checking offer "Grad Cert - Criminology (I Have a Bachelors)" with relevance 0.6
DEBUG: ✗ Offer "Grad Cert - Criminology (I Have a Bachelors)" REJECTED (relevance 0.6)
DEBUG: relevant_offers count = 3
DEBUG: relevant_offers > 0, checking for ESYOH offers
DEBUG: ESYOH filtering - found 2 ESYOH offers with relevance >= 0.8
DEBUG: esyoh_offers count = 2
DEBUG: ESYOH offers found, rendering ESYOH widget
DEBUG: most_relevant_only = true, filtering for most relevant
DEBUG: Found 1 offers with relevance >= 1.0

Best Schools for Criminal Justice in New York

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

Top Schools in Criminal Justice

1

No school ranked higher than Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice this year for criminal justice. Located in the city of New York, Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice is a large public university. Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice graduates 56% of students within six years. 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. Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice graduates carry a median of $10,500 in student loans. More information about a degree in criminal justice from Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice

2

A rank of #2 makes St Johns University New York one of the top schools for criminal justice. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Queens. About 66% of students finish within six years. St Johns University New York awarded about 139 criminal justice degrees in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice graduates of St Johns University New York earn a median of $45,896 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $26,719 to complete this degree. Read more about the criminal justice program at St Johns University New York

3
Nassau Community College crest
Nassau Community College
Garden City, NY

Nassau Community College came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best criminal justice schools. Set in the suburb of Garden City, Nassau Community College is a large public institution. There were roughly 112 criminal justice students who graduated with this degree at Nassau Community College in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice graduates of Nassau Community College earn a median of $29,837 early in their careers. Nassau Community College graduates carry a median of $10,750 in student loans. Get the full criminal justice details for Nassau Community College

4
Marist College crest
Marist College
Poughkeepsie, NY

Marist College is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in criminal justice, ranking #4. Located in the suburb of Poughkeepsie, Marist College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 80% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 51 criminal justice degrees were awarded at Marist College in the most recent year. Graduates of the criminal justice program make about $36,765 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,000. See the full criminal justice program report for Marist College

5

Students looking for a strong criminal justice program will find one at Pace University New York, which ranked #5. 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. Students borrow a median of $24,098 to complete this degree. Read more about the criminal justice program at Pace University New York

6

Cuny Kingsborough Community College earned the #6 position for criminal justice this year. 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. Criminal Justice graduates of Cuny Kingsborough Community College earn a median of $29,606 early in their careers. Cuny Kingsborough Community College graduates carry a median of $6,167 in student loans. More information about a degree in criminal justice from Cuny Kingsborough Community College

7

Saint Josephs College New York earned the #7 position for criminal justice this year. Located in the city of Brooklyn, Saint Josephs College New York is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. About 69% of students finish within six years. Saint Josephs College New York awarded about 45 criminal justice degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice program make about $35,794 in their early career. Saint Josephs College New York graduates carry a median of $25,062 in student loans. Get the full criminal justice details for Saint Josephs College New York

8

Erie Community College earned the #8 position for criminal justice this year. Erie Community College is a large public school located in the city of Buffalo. Erie Community College awarded about 52 criminal justice degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice program make about $51,676 in their early career. Erie Community College graduates carry a median of $12,938 in student loans. More information about a degree in criminal justice from Erie Community College

9

Hudson Valley Community College ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best criminal justice schools. This large public university is located in the city of Troy. There were roughly 57 criminal justice students who graduated with this degree at Hudson Valley Community College 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. See the full criminal justice program report for Hudson Valley Community College

10
Cuny Laguardia Community College crest
Cuny Laguardia Community College
Long Island City, NY

Cuny Laguardia Community College placed #10 among the best criminal justice schools. Cuny Laguardia Community College is a large public school located in the city of Long Island City. Cuny Laguardia Community College awarded about 149 criminal justice degrees in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice graduates of Cuny Laguardia Community College earn a median of $25,515 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $6,750 to complete this degree. Get the full criminal justice details for Cuny Laguardia Community College

11
Excelsior College crest
Excelsior College
Albany, NY

Excelsior College placed #11 among the best criminal justice schools. Located in the city of Albany, Excelsior College is a large private not-for-profit university. 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. Excelsior College graduates carry a median of $14,875 in student loans. See the full criminal justice program report for Excelsior College

12

Suny College Of Technology At Alfred landed the #12 spot for criminal justice this year. Located in the rural area of Alfred, Suny College Of Technology At Alfred is a mid-sized public university. About 54% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 11 criminal justice students who graduated with this degree at Suny College Of Technology At Alfred in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice graduates of Suny College Of Technology At Alfred earn a median of $43,831 early in their careers. Suny College Of Technology At Alfred graduates carry a median of $19,721 in student loans. Read more about the criminal justice program at Suny College Of Technology At Alfred

13

Cuny Bronx Community College earned the #13 position for criminal justice this year. Set in the city of Bronx, Cuny Bronx Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Cuny Bronx Community College awarded about 106 criminal justice degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice program make about $28,940 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $6,021 to complete this degree. See the full criminal justice program report for Cuny Bronx Community College

14
Canisius College crest
Canisius College
Buffalo, NY

Canisius College landed the #14 spot for criminal justice this year. Located in the city of Buffalo, Canisius College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. About 66% of students finish within six years. Canisius College awarded about 16 criminal justice degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from Canisius College generally make around $33,843. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000. More information about a degree in criminal justice from Canisius College

15
Hartwick College crest
Hartwick College
Oneonta, NY

Hartwick College earned the #15 position for criminal justice this year. Hartwick College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of Oneonta. About 53% of students finish within six years. Hartwick College awarded about 16 criminal justice degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice degree from Hartwick College earn around $41,061 in the first couple years of their career. Hartwick College graduates carry a median of $25,740 in student loans. See the full criminal justice program report for Hartwick College

16

Niagara County Community College ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best criminal justice schools. Niagara County Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Sanborn. About 22 criminal justice degrees were awarded at Niagara County Community College in the most recent year. Students who receive their criminal justice degree from Niagara County Community College earn around $27,970 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $11,000. Get the full criminal justice details for Niagara County Community College

17
Mercy College crest
Mercy College
Dobbs Ferry, NY

Mercy College came in at #17 for criminal justice this year. Located in the suburb of Dobbs Ferry, Mercy College is a large private not-for-profit university. Mercy College graduates 45% of students within six years. About 72 criminal justice degrees were awarded at Mercy College in the most recent year. Students who receive their criminal justice degree from Mercy College earn around $34,472 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,000. See the full criminal justice program report for Mercy College

18

Genesee Community College ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best criminal justice schools. Set in the town of Batavia, Genesee Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Genesee Community College awarded about 16 criminal justice degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice program make about $38,483 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $11,500 to complete this degree. See the full criminal justice program report for Genesee Community College

19

Orange County Community College placed #19 among the best criminal justice schools. Located in the suburb of Middletown, Orange County Community College is a moderately-sized public university. There were roughly 17 criminal justice students who graduated with this degree at Orange County Community College in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice graduates of Orange County Community College earn a median of $36,111 early in their careers. Orange County Community College graduates carry a median of $14,250 in student loans. Read more about the criminal justice program at Orange County Community College

20

Monroe Community College placed #20 among the best criminal justice schools. Monroe Community College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Rochester. About 25 criminal justice degrees were awarded at Monroe Community College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from Monroe Community College generally make around $56,846. Typical student debt for the program is $13,750. Read more about the criminal justice program at Monroe Community College

21

Ulster County Community College came in at #21 for criminal justice this year. Located in the rural area of Stone Ridge, Ulster County Community College is a mid-sized public university. About 10 criminal justice degrees were awarded at Ulster County Community College in the most recent year. Students who receive their criminal justice degree from Ulster County Community College earn around $51,069 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $13,206 to complete this degree. Get the full criminal justice details for Ulster County Community College

22

Cuny Hostos Community College earned the #22 position for criminal justice this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Bronx. There were roughly 49 criminal justice students who graduated with this degree at Cuny Hostos Community College in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice graduates of Cuny Hostos Community College earn a median of $28,343 early in their careers. Cuny Hostos Community College graduates carry a median of $6,256 in student loans. Read more about the criminal justice program at Cuny Hostos Community College

23

Monroe College Main Campus ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best criminal justice schools. Set in the city of Bronx, Monroe College Main Campus is a large private for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 60%. There were roughly 112 criminal justice students who graduated with this degree at Monroe College Main Campus in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice program make about $38,602 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $20,975 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in criminal justice from Monroe College Main Campus

24
Iona College crest
Iona College
New Rochelle, NY

Iona College placed #24 among the best criminal justice schools. Located in the suburb of New Rochelle, Iona College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 56%. Iona College awarded about 65 criminal justice degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from Iona College generally make around $38,414. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000. More information about a degree in criminal justice from Iona College

25

Rockland Community College earned the #25 position for criminal justice this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the suburb of Suffern. Rockland Community College awarded about 50 criminal justice degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice degree from Rockland Community College earn around $29,633 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $10,510 to complete this degree. Get the full criminal justice details for Rockland Community College

Rest of the Top 40 Criminal Justice Schools

These schools also placed among the best for criminal justice this year:

26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
Alfred University crest
Alfred University
Alfred, NY
35
36
37
38
39
40

ADBLOCK #173
View All Criminal Justice Rankings >

ADBLOCK #115

Notes and References

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 · 62 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

ADBLOCK #116

Popular Reports

College Rankings
Best by Location
Degree Guides by Major
Graduate Programs
ADBLOCK #613

Compare Your School Options