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 219 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best criminal justice schools.
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Best Schools for Criminal Justice in the Southeast Region
If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the criminal justice degrees they offer, see the list below.
Our analysis ranked University Of Virginia Main Campus the best school in the country for a degree in criminal justice. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Charlottesville. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. About 109 criminal justice degrees were awarded at University Of Virginia Main Campus in the most recent year. Criminal Justice graduates of University Of Virginia Main Campus earn a median of $69,126 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $18,627 to complete this degree.
Get the full criminal justice details for University Of Virginia Main Campus
Students looking for a strong criminal justice program will find one at Virginia Commonwealth University, which ranked #2. This very large public university is located in the city of Richmond. Roughly 63% of students complete a degree within six years here. Virginia Commonwealth University awarded about 152 criminal justice degrees in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice graduates of Virginia Commonwealth University earn a median of $38,495 early in their careers. Virginia Commonwealth University graduates carry a median of $23,250 in student loans.
More information about a degree in criminal justice from Virginia Commonwealth University
University Of Georgia came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best criminal justice schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Athens. Roughly 90% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 72 criminal justice students who graduated with this degree at University Of Georgia in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice graduates of University Of Georgia earn a median of $37,405 early in their careers. University Of Georgia graduates carry a median of $22,978 in student loans.
Get the full criminal justice details for University Of Georgia
University Of South Florida Main Campus is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in criminal justice, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the city of Tampa, University Of South Florida Main Campus is a very large public institution. Roughly 77% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of South Florida Main Campus awarded about 25 criminal justice degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from University Of South Florida Main Campus generally make around $58,306. University Of South Florida Main Campus graduates carry a median of $21,829 in student loans.
Read more about the criminal justice program at University Of South Florida Main Campus
University Of South Carolina Columbia is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in criminal justice, ranking #5. This very large public university is located in the city of Columbia. The six-year graduation rate is 79%. University Of South Carolina Columbia awarded about 208 criminal justice degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice program make about $35,781 in their early career. University Of South Carolina Columbia graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans.
Read more about the criminal justice program at University Of South Carolina Columbia
University Of Louisville ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best criminal justice schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Louisville. About 61% of students finish within six years. About 239 criminal justice degrees were awarded at University Of Louisville in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from University Of Louisville generally make around $74,173. University Of Louisville graduates carry a median of $18,258 in student loans.
Read more about the criminal justice program at University Of Louisville
Citadel Military College Of South Carolina earned the #7 position for criminal justice this year. Citadel Military College Of South Carolina is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Charleston. Roughly 75% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 44 criminal justice degrees were awarded at Citadel Military College Of South Carolina in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from Citadel Military College Of South Carolina generally make around $45,235. Typical student debt for the program is $24,966.
See the full criminal justice program report for Citadel Military College Of South Carolina
Lynn University earned the #8 position for criminal justice this year. Set in the city of Boca Raton, Lynn University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Lynn University graduates 52% of students within six years. Lynn University awarded about 31 criminal justice degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice degree from Lynn University earn around $39,496 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $19,500.
More information about a degree in criminal justice from Lynn University
Florida Atlantic University landed the #9 spot for criminal justice this year. Florida Atlantic University is a very large public school located in the city of Boca Raton. The six-year graduation rate is 63%. There were roughly 13 criminal justice students who graduated with this degree at Florida Atlantic University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice degree from Florida Atlantic University earn around $41,963 in the first couple years of their career. Florida Atlantic University graduates carry a median of $18,750 in student loans.
More information about a degree in criminal justice from Florida Atlantic University
Indian River State College placed #10 among the best criminal justice schools. Indian River State College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Fort Pierce. There were roughly 24 criminal justice students who graduated with this degree at Indian River State College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice program make about $51,825 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $9,176 to complete this degree.
See the full criminal justice program report for Indian River State College
University Of Mississippi Main Campus came in at #11 for criminal justice this year. Located in the town of University, University Of Mississippi Main Campus is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 72%. About 145 criminal justice degrees were awarded at University Of Mississippi Main Campus in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from University Of Mississippi Main Campus generally make around $40,243. Typical student debt for the program is $22,171.
Get the full criminal justice details for University Of Mississippi Main Campus
Broward College came in at #12 for criminal justice this year. Set in the city of Fort Lauderdale, Broward College is a very large public institution. There were roughly 137 criminal justice students who graduated with this degree at Broward College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from Broward College generally make around $34,607. Typical student debt for the program is $10,724.
See the full criminal justice program report for Broward College
Middle Tennessee State University earned the #13 position for criminal justice this year. Middle Tennessee State University is a very large public school located in the city of Murfreesboro. The six-year graduation rate is 54%. About 159 criminal justice degrees were awarded at Middle Tennessee State University in the most recent year. Graduates of the criminal justice program make about $37,952 in their early career. Middle Tennessee State University graduates carry a median of $24,093 in student loans.
Read more about the criminal justice program at Middle Tennessee State University
Marymount University came in at #14 for criminal justice this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Arlington. Roughly 54% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 24 criminal justice students who graduated with this degree at Marymount University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice degree from Marymount University earn around $35,642 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,000.
Get the full criminal justice details for Marymount University
Georgia College And State University landed the #15 spot for criminal justice this year. Georgia College And State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Milledgeville. Roughly 64% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 43 criminal justice students who graduated with this degree at Georgia College And State University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from Georgia College And State University generally make around $39,133. Georgia College And State University graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans.
Read more about the criminal justice program at Georgia College And State University
Shenandoah University placed #16 among the best criminal justice schools. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Winchester. The six-year graduation rate is 66%. Shenandoah University awarded about 19 criminal justice degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from Shenandoah University generally make around $46,816. Typical student debt for the program is $25,810.
Read more about the criminal justice program at Shenandoah University
Seminole State College Of Florida ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best criminal justice schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Sanford. There were roughly 14 criminal justice students who graduated with this degree at Seminole State College Of Florida in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice degree from Seminole State College Of Florida earn around $36,589 in the first couple years of their career. Seminole State College Of Florida graduates carry a median of $12,942 in student loans.
Get the full criminal justice details for Seminole State College Of Florida
American Public University System earned the #18 position for criminal justice this year. American Public University System is a very large private for-profit school located in the town of Charles Town. About 47% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 14 criminal justice students who graduated with this degree at American Public University System in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice program make about $62,012 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,243.
Get the full criminal justice details for American Public University System
St Petersburg College earned the #19 position for criminal justice this year. Located in the city of St. Petersburg, St Petersburg College is a very large public university. St Petersburg College awarded about 17 criminal justice degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice program make about $48,218 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $14,080 to complete this degree.
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Columbia Southern University earned the #20 position for criminal justice this year. Columbia Southern University is a very large private for-profit school located in the town of Orange Beach. About 26% of students finish 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 $60,232 in the first couple years of their career. Columbia Southern University graduates carry a median of $23,641 in student loans.
Read more about the criminal justice program at Columbia Southern University
Kennesaw State University placed #21 among the best criminal justice schools. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Kennesaw. Kennesaw State University graduates 52% of students within six years. About 12 criminal justice degrees were awarded at Kennesaw State University in the most recent year. Graduates of the criminal justice program make about $39,566 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in criminal justice from Kennesaw State University
Eastern Florida State College earned the #22 position for criminal justice this year. This large public university is located in the city of Melbourne. Eastern Florida State College awarded about 23 criminal justice degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice degree from Eastern Florida State College earn around $51,461 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $8,635.
More information about a degree in criminal justice from Eastern Florida State College
The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga came in at #23 for criminal justice this year. This large public university is located in the city of Chattanooga. The six-year graduation rate is 50%. The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga awarded about 110 criminal justice degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice degree from The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga earn around $37,403 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,995.
Get the full criminal justice details for The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga
Southern Arkansas University Tech ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best criminal justice schools. This small public university is located in the rural area of Camden. About 19 criminal justice degrees were awarded at Southern Arkansas University Tech in the most recent year. Criminal Justice graduates of Southern Arkansas University Tech earn a median of $34,302 early in their careers. Southern Arkansas University Tech graduates carry a median of $8,488 in student loans.
Get the full criminal justice details for Southern Arkansas University Tech
Daytona State College earned the #25 position for criminal justice this year. Located in the city of Daytona Beach, Daytona State College is a large public university. Daytona State College awarded about 13 criminal justice degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice program make about $52,755 in their early career. Daytona State College graduates carry a median of $8,169 in student loans.
More information about a degree in criminal justice from Daytona State College
Rest of the Top 50 Criminal Justice Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s criminal justice ranking:
The ranking above is published 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 · 219 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).
