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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2026 Best Criminal Justice Schools in Alabama

7 Colleges in the United States
548 Criminal Justice Degrees Awarded
$40,633 Avg Early-Career Salary

Criminal Justice degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.

For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 11 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 Alabama

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.

Top Schools in Criminal Justice

1

Columbia Southern University is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in criminal justice. Columbia Southern University is a very large private for-profit school located in the town of Orange Beach. The six-year graduation rate is 26%. About 311 criminal justice degrees were awarded at Columbia Southern University in the most recent 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. More information about a degree in criminal justice from Columbia Southern University

2

University Of North Alabama is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in criminal justice, landing the #2 spot this year. This large public university is located in the city of Florence. About 55% of students finish within six years. About 58 criminal justice degrees were awarded at University Of North Alabama in the most recent year. Students who receive their criminal justice degree from University Of North Alabama earn around $31,595 in the first couple years of their career. University Of North Alabama graduates carry a median of $24,125 in student loans. Read more about the criminal justice program at University Of North Alabama

3

A rank of #3 makes Troy University one of the top schools for criminal justice. Troy University is a large public school located in the town of Troy. Troy University graduates 49% of students within six years. There were roughly 28 criminal justice students who graduated with this degree at Troy University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from Troy University generally make around $43,451. Troy University graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. See the full criminal justice program report for Troy University

4
Huntingdon College crest
Huntingdon College
Montgomery, AL

Huntingdon College came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best criminal justice schools. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Montgomery. About 48% of students finish within six years. About 11 criminal justice degrees were awarded at Huntingdon College in the most recent year. Students who receive their criminal justice degree from Huntingdon College earn around $33,649 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $28,252 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in criminal justice from Huntingdon College

5
Faulkner University crest
Faulkner University
Montgomery, AL

Faulkner University came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best criminal justice schools. Faulkner University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Montgomery. The six-year graduation rate is 38%. About 42 criminal justice degrees were awarded at Faulkner University in the most recent year. Graduates of the criminal justice program make about $60,669 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $28,250 to complete this degree. Get the full criminal justice details for Faulkner University

6

University Of South Alabama placed #6 among the best criminal justice schools. University Of South Alabama is a large public school located in the city of Mobile. Roughly 52% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of South Alabama awarded about 29 criminal justice degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice degree from University Of South Alabama earn around $36,216 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $29,026 to complete this degree. See the full criminal justice program report for University Of South Alabama

7

Alabama A And M University placed #7 among the best criminal justice schools. Located in the city of Normal, Alabama A And M University is a moderately-sized public university. Roughly 24% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 38 criminal justice degrees were awarded at Alabama A And M University in the most recent year. Criminal Justice graduates of Alabama A And M University earn a median of $31,682 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $32,500. More information about a degree in criminal justice from Alabama A And M University

8
Miles College crest
Miles College
Fairfield, AL

Miles College came in at #8 for criminal justice this year. Set in the suburb of Fairfield, Miles College is a small private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 16%. About 15 criminal justice degrees were awarded at Miles College in the most recent year. Miles College graduates carry a median of $35,881 in student loans. More information about a degree in criminal justice from Miles College

9
Talladega College crest
Talladega College
Talladega, AL

Talladega College earned the #9 position for criminal justice this year. Set in the town of Talladega, Talladega College is a small private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 31%. Talladega College awarded about 16 criminal justice degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice degree from Talladega College earn around $27,568 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $31,062. Get the full criminal justice details for Talladega College

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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 · 11 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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