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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2026 Best Criminal Justice Schools in Kentucky

8 Colleges in the United States
872 Criminal Justice Degrees Awarded
$40,975 Avg Early-Career Salary

Criminal Justice degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. The schools below stand out for the quality of their criminal justice programs.

For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 19 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 Kentucky

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

Our analysis ranked University Of Louisville the best school in the country for a degree in criminal justice. University Of Louisville is a very large public school located in the city of Louisville. The six-year graduation rate is 61%. There were roughly 239 criminal justice students who graduated with this degree at University Of Louisville in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice graduates of University Of Louisville earn a median of $74,173 early in their careers. University Of Louisville graduates carry a median of $18,258 in student loans. Get the full criminal justice details for University Of Louisville

2

University Of The Cumberlands is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in criminal justice, ranking #2. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the town of Williamsburg. University Of The Cumberlands graduates 50% of students within six years. There were roughly 58 criminal justice students who graduated with this degree at University Of The Cumberlands in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice graduates of University Of The Cumberlands earn a median of $43,972 early in their careers. University Of The Cumberlands graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. See the full criminal justice program report for University Of The Cumberlands

3

Bluegrass Community And Technical College came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best criminal justice schools. Bluegrass Community And Technical College is a large public school located in the city of Lexington. Bluegrass Community And Technical College awarded about 125 criminal justice degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice degree from Bluegrass Community And Technical College earn around $44,752 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $10,814. More information about a degree in criminal justice from Bluegrass Community And Technical College

4

Eastern Kentucky University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in criminal justice, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the town of Richmond, Eastern Kentucky University is a large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 55%. Eastern Kentucky University awarded about 156 criminal justice degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice degree from Eastern Kentucky University earn around $36,021 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,000. More information about a degree in criminal justice from Eastern Kentucky University

5
Campbellsville University crest
Campbellsville University
Campbellsville, KY

A rank of #5 makes Campbellsville University one of the top schools for criminal justice. Set in the town of Campbellsville, Campbellsville University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Campbellsville University graduates 42% of students within six years. There were roughly 29 criminal justice students who graduated with this degree at Campbellsville University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from Campbellsville University generally make around $36,849. Students borrow a median of $21,550 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in criminal justice from Campbellsville University

6

West Kentucky Community And Technical College came in at #6 for criminal justice this year. West Kentucky Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Paducah. About 49 criminal justice degrees were awarded at West Kentucky Community And Technical College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from West Kentucky Community And Technical College generally make around $31,903. Students borrow a median of $10,778 to complete this degree. See the full criminal justice program report for West Kentucky Community And Technical College

7

Jefferson Community And Technical College earned the #7 position for criminal justice this year. Located in the city of Louisville, Jefferson Community And Technical College is a large public university. About 30 criminal justice degrees were awarded at Jefferson Community And Technical College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from Jefferson Community And Technical College generally make around $33,316. Jefferson Community And Technical College graduates carry a median of $11,516 in student loans. Read more about the criminal justice program at Jefferson Community And Technical College

8

Big Sandy Community And Technical College landed the #8 spot for criminal justice this year. Set in the town of Prestonsburg, Big Sandy Community And Technical College is a mid-sized public institution. There were roughly 44 criminal justice students who graduated with this degree at Big Sandy Community And Technical College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from Big Sandy Community And Technical College generally make around $29,432. Big Sandy Community And Technical College graduates carry a median of $10,994 in student loans. More information about a degree in criminal justice from Big Sandy Community And Technical College

9

Elizabethtown Community And Technical College came in at #9 for criminal justice this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Elizabethtown. Elizabethtown Community And Technical College awarded about 27 criminal justice degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice program make about $45,486 in their early career. Elizabethtown Community And Technical College graduates carry a median of $12,245 in student loans. More information about a degree in criminal justice from Elizabethtown Community And Technical College

10

Madisonville Community College earned the #10 position for criminal justice this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the town of Madisonville. About 20 criminal justice degrees were awarded at Madisonville Community College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from Madisonville Community College generally make around $41,084. Students borrow a median of $10,985 to complete this degree. See the full criminal justice program report for Madisonville Community College

11

Hopkinsville Community College ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best criminal justice schools. This mid-sized public university is located in the town of Hopkinsville. About 18 criminal justice degrees were awarded at Hopkinsville Community College in the most recent year. Graduates of the criminal justice program make about $43,678 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $13,269 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in criminal justice from Hopkinsville Community College

12

Maysville Community And Technical College earned the #12 position for criminal justice this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the rural area of Maysville. There were roughly 25 criminal justice students who graduated with this degree at Maysville Community And Technical College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice degree from Maysville Community And Technical College earn around $37,769 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $13,031 to complete this degree. Read more about the criminal justice program at Maysville Community And Technical College

13

Somerset Community College ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best criminal justice schools. Set in the town of Somerset, Somerset Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Somerset Community College awarded about 52 criminal justice degrees in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice graduates of Somerset Community College earn a median of $34,245 early in their careers. Somerset Community College graduates carry a median of $14,387 in student loans. More information about a degree in criminal justice from Somerset Community College

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Notes and References

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 · 19 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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