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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
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2026 Best Criminal Justice Schools in North Carolina

9 Colleges in the United States
293 Criminal Justice Degrees Awarded
$39,562 Avg Early-Career Salary

Criminal Justice programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. The schools below stand out for the quality of their criminal justice programs.

College Factual analyzed 16 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best criminal justice schools.

What’s on this page:

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Best Schools for Criminal Justice in North Carolina

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
Campbell University crest
Campbell University
Buies Creek, NC

Campbell University tops our 2026 ranking of the best criminal justice schools. Located in the town of Buies Creek, Campbell University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. About 60% of students finish within six years. Campbell University awarded about 15 criminal justice degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from Campbell University generally make around $40,590. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in criminal justice from Campbell University

2
Wingate University crest
Wingate University
Wingate, NC

Students looking for a strong criminal justice program will find one at Wingate University, which ranked #2. Wingate University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Wingate. Wingate University graduates 46% of students within six years. Wingate University awarded about 18 criminal justice degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice degree from Wingate University earn around $39,498 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000. See the full criminal justice program report for Wingate University

3

A rank of #3 makes Lenoir Rhyne University one of the top schools for criminal justice. Set in the city of Hickory, Lenoir Rhyne University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 48% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 13 criminal justice students who graduated with this degree at Lenoir Rhyne University in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice graduates of Lenoir Rhyne University earn a median of $49,985 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $26,900. Read more about the criminal justice program at Lenoir Rhyne University

4

North Carolina Wesleyan College is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in criminal justice, landing the #4 spot this year. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Rocky Mount. North Carolina Wesleyan College graduates 42% of students within six years. About 67 criminal justice degrees were awarded at North Carolina Wesleyan College in the most recent year. Graduates of the criminal justice program make about $43,121 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $29,500. More information about a degree in criminal justice from North Carolina Wesleyan College

5
Gardner Webb University crest
Gardner Webb University
Boiling Springs, NC

Gardner Webb University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in criminal justice, ranking #5. Gardner Webb University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Boiling Springs. About 54% of students finish within six years. Gardner Webb University awarded about 26 criminal justice degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice degree from Gardner Webb University earn around $35,433 in the first couple years of their career. Gardner Webb University graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. See the full criminal justice program report for Gardner Webb University

6
Mars Hill College crest
Mars Hill College
Mars Hill, NC

Mars Hill College earned the #6 position for criminal justice this year. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the rural area of Mars Hill. About 45% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 23 criminal justice students who graduated with this degree at Mars Hill College in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice graduates of Mars Hill College earn a median of $43,031 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree. Read more about the criminal justice program at Mars Hill College

7
Brevard College crest
Brevard College
Brevard, NC

Brevard College ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best criminal justice schools. Set in the town of Brevard, Brevard College is a small private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 49%. Brevard College awarded about 24 criminal justice degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice degree from Brevard College earn around $39,000 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete this degree. See the full criminal justice program report for Brevard College

8
Lees Mcrae College crest
Lees Mcrae College
Banner Elk, NC

Lees Mcrae College came in at #8 for criminal justice this year. Located in the rural area of Banner Elk, Lees Mcrae College is a small private not-for-profit university. Roughly 42% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 29 criminal justice students who graduated with this degree at Lees Mcrae College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from Lees Mcrae College generally make around $39,811. Lees Mcrae College graduates carry a median of $15,000 in student loans. Get the full criminal justice details for Lees Mcrae College

9

North Carolina Central University ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best criminal justice schools. Located in the city of Durham, North Carolina Central University is a moderately-sized public university. Roughly 42% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 22 criminal justice degrees were awarded at North Carolina Central University in the most recent year. Graduates of the criminal justice program make about $37,808 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $29,500 to complete this degree. Get the full criminal justice details for North Carolina Central University

10

Saint Augustines College earned the #10 position for criminal justice this year. Located in the city of Raleigh, Saint Augustines College is a small private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 24%. There were roughly 16 criminal justice students who graduated with this degree at Saint Augustines College in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice graduates of Saint Augustines College earn a median of $23,500 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $35,887 to complete this degree. Read more about the criminal justice program at Saint Augustines College

11

Strayer University North Carolina ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best criminal justice schools. Located in the city of Greensboro, Strayer University North Carolina is a mid-sized private for-profit university. Roughly 33% of students complete a degree within six years here. Strayer University North Carolina awarded about 40 criminal justice degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice program make about $43,405 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $56,937. Get the full criminal justice details for Strayer University North Carolina

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Notes and References

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 · 16 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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