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

8 Colleges in the United States
723 Criminal Justice Degrees Awarded
$39,809 Avg Early-Career Salary

Criminal Justice programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.

To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 17 schools to find the best for criminal justice students.

What’s on this page:

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Best Schools for Criminal Justice in Tennessee

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

Middle Tennessee State University is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in criminal justice. Middle Tennessee State University is a very large public school located in the city of Murfreesboro. Roughly 54% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 159 criminal justice students who graduated with this degree at Middle Tennessee State University in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice graduates of Middle Tennessee State University earn a median of $37,952 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $24,093 to complete this degree. See the full criminal justice program report for Middle Tennessee State University

2

The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in criminal justice, ranking #2. The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga is a large public school located in the city of Chattanooga. The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga graduates 50% of students within six years. About 110 criminal justice degrees were awarded at The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga in the most recent year. Criminal Justice graduates of The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga earn a median of $37,403 early in their careers. The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga graduates carry a median of $22,995 in student loans. See the full criminal justice program report for The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga

3

Trevecca Nazarene University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in criminal justice, ranking #3. Set in the city of Nashville, Trevecca Nazarene University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 53% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 10 criminal justice students who graduated with this degree at Trevecca Nazarene University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice program make about $52,004 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $24,962 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in criminal justice from Trevecca Nazarene University

4

Students looking for a strong criminal justice program will find one at Cumberland University, which ranked #4. Located in the town of Lebanon, Cumberland University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. About 42% of students finish within six years. About 20 criminal justice degrees were awarded at Cumberland University in the most recent year. Criminal Justice graduates of Cumberland University earn a median of $45,223 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $21,902. See the full criminal justice program report for Cumberland University

5

East Tennessee State University came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best criminal justice schools. East Tennessee State University is a large public school located in the city of Johnson City. East Tennessee State University graduates 53% of students within six years. About 82 criminal justice degrees were awarded at East Tennessee State University in the most recent year. Graduates of the criminal justice program make about $30,097 in their early career. East Tennessee State University graduates carry a median of $25,942 in student loans. Get the full criminal justice details for East Tennessee State University

6

University Of Memphis placed #6 among the best criminal justice schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Memphis. Roughly 51% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Memphis awarded about 106 criminal justice degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice degree from University Of Memphis earn around $35,900 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree. Get the full criminal justice details for University Of Memphis

7

Austin Peay State University landed the #7 spot for criminal justice this year. Austin Peay State University is a large public school located in the city of Clarksville. The six-year graduation rate is 39%. Austin Peay State University awarded about 80 criminal justice degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice program make about $36,749 in their early career. Austin Peay State University graduates carry a median of $25,281 in student loans. See the full criminal justice program report for Austin Peay State University

8

Bethel University Tennessee earned the #8 position for criminal justice this year. Located in the town of McKenzie, Bethel University Tennessee is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 17% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 23 criminal justice degrees were awarded at Bethel University Tennessee in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from Bethel University Tennessee generally make around $54,442. Typical student debt for the program is $24,444. Read more about the criminal justice program at Bethel University Tennessee

9

The University Of Tennessee Martin ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best criminal justice schools. Set in the town of Martin, The University Of Tennessee Martin is a moderately-sized public institution. About 52% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 54 criminal justice students who graduated with this degree at The University Of Tennessee Martin in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from The University Of Tennessee Martin generally make around $32,167. Typical student debt for the program is $22,671. More information about a degree in criminal justice from The University Of Tennessee Martin

10

Tennessee State University placed #10 among the best criminal justice schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Nashville. The six-year graduation rate is 35%. Tennessee State University awarded about 46 criminal justice degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice program make about $32,555 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $28,001 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in criminal justice from Tennessee State University

11

Strayer University Tennessee earned the #11 position for criminal justice this year. Set in the city of Memphis, Strayer University Tennessee is a mid-sized private for-profit institution. Strayer University Tennessee awarded about 23 criminal justice degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice degree from Strayer University Tennessee earn around $43,405 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $56,937. Get the full criminal justice details for Strayer University Tennessee

12

Le Moyne Owen College earned the #12 position for criminal justice this year. Le Moyne Owen College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Memphis. Roughly 32% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 10 criminal justice students who graduated with this degree at Le Moyne Owen College in the most recent data year. More information about a degree in criminal justice from Le Moyne Owen College

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Notes and References

This list is compiled 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 · 17 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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