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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2026 Best Criminal Justice Schools in Virginia

10 Colleges in the United States
1,006 Criminal Justice Degrees Awarded
$39,709 Avg Early-Career Salary

Criminal Justice is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. The schools below stand out for the quality of their criminal justice programs.

To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 37 schools to find the best for criminal justice students.

What’s on this page:

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Best Schools for Criminal Justice in Virginia

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 Virginia Main Campus the best school in the country for a degree in criminal justice. Located in the suburb of Charlottesville, University Of Virginia Main Campus is a very large public university. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 109 criminal justice degrees were awarded at University Of Virginia Main Campus in the most recent year. Graduates of the criminal justice program make about $69,126 in their early career. University Of Virginia Main Campus graduates carry a median of $18,627 in student loans. More information about a degree in criminal justice from University Of Virginia Main Campus

2

Virginia Commonwealth University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in criminal justice, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of Richmond, Virginia Commonwealth University is a very large public institution. 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. Graduates of the criminal justice program make about $38,495 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,250. See the full criminal justice program report for Virginia Commonwealth University

3
Marymount University crest
Marymount University
Arlington, VA

Marymount University came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best criminal justice schools. Located in the city of Arlington, Marymount University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 54%. Marymount University awarded about 24 criminal justice degrees in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice graduates of Marymount University earn a median of $35,642 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete this degree. Read more about the criminal justice program at Marymount University

4
Shenandoah University crest
Shenandoah University
Winchester, VA

Shenandoah University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in criminal justice, landing the #4 spot this year. Shenandoah University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Winchester. Shenandoah University graduates 66% of students within six years. About 19 criminal justice degrees were awarded at Shenandoah University in the most recent year. Criminal Justice graduates of Shenandoah University earn a median of $46,816 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $25,810 to complete this degree. Get the full criminal justice details for Shenandoah University

5
Regent University crest
Regent University
Virginia Beach, VA

Regent University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in criminal justice, ranking #5. Set in the city of Virginia Beach, Regent University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 58%. About 14 criminal justice degrees were awarded at Regent University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from Regent University generally make around $46,005. Students borrow a median of $21,237 to complete this degree. Read more about the criminal justice program at Regent University

6

Northern Virginia Community College placed #6 among the best criminal justice schools. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Annandale. There were roughly 36 criminal justice students who graduated with this degree at Northern Virginia Community College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice degree from Northern Virginia Community College earn around $40,126 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $25,999 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in criminal justice from Northern Virginia Community College

7

Blue Ridge Community College Weyers Cave came in at #7 for criminal justice this year. Set in the rural area of Weyers Cave, Blue Ridge Community College Weyers Cave is a moderately-sized public institution. Blue Ridge Community College Weyers Cave awarded about 26 criminal justice degrees in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice graduates of Blue Ridge Community College Weyers Cave earn a median of $40,020 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $11,768. Read more about the criminal justice program at Blue Ridge Community College Weyers Cave

8
Hampton University crest
Hampton University
Hampton, VA

Hampton University earned the #8 position for criminal justice this year. Located in the suburb of Hampton, Hampton University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. About 57% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 20 criminal justice students who graduated with this degree at Hampton University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice program make about $31,335 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree. Get the full criminal justice details for Hampton University

9
Averett University crest
Averett University
Danville, VA

Averett University came in at #9 for criminal justice this year. Averett University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of Danville. Averett University graduates 48% of students within six years. About 25 criminal justice degrees were awarded at Averett University in the most recent year. Criminal Justice graduates of Averett University earn a median of $43,494 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $29,703. Read more about the criminal justice program at Averett University

10

John Tyler Community College earned the #10 position for criminal justice this year. John Tyler Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Chester. There were roughly 57 criminal justice students who graduated with this degree at John Tyler Community College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from John Tyler Community College generally make around $33,766. Typical student debt for the program is $11,262. Read more about the criminal justice program at John Tyler Community College

11

J Sargeant Reynolds Community College earned the #11 position for criminal justice this year. This large public university is located in the suburb of Richmond. About 25 criminal justice degrees were awarded at J Sargeant Reynolds Community College in the most recent year. Graduates of the criminal justice program make about $36,965 in their early career. J Sargeant Reynolds Community College graduates carry a median of $16,131 in student loans. More information about a degree in criminal justice from J Sargeant Reynolds Community College

12
Germanna Community College crest
Germanna Community College
Locust Grove, VA

Germanna Community College landed the #12 spot for criminal justice this year. Germanna Community College is a large public school located in the rural area of Locust Grove. About 26 criminal justice degrees were awarded at Germanna Community College in the most recent year. Students who receive their criminal justice degree from Germanna Community College earn around $41,880 in the first couple years of their career. Germanna Community College graduates carry a median of $10,999 in student loans. Read more about the criminal justice program at Germanna Community College

13

Lord Fairfax Community College earned the #13 position for criminal justice this year. Set in the rural area of Middletown, Lord Fairfax Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Lord Fairfax Community College awarded about 18 criminal justice degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice program make about $37,531 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $10,698. More information about a degree in criminal justice from Lord Fairfax Community College

14

Wytheville Community College placed #14 among the best criminal justice schools. Located in the town of Wytheville, Wytheville Community College is a mid-sized public university. Wytheville Community College awarded about 55 criminal justice degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from Wytheville Community College generally make around $38,907. Typical student debt for the program is $9,542. See the full criminal justice program report for Wytheville Community College

15

Central Virginia Community College came in at #15 for criminal justice this year. Set in the city of Lynchburg, Central Virginia Community College is a mid-sized public institution. There were roughly 64 criminal justice students who graduated with this degree at Central Virginia Community College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice degree from Central Virginia Community College earn around $32,309 in the first couple years of their career. Central Virginia Community College graduates carry a median of $10,384 in student loans. More information about a degree in criminal justice from Central Virginia Community College

16

Tidewater Community College came in at #16 for criminal justice this year. Set in the city of Norfolk, Tidewater Community College is a very large public institution. There were roughly 110 criminal justice students who graduated with this degree at Tidewater Community College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice degree from Tidewater Community College earn around $26,965 in the first couple years of their career. Tidewater Community College graduates carry a median of $14,795 in student loans. See the full criminal justice program report for Tidewater Community College

17

New River Community College earned the #17 position for criminal justice this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the town of Dublin. About 26 criminal justice degrees were awarded at New River Community College in the most recent year. Students who receive their criminal justice degree from New River Community College earn around $46,892 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $13,132. More information about a degree in criminal justice from New River Community College

18

Piedmont Virginia Community College came in at #18 for criminal justice this year. Set in the suburb of Charlottesville, Piedmont Virginia Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Piedmont Virginia Community College awarded about 18 criminal justice degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from Piedmont Virginia Community College generally make around $46,129. Typical student debt for the program is $12,495. Get the full criminal justice details for Piedmont Virginia Community College

19

Southside Virginia Community College earned the #19 position for criminal justice this year. Set in the rural area of Alberta, Southside Virginia Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Southside Virginia Community College awarded about 22 criminal justice degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from Southside Virginia Community College generally make around $29,666. Typical student debt for the program is $7,467. Get the full criminal justice details for Southside Virginia Community College

20

Patrick Henry Community College came in at #20 for criminal justice this year. Set in the rural area of Martinsville, Patrick Henry Community College is a mid-sized public institution. There were roughly 11 criminal justice students who graduated with this degree at Patrick Henry Community College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice program make about $33,358 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $11,235 to complete this degree. Get the full criminal justice details for Patrick Henry Community College

21

Strayer University Virginia landed the #21 spot for criminal justice this year. Located in the city of Arlington, Strayer University Virginia is a mid-sized private for-profit university. About 19% of students finish within six years. Strayer University Virginia 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. Read more about the criminal justice program at Strayer University Virginia

22

Mountain Empire Community College came in at #22 for criminal justice this year. Set in the town of Big Stone Gap, Mountain Empire Community College is a mid-sized public institution. There were roughly 26 criminal justice students who graduated with this degree at Mountain Empire Community College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice program make about $36,988 in their early career. Mountain Empire Community College graduates carry a median of $9,036 in student loans. More information about a degree in criminal justice from Mountain Empire Community College

23

Southwest Virginia Community College ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best criminal justice schools. Located in the rural area of Cedar Bluff, Southwest Virginia Community College is a mid-sized public university. Southwest Virginia Community College awarded about 38 criminal justice degrees in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice graduates of Southwest Virginia Community College earn a median of $32,277 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $5,500 to complete this degree. Get the full criminal justice details for Southwest Virginia Community College

24

Danville Community College landed the #24 spot for criminal justice this year. Danville Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Danville. Danville Community College awarded about 24 criminal justice degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice program make about $44,922 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $9,494 to complete this degree. Get the full criminal justice details for Danville Community College

25

University Of Management And Technology ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best criminal justice schools. Located in the city of Arlington, University Of Management And Technology is a small private for-profit university. About 21 criminal justice degrees were awarded at University Of Management And Technology in the most recent year. More information about a degree in criminal justice from University Of Management And Technology

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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 · 37 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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