by our College Data Analytics TeamStudying Juvenile Corrections involves the study of Juvenile Corrections. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Specialize In The Provision Of Correction Services To Underage Minor Populations. Includes Instruction In Corrections, Juvenile Delinquency, Juvenile Development And Psychology, Juvenile Law And Justice Administration, Social Services, Record-Keeping Procedures, And Communication Skills. Read on to learn the essential details every juvenile corrections student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering juvenile corrections programs.
Nationwide, juvenile corrections draws strong interest, with 68 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Juvenile Corrections Schools ranking analyzes these 12 schools to determine the best overall colleges for juvenile corrections students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of juvenile corrections programs later in this article.
Studies in Juvenile Corrections emphasize a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations juvenile corrections graduates commonly enter.
Skills built by a juvenile corrections program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Based on O*NET data, a juvenile corrections major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several juvenile corrections degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 1 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 10 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 2 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 45 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 10 |
People currently working in careers related to juvenile corrections tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| High school diploma or equivalent | 60.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 19.7% |
| Master’s degree | 9.8% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 7.0% |
| Doctoral degree | 1.6% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 0.7% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.6% |
| First professional degree | 0.1% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in juvenile corrections careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
A degree in juvenile corrections prepares you for numerous career paths. Below are some of the most common occupations related to juvenile corrections.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to juvenile corrections.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Correctional Officers and Jailers | 514,818 | 8.7% |
| Child, Family, and School Social Workers | 206,409 | 1.0% |
| Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Teachers, Postsecondary | 52,113 | 12.0% |
College Scorecard reports median earnings of juvenile corrections graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. These numbers tend to grow as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $40,812 |
| 4 years | $44,073 |
| 5 years | $49,815 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for juvenile corrections graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers juvenile corrections grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Teachers, Postsecondary | $91,449 |
| Correctional Officers and Jailers | $59,482 |
| Child, Family, and School Social Workers | $41,658 |
With 12 different juvenile corrections programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased juvenile corrections school rankings to help you.
Students interested in juvenile corrections, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Criminal Justice/Safety Studies | 41,895 |
| Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement Administration | 26,997 |
| Criminal Justice/Police Science | 20,474 |
| Corrections | 4,967 |
| Corrections and Criminal Justice, Other | 4,327 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | 2,175 |
| Securities Services Administration/Management | 662 |
| Security and Loss Prevention Services | 494 |
| Law Enforcement Investigation and Interviewing | 300 |
| Corrections Administration | 97 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
