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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
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2026 Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools in California

45 Colleges in the United States
14,655 Criminal Justice & Corrections Degrees Awarded
$49,063 Avg Early-Career Salary

Criminal Justice & Corrections is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.

To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 161 schools to find the best for criminal justice & corrections students.

What’s on this page:

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Best Schools for Criminal Justice & Corrections in California

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall criminal justice & corrections education in California.

Top Schools in Criminal Justice & Corrections

1

University Of Southern California is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in criminal justice & corrections. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Los Angeles. About 92% of students finish within six years. University Of Southern California awarded about 58 criminal justice & corrections degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice & corrections program make about $75,677 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,625. Get the full criminal justice & corrections details for University Of Southern California

2

A rank of #2 makes University Of San Diego one of the top schools for criminal justice & corrections. University Of San Diego is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of San Diego. About 84% of students finish within six years. University Of San Diego awarded about 103 criminal justice & corrections degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice & corrections degree from University Of San Diego earn around $143,943 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,795. Get the full criminal justice & corrections details for University Of San Diego

3

San Jose State University came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best criminal justice & corrections schools. San Jose State University is a very large public school located in the city of San Jose. About 69% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 224 criminal justice & corrections students who graduated with this degree at San Jose State University in the most recent data year. See the full criminal justice & corrections program report for San Jose State University

4
Sonoma State University crest
Sonoma State University
Rohnert Park, CA

Sonoma State University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in criminal justice & corrections, ranking #4. This moderately-sized public university is located in the suburb of Rohnert Park. About 58% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 64 criminal justice & corrections students who graduated with this degree at Sonoma State University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice & corrections program make about $38,444 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,000. Get the full criminal justice & corrections details for Sonoma State University

5

Students looking for a strong criminal justice & corrections program will find one at California State University Sacramento, which ranked #5. This very large public university is located in the city of Sacramento. About 56% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 560 criminal justice & corrections students who graduated with this degree at California State University Sacramento in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice & corrections program make about $38,606 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $13,745. More information about a degree in criminal justice & corrections from California State University Sacramento

6

California State University East Bay landed the #6 spot for criminal justice & corrections this year. Set in the suburb of Hayward, California State University East Bay is a large public institution. About 48% of students finish within six years. California State University East Bay awarded about 119 criminal justice & corrections degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice & corrections program make about $45,387 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $15,500 to complete this degree. See the full criminal justice & corrections program report for California State University East Bay

7

San Francisco State University placed #7 among the best criminal justice & corrections schools. Located in the city of San Francisco, San Francisco State University is a very large public university. San Francisco State University graduates 50% of students within six years. There were roughly 168 criminal justice & corrections students who graduated with this degree at San Francisco State University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice & corrections degree from San Francisco State University earn around $42,211 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $13,518 to complete this degree. Read more about the criminal justice & corrections program at San Francisco State University

8

Point Loma Nazarene University placed #8 among the best criminal justice & corrections schools. Located in the city of San Diego, Point Loma Nazarene University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Point Loma Nazarene University graduates 77% of students within six years. About 24 criminal justice & corrections degrees were awarded at Point Loma Nazarene University in the most recent year. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Point Loma Nazarene University earn a median of $45,022 early in their careers. Point Loma Nazarene University graduates carry a median of $14,000 in student loans. Get the full criminal justice & corrections details for Point Loma Nazarene University

9

California State University Long Beach placed #9 among the best criminal justice & corrections schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Long Beach. Roughly 69% of students complete a degree within six years here. California State University Long Beach awarded about 354 criminal justice & corrections degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice & corrections degree from California State University Long Beach earn around $40,836 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $15,000 to complete this degree. See the full criminal justice & corrections program report for California State University Long Beach

10

California State University Fullerton came in at #10 for criminal justice & corrections this year. California State University Fullerton is a very large public school located in the suburb of Fullerton. The six-year graduation rate is 70%. California State University Fullerton awarded about 380 criminal justice & corrections degrees in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of California State University Fullerton earn a median of $34,570 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $11,000. More information about a degree in criminal justice & corrections from California State University Fullerton

11

San Diego State University placed #11 among the best criminal justice & corrections schools. This very large public university is located in the city of San Diego. The six-year graduation rate is 76%. San Diego State University awarded about 542 criminal justice & corrections degrees in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of San Diego State University earn a median of $33,261 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $12,998 to complete this degree. Read more about the criminal justice & corrections program at San Diego State University

12

California State University Chico placed #12 among the best criminal justice & corrections schools. Set in the city of Chico, California State University Chico is a large public institution. California State University Chico graduates 63% of students within six years. About 118 criminal justice & corrections degrees were awarded at California State University Chico in the most recent year. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of California State University Chico earn a median of $36,045 early in their careers. California State University Chico graduates carry a median of $16,331 in student loans. Read more about the criminal justice & corrections program at California State University Chico

13

California State University Los Angeles earned the #13 position for criminal justice & corrections this year. California State University Los Angeles is a very large public school located in the city of Los Angeles. Roughly 53% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 385 criminal justice & corrections degrees were awarded at California State University Los Angeles in the most recent year. Students who receive their criminal justice & corrections degree from California State University Los Angeles earn around $32,974 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $11,679. See the full criminal justice & corrections program report for California State University Los Angeles

14

Santa Rosa Junior College placed #14 among the best criminal justice & corrections schools. Located in the city of Santa Rosa, Santa Rosa Junior College is a very large public university. Santa Rosa Junior College awarded about 540 criminal justice & corrections degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice & corrections degree from Santa Rosa Junior College earn around $111,649 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $14,125 to complete this degree. See the full criminal justice & corrections program report for Santa Rosa Junior College

15

California State University Stanislaus earned the #15 position for criminal justice & corrections this year. This large public university is located in the suburb of Turlock. The six-year graduation rate is 53%. About 185 criminal justice & corrections degrees were awarded at California State University Stanislaus in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from California State University Stanislaus generally make around $34,806. Students borrow a median of $12,500 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in criminal justice & corrections from California State University Stanislaus

16

California State University Dominguez Hills ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best criminal justice & corrections schools. This large public university is located in the city of Carson. Roughly 43% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 198 criminal justice & corrections degrees were awarded at California State University Dominguez Hills in the most recent year. Students who receive their criminal justice & corrections degree from California State University Dominguez Hills earn around $36,092 in the first couple years of their career. California State University Dominguez Hills graduates carry a median of $12,256 in student loans. Get the full criminal justice & corrections details for California State University Dominguez Hills

17
College Of San Mateo crest
College Of San Mateo
San Mateo, CA

College Of San Mateo came in at #17 for criminal justice & corrections this year. This large public university is located in the city of San Mateo. College Of San Mateo awarded about 54 criminal justice & corrections degrees in the most recent data year. College Of San Mateo graduates carry a median of $12,831 in student loans. Get the full criminal justice & corrections details for College Of San Mateo

18
Grossmont College crest
Grossmont College
El Cajon, CA

Grossmont College landed the #18 spot for criminal justice & corrections this year. Located in the suburb of El Cajon, Grossmont College is a large public university. Grossmont College awarded about 96 criminal justice & corrections degrees in the most recent data year. More information about a degree in criminal justice & corrections from Grossmont College

19

California State University San Bernardino came in at #19 for criminal justice & corrections this year. Set in the city of San Bernardino, California State University San Bernardino is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 55%. About 254 criminal justice & corrections degrees were awarded at California State University San Bernardino in the most recent year. Students who receive their criminal justice & corrections degree from California State University San Bernardino earn around $35,029 in the first couple years of their career. California State University San Bernardino graduates carry a median of $14,917 in student loans. More information about a degree in criminal justice & corrections from California State University San Bernardino

20

California State University Bakersfield placed #20 among the best criminal justice & corrections schools. Set in the city of Bakersfield, California State University Bakersfield is a large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 50%. About 138 criminal justice & corrections degrees were awarded at California State University Bakersfield in the most recent year. Get the full criminal justice & corrections details for California State University Bakersfield

21

Mt San Antonio College came in at #21 for criminal justice & corrections this year. Mt San Antonio College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Walnut. About 78 criminal justice & corrections degrees were awarded at Mt San Antonio College in the most recent year. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Mt San Antonio College earn a median of $33,692 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $9,384 to complete this degree. See the full criminal justice & corrections program report for Mt San Antonio College

22

California State University Northridge earned the #22 position for criminal justice & corrections this year. California State University Northridge is a very large public school located in the city of Northridge. Roughly 57% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 395 criminal justice & corrections degrees were awarded at California State University Northridge in the most recent year. Graduates of the criminal justice & corrections program make about $34,870 in their early career. California State University Northridge graduates carry a median of $11,000 in student loans. More information about a degree in criminal justice & corrections from California State University Northridge

23
Butte College crest
Butte College
Oroville, CA

Butte College placed #23 among the best criminal justice & corrections schools. Butte College is a large public school located in the rural area of Oroville. About 200 criminal justice & corrections degrees were awarded at Butte College in the most recent year. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Butte College earn a median of $73,170 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $15,414. More information about a degree in criminal justice & corrections from Butte College

24
Sacramento City College crest
Sacramento City College
Sacramento, CA

Sacramento City College landed the #24 spot for criminal justice & corrections this year. Located in the city of Sacramento, Sacramento City College is a very large public university. Sacramento City College awarded about 108 criminal justice & corrections degrees in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Sacramento City College earn a median of $31,146 early in their careers. Sacramento City College graduates carry a median of $11,760 in student loans. See the full criminal justice & corrections program report for Sacramento City College

25
Chabot College crest
Chabot College
Hayward, CA

Chabot College came in at #25 for criminal justice & corrections this year. This large public university is located in the suburb of Hayward. Chabot College awarded about 74 criminal justice & corrections degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Chabot College generally make around $85,175. Chabot College graduates carry a median of $14,122 in student loans. More information about a degree in criminal justice & corrections from Chabot College

Rest of the Top 50 Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools

These schools also placed among the best for criminal justice & corrections this year:

26
27
College Of The Canyons crest
College Of The Canyons
Santa Clarita, CA
28
Rio Hondo College crest
Rio Hondo College
Whittier, CA
29
30
College Of The Desert crest
College Of The Desert
Palm Desert, CA
31
De Anza College crest
De Anza College
Cupertino, CA
32
33
34
35
Yuba College crest
Yuba College
Marysville, CA
36
37
38
Diablo Valley College crest
Diablo Valley College
Pleasant Hill, CA
39
East Los Angeles College crest
East Los Angeles College
Monterey Park, CA
40
Moorpark College crest
Moorpark College
Moorpark, CA
41
Los Angeles Pierce College crest
Los Angeles Pierce College
Woodland Hills, CA
42
43
Moreno Valley College crest
Moreno Valley College
Moreno Valley, CA
44
45
46
National University crest
National University
San Diego, CA
47
Cuesta College crest
Cuesta College
San Luis Obispo, CA
48
Cerritos College crest
Cerritos College
Norwalk, CA
49
50

Honorable Mentions

A few more criminal justice & corrections schools worth a look:

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View All Criminal Justice & Corrections Rankings >

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Notes and References

This ranking is produced 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 · 161 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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