Criminal Justice & Corrections 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 285 schools to find the best for criminal justice & corrections students.
No school ranked higher than Indiana University Bloomington this year for criminal justice & corrections. Set in the city of Bloomington, Indiana University Bloomington is a very large public institution. About 80% of students finish within six years. Indiana University Bloomington awarded about 93 criminal justice & corrections degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice & corrections program make about $35,572 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $19,464.
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Michigan State University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in criminal justice & corrections, ranking #2. This very large public university is located in the city of East Lansing. Michigan State University graduates 81% of students within six years. About 235 criminal justice & corrections degrees were awarded at Michigan State University in the most recent year. Graduates of the criminal justice & corrections program make about $57,913 in their early career. Michigan State University graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans.
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Illinois State University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in criminal justice & corrections, landing the #3 spot this year. Illinois State University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Normal. Roughly 64% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 170 criminal justice & corrections degrees were awarded at Illinois State University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Illinois State University generally make around $37,584. Students borrow a median of $22,531 to complete this degree.
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Students looking for a strong criminal justice & corrections program will find one at University Of Illinois At Chicago, which ranked #4. University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public school located in the city of Chicago. About 62% of students finish within six years. About 134 criminal justice & corrections degrees were awarded at University Of Illinois At Chicago in the most recent year. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of University Of Illinois At Chicago earn a median of $34,551 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $15,875 to complete this degree.
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Students looking for a strong criminal justice & corrections program will find one at Grand Valley State University, which ranked #5. Set in the town of Allendale, Grand Valley State University is a very large public institution. Grand Valley State University graduates 67% of students within six years. There were roughly 107 criminal justice & corrections students who graduated with this degree at Grand Valley State University in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Grand Valley State University earn a median of $39,857 early in their careers. Grand Valley State University graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans.
More information about a degree in criminal justice & corrections from Grand Valley State University
Aurora University landed the #6 spot for criminal justice & corrections this year. Aurora University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Aurora. The six-year graduation rate is 60%. There were roughly 83 criminal justice & corrections students who graduated with this degree at Aurora University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice & corrections degree from Aurora University earn around $44,150 in the first couple years of their career. Aurora University graduates carry a median of $23,635 in student loans.
See the full criminal justice & corrections program report for Aurora University
Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College came in at #7 for criminal justice & corrections this year. Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Rice Lake. Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College awarded about 27 criminal justice & corrections degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice & corrections degree from Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College earn around $44,966 in the first couple years of their career. Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College graduates carry a median of $10,252 in student loans.
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University Of Detroit Mercy placed #8 among the best criminal justice & corrections schools. University Of Detroit Mercy is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Detroit. The six-year graduation rate is 67%. About 14 criminal justice & corrections degrees were awarded at University Of Detroit Mercy in the most recent year. Graduates of the criminal justice & corrections program make about $76,755 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $29,053.
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Calumet College Of Saint Joseph landed the #9 spot for criminal justice & corrections this year. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Whiting. The six-year graduation rate is 22%. Calumet College Of Saint Joseph awarded about 71 criminal justice & corrections degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice & corrections program make about $55,587 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $23,856 to complete this degree.
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Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best criminal justice & corrections schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Indianapolis. Roughly 54% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 96 criminal justice & corrections students who graduated with this degree at Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice & corrections program make about $46,011 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $20,300 to complete this degree.
See the full criminal justice & corrections program report for Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis
Fox Valley Technical College placed #11 among the best criminal justice & corrections schools. Located in the suburb of Appleton, Fox Valley Technical College is a large public university. There were roughly 178 criminal justice & corrections students who graduated with this degree at Fox Valley Technical College in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Fox Valley Technical College earn a median of $52,156 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $17,125 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in criminal justice & corrections from Fox Valley Technical College
Lewis University ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best criminal justice & corrections schools. Lewis University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Romeoville. Roughly 67% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 101 criminal justice & corrections students who graduated with this degree at Lewis University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Lewis University generally make around $66,865. Typical student debt for the program is $20,000.
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Siena Heights University landed the #13 spot for criminal justice & corrections this year. Set in the town of Adrian, Siena Heights University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 39% of students finish within six years. Siena Heights University awarded about 32 criminal justice & corrections degrees in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Siena Heights University earn a median of $67,009 early in their careers. Siena Heights University graduates carry a median of $22,250 in student loans.
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Ferris State University placed #14 among the best criminal justice & corrections schools. Located in the town of Big Rapids, Ferris State University is a large public university. Ferris State University graduates 56% of students within six years. About 241 criminal justice & corrections degrees were awarded at Ferris State University in the most recent year. Students who receive their criminal justice & corrections degree from Ferris State University earn around $48,266 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,880.
See the full criminal justice & corrections program report for Ferris State University
Ball State University earned the #15 position for criminal justice & corrections this year. Ball State University is a very large public school located in the city of Muncie. About 62% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 86 criminal justice & corrections students who graduated with this degree at Ball State University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice & corrections degree from Ball State University earn around $39,991 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,367.
See the full criminal justice & corrections program report for Ball State University
University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best criminal justice & corrections schools. Set in the city of Oshkosh, University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh is a large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 54%. There were roughly 46 criminal justice & corrections students who graduated with this degree at University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh generally make around $39,394. University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans.
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Madison Area Technical College came in at #17 for criminal justice & corrections this year. Located in the city of Madison, Madison Area Technical College is a large public university. There were roughly 81 criminal justice & corrections students who graduated with this degree at Madison Area Technical College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Madison Area Technical College generally make around $39,174. Typical student debt for the program is $13,750.
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Western Illinois University earned the #18 position for criminal justice & corrections this year. Western Illinois University is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Macomb. Roughly 45% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 200 criminal justice & corrections degrees were awarded at Western Illinois University in the most recent year. Graduates of the criminal justice & corrections program make about $45,140 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete this degree.
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Bowling Green State University Main Campus landed the #19 spot for criminal justice & corrections this year. Set in the town of Bowling Green, Bowling Green State University Main Campus is a large public institution. Roughly 61% of students complete a degree within six years here. Bowling Green State University Main Campus awarded about 108 criminal justice & corrections degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Bowling Green State University Main Campus generally make around $36,468. Typical student debt for the program is $26,000.
See the full criminal justice & corrections program report for Bowling Green State University Main Campus
Central Michigan University ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best criminal justice & corrections schools. Set in the town of Mount Pleasant, Central Michigan University is a large public institution. About 59% of students finish within six years. About 30 criminal justice & corrections degrees were awarded at Central Michigan University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Central Michigan University generally make around $50,688. Central Michigan University graduates carry a median of $27,857 in student loans.
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University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best criminal justice & corrections schools. University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire is a large public school located in the city of Eau Claire. The six-year graduation rate is 65%. University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire awarded about 50 criminal justice & corrections degrees in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire earn a median of $41,258 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $21,500.
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Cedarville University came in at #22 for criminal justice & corrections this year. Located in the rural area of Cedarville, Cedarville University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 72%. There were roughly 14 criminal justice & corrections students who graduated with this degree at Cedarville University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice & corrections degree from Cedarville University earn around $57,104 in the first couple years of their career. Cedarville University graduates carry a median of $22,110 in student loans.
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Northeastern Illinois University landed the #23 spot for criminal justice & corrections this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Chicago. Roughly 22% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 34 criminal justice & corrections students who graduated with this degree at Northeastern Illinois University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice & corrections program make about $40,719 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $13,625.
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Loyola University Chicago earned the #24 position for criminal justice & corrections this year. Located in the city of Chicago, Loyola University Chicago is a large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 75% of students complete a degree within six years here. Loyola University Chicago awarded about 72 criminal justice & corrections degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice & corrections degree from Loyola University Chicago earn around $42,128 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete this degree.
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Eastern Illinois University came in at #25 for criminal justice & corrections this year. Set in the town of Charleston, Eastern Illinois University is a large public institution. Eastern Illinois University graduates 47% of students within six years. There were roughly 33 criminal justice & corrections students who graduated with this degree at Eastern Illinois University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Eastern Illinois University generally make around $40,489. Eastern Illinois University graduates carry a median of $24,293 in student loans.
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Rest of the Top 50 Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools
Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong criminal justice & corrections education:
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 · 285 schools evaluated.
The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
