Criminal Justice & Corrections programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. The schools below stand out for the quality of their criminal justice & corrections programs.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 257 schools to find the best for criminal justice & corrections students.
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Best Schools for Criminal Justice & Corrections in the Middle Atlantic Region
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 & corrections degrees they offer, see the list below.
Leading the list is Pennsylvania State University Main Campus, our #1 school for criminal justice & corrections. This very large public university is located in the city of University Park. About 86% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 253 criminal justice & corrections students who graduated with this degree at Pennsylvania State University Main Campus in the most recent data year.
See the full criminal justice & corrections program report for Pennsylvania State University Main Campus
George Washington University came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best criminal justice & corrections schools. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Washington. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. George Washington University awarded about 52 criminal justice & corrections degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from George Washington University generally make around $51,256. Students borrow a median of $20,500 to complete this degree.
See the full criminal justice & corrections program report for George Washington University
Students looking for a strong criminal justice & corrections program will find one at American University, which ranked #3. Located in the city of Washington, American University is a large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 76%. American University awarded about 140 criminal justice & corrections degrees in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of American University earn a median of $49,607 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $23,250 to complete this degree.
Read more about the criminal justice & corrections program at American University
Students looking for a strong criminal justice & corrections program will find one at The College Of New Jersey, which ranked #4. This moderately-sized public university is located in the suburb of Ewing. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 39 criminal justice & corrections degrees were awarded at The College Of New Jersey in the most recent year. Students who receive their criminal justice & corrections degree from The College Of New Jersey earn around $36,070 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,500.
Get the full criminal justice & corrections details for The College Of New Jersey
A rank of #5 makes West Chester University Of Pennsylvania one of the top schools for criminal justice & corrections. Set in the suburb of West Chester, West Chester University Of Pennsylvania is a large public institution. About 70% of students finish within six years. West Chester University Of Pennsylvania awarded about 161 criminal justice & corrections degrees in the most recent data year.
More information about a degree in criminal justice & corrections from West Chester University Of Pennsylvania
Rutgers University New Brunswick earned the #6 position for criminal justice & corrections this year. This very large public university is located in the city of New Brunswick. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 172 criminal justice & corrections degrees were awarded at Rutgers University New Brunswick in the most recent year. Graduates of the criminal justice & corrections program make about $45,182 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $22,431 to complete this degree.
See the full criminal justice & corrections program report for Rutgers University New Brunswick
The Richard Stockton College Of New Jersey earned the #7 position for criminal justice & corrections this year. Located in the rural area of Galloway, The Richard Stockton College Of New Jersey is a large public university. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 152 criminal justice & corrections degrees were awarded at The Richard Stockton College Of New Jersey in the most recent year. Students who receive their criminal justice & corrections degree from The Richard Stockton College Of New Jersey earn around $43,490 in the first couple years of their career. The Richard Stockton College Of New Jersey graduates carry a median of $24,990 in student loans.
Get the full criminal justice & corrections details for The Richard Stockton College Of New Jersey
Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice placed #8 among the best criminal justice & corrections schools. Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice is a large public school located in the city of New York. About 56% of students finish within six years. About 1,683 criminal justice & corrections degrees were awarded at Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice in the most recent year. Graduates of the criminal justice & corrections program make about $50,103 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $10,500 to complete this degree.
Get the full criminal justice & corrections details for Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice
University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best criminal justice & corrections schools. Located in the city of Pittsburgh, University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is a very large public university. University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus graduates 86% of students within six years. University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus awarded about 87 criminal justice & corrections degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice & corrections program make about $36,959 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
More information about a degree in criminal justice & corrections from University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus
Rowan University came in at #10 for criminal justice & corrections this year. Set in the suburb of Glassboro, Rowan University is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 67%. There were roughly 237 criminal justice & corrections students who graduated with this degree at Rowan University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice & corrections degree from Rowan University earn around $33,254 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,250.
More information about a degree in criminal justice & corrections from Rowan University
Commonwealth University Of Pennsylvania placed #11 among the best criminal justice & corrections schools. Located in the town of Bloomsburg, Commonwealth University Of Pennsylvania is a large public university. Roughly 56% of students complete a degree within six years here. Commonwealth University Of Pennsylvania awarded about 126 criminal justice & corrections degrees in the most recent data year.
Get the full criminal justice & corrections details for Commonwealth University Of Pennsylvania
Raritan Valley Community College ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best criminal justice & corrections schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the rural area of Branchburg. About 37 criminal justice & corrections degrees were awarded at Raritan Valley Community College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Raritan Valley Community College generally make around $47,248. Students borrow a median of $5,500 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in criminal justice & corrections from Raritan Valley Community College
Rutgers University Newark came in at #13 for criminal justice & corrections this year. Located in the city of Newark, Rutgers University Newark is a large public university. Rutgers University Newark graduates 64% of students within six years. About 197 criminal justice & corrections degrees were awarded at Rutgers University Newark in the most recent year. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Rutgers University Newark earn a median of $45,182 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $22,431 to complete this degree.
See the full criminal justice & corrections program report for Rutgers University Newark
Suny College At Oneonta earned the #14 position for criminal justice & corrections this year. Located in the town of Oneonta, Suny College At Oneonta is a moderately-sized public university. About 69% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 48 criminal justice & corrections students who graduated with this degree at Suny College At Oneonta in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Suny College At Oneonta generally make around $32,043. Suny College At Oneonta graduates carry a median of $19,740 in student loans.
Read more about the criminal justice & corrections program at Suny College At Oneonta
Suffolk County Community College earned the #15 position for criminal justice & corrections this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Selden. Suffolk County Community College awarded about 153 criminal justice & corrections degrees in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Suffolk County Community College earn a median of $31,617 early in their careers. Suffolk County Community College graduates carry a median of $7,625 in student loans.
Get the full criminal justice & corrections details for Suffolk County Community College
Pennsylvania State University World Campus landed the #16 spot for criminal justice & corrections this year. Set in the city of University Park, Pennsylvania State University World Campus is a large public institution. Roughly 34% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 96 criminal justice & corrections degrees were awarded at Pennsylvania State University World Campus in the most recent year.
See the full criminal justice & corrections program report for Pennsylvania State University World Campus
Utica College placed #17 among the best criminal justice & corrections schools. Located in the city of Utica, Utica College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 56% of students complete a degree within six years here. Utica College awarded about 54 criminal justice & corrections degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice & corrections program make about $45,521 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete this degree.
Read more about the criminal justice & corrections program at Utica College
Robert Morris University came in at #18 for criminal justice & corrections this year. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Moon Township. The six-year graduation rate is 66%. There were roughly 14 criminal justice & corrections students who graduated with this degree at Robert Morris University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice & corrections degree from Robert Morris University earn around $58,900 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,748.
Read more about the criminal justice & corrections program at Robert Morris University
Temple University placed #19 among the best criminal justice & corrections schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Philadelphia. About 75% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 185 criminal justice & corrections students who graduated with this degree at Temple University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice & corrections program make about $38,612 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,000.
More information about a degree in criminal justice & corrections from Temple University
William Paterson University Of New Jersey landed the #20 spot for criminal justice & corrections this year. Set in the suburb of Wayne, William Paterson University Of New Jersey is a large public institution. William Paterson University Of New Jersey graduates 44% of students within six years. About 142 criminal justice & corrections degrees were awarded at William Paterson University Of New Jersey in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from William Paterson University Of New Jersey generally make around $35,864. Typical student debt for the program is $25,000.
Read more about the criminal justice & corrections program at William Paterson University Of New Jersey
St Johns University New York came in at #21 for criminal justice & corrections this year. Located in the city of Queens, St Johns University New York is a very large private not-for-profit university. St Johns University New York graduates 66% of students within six years. St Johns University New York awarded about 182 criminal justice & corrections degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice & corrections program make about $45,896 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,719.
Read more about the criminal justice & corrections program at St Johns University New York
Nassau Community College placed #22 among the best criminal justice & corrections schools. Set in the suburb of Garden City, Nassau Community College is a large public institution. There were roughly 112 criminal justice & corrections students who graduated with this degree at Nassau Community College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Nassau Community College generally make around $29,837. Nassau Community College graduates carry a median of $10,750 in student loans.
Get the full criminal justice & corrections details for Nassau Community College
Stevenson University earned the #23 position for criminal justice & corrections this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Owings Mills. About 68% of students finish within six years. Stevenson University awarded about 45 criminal justice & corrections degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice & corrections program make about $38,745 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
Read more about the criminal justice & corrections program at Stevenson University
University Of Scranton came in at #24 for criminal justice & corrections this year. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Scranton. The six-year graduation rate is 80%. There were roughly 20 criminal justice & corrections students who graduated with this degree at University Of Scranton in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice & corrections program make about $32,300 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
Read more about the criminal justice & corrections program at University Of Scranton
University Of Maryland University College earned the #25 position for criminal justice & corrections this year. Located in the suburb of Adelphi, University Of Maryland University College is a very large public university. About 20% of students finish within six years. University Of Maryland University College awarded about 352 criminal justice & corrections degrees in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of University Of Maryland University College earn a median of $55,479 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $25,062 to complete this degree.
Get the full criminal justice & corrections details for University Of Maryland University College
Rest of the Top 50 Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s criminal justice & corrections ranking:
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 · 257 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).
