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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2026 Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools in Pennsylvania

42 Colleges in the United States
2,542 Criminal Justice & Corrections Degrees Awarded
$40,731 Avg Early-Career Salary

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 93 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 Pennsylvania

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

Top Schools in Criminal Justice & Corrections

1

Our analysis ranked Pennsylvania State University Main Campus the best school in the country for a degree in criminal justice & corrections. Set in the city of University Park, Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. About 253 criminal justice & corrections degrees were awarded at Pennsylvania State University Main Campus in the most recent year. Read more about the criminal justice & corrections program at Pennsylvania State University Main Campus

2

West Chester University Of Pennsylvania came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best criminal justice & corrections schools. 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. There were roughly 161 criminal justice & corrections students who graduated with this degree at West Chester University Of Pennsylvania in the most recent data year. See the full criminal justice & corrections program report for West Chester University Of Pennsylvania

3

A rank of #3 makes University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus one of the top schools for criminal justice & corrections. University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Pittsburgh. University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus graduates 86% of students within six years. There were roughly 87 criminal justice & corrections students who graduated with this degree at University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice & corrections degree from University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus earn around $36,959 in the first couple years of their 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

4

Students looking for a strong criminal justice & corrections program will find one at Commonwealth University Of Pennsylvania, which ranked #4. This large public university is located in the town of Bloomsburg. The six-year graduation rate is 56%. There were roughly 126 criminal justice & corrections students who graduated with this degree at Commonwealth University Of Pennsylvania in the most recent data year. Read more about the criminal justice & corrections program at Commonwealth University Of Pennsylvania

5

Students looking for a strong criminal justice & corrections program will find one at Pennsylvania State University World Campus, which ranked #5. This large public university is located in the city of University Park. The six-year graduation rate is 34%. About 96 criminal justice & corrections degrees were awarded at Pennsylvania State University World Campus in the most recent year. Get the full criminal justice & corrections details for Pennsylvania State University World Campus

6
Robert Morris University crest
Robert Morris University
Moon Township, PA

Robert Morris University earned the #6 position for criminal justice & corrections this year. Robert Morris University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Moon Township. The six-year graduation rate is 66%. Robert Morris University awarded about 14 criminal justice & corrections degrees 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. Students borrow a median of $26,748 to complete this degree. Read more about the criminal justice & corrections program at Robert Morris University

7
Temple University crest
Temple University
Philadelphia, PA

Temple University came in at #7 for criminal justice & corrections this year. Set in the city of Philadelphia, Temple University is a very large public institution. Temple University graduates 75% of students within six years. About 185 criminal justice & corrections degrees were awarded at Temple University in the most recent year. Students who receive their criminal justice & corrections degree from Temple University earn around $38,612 in the first couple years of their career. Temple University graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Get the full criminal justice & corrections details for Temple University

8

University Of Scranton landed the #8 spot for criminal justice & corrections this year. University Of Scranton is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Scranton. About 80% of students finish within six years. University Of Scranton awarded about 20 criminal justice & corrections degrees in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of University Of Scranton earn a median of $32,300 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000. More information about a degree in criminal justice & corrections from University Of Scranton

9

Montgomery County Community College placed #9 among the best criminal justice & corrections schools. Set in the suburb of Blue Bell, Montgomery County Community College is a large public institution. About 32 criminal justice & corrections degrees were awarded at Montgomery County Community College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Montgomery County Community College generally make around $58,964. Students borrow a median of $16,112 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in criminal justice & corrections from Montgomery County Community College

10

Gannon University landed the #10 spot for criminal justice & corrections this year. Gannon University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Erie. About 67% of students finish within six years. About 34 criminal justice & corrections degrees were awarded at Gannon University in the most recent year. Graduates of the criminal justice & corrections program make about $39,788 in their early career. Gannon University graduates carry a median of $24,594 in student loans. More information about a degree in criminal justice & corrections from Gannon University

11

Pennsylvania State University Penn State Abington ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best criminal justice & corrections schools. This mid-sized public university is located in the suburb of Abington. Roughly 20% of students complete a degree within six years here. Pennsylvania State University Penn State Abington awarded about 35 criminal justice & corrections degrees in the most recent data year. Read more about the criminal justice & corrections program at Pennsylvania State University Penn State Abington

12

Kutztown University Of Pennsylvania landed the #12 spot for criminal justice & corrections this year. Set in the town of Kutztown, Kutztown University Of Pennsylvania is a moderately-sized public institution. Roughly 54% of students complete a degree within six years here. Kutztown University Of Pennsylvania awarded about 71 criminal justice & corrections degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice & corrections degree from Kutztown University Of Pennsylvania earn around $37,311 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in criminal justice & corrections from Kutztown University Of Pennsylvania

13

Pennsylvania Western University placed #13 among the best criminal justice & corrections schools. Pennsylvania Western University is a large public school located in the town of California. The six-year graduation rate is 52%. Pennsylvania Western University awarded about 63 criminal justice & corrections degrees in the most recent data year. Read more about the criminal justice & corrections program at Pennsylvania Western University

14

York College Pennsylvania earned the #14 position for criminal justice & corrections this year. Set in the suburb of York, York College Pennsylvania is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 64% of students finish within six years. About 32 criminal justice & corrections degrees were awarded at York College Pennsylvania in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from York College Pennsylvania generally make around $42,175. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete this degree. See the full criminal justice & corrections program report for York College Pennsylvania

15

Pennsylvania State University Penn State Harrisburg landed the #15 spot for criminal justice & corrections this year. Pennsylvania State University Penn State Harrisburg is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Middletown. Roughly 26% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 28 criminal justice & corrections students who graduated with this degree at Pennsylvania State University Penn State Harrisburg in the most recent data year. More information about a degree in criminal justice & corrections from Pennsylvania State University Penn State Harrisburg

16

Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus placed #16 among the best criminal justice & corrections schools. Set in the town of Indiana, Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus is a large public institution. Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus graduates 54% of students within six years. There were roughly 73 criminal justice & corrections students who graduated with this degree at Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice & corrections degree from Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus earn around $42,972 in the first couple years of their career. Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus graduates carry a median of $26,513 in student loans. Read more about the criminal justice & corrections program at Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus

17
Immaculata University crest
Immaculata University
Immaculata, PA

Immaculata University earned the #17 position for criminal justice & corrections this year. Immaculata University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Immaculata. Immaculata University graduates 71% of students within six years. There were roughly 10 criminal justice & corrections students who graduated with this degree at Immaculata University in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Immaculata University earn a median of $64,223 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $27,738 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in criminal justice & corrections from Immaculata University

18
Desales University crest
Desales University
Center Valley, PA

Desales University earned the #18 position for criminal justice & corrections this year. Set in the suburb of Center Valley, Desales University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 72% of students finish within six years. Desales University awarded about 31 criminal justice & corrections degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Desales University generally make around $50,841. Desales University graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. More information about a degree in criminal justice & corrections from Desales University

19

Bucks County Community College ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best criminal justice & corrections schools. Bucks County Community College is a large public school located in the rural area of Newtown. About 39 criminal justice & corrections degrees were awarded at Bucks County Community College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Bucks County Community College generally make around $28,719. Typical student debt for the program is $10,169. Read more about the criminal justice & corrections program at Bucks County Community College

20

East Stroudsburg University Of Pennsylvania earned the #20 position for criminal justice & corrections this year. Set in the town of East Stroudsburg, East Stroudsburg University Of Pennsylvania is a moderately-sized public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 43%. East Stroudsburg University Of Pennsylvania awarded about 57 criminal justice & corrections degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice & corrections degree from East Stroudsburg University Of Pennsylvania earn around $35,206 in the first couple years of their career. East Stroudsburg University Of Pennsylvania graduates carry a median of $26,888 in student loans. See the full criminal justice & corrections program report for East Stroudsburg University Of Pennsylvania

21

Northampton County Area Community College earned the #21 position for criminal justice & corrections this year. This large public university is located in the suburb of Bethlehem. About 50 criminal justice & corrections degrees were awarded at Northampton County Area Community College in the most recent year. Graduates of the criminal justice & corrections program make about $31,430 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $17,449. See the full criminal justice & corrections program report for Northampton County Area Community College

22

Lehigh Carbon Community College landed the #22 spot for criminal justice & corrections this year. Lehigh Carbon Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Schnecksville. About 31 criminal justice & corrections degrees were awarded at Lehigh Carbon Community College in the most recent year. Graduates of the criminal justice & corrections program make about $33,360 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $11,000 to complete this degree. See the full criminal justice & corrections program report for Lehigh Carbon Community College

23

Pennsylvania State University Penn State Berks ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best criminal justice & corrections schools. This mid-sized public university is located in the suburb of Reading. Roughly 30% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 12 criminal justice & corrections students who graduated with this degree at Pennsylvania State University Penn State Berks in the most recent data year. See the full criminal justice & corrections program report for Pennsylvania State University Penn State Berks

24

Mercyhurst College landed the #24 spot for criminal justice & corrections this year. Located in the city of Erie, Mercyhurst College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. About 64% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 72 criminal justice & corrections students who graduated with this degree at Mercyhurst College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Mercyhurst College generally make around $38,557. Students borrow a median of $19,274 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in criminal justice & corrections from Mercyhurst College

25

Widener University Main Campus placed #25 among the best criminal justice & corrections schools. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Chester. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 18 criminal justice & corrections degrees were awarded at Widener University Main Campus in the most recent year. Graduates of the criminal justice & corrections program make about $31,663 in their early career. Widener University Main Campus graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. More information about a degree in criminal justice & corrections from Widener University Main Campus

Rest of the Top 50 Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools

These schools rounded out the top of this year’s criminal justice & corrections ranking:

26
27
La Salle University crest
La Salle University
Philadelphia, PA
28
29
30
Gwynedd Mercy College crest
Gwynedd Mercy College
Gwynedd Valley, PA
31
32
Kings College crest
Kings College
Wilkes-Barre, PA
33
34
35
36
37
Seton Hill University crest
Seton Hill University
Greensburg, PA
38
Chestnut Hill College crest
Chestnut Hill College
Philadelphia, PA
39
40
41
42
Holy Family University crest
Holy Family University
Philadelphia, PA
43
44
45
Delaware Valley College crest
Delaware Valley College
Doylestown, PA
46
47
Rosemont College crest
Rosemont College
Rosemont, PA
48
Waynesburg University crest
Waynesburg University
Waynesburg, PA
49
50
La Roche College crest
La Roche College
Pittsburgh, PA

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Notes and References

This ranking is produced 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 · 93 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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