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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2026 Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools in Arkansas

10 Colleges in the United States
754 Criminal Justice & Corrections Degrees Awarded
$38,443 Avg Early-Career Salary

Criminal Justice & Corrections degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.

To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 38 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 Arkansas

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

Top Schools in Criminal Justice & Corrections

1
University Of Arkansas crest
University Of Arkansas
Fayetteville, AR

Leading the list is University Of Arkansas, our #1 school for criminal justice & corrections. Located in the city of Fayetteville, University Of Arkansas is a very large public university. University Of Arkansas graduates 70% of students within six years. There were roughly 73 criminal justice & corrections students who graduated with this degree at University Of Arkansas in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of University Of Arkansas earn a median of $38,083 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $25,385. Read more about the criminal justice & corrections program at University Of Arkansas

2

Southern Arkansas University Tech is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in criminal justice & corrections, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the rural area of Camden, Southern Arkansas University Tech is a small public university. There were roughly 23 criminal justice & corrections students who graduated with this degree at Southern Arkansas University Tech in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice & corrections degree from Southern Arkansas University Tech earn around $34,302 in the first couple years of their career. Southern Arkansas University Tech graduates carry a median of $8,488 in student loans. Get the full criminal justice & corrections details for Southern Arkansas University Tech

3

A rank of #3 makes Arkansas State University Newport one of the top schools for criminal justice & corrections. This mid-sized public university is located in the rural area of Newport. Arkansas State University Newport awarded about 36 criminal justice & corrections degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice & corrections degree from Arkansas State University Newport earn around $44,500 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $10,925. More information about a degree in criminal justice & corrections from Arkansas State University Newport

4

Black River Technical College is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in criminal justice & corrections, ranking #4. This mid-sized public university is located in the town of Pocahontas. Black River Technical College awarded about 80 criminal justice & corrections degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice & corrections program make about $40,468 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $7,100 to complete this degree. Get the full criminal justice & corrections details for Black River Technical College

5
Arkansas Tech University crest
Arkansas Tech University
Russellville, AR

Students looking for a strong criminal justice & corrections program will find one at Arkansas Tech University, which ranked #5. This large public university is located in the town of Russellville. Roughly 44% of students complete a degree within six years here. Arkansas Tech University awarded about 111 criminal justice & corrections degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Arkansas Tech University generally make around $35,642. Students borrow a median of $25,785 to complete this degree. Get the full criminal justice & corrections details for Arkansas Tech University

6

Harding University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best criminal justice & corrections schools. Set in the town of Searcy, Harding University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Harding University graduates 69% of students within six years. Harding University awarded about 14 criminal justice & corrections degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice & corrections degree from Harding University earn around $38,818 in the first couple years of their career. Harding University graduates carry a median of $24,955 in student loans. See the full criminal justice & corrections program report for Harding University

7

Southern Arkansas University Main Campus landed the #7 spot for criminal justice & corrections this year. Located in the town of Magnolia, Southern Arkansas University Main Campus is a moderately-sized public university. About 44% of students finish within six years. About 20 criminal justice & corrections degrees were awarded at Southern Arkansas University Main Campus in the most recent year. Students who receive their criminal justice & corrections degree from Southern Arkansas University Main Campus earn around $28,541 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,349. More information about a degree in criminal justice & corrections from Southern Arkansas University Main Campus

8

University Of Arkansas At Little Rock earned the #8 position for criminal justice & corrections this year. Set in the city of Little Rock, University Of Arkansas At Little Rock is a large public institution. About 37% of students finish within six years. University Of Arkansas At Little Rock awarded about 94 criminal justice & corrections degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from University Of Arkansas At Little Rock generally make around $40,989. University Of Arkansas At Little Rock graduates carry a median of $30,026 in student loans. Get the full criminal justice & corrections details for University Of Arkansas At Little Rock

9

University Of Arkansas Fort Smith landed the #9 spot for criminal justice & corrections this year. Set in the city of Fort Smith, University Of Arkansas Fort Smith is a moderately-sized public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 38%. There were roughly 30 criminal justice & corrections students who graduated with this degree at University Of Arkansas Fort Smith in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice & corrections degree from University Of Arkansas Fort Smith earn around $33,460 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Arkansas Fort Smith graduates carry a median of $18,750 in student loans. Read more about the criminal justice & corrections program at University Of Arkansas Fort Smith

10

South Arkansas Community College earned the #10 position for criminal justice & corrections this year. South Arkansas Community College is a small public school located in the town of El Dorado. About 34 criminal justice & corrections degrees were awarded at South Arkansas Community College in the most recent year. Students who receive their criminal justice & corrections degree from South Arkansas Community College earn around $59,370 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,386. See the full criminal justice & corrections program report for South Arkansas Community College

11

Phillips Community College Of The University Of Arkansas landed the #11 spot for criminal justice & corrections this year. Phillips Community College Of The University Of Arkansas is a small public school located in the town of Helena. There were roughly 20 criminal justice & corrections students who graduated with this degree at Phillips Community College Of The University Of Arkansas in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice & corrections degree from Phillips Community College Of The University Of Arkansas earn around $45,190 in the first couple years of their career. Phillips Community College Of The University Of Arkansas graduates carry a median of $5,500 in student loans. See the full criminal justice & corrections program report for Phillips Community College Of The University Of Arkansas

12

Northwest Arkansas Community College came in at #12 for criminal justice & corrections this year. This large public university is located in the city of Bentonville. About 21 criminal justice & corrections degrees were awarded at Northwest Arkansas Community College in the most recent year. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Northwest Arkansas Community College earn a median of $40,671 early in their careers. Northwest Arkansas Community College graduates carry a median of $12,479 in student loans. More information about a degree in criminal justice & corrections from Northwest Arkansas Community College

13

Arkansas State University Beebe earned the #13 position for criminal justice & corrections this year. Located in the town of Beebe, Arkansas State University Beebe is a mid-sized public university. There were roughly 56 criminal justice & corrections students who graduated with this degree at Arkansas State University Beebe in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice & corrections program make about $30,293 in their early career. Arkansas State University Beebe graduates carry a median of $9,350 in student loans. More information about a degree in criminal justice & corrections from Arkansas State University Beebe

14
Philander Smith College crest
Philander Smith College
Little Rock, AR

Philander Smith College placed #14 among the best criminal justice & corrections schools. Set in the city of Little Rock, Philander Smith College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Philander Smith College graduates 30% of students within six years. About 13 criminal justice & corrections degrees were awarded at Philander Smith College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Philander Smith College generally make around $27,413. Typical student debt for the program is $38,630. More information about a degree in criminal justice & corrections from Philander Smith College

15

University Of Arkansas At Pine Bluff landed the #15 spot for criminal justice & corrections this year. Located in the town of Pine Bluff, University Of Arkansas At Pine Bluff is a mid-sized public university. About 40% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 23 criminal justice & corrections students who graduated with this degree at University Of Arkansas At Pine Bluff in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice & corrections degree from University Of Arkansas At Pine Bluff earn around $35,532 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 Arkansas At Pine Bluff

16

Arkansas State University Mountain Home earned the #16 position for criminal justice & corrections this year. Arkansas State University Mountain Home is a small public school located in the town of Mountain Home. Arkansas State University Mountain Home awarded about 28 criminal justice & corrections degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Arkansas State University Mountain Home generally make around $39,011. Typical student debt for the program is $18,097. More information about a degree in criminal justice & corrections from Arkansas State University Mountain Home

17

National Park Community College placed #17 among the best criminal justice & corrections schools. This mid-sized public university is located in the suburb of Hot Springs. There were roughly 36 criminal justice & corrections students who graduated with this degree at National Park Community College in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of National Park Community College earn a median of $34,904 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $14,162. See the full criminal justice & corrections program report for National Park Community College

18
Grantham University crest
Grantham University
LIttle Rock, AR

Grantham University earned the #18 position for criminal justice & corrections this year. Grantham University is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of LIttle Rock. About 17% of students finish within six years. About 42 criminal justice & corrections degrees were awarded at Grantham University in the most recent year. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Grantham University earn a median of $44,782 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $32,697. More information about a degree in criminal justice & corrections from Grantham University

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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 · 38 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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