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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2026 Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools in Tennessee

11 Colleges in the United States
1,370 Criminal Justice & Corrections Degrees Awarded
$40,501 Avg Early-Career Salary

Criminal Justice & Corrections programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.

To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 47 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 Tennessee

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.

Top Schools in Criminal Justice & Corrections

1

Our analysis ranked Middle Tennessee State University the best school in the country for a degree in criminal justice & corrections. Middle Tennessee State University is a very large public school located in the city of Murfreesboro. Roughly 54% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 172 criminal justice & corrections degrees were awarded at Middle Tennessee State University in the most recent year. Students who receive their criminal justice & corrections degree from Middle Tennessee State University earn around $37,952 in the first couple years of their career. Middle Tennessee State University graduates carry a median of $24,093 in student loans. Read more about the criminal justice & corrections program at Middle Tennessee State University

2

The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best criminal justice & corrections schools. The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga is a large public school located in the city of Chattanooga. About 50% of students finish within six years. About 110 criminal justice & corrections degrees were awarded at The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga in the most recent year. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga earn a median of $37,403 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $22,995. More information about a degree in criminal justice & corrections from The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga

3

Students looking for a strong criminal justice & corrections program will find one at Freed Hardeman University, which ranked #3. Freed Hardeman University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Henderson. Freed Hardeman University graduates 69% of students within six years. Freed Hardeman University awarded about 14 criminal justice & corrections degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice & corrections program make about $54,530 in their early career. Freed Hardeman University graduates carry a median of $24,479 in student loans. Get the full criminal justice & corrections details for Freed Hardeman University

4

Trevecca Nazarene University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best criminal justice & corrections schools. Set in the city of Nashville, Trevecca Nazarene University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 53% of students finish within six years. Trevecca Nazarene University awarded about 10 criminal justice & corrections degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice & corrections program make about $52,004 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,962. Get the full criminal justice & corrections details for Trevecca Nazarene University

5

A rank of #5 makes Cumberland University one of the top schools for criminal justice & corrections. Set in the town of Lebanon, Cumberland University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 42%. There were roughly 28 criminal justice & corrections students who graduated with this degree at Cumberland University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice & corrections program make about $45,223 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $21,902 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in criminal justice & corrections from Cumberland University

6

Bryan College Dayton earned the #6 position for criminal justice & corrections this year. Located in the town of Dayton, Bryan College Dayton is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. About 50% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 13 criminal justice & corrections students who graduated with this degree at Bryan College Dayton in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Bryan College Dayton generally make around $44,067. Typical student debt for the program is $25,652. Read more about the criminal justice & corrections program at Bryan College Dayton

7

East Tennessee State University came in at #7 for criminal justice & corrections this year. Located in the city of Johnson City, East Tennessee State University is a large public university. East Tennessee State University graduates 53% of students within six years. There were roughly 82 criminal justice & corrections students who graduated with this degree at East Tennessee State University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice & corrections program make about $30,097 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,942. More information about a degree in criminal justice & corrections from East Tennessee State University

8

University Of Memphis ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best criminal justice & corrections schools. University Of Memphis is a very large public school located in the city of Memphis. Roughly 51% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Memphis awarded about 106 criminal justice & corrections degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from University Of Memphis generally make around $35,900. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree. See the full criminal justice & corrections program report for University Of Memphis

9

Austin Peay State University landed the #9 spot for criminal justice & corrections this year. Set in the city of Clarksville, Austin Peay State University is a large public institution. About 39% of students finish within six years. Austin Peay State University awarded about 91 criminal justice & corrections degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice & corrections degree from Austin Peay State University earn around $36,749 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,281. Read more about the criminal justice & corrections program at Austin Peay State University

10

Volunteer State Community College came in at #10 for criminal justice & corrections this year. Located in the suburb of Gallatin, Volunteer State Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Volunteer State Community College awarded about 56 criminal justice & corrections degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice & corrections degree from Volunteer State Community College earn around $40,137 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $12,462. Get the full criminal justice & corrections details for Volunteer State Community College

11

Bethel University Tennessee placed #11 among the best criminal justice & corrections schools. Located in the town of McKenzie, Bethel University Tennessee is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 17%. About 136 criminal justice & corrections degrees were awarded at Bethel University Tennessee in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Bethel University Tennessee generally make around $54,442. Students borrow a median of $24,444 to complete this degree. See the full criminal justice & corrections program report for Bethel University Tennessee

12

Cleveland State Community College placed #12 among the best criminal justice & corrections schools. Located in the city of Cleveland, Cleveland State Community College is a mid-sized public university. There were roughly 79 criminal justice & corrections students who graduated with this degree at Cleveland State Community College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Cleveland State Community College generally make around $41,488. Typical student debt for the program is $6,318. Get the full criminal justice & corrections details for Cleveland State Community College

13

The University Of Tennessee Martin placed #13 among the best criminal justice & corrections schools. Located in the town of Martin, The University Of Tennessee Martin is a moderately-sized public university. About 52% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 54 criminal justice & corrections students who graduated with this degree at The University Of Tennessee Martin in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice & corrections program make about $32,167 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,671. Read more about the criminal justice & corrections program at The University Of Tennessee Martin

14

Walters State Community College placed #14 among the best criminal justice & corrections schools. Located in the city of Morristown, Walters State Community College is a moderately-sized public university. About 224 criminal justice & corrections degrees were awarded at Walters State Community College in the most recent year. Graduates of the criminal justice & corrections program make about $44,624 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $16,702 to complete this degree. Read more about the criminal justice & corrections program at Walters State Community College

15

Dyersburg State Community College placed #15 among the best criminal justice & corrections schools. Set in the town of Dyersburg, Dyersburg State Community College is a mid-sized public institution. There were roughly 12 criminal justice & corrections students who graduated with this degree at Dyersburg State Community College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Dyersburg State Community College generally make around $41,177. Dyersburg State Community College graduates carry a median of $10,611 in student loans. More information about a degree in criminal justice & corrections from Dyersburg State Community College

16

Pellissippi State Community College ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best criminal justice & corrections schools. This large public university is located in the suburb of Knoxville. Pellissippi State Community College awarded about 18 criminal justice & corrections degrees in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Pellissippi State Community College earn a median of $43,816 early in their careers. Pellissippi State Community College graduates carry a median of $8,951 in student loans. See the full criminal justice & corrections program report for Pellissippi State Community College

17

Tennessee State University came in at #17 for criminal justice & corrections this year. Located in the city of Nashville, Tennessee State University is a moderately-sized public university. Tennessee State University graduates 35% of students within six years. Tennessee State University awarded about 46 criminal justice & corrections degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice & corrections program make about $32,555 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $28,001 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in criminal justice & corrections from Tennessee State University

18

Southwest Tennessee Community College landed the #18 spot for criminal justice & corrections this year. Set in the city of Memphis, Southwest Tennessee Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. About 16 criminal justice & corrections degrees were awarded at Southwest Tennessee Community College in the most recent year. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Southwest Tennessee Community College earn a median of $43,592 early in their careers. Southwest Tennessee Community College graduates carry a median of $11,406 in student loans. Get the full criminal justice & corrections details for Southwest Tennessee Community College

19
South College crest
South College
Knoxville, TN

South College placed #19 among the best criminal justice & corrections schools. Set in the city of Knoxville, South College is a large private for-profit institution. South College graduates 53% of students within six years. About 45 criminal justice & corrections degrees were awarded at South College in the most recent year. Graduates of the criminal justice & corrections program make about $24,095 in their early career. South College graduates carry a median of $24,533 in student loans. See the full criminal justice & corrections program report for South College

20

Northeast State Community College landed the #20 spot for criminal justice & corrections this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the rural area of Blountville. Northeast State Community College awarded about 12 criminal justice & corrections degrees in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Northeast State Community College earn a median of $39,673 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $6,404 to complete this degree. Get the full criminal justice & corrections details for Northeast State Community College

21

Strayer University Tennessee earned the #21 position for criminal justice & corrections this year. Strayer University Tennessee is a mid-sized private for-profit school located in the city of Memphis. Strayer University Tennessee awarded about 23 criminal justice & corrections degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Strayer University Tennessee generally make around $43,405. Typical student debt for the program is $56,937. Get the full criminal justice & corrections details for Strayer University Tennessee

22
Lane College crest
Lane College
Jackson, TN

Lane College earned the #22 position for criminal justice & corrections this year. Located in the city of Jackson, Lane College is a small private not-for-profit university. About 18% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 13 criminal justice & corrections students who graduated with this degree at Lane College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice & corrections program make about $35,917 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $38,680. Get the full criminal justice & corrections details for Lane College

23

Le Moyne Owen College earned the #23 position for criminal justice & corrections this year. Set in the city of Memphis, Le Moyne Owen College is a small private not-for-profit institution. About 32% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 10 criminal justice & corrections students who graduated with this degree at Le Moyne Owen College in the most recent data year. More information about a degree in criminal justice & corrections from Le Moyne Owen College

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Notes and References

The ranking above is published 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 · 47 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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