Criminal Justice & Corrections degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
College Factual analyzed 116 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best criminal justice & corrections schools.
No school ranked higher than Texas Christian University this year for criminal justice & corrections. Located in the city of Fort Worth, Texas Christian University is a large private not-for-profit university. Texas Christian University graduates 85% of students within six years. About 93 criminal justice & corrections degrees were awarded at Texas Christian University in the most recent year. Students who receive their criminal justice & corrections degree from Texas Christian University earn around $34,556 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,429.
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Students looking for a strong criminal justice & corrections program will find one at Texas State University San Marcos, which ranked #2. Located in the city of San Marcos, Texas State University San Marcos is a very large public university. Texas State University San Marcos graduates 55% of students within six years. About 344 criminal justice & corrections degrees were awarded at Texas State University San Marcos in the most recent year. Students who receive their criminal justice & corrections degree from Texas State University San Marcos earn around $41,939 in the first couple years of their career. Texas State University San Marcos graduates carry a median of $19,500 in student loans.
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The University Of Texas At Arlington is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in criminal justice & corrections, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the city of Arlington, The University Of Texas At Arlington is a very large public university. About 54% of students finish within six years. The University Of Texas At Arlington awarded about 163 criminal justice & corrections degrees in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of The University Of Texas At Arlington earn a median of $49,360 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $19,908.
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University Of North Texas is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in criminal justice & corrections, ranking #4. University Of North Texas is a very large public school located in the city of Denton. University Of North Texas graduates 61% of students within six years. University Of North Texas awarded about 235 criminal justice & corrections degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice & corrections degree from University Of North Texas earn around $47,072 in the first couple years of their career. University Of North Texas graduates carry a median of $20,538 in student loans.
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A rank of #5 makes Abilene Christian University one of the top schools for criminal justice & corrections. Located in the city of Abilene, Abilene Christian University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 59%. There were roughly 31 criminal justice & corrections students who graduated with this degree at Abilene Christian University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice & corrections degree from Abilene Christian University earn around $56,463 in the first couple years of their career. Abilene Christian University graduates carry a median of $23,772 in student loans.
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Sam Houston State University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best criminal justice & corrections schools. This very large public university is located in the town of Huntsville. Sam Houston State University graduates 55% of students within six years. About 921 criminal justice & corrections degrees were awarded at Sam Houston State University in the most recent year. Graduates of the criminal justice & corrections program make about $44,668 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $23,218 to complete this degree.
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University Of Houston Downtown earned the #7 position for criminal justice & corrections this year. Located in the city of Houston, University Of Houston Downtown is a large public university. About 33% of students finish within six years. University Of Houston Downtown awarded about 321 criminal justice & corrections degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice & corrections program make about $53,630 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $22,757 to complete this degree.
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Angelo State University came in at #8 for criminal justice & corrections this year. Set in the city of San Angelo, Angelo State University is a large public institution. Angelo State University graduates 44% of students within six years. About 57 criminal justice & corrections degrees were awarded at Angelo State University in the most recent year. Students who receive their criminal justice & corrections degree from Angelo State University earn around $35,955 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $22,000 to complete this degree.
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Tarleton State University placed #9 among the best criminal justice & corrections schools. Tarleton State University is a large public school located in the town of Stephenville. About 48% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 219 criminal justice & corrections students who graduated with this degree at Tarleton State University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice & corrections program make about $50,979 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,250.
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Stephen F Austin State University earned the #10 position for criminal justice & corrections this year. This large public university is located in the town of Nacogdoches. Roughly 53% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 46 criminal justice & corrections students who graduated with this degree at Stephen F Austin State University in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Stephen F Austin State University earn a median of $40,308 early in their careers. Stephen F Austin State University graduates carry a median of $23,250 in student loans.
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Del Mar College came in at #11 for criminal justice & corrections this year. This large public university is located in the city of Corpus Christi. About 74 criminal justice & corrections degrees were awarded at Del Mar College in the most recent year. Graduates of the criminal justice & corrections program make about $40,661 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $6,250.
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Lamar Institute Of Technology earned the #12 position for criminal justice & corrections this year. Located in the city of Beaumont, Lamar Institute Of Technology is a moderately-sized public university. There were roughly 74 criminal justice & corrections students who graduated with this degree at Lamar Institute Of Technology in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Lamar Institute Of Technology generally make around $71,733. Students borrow a median of $15,318 to complete this degree.
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The University Of Texas At San Antonio placed #13 among the best criminal justice & corrections schools. Set in the city of San Antonio, The University Of Texas At San Antonio is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 53%. About 255 criminal justice & corrections degrees were awarded at The University Of Texas At San Antonio in the most recent year. Students who receive their criminal justice & corrections degree from The University Of Texas At San Antonio earn around $42,491 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $21,875 to complete this degree.
See the full criminal justice & corrections program report for The University Of Texas At San Antonio
Central Texas College placed #14 among the best criminal justice & corrections schools. Set in the suburb of Killeen, Central Texas College is a large public institution. Central Texas College awarded about 225 criminal justice & corrections degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Central Texas College generally make around $39,465. Typical student debt for the program is $10,521.
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Laredo Community College earned the #15 position for criminal justice & corrections this year. This large public university is located in the city of Laredo. Laredo Community College awarded about 56 criminal justice & corrections degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice & corrections program make about $48,194 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $6,000 to complete this degree.
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Wayland Baptist University earned the #16 position for criminal justice & corrections this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the town of Plainview. About 19% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 74 criminal justice & corrections students who graduated with this degree at Wayland Baptist University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Wayland Baptist University generally make around $53,038. Typical student debt for the program is $25,000.
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Alvin Community College ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best criminal justice & corrections schools. Located in the suburb of Alvin, Alvin Community College is a moderately-sized public university. About 46 criminal justice & corrections degrees were awarded at Alvin Community College in the most recent year. Students who receive their criminal justice & corrections degree from Alvin Community College earn around $67,797 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $8,600 to complete this degree.
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The University Of Texas Of The Permian Basin earned the #18 position for criminal justice & corrections this year. The University Of Texas Of The Permian Basin is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Odessa. Roughly 40% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 27 criminal justice & corrections students who graduated with this degree at The University Of Texas Of The Permian Basin in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from The University Of Texas Of The Permian Basin generally make around $60,503. Students borrow a median of $20,052 to complete this degree.
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The University Of Texas Pan American placed #19 among the best criminal justice & corrections schools. The University Of Texas Pan American is a very large public school located in the city of Edinburg. About 51% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 489 criminal justice & corrections students who graduated with this degree at The University Of Texas Pan American in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice & corrections degree from The University Of Texas Pan American earn around $35,314 in the first couple years of their career. The University Of Texas Pan American graduates carry a median of $11,644 in student loans.
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San Jacinto Community College ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best criminal justice & corrections schools. San Jacinto Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Pasadena. San Jacinto Community College awarded about 159 criminal justice & corrections degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice & corrections program make about $38,107 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $11,376 to complete this degree.
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Texas Womans University landed the #21 spot for criminal justice & corrections this year. Located in the city of Denton, Texas Womans University is a large public university. About 49% of students finish within six years. Texas Womans University awarded about 29 criminal justice & corrections degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Texas Womans University generally make around $42,914. Students borrow a median of $29,250 to complete this degree.
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The University Of Texas At Tyler landed the #22 spot for criminal justice & corrections this year. The University Of Texas At Tyler is a large public school located in the city of Tyler. About 54% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 53 criminal justice & corrections students who graduated with this degree at The University Of Texas At Tyler in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice & corrections degree from The University Of Texas At Tyler earn around $36,532 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,212.
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Lone Star College System landed the #23 spot for criminal justice & corrections this year. Set in the city of The Woodlands, Lone Star College System is a very large public institution. About 190 criminal justice & corrections degrees were awarded at Lone Star College System in the most recent year. Graduates of the criminal justice & corrections program make about $37,578 in their early career. Lone Star College System graduates carry a median of $10,542 in student loans.
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Blinn College came in at #24 for criminal justice & corrections this year. Located in the town of Brenham, Blinn College is a very large public university. About 76 criminal justice & corrections degrees were awarded at Blinn College in the most recent year. Graduates of the criminal justice & corrections program make about $45,980 in their early career. Blinn College graduates carry a median of $14,230 in student loans.
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Saint Edwards University came in at #25 for criminal justice & corrections this year. Saint Edwards University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Austin. Roughly 63% of students complete a degree within six years here. Saint Edwards University awarded about 24 criminal justice & corrections degrees in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Saint Edwards University earn a median of $36,829 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $24,949.
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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 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 · 116 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).
