Best colleges for Criminal Justice and Corrections in Alabama
Ranked by graduate earnings
Faulkner University, Troy University and Auburn University at Montgomery are the top bachelor's Criminal Justice and Corrections programs in Alabama by graduate earnings. Faulkner University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $54,704, College Scorecard. Troy University, Faulkner University and University of Alabama at Birmingham award the most Criminal Justice and Corrections degrees in Alabama: 133, 124 and 79 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 28 Alabama colleges offer Criminal Justice and Corrections and award 1,367 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Criminal Justice and Corrections program focuses on the various functions carried out by government agencies related to the punishment, treatment, and supervision of individuals convicted of crimes. This program is ideal for students…
Top 10 bachelor's programs, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Faulkner University Montgomery Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $54,704 | 124 | 37% | $25,801 | $28,250 |
| 2 | Troy University Troy Public · Bachelor's degree | $41,780 | 133 | 50% | — | $25,000 |
| 3 | Auburn University at Montgomery Montgomery Public · Bachelor's degree | $38,710 | 31 | 33% | — | $25,635 |
| 4 | University of South Alabama Mobile Public · Bachelor's degree | $36,216 | 39 | 53% | — | $29,026 |
| 5 | University of Alabama at Birmingham Birmingham Public · Bachelor's degree | $34,459 | 79 | 64% | — | $27,307 |
| 6 | Jacksonville State University Jacksonville Public · Bachelor's degree | $33,879 | 44 | 55% | — | $27,192 |
| 7 | Alabama State University Montgomery Public · Bachelor's degree | $32,898 | 41 | 30% | — | $32,261 |
| 8 | University of North Alabama Florence Public · Bachelor's degree | $31,595 | 51 | 55% | — | $24,125 |
| 9 | Herzing University - Birmingham Birmingham Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $67,229 | 1 | 13% | $20,803 | $18,188 |
| 10 | Columbia Southern University Orange Beach Private for-profit · Bachelor's degree Online | $60,461 | 582 | 33% | $15,554 | $30,204 |
Top certificate or associate program
Shorter credentials, ranked separately so they are not compared with four-year degrees. Ranked by median earnings one year after completion (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | George C Wallace State Community College - Hanceville Hanceville Public · Associate degree | $35,238 | 30 | 51% | — | — |
Colleges awarding the most Criminal Justice and Corrections degrees in Alabama
Top 10 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Certificate and associate programs, online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Starting salary (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Troy University Troy Public | 133 | $41,780 |
| 2 | Faulkner University Montgomery Private not-for-profit | 124 | $54,704 |
| 3 | University of Alabama at Birmingham Birmingham Public | 79 | $34,459 |
| 4 | University of North Alabama Florence Public | 51 | $31,595 |
| 5 | Jacksonville State University Jacksonville Public | 44 | $33,879 |
| 6 | Alabama State University Montgomery Public | 41 | $32,898 |
| 7 | University of South Alabama Mobile Public | 39 | $36,216 |
| 8 | Auburn University at Montgomery Montgomery Public | 31 | $38,710 |
| 9 | George C Wallace Community College - Dothan Dothan Public | 19 | Not reported |
| 10 | Talladega College Talladega Private not-for-profit | 12 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 18 Alabama colleges offering Criminal Justice and Corrections
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Correctional Officers and Jailers (SOC 33-3012).
Top skills
What Correctional Officers and Jailers earn in Alabama
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Criminal Justice and Corrections programs in Alabama.
Which Alabama colleges award the most Criminal Justice and Corrections degrees?+
Troy University (133 graduates a year), Faulkner University (124 graduates a year) and University of Alabama at Birmingham (79 graduates a year) award the most Criminal Justice and Corrections degrees in Alabama, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 28 Alabama colleges offer Criminal Justice and Corrections.
What is the best college for Criminal Justice and Corrections in Alabama?+
By graduate earnings, Faulkner University leads among bachelor's Criminal Justice and Corrections programs in Alabama, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $54,704, College Scorecard. Troy University and Auburn University at Montgomery follow. By degrees awarded, Troy University is the largest, with 133 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Criminal Justice and Corrections program in Alabama has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Faulkner University tops the list at $54,704. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Correctional Officers and Jailers earn in Alabama?+
The average annual wage for Correctional Officers and Jailers in Alabama is $50,300 (median $46,660), across about 4,970 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Criminal Justice and Corrections program?+
The Criminal Justice and Corrections program focuses on the various functions carried out by government agencies related to the punishment, treatment, and supervision of individuals convicted of crimes. This program is ideal for students…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop active listening, monitoring, speaking, critical thinking, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for Correctional Officers and Jailers?+
The national job outlook is about -7.8% growth with around 30,100 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).
What is the typical education requirement?+
A High school diploma or equivalent is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
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