Best colleges for Criminal Justice and Corrections in Arizona
Ranked by graduate earnings
Grand Canyon University, Arizona State University Campus Immersion and University of Arizona award the most Criminal Justice and Corrections degrees in Arizona: 395, 330 and 173 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 27 Arizona colleges offer Criminal Justice and Corrections and award 6,474 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 5 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 | Grand Canyon University Phoenix Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $41,180 | 395 | 43% | $21,535 | $27,048 |
| 2 | University of Phoenix-Arizona Phoenix Private for-profit · Bachelor's degree Online | $47,987 | 1,586 | 21% | $15,478 | $46,989 |
| 3 | The University of Arizona Global Campus Chandler Public · Bachelor's degree Online | $47,869 | 415 | 11% | $26,445 | $37,625 |
| 4 | Arizona State University Digital Immersion Scottsdale Public · Bachelor's degree Online | $42,187 | 379 | 0% | — | $22,000 |
| 5 | American InterContinental University System Chandler Private for-profit · Bachelor's degree Online | $35,862 | 481 | 9% | $15,785 | $47,500 |
Top 3 certificate and associate programs
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 | Yavapai College Prescott Public · Certificate | $59,511 | 60 | 34% | — | $17,625 |
| 2 | Rio Salado College Tempe Public · Certificate | $51,384 | 1,473 | 9% | — | $11,500 |
| 3 | Pima Community College Tucson Public · Associate degree | $42,096 | 115 | 28% | — | $7,562 |
Colleges awarding the most Criminal Justice and Corrections degrees in Arizona
Top 9 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 | Grand Canyon University Phoenix Private not-for-profit | 395 | $41,180 |
| 2 | Arizona State University Campus Immersion Tempe Public | 330 | $42,187 |
| 3 | University of Arizona Tucson Public | 173 | Not reported |
| 4 | Estrella Mountain Community College Avondale Public | 158 | Not reported |
| 5 | Chandler-Gilbert Community College Chandler Public | 83 | Not reported |
| 6 | Cochise County Community College District Sierra Vista Public | 51 | Not reported |
| 7 | Mohave Community College Kingman Public | 37 | Not reported |
| 8 | Northern Arizona University Flagstaff Public | 17 | Not reported |
| 9 | Eastern Arizona College Thatcher Public | 14 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 18 Arizona colleges offering Criminal Justice and Corrections
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Phoenix-Arizona (Online) | Phoenix | Private for-profit | 1,586 |
| Rio Salado College | Tempe | Public | 1,473 |
| American InterContinental University System (Online) | Chandler | Private for-profit | 481 |
| The University of Arizona Global Campus (Online) | Chandler | Public | 415 |
| Arizona State University Digital Immersion (Online) | Scottsdale | Public | 379 |
| Arizona Western College | Yuma | Public | 234 |
| Glendale Community College | Glendale | Public | 179 |
| Mesa Community College | Mesa | Public | 115 |
| Pima Community College | Tucson | Public | 115 |
| Phoenix College | Phoenix | Public | 63 |
| Yavapai College | Prescott | Public | 60 |
| Scottsdale Community College | Scottsdale | Public | 55 |
| Paradise Valley Community College | Phoenix | Public | 19 |
| Northland Pioneer College | Holbrook | Public | 15 |
| South Mountain Community College | Phoenix | Public | 12 |
| Coconino Community College | Flagstaff | Public | 8 |
| Central Arizona College | Coolidge | Public | 5 |
| GateWay Community College | Phoenix | Public | 2 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Correctional Officers and Jailers (SOC 33-3012).
Top skills
What Correctional Officers and Jailers earn in Arizona
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Criminal Justice and Corrections programs in Arizona.
Which Arizona colleges award the most Criminal Justice and Corrections degrees?+
Grand Canyon University (395 graduates a year), Arizona State University Campus Immersion (330 graduates a year) and University of Arizona (173 graduates a year) award the most Criminal Justice and Corrections degrees in Arizona, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 27 Arizona colleges offer Criminal Justice and Corrections.
Which Criminal Justice and Corrections program in Arizona has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Grand Canyon University tops the list at $41,180. 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 Arizona?+
The average annual wage for Correctional Officers and Jailers in Arizona is $56,080 (median $54,970), across about 14,230 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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