Best colleges for Criminal Justice and Corrections in Arkansas
Ranked by graduate earnings
University of Arkansas at Little Rock, University of Arkansas and University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff are the top bachelor's Criminal Justice and Corrections programs in Arkansas by graduate earnings. University of Arkansas at Little Rock leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $40,989, College Scorecard. University of Arkansas at Little Rock, University of Arkansas and Southern Arkansas University Tech award the most Criminal Justice and Corrections degrees in Arkansas: 128, 114 and 77 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 36 Arkansas colleges offer Criminal Justice and Corrections and award 927 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 8 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 | University of Arkansas at Little Rock Little Rock Public · Bachelor's degree | $40,989 | 128 | 42% | — | $30,026 |
| 2 | University of Arkansas Fayetteville Public · Bachelor's degree | $38,083 | 114 | 71% | — | $25,385 |
| 3 | University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Pine Bluff Public · Bachelor's degree | $35,532 | 22 | 40% | — | $27,000 |
| 4 | University of Arkansas-Fort Smith Fort Smith Public · Bachelor's degree | $33,460 | 30 | 38% | — | $18,750 |
| 5 | University of Arkansas Grantham LIttle Rock Public · Bachelor's degree Online Small program | $50,520 | 9 | 43% | — | $25,422 |
| 6 | Strayer University - Arkansas Little Rock Private for-profit · Bachelor's degree Online Small program | $43,405 | 10 | — | — | $56,937 |
| 7 | Harding University Searcy Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $38,818 | 6 | 69% | $19,423 | $24,955 |
| 8 | Southern Arkansas University Main Campus Magnolia Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $28,541 | 16 | 49% | — | $22,349 |
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 | Black River Technical College Pocahontas Public · Certificate | $40,468 | 75 | 55% | — | $7,100 |
| 2 | Arkansas Tech University Russellville Public · Associate degree | $36,076 | 114 | 49% | — | $25,570 |
| 3 | National Park College Hot Springs Public · Associate degree | $34,904 | 38 | 35% | — | — |
Colleges awarding the most Criminal Justice and Corrections degrees in Arkansas
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 | University of Arkansas at Little Rock Little Rock Public | 128 | $40,989 |
| 2 | University of Arkansas Fayetteville Public | 114 | $38,083 |
| 3 | Southern Arkansas University Tech Camden Public | 77 | Not reported |
| 4 | South Arkansas College El Dorado Public | 45 | Not reported |
| 5 | Phillips Community College of the University of Arkansas Helena Public | 33 | Not reported |
| 6 | Arkansas State University - Newport Newport Public | 31 | Not reported |
| 7 | University of Arkansas-Fort Smith Fort Smith Public | 30 | $33,460 |
| 8 | Arkansas State University - Mountain Home Mountain Home Public | 23 | Not reported |
| 9 | University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Pine Bluff Public | 22 | $35,532 |
| 10 | NorthWest Arkansas Community College Bentonville Public | 21 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 26 Arkansas 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 Arkansas
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Criminal Justice and Corrections programs in Arkansas.
Which Arkansas colleges award the most Criminal Justice and Corrections degrees?+
University of Arkansas at Little Rock (128 graduates a year), University of Arkansas (114 graduates a year) and Southern Arkansas University Tech (77 graduates a year) award the most Criminal Justice and Corrections degrees in Arkansas, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 36 Arkansas colleges offer Criminal Justice and Corrections.
What is the best college for Criminal Justice and Corrections in Arkansas?+
By graduate earnings, University of Arkansas at Little Rock leads among bachelor's Criminal Justice and Corrections programs in Arkansas, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $40,989, College Scorecard. University of Arkansas and University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff follow. By degrees awarded, University of Arkansas at Little Rock is the largest, with 128 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Criminal Justice and Corrections program in Arkansas has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, University of Arkansas at Little Rock tops the list at $40,989. 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 Arkansas?+
The average annual wage for Correctional Officers and Jailers in Arkansas is $41,920 (median $40,330), across about 4,460 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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