Best colleges for Criminal Justice and Corrections in Colorado
Ranked by graduate earnings
University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus, Metropolitan State University of Denver and University of Colorado Colorado Springs are the top bachelor's Criminal Justice and Corrections programs in Colorado by graduate earnings. University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $45,814, College Scorecard. University of Colorado Colorado Springs, Metropolitan State University of Denver and Colorado Mesa University award the most Criminal Justice and Corrections degrees in Colorado: 135, 130 and 122 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 24 Colorado colleges offer Criminal Justice and Corrections and award 1,974 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 7 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 Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus Denver Public · Bachelor's degree | $45,814 | 85 | 46% | — | $22,250 |
| 2 | Metropolitan State University of Denver Denver Public · Bachelor's degree | $44,497 | 130 | 32% | — | $26,130 |
| 3 | University of Colorado Colorado Springs Colorado Springs Public · Bachelor's degree | $42,199 | 135 | 47% | — | $18,625 |
| 4 | University of Northern Colorado Greeley Public · Bachelor's degree | $38,422 | 78 | 51% | — | $18,568 |
| 5 | Colorado Mesa University Grand Junction Public · Bachelor's degree | $38,204 | 122 | 41% | — | $25,000 |
| 6 | Colorado State University Global Denver Public · Bachelor's degree Online | $61,786 | 94 | — | — | $38,276 |
| 7 | Colorado Technical University - Colorado Springs Colorado Springs Private for-profit · Bachelor's degree Online | $38,817 | 635 | 19% | $16,966 | $50,705 |
Top 10 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 | Red Rocks Community College Lakewood Public · Certificate | $72,583 | 109 | 32% | — | $17,667 |
| 2 | Front Range Community College Westminster Public · Certificate | $69,776 | 60 | 35% | — | $24,774 |
| 3 | Aims Community College Greeley Public · Certificate | $57,841 | 51 | 40% | — | $9,062 |
| 4 | Pueblo Community College Pueblo Public · Certificate | $52,241 | 84 | 31% | — | $7,656 |
| 5 | Otero College La Junta Public · Certificate | $50,431 | 39 | 38% | — | — |
| 6 | Trinidad State College Trinidad Public · Certificate | $42,381 | 20 | 55% | — | — |
| 7 | Colorado Mountain College Glenwood Springs Public · Certificate | $68,129 | 34 | 27% | — | $19,500 |
| 8 | Technical College of the Rockies Delta Public · Certificate Small program | $56,589 | 19 | 95% | — | $4,750 |
| 9 | Arapahoe Community College Littleton Public · Certificate | $54,371 | 77 | 29% | — | $21,351 |
| 10 | Pikes Peak State College Colorado Springs Public · Certificate | $50,546 | 147 | 21% | — | — |
Colleges awarding the most Criminal Justice and Corrections degrees in Colorado
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 Colorado Colorado Springs Colorado Springs Public | 135 | $42,199 |
| 2 | Metropolitan State University of Denver Denver Public | 130 | $44,497 |
| 3 | Colorado Mesa University Grand Junction Public | 122 | $38,204 |
| 4 | University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus Denver Public | 85 | $45,814 |
| 5 | University of Northern Colorado Greeley Public | 78 | $38,422 |
| 6 | Community College of Aurora Aurora Public | 18 | Not reported |
| 7 | Colorado Christian University Lakewood Private not-for-profit | 14 | Not reported |
| 8 | University of Denver Denver Private not-for-profit | 7 | Not reported |
| 9 | Regis University Denver Private not-for-profit | 4 | Not reported |
| 10 | Northeastern Junior College Sterling Public | 2 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 14 Colorado colleges offering Criminal Justice and Corrections
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado Technical University - Colorado Springs (Online) | Colorado Springs | Private for-profit | 635 |
| Pikes Peak State College | Colorado Springs | Public | 147 |
| Red Rocks Community College | Lakewood | Public | 109 |
| Colorado State University Global (Online) | Denver | Public | 94 |
| Pueblo Community College | Pueblo | Public | 84 |
| Arapahoe Community College | Littleton | Public | 77 |
| Front Range Community College | Westminster | Public | 60 |
| Aims Community College | Greeley | Public | 51 |
| Otero College | La Junta | Public | 39 |
| Colorado Mountain College | Glenwood Springs | Public | 34 |
| Trinidad State College | Trinidad | Public | 20 |
| Technical College of the Rockies | Delta | Public | 19 |
| Community College of Denver | Denver | Public | 9 |
| Morgan Community College | Fort Morgan | Public | 1 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Correctional Officers and Jailers (SOC 33-3012).
Top skills
What Correctional Officers and Jailers earn in Colorado
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Criminal Justice and Corrections programs in Colorado.
Which Colorado colleges award the most Criminal Justice and Corrections degrees?+
University of Colorado Colorado Springs (135 graduates a year), Metropolitan State University of Denver (130 graduates a year) and Colorado Mesa University (122 graduates a year) award the most Criminal Justice and Corrections degrees in Colorado, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 24 Colorado colleges offer Criminal Justice and Corrections.
What is the best college for Criminal Justice and Corrections in Colorado?+
By graduate earnings, University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus leads among bachelor's Criminal Justice and Corrections programs in Colorado, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $45,814, College Scorecard. Metropolitan State University of Denver and University of Colorado Colorado Springs follow. By degrees awarded, University of Colorado Colorado Springs is the largest, with 135 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Criminal Justice and Corrections program in Colorado has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus tops the list at $45,814. 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 Colorado?+
The average annual wage for Correctional Officers and Jailers in Colorado is $66,360 (median $62,140), across about 7,290 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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