Best colleges for Criminal Justice and Corrections in Florida
Ranked by graduate earnings
Saint Leo University, Indian River State College and Southeastern University are the top bachelor's Criminal Justice and Corrections programs in Florida by graduate earnings. Saint Leo University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $47,853, College Scorecard. Florida State University, University of Central Florida and Florida International University award the most Criminal Justice and Corrections degrees in Florida: 666, 526 and 441 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 65 Florida colleges offer Criminal Justice and Corrections and award 7,691 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 | Saint Leo University Saint Leo Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $47,853 | 242 | 45% | $18,986 | $30,500 |
| 2 | Indian River State College Fort Pierce Public · Bachelor's degree | $43,351 | 217 | 45% | — | $6,352 |
| 3 | Southeastern University Lakeland Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $41,291 | 27 | 43% | $29,915 | $26,000 |
| 4 | Keiser University - Ft Lauderdale Fort Lauderdale Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $40,390 | 166 | 61% | $35,483 | $43,850 |
| 5 | Florida Gulf Coast University Fort Myers Public · Bachelor's degree | $40,079 | 107 | 57% | — | $21,660 |
| 6 | Lynn University Boca Raton Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $39,496 | 43 | 52% | $38,343 | $19,500 |
| 7 | Florida International University Miami Public · Bachelor's degree | $36,839 | 441 | 74% | — | $18,623 |
| 8 | University of North Florida Jacksonville Public · Bachelor's degree | $36,684 | 140 | 69% | — | $19,375 |
| 9 | University of Central Florida Orlando Public · Bachelor's degree | $36,563 | 526 | 78% | — | $21,731 |
| 10 | University of West Florida Pensacola Public · Bachelor's degree | $36,369 | 91 | 59% | — | $21,776 |
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 | Palm Beach State College Lake Worth Public · Certificate | $69,415 | 139 | 41% | — | $16,000 |
| 2 | Hillsborough College Tampa Public · Certificate | $62,249 | 252 | 34% | — | $18,924 |
| 3 | Florida State College at Jacksonville Jacksonville Public · Certificate | $60,055 | 171 | 37% | — | $15,796 |
| 4 | Fort Myers Technical College Fort Myers Public · Certificate | $58,949 | 198 | 81% | — | — |
| 5 | Manatee Technical College Bradenton Public · Certificate | $58,216 | 34 | 64% | — | — |
| 6 | Polk State College Winter Haven Public · Certificate | $53,333 | 234 | 35% | — | $13,132 |
| 7 | Osceola Technical College Kissimmee Public · Certificate | $53,164 | 45 | 47% | — | — |
| 8 | Daytona State College Daytona Beach Public · Certificate | $52,755 | 45 | 43% | — | $8,169 |
| 9 | Eastern Florida State College Melbourne Public · Certificate | $51,461 | 142 | 52% | — | $8,635 |
| 10 | Northwest Florida State College Niceville Public · Certificate | $48,087 | 51 | 39% | — | $11,808 |
Colleges awarding the most Criminal Justice and Corrections degrees in Florida
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 | Florida State University Tallahassee Public | 666 | $34,922 |
| 2 | University of Central Florida Orlando Public | 526 | $36,563 |
| 3 | Florida International University Miami Public | 441 | $36,839 |
| 4 | Florida Atlantic University Boca Raton Public | 340 | $35,647 |
| 5 | Saint Leo University Saint Leo Private not-for-profit | 242 | $47,853 |
| 6 | Indian River State College Fort Pierce Public | 217 | $43,351 |
| 7 | Keiser University - Ft Lauderdale Fort Lauderdale Private not-for-profit | 166 | $40,390 |
| 8 | College of Central Florida Ocala Public | 149 | Not reported |
| 9 | University of North Florida Jacksonville Public | 140 | $36,684 |
| 10 | St Petersburg College St. Petersburg Public | 134 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 55 Florida 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 Florida
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Criminal Justice and Corrections programs in Florida.
Which Florida colleges award the most Criminal Justice and Corrections degrees?+
Florida State University (666 graduates a year), University of Central Florida (526 graduates a year) and Florida International University (441 graduates a year) award the most Criminal Justice and Corrections degrees in Florida, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 65 Florida colleges offer Criminal Justice and Corrections.
What is the best college for Criminal Justice and Corrections in Florida?+
By graduate earnings, Saint Leo University leads among bachelor's Criminal Justice and Corrections programs in Florida, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $47,853, College Scorecard. Indian River State College and Southeastern University follow. By degrees awarded, Florida State University is the largest, with 666 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Criminal Justice and Corrections program in Florida has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Saint Leo University tops the list at $47,853. 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 Florida?+
The average annual wage for Correctional Officers and Jailers in Florida is $57,900 (median $49,710), across about 24,280 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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