Best colleges for Criminal Justice and Corrections in Georgia
Ranked by graduate earnings
University of North Georgia, Kennesaw State University and Georgia College & State University are the top bachelor's Criminal Justice and Corrections programs in Georgia by graduate earnings. University of North Georgia leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $41,598, College Scorecard. Kennesaw State University, Central Georgia Technical College and Georgia State University award the most Criminal Justice and Corrections degrees in Georgia: 212, 182 and 181 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 62 Georgia colleges offer Criminal Justice and Corrections and award 3,156 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 | University of North Georgia Dahlonega Public · Bachelor's degree | $41,598 | 130 | 37% | — | $22,363 |
| 2 | Kennesaw State University Kennesaw Public · Bachelor's degree | $39,566 | 212 | 52% | — | $26,000 |
| 3 | Georgia College & State University Milledgeville Public · Bachelor's degree | $39,133 | 33 | 64% | — | $25,000 |
| 4 | University of Georgia Athens Public · Bachelor's degree | $37,405 | 76 | 90% | — | $22,978 |
| 5 | Valdosta State University Valdosta Public · Bachelor's degree | $35,398 | 86 | 42% | — | $27,250 |
| 6 | Georgia State University Atlanta Public · Bachelor's degree | $33,213 | 181 | 53% | — | $26,812 |
| 7 | Albany State University Albany Public · Bachelor's degree | $31,868 | 64 | 31% | — | $31,000 |
| 8 | Clayton State University Morrow Public · Bachelor's degree | $30,200 | 27 | 40% | — | $31,000 |
| 9 | Fort Valley State University Fort Valley Public · Bachelor's degree | $29,445 | 33 | 41% | — | $34,625 |
| 10 | Augusta University Augusta Public · Bachelor's degree | $29,397 | 29 | 49% | — | $30,299 |
Top 5 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 | Columbus State University Columbus Public · Certificate | $71,153 | 129 | 42% | — | $12,833 |
| 2 | Augusta Technical College Augusta Public · Certificate | $46,165 | 36 | 31% | — | — |
| 3 | Savannah Technical College Savannah Public · Certificate | $45,326 | 45 | 42% | — | $12,125 |
| 4 | North Georgia Technical College Clarkesville Public · Associate degree | $31,698 | 38 | 39% | — | — |
| 5 | Georgia Military College Milledgeville Public · Associate degree | $26,636 | 63 | 38% | — | $12,401 |
Colleges awarding the most Criminal Justice and Corrections degrees in Georgia
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 | Kennesaw State University Kennesaw Public | 212 | $39,566 |
| 2 | Central Georgia Technical College Warner Robins Public | 182 | Not reported |
| 3 | Georgia State University Atlanta Public | 181 | $33,213 |
| 4 | Chattahoochee Technical College Marietta Public | 134 | Not reported |
| 5 | University of North Georgia Dahlonega Public | 130 | $41,598 |
| 6 | South Georgia Technical College Americus Public | 128 | Not reported |
| 7 | Georgia Piedmont Technical College Clarkston Public | 127 | Not reported |
| 8 | Southern Crescent Technical College Griffin Public | 108 | Not reported |
| 9 | Georgia Northwestern Technical College Rome Public | 101 | Not reported |
| 10 | Valdosta State University Valdosta Public | 86 | $35,398 |
ShowHide the other 52 Georgia 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 Georgia
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Criminal Justice and Corrections programs in Georgia.
Which Georgia colleges award the most Criminal Justice and Corrections degrees?+
Kennesaw State University (212 graduates a year), Central Georgia Technical College (182 graduates a year) and Georgia State University (181 graduates a year) award the most Criminal Justice and Corrections degrees in Georgia, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 62 Georgia colleges offer Criminal Justice and Corrections.
What is the best college for Criminal Justice and Corrections in Georgia?+
By graduate earnings, University of North Georgia leads among bachelor's Criminal Justice and Corrections programs in Georgia, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $41,598, College Scorecard. Kennesaw State University and Georgia College & State University follow. By degrees awarded, Kennesaw State University is the largest, with 212 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Criminal Justice and Corrections program in Georgia has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, University of North Georgia tops the list at $41,598. 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 Georgia?+
The average annual wage for Correctional Officers and Jailers in Georgia is $47,980 (median $47,520), across about 10,640 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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