Best colleges for Criminal Justice and Corrections in Illinois
Ranked by graduate earnings
Aurora University, Roosevelt University and Western Illinois University are the top bachelor's Criminal Justice and Corrections programs in Illinois by graduate earnings. Aurora University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $44,150, College Scorecard. Southwestern Illinois College, Western Illinois University and Illinois State University award the most Criminal Justice and Corrections degrees in Illinois: 382, 188 and 157 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 67 Illinois colleges offer Criminal Justice and Corrections and award 2,512 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 | Aurora University Aurora Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $44,150 | 80 | 60% | $18,431 | $23,635 |
| 2 | Roosevelt University Chicago Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $41,203 | 27 | 35% | $21,085 | $24,625 |
| 3 | Western Illinois University Macomb Public · Bachelor's degree | $40,898 | 188 | 45% | — | $26,000 |
| 4 | Eastern Illinois University Charleston Public · Bachelor's degree | $40,489 | 29 | 47% | — | — |
| 5 | Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Edwardsville Public · Bachelor's degree | $39,279 | 94 | 57% | — | $25,000 |
| 6 | Saint Xavier University Chicago Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $39,033 | 26 | 57% | $12,935 | $27,000 |
| 7 | Loyola University Chicago Chicago Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $38,953 | 82 | 73% | $33,454 | $25,000 |
| 8 | Illinois State University Normal Public · Bachelor's degree | $37,584 | 157 | 65% | — | $22,531 |
| 9 | Lewis University Romeoville Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $37,583 | 91 | 67% | $17,632 | $20,000 |
| 10 | Olivet Nazarene University Bourbonnais Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $34,877 | 24 | 61% | $20,903 | $27,000 |
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 | William Rainey Harper College Palatine Public · Associate degree | $38,474 | 28 | 48% | — | — |
| 2 | Lewis and Clark Community College Godfrey Public · Associate degree | $31,763 | 28 | 44% | — | $9,120 |
| 3 | Morton College Cicero Public · Associate degree Small program | $31,143 | 11 | 31% | — | — |
| 4 | College of DuPage Glen Ellyn Public · Associate degree | $28,749 | 39 | 25% | — | $7,521 |
| 5 | Generations College Chicago Private not-for-profit · Associate degree Online Small program | $28,031 | 8 | 11% | $20,789 | $22,366 |
Colleges awarding the most Criminal Justice and Corrections degrees in Illinois
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 | Southwestern Illinois College Belleville Public | 382 | Not reported |
| 2 | Western Illinois University Macomb Public | 188 | $40,898 |
| 3 | Illinois State University Normal Public | 157 | $37,584 |
| 4 | University of Illinois Chicago Chicago Public | 129 | $34,551 |
| 5 | Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Edwardsville Public | 94 | $39,279 |
| 6 | Lewis University Romeoville Private not-for-profit | 91 | $37,583 |
| 7 | Loyola University Chicago Chicago Private not-for-profit | 82 | $38,953 |
| 8 | Aurora University Aurora Private not-for-profit | 80 | $44,150 |
| 9 | Kankakee Community College Kankakee Public | 45 | Not reported |
| 10 | College of Lake County Grayslake Public | 36 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 57 Illinois 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 Illinois
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Criminal Justice and Corrections programs in Illinois.
Which Illinois colleges award the most Criminal Justice and Corrections degrees?+
Southwestern Illinois College (382 graduates a year), Western Illinois University (188 graduates a year) and Illinois State University (157 graduates a year) award the most Criminal Justice and Corrections degrees in Illinois, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 67 Illinois colleges offer Criminal Justice and Corrections.
What is the best college for Criminal Justice and Corrections in Illinois?+
By graduate earnings, Aurora University leads among bachelor's Criminal Justice and Corrections programs in Illinois, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $44,150, College Scorecard. Roosevelt University and Western Illinois University follow. By degrees awarded, Southwestern Illinois College is the largest, with 382 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Criminal Justice and Corrections program in Illinois has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Aurora University tops the list at $44,150. 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 Illinois?+
The average annual wage for Correctional Officers and Jailers in Illinois is $78,080 (median $79,190), across about 12,190 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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