Best colleges for Criminal Justice and Corrections in Kansas
Ranked by graduate earnings
Southwestern College, Fort Hays State University and Wichita State University are the top bachelor's Criminal Justice and Corrections programs in Kansas by graduate earnings. Southwestern College leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $60,820, College Scorecard. Wichita State University, Fort Hays State University and Kansas Wesleyan University award the most Criminal Justice and Corrections degrees in Kansas: 90, 51 and 49 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 26 Kansas colleges offer Criminal Justice and Corrections and award 425 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 | Southwestern College Winfield Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $60,820 | 22 | 36% | $26,868 | — |
| 2 | Fort Hays State University Hays Public · Bachelor's degree | $42,428 | 51 | 48% | — | $28,750 |
| 3 | Wichita State University Wichita Public · Bachelor's degree | $38,102 | 90 | 51% | — | $27,000 |
| 4 | Kansas Wesleyan University Salina Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $37,301 | 49 | 49% | $23,014 | $24,330 |
| 5 | Central Christian College of Kansas McPherson Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $55,453 | 18 | 27% | $12,537 | $36,076 |
| 6 | Washburn University Topeka Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $40,052 | 17 | 53% | — | $20,822 |
| 7 | Emporia State University Emporia Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $35,970 | 7 | 56% | — | $23,480 |
| 8 | Friends University Wichita Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $34,522 | 8 | 43% | $24,084 | — |
Top certificate or associate program
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 | Johnson County Community College Overland Park Public · Certificate | $55,171 | 63 | 31% | — | $20,106 |
Colleges awarding the most Criminal Justice and Corrections degrees in Kansas
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 | Wichita State University Wichita Public | 90 | $38,102 |
| 2 | Fort Hays State University Hays Public | 51 | $42,428 |
| 3 | Kansas Wesleyan University Salina Private not-for-profit | 49 | $37,301 |
| 4 | Southwestern College Winfield Private not-for-profit | 22 | $60,820 |
| 5 | Pittsburg State University Pittsburg Public | 17 | Not reported |
| 6 | Washburn University Topeka Public | 17 | $40,052 |
| 7 | Butler Community College El Dorado Public | 14 | Not reported |
| 8 | Sterling College Sterling Private not-for-profit | 13 | Not reported |
| 9 | Bethany College Lindsborg Private not-for-profit | 10 | Not reported |
| 10 | Cowley County Community College Arkansas City Public | 8 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 16 Kansas colleges offering Criminal Justice and Corrections
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Johnson County Community College | Overland Park | Public | 63 |
| Central Christian College of Kansas | McPherson | Private not-for-profit | 18 |
| Friends University | Wichita | Private not-for-profit | 8 |
| Emporia State University | Emporia | Public | 7 |
| Kansas City Kansas Community College | Kansas City | Public | 7 |
| Newman University | Wichita | Private not-for-profit | 7 |
| Wichita State University - Campus of Applied Sciences and Technology | Wichita | Public | 7 |
| Hutchinson Community College | Hutchinson | Public | 3 |
| University of Kansas | Lawrence | Public | 3 |
| Salina Area Technical College | Salina | Public | 3 |
| Independence Community College | Independence | Public | 2 |
| MidAmerica Nazarene University | Olathe | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Allen County Community College | Iola | Public | 1 |
| Fort Scott Community College | Fort Scott | Public | 1 |
| Ottawa University - Kansas City | Overland Park | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Ottawa University - Online (Online) | Overland Park | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Correctional Officers and Jailers (SOC 33-3012).
Top skills
What Correctional Officers and Jailers earn in Kansas
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Criminal Justice and Corrections programs in Kansas.
Which Kansas colleges award the most Criminal Justice and Corrections degrees?+
Wichita State University (90 graduates a year), Fort Hays State University (51 graduates a year) and Kansas Wesleyan University (49 graduates a year) award the most Criminal Justice and Corrections degrees in Kansas, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 26 Kansas colleges offer Criminal Justice and Corrections.
What is the best college for Criminal Justice and Corrections in Kansas?+
By graduate earnings, Southwestern College leads among bachelor's Criminal Justice and Corrections programs in Kansas, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $60,820, College Scorecard. Fort Hays State University and Wichita State University follow. By degrees awarded, Wichita State University is the largest, with 90 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Criminal Justice and Corrections program in Kansas has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Southwestern College tops the list at $60,820. 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 Kansas?+
The average annual wage for Correctional Officers and Jailers in Kansas is $53,770 (median $56,120), across about 3,380 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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