Best colleges for Criminal Justice and Corrections in Kentucky
Ranked by graduate earnings
University of Louisville, University of the Cumberlands and Campbellsville University are the top bachelor's Criminal Justice and Corrections programs in Kentucky by graduate earnings. University of Louisville leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $38,728, College Scorecard. University of Louisville, Eastern Kentucky University and University of the Cumberlands award the most Criminal Justice and Corrections degrees in Kentucky: 220, 196 and 141 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 32 Kentucky colleges offer Criminal Justice and Corrections and award 1,229 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 Louisville Louisville Public · Bachelor's degree | $38,728 | 220 | 61% | — | $23,151 |
| 2 | University of the Cumberlands Williamsburg Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $37,564 | 141 | 50% | $11,672 | $25,000 |
| 3 | Campbellsville University Campbellsville Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $36,849 | 32 | 42% | $18,824 | $21,550 |
| 4 | Northern Kentucky University Highland Heights Public · Bachelor's degree | $35,724 | 52 | 52% | — | $25,000 |
| 5 | Eastern Kentucky University Richmond Public · Bachelor's degree | $31,548 | 196 | 50% | — | $25,000 |
| 6 | University of Pikeville Pikeville Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $27,025 | 25 | 42% | $13,886 | $22,330 |
| 7 | Thomas More University Crestview Hills Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $35,115 | 5 | 40% | $18,902 | — |
| 8 | Kentucky State University Frankfort Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $33,099 | 18 | 32% | — | $28,162 |
| 9 | Murray State University Murray Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $32,041 | 17 | 61% | — | $22,875 |
| 10 | Bellarmine University Louisville Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $30,930 | 19 | 64% | $22,542 | $25,990 |
Top 4 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 | Bluegrass Community and Technical College Lexington Public · Certificate | $44,752 | 59 | 43% | — | $8,865 |
| 2 | Somerset Community College Somerset Public · Certificate | $34,245 | 87 | 43% | — | $15,899 |
| 3 | Jefferson Community and Technical College Louisville Public · Associate degree | $33,316 | 45 | 35% | — | $11,516 |
| 4 | Big Sandy Community and Technical College Prestonsburg Public · Associate degree Small program | $29,432 | 16 | 38% | — | $10,994 |
Colleges awarding the most Criminal Justice and Corrections degrees in Kentucky
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 Louisville Louisville Public | 220 | $38,728 |
| 2 | Eastern Kentucky University Richmond Public | 196 | $31,548 |
| 3 | University of the Cumberlands Williamsburg Private not-for-profit | 141 | $37,564 |
| 4 | Northern Kentucky University Highland Heights Public | 52 | $35,724 |
| 5 | Hopkinsville Community College Hopkinsville Public | 44 | Not reported |
| 6 | West Kentucky Community and Technical College Paducah Public | 33 | Not reported |
| 7 | Campbellsville University Campbellsville Private not-for-profit | 32 | $36,849 |
| 8 | Elizabethtown Community and Technical College Elizabethtown Public | 31 | Not reported |
| 9 | Sullivan University Louisville Private for-profit | 27 | Not reported |
| 10 | Maysville Community and Technical College Maysville Public | 26 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 22 Kentucky 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 Kentucky
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Criminal Justice and Corrections programs in Kentucky.
Which Kentucky colleges award the most Criminal Justice and Corrections degrees?+
University of Louisville (220 graduates a year), Eastern Kentucky University (196 graduates a year) and University of the Cumberlands (141 graduates a year) award the most Criminal Justice and Corrections degrees in Kentucky, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 32 Kentucky colleges offer Criminal Justice and Corrections.
What is the best college for Criminal Justice and Corrections in Kentucky?+
By graduate earnings, University of Louisville leads among bachelor's Criminal Justice and Corrections programs in Kentucky, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $38,728, College Scorecard. University of the Cumberlands and Campbellsville University follow. By degrees awarded, University of Louisville is the largest, with 220 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Criminal Justice and Corrections program in Kentucky has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, University of Louisville tops the list at $38,728. 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 Kentucky?+
The average annual wage for Correctional Officers and Jailers in Kentucky is $44,870 (median $42,310), across about 6,770 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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