Maine · Criminal Justice and Corrections

Best colleges for Criminal Justice and Corrections in Maine

Ranked by graduate earnings

Husson University, University of Maine at Presque Isle and Thomas College award the most Criminal Justice and Corrections degrees in Maine: 86, 15 and 12 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 11 Maine colleges offer Criminal Justice and Corrections and award 223 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…

Institutions
11
offering CIP 43.01
States & territories
57
with a program page
Degrees / yr
223
IPEDS completions 2024–25
Median starting salary
$43,112
1 yr after graduation, College Scorecard
With earnings data
5
College Scorecard
Median net price
$18,839
IPEDS 2024–25
Avg graduation rate
43%
IPEDS 2024–25
State pay · Correctional Officers and Jailers
$53,790
BLS OEWS May 2025

Top 3 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.

Starting salary (1 yr): median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
#InstitutionStarting salary (1 yr)Graduates / yrGrad rateNet priceMedian debt
1Husson University
Bangor Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$46,5238659%$18,839$27,178
2Thomas College
Waterville Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program
$42,1741254%$18,192$27,000
3University of Maine at Augusta
Augusta Public · Bachelor's degree Small program
$38,5881527%—$36,010

Top 2 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.

Starting salary (1 yr): median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
#InstitutionStarting salary (1 yr)Graduates / yrGrad rateNet priceMedian debt
1Central Maine Community College
Auburn Public · Associate degree
$43,1123630%—$11,000
2Southern Maine Community College
South Portland Public · Associate degree
$44,8692028%—$8,750

Colleges awarding the most Criminal Justice and Corrections degrees in Maine

Top 8 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.

Graduates / yr: degrees and certificates awarded in a year, IPEDS completions. Starting salary (1 yr): median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
#InstitutionGraduates / yrStarting salary (1 yr)
1Husson University
Bangor Private not-for-profit
86$46,523
2University of Maine at Presque Isle
Presque Isle Public
15Not reported
3Thomas College
Waterville Private not-for-profit
12$42,174
4Eastern Maine Community College
Bangor Public
10Not reported
5Saint Joseph's College of Maine
Standish Private not-for-profit
10Not reported
6Washington County Community College
Calais Public
9Not reported
7York County Community College
Wells Public
7Not reported
8University of Maine at Fort Kent
Fort Kent Public
3Not reported
Show the other 3 Maine colleges offering Criminal Justice and Corrections
InstitutionCityControlGraduates / yr
Central Maine Community CollegeAuburnPublic36
Southern Maine Community CollegeSouth PortlandPublic20
University of Maine at AugustaAugustaPublic15

Career outlook

What this program leads to: Correctional Officers and Jailers (SOC 33-3012).

Projected growth (2024–2034)
-7.8%
Decline
Openings / yr (US)
~30,100
BLS Employment Projections
US median wage
$57,970
typically High school diploma or equivalent

Top skills

Active ListeningMonitoringSpeakingCritical ThinkingReading ComprehensionActive Learning

What Correctional Officers and Jailers earn in Maine

Jobs in Maine
1,090
BLS OEWS May 2025
State average pay
$53,790
median $52,730
Best-paying metro
$55,360
Portland-South Portland, ME

Related careers

Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers
$69,830 avg · 2,120 jobs
Child, Family, and School Social Workers
$66,180 avg · 2,000 jobs
Security Guards
$41,390 avg · 1,930 jobs
Compliance Officers
$86,600 avg · 1,790 jobs
Correctional Officers and Jailers
$53,790 avg · 1,090 jobs

Common questions

Answers for students comparing Criminal Justice and Corrections programs in Maine.

Which Maine colleges award the most Criminal Justice and Corrections degrees?+

Husson University (86 graduates a year), University of Maine at Presque Isle (15 graduates a year) and Thomas College (12 graduates a year) award the most Criminal Justice and Corrections degrees in Maine, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 11 Maine colleges offer Criminal Justice and Corrections.

Which Criminal Justice and Corrections program in Maine has the highest-earning graduates?+

By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Husson University tops the list at $46,523. 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 Maine?+

The average annual wage for Correctional Officers and Jailers in Maine is $53,790 (median $52,730), across about 1,090 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.

IPEDSFall 2025–26 release, published July 28, 2026
Enrollment, completions, graduation rates, tuition, financial aid, staffing, and finance for every U.S. institution in federal student aid programs.
College ScorecardJune 10, 2026 release (merged 2025–26 files)
Institution and field-of-study costs, graduate earnings, debt, completion, and admissions outcomes compiled from federal aid records, tax data, and IPEDS.
PSEO graduate earnings2019–21 graduation cohorts (release V4.13.0)
Earnings and employment outcomes of graduates by institution, degree level, and field of study, measured from state wage records.
BLS wages & outlookOEWS May 2025 release
Occupational employment and wage estimates plus 10-year job outlook, used to connect programs to real-world earnings.
FVT/GE program performanceProvisional preview, May 18, 2026 release
Program-level debt-to-earnings and earnings-premium measures behind the FVT/GE and STATS accountability frameworks.

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