Best colleges for Criminal Justice and Corrections in Mississippi
Ranked by graduate earnings
University of Southern Mississippi, University of Mississippi and Jackson State University are the top bachelor's Criminal Justice and Corrections programs in Mississippi by graduate earnings. University of Southern Mississippi leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $36,315, College Scorecard. University of Mississippi, Jackson State University and University of Southern Mississippi award the most Criminal Justice and Corrections degrees in Mississippi: 167, 63 and 48 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 20 Mississippi colleges offer Criminal Justice and Corrections and award 554 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 7 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 Southern Mississippi Hattiesburg Public · Bachelor's degree | $36,315 | 48 | 49% | — | $21,125 |
| 2 | University of Mississippi University Public · Bachelor's degree | $31,875 | 167 | 72% | — | $22,171 |
| 3 | Jackson State University Jackson Public · Bachelor's degree | $27,101 | 63 | 51% | — | $31,000 |
| 4 | Strayer University - Mississippi Jackson Private for-profit · Bachelor's degree Online Small program | $43,405 | 14 | 0% | — | $56,937 |
| 5 | Mississippi Christian University Clinton Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $37,324 | 18 | 59% | $21,096 | $27,000 |
| 6 | William Carey University Hattiesburg Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $35,540 | 14 | 60% | $17,205 | $24,729 |
| 7 | Alcorn State University Alcorn State Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $30,617 | 13 | 57% | — | $28,065 |
Top 3 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 | Itawamba Community College Fulton Public · Associate degree | $32,996 | 53 | 50% | — | — |
| 2 | Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College Perkinston Public · Associate degree | $28,817 | 20 | 48% | — | $10,000 |
| 3 | Holmes Community College Goodman Public · Associate degree | $24,853 | 24 | 39% | — | — |
Colleges awarding the most Criminal Justice and Corrections degrees in Mississippi
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 Mississippi University Public | 167 | $31,875 |
| 2 | Jackson State University Jackson Public | 63 | $27,101 |
| 3 | University of Southern Mississippi Hattiesburg Public | 48 | $36,315 |
| 4 | Northwest Mississippi Community College Senatobia Public | 33 | Not reported |
| 5 | Delta State University Cleveland Public | 22 | Not reported |
| 6 | Mississippi Christian University Clinton Private not-for-profit | 18 | $37,324 |
| 7 | East Mississippi Community College Scooba Public | 15 | Not reported |
| 8 | William Carey University Hattiesburg Private not-for-profit | 14 | $35,540 |
| 9 | Alcorn State University Alcorn State Public | 13 | $30,617 |
| 10 | Coahoma Community College Clarksdale Public | 12 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 10 Mississippi colleges offering Criminal Justice and Corrections
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Itawamba Community College | Fulton | Public | 53 |
| Holmes Community College | Goodman | Public | 24 |
| Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College | Perkinston | Public | 20 |
| Strayer University - Mississippi (Online) | Jackson | Private for-profit | 14 |
| Mississippi Valley State University | Itta Bena | Public | 10 |
| Belhaven University | Jackson | Private not-for-profit | 7 |
| Copiah-Lincoln Community College | Wesson | Public | 7 |
| East Central Community College | Decatur | Public | 7 |
| Blue Mountain Christian University | Blue Mountain | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| Hinds Community College | Raymond | Public | 2 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Correctional Officers and Jailers (SOC 33-3012).
Top skills
What Correctional Officers and Jailers earn in Mississippi
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Criminal Justice and Corrections programs in Mississippi.
Which Mississippi colleges award the most Criminal Justice and Corrections degrees?+
University of Mississippi (167 graduates a year), Jackson State University (63 graduates a year) and University of Southern Mississippi (48 graduates a year) award the most Criminal Justice and Corrections degrees in Mississippi, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 20 Mississippi colleges offer Criminal Justice and Corrections.
What is the best college for Criminal Justice and Corrections in Mississippi?+
By graduate earnings, University of Southern Mississippi leads among bachelor's Criminal Justice and Corrections programs in Mississippi, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $36,315, College Scorecard. University of Mississippi and Jackson State University follow. By degrees awarded, University of Mississippi is the largest, with 167 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Criminal Justice and Corrections program in Mississippi has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, University of Southern Mississippi tops the list at $36,315. 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 Mississippi?+
The average annual wage for Correctional Officers and Jailers in Mississippi is $40,550 (median $38,720), across about 4,040 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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