Best colleges for Criminal Justice and Corrections in New Jersey
Ranked by graduate earnings
Kean University, Monmouth University and The College of New Jersey are the top bachelor's Criminal Justice and Corrections programs in New Jersey by graduate earnings. Kean University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $39,408, College Scorecard. Rowan University, Rutgers University - New Brunswick and Rutgers University - Newark award the most Criminal Justice and Corrections degrees in New Jersey: 215, 176 and 168 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 41 New Jersey colleges offer Criminal Justice and Corrections and award 2,684 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 | Kean University Union Public · Bachelor's degree | $39,408 | 153 | 47% | — | $25,993 |
| 2 | Monmouth University West Long Branch Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $37,862 | 71 | 72% | $28,514 | $27,000 |
| 3 | The College of New Jersey Ewing Public · Bachelor's degree | $36,070 | 61 | 86% | — | $20,500 |
| 4 | Rider University Lawrenceville Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $36,053 | 28 | 61% | $23,844 | $27,000 |
| 5 | William Paterson University of New Jersey Wayne Public · Bachelor's degree | $35,864 | 142 | 44% | — | $25,000 |
| 6 | Rutgers University - New Brunswick New Brunswick Public · Bachelor's degree | $34,611 | 176 | 84% | — | $22,431 |
| 7 | New Jersey City University Jersey City Public · Bachelor's degree | $34,027 | 85 | 34% | — | $21,500 |
| 8 | Fairleigh Dickinson University - Metropolitan Campus Teaneck Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $33,874 | 43 | 53% | $18,059 | $24,672 |
| 9 | Rowan University Glassboro Public · Bachelor's degree | $33,254 | 215 | 67% | — | $23,250 |
| 10 | Saint Peter's University Jersey City Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $28,558 | 30 | 58% | $14,440 | $23,500 |
Top 10 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 | Camden County College Blackwood Public · Certificate | $59,298 | 230 | 31% | — | $15,644 |
| 2 | Middlesex College Edison Public · Associate degree | $32,712 | 42 | 33% | — | $8,119 |
| 3 | Sussex County Community College Newton Public · Associate degree | $32,079 | 33 | 37% | — | $9,875 |
| 4 | UCNJ Union College of Union County, New Jersey Cranford Public · Associate degree | $30,629 | 61 | 35% | — | $11,343 |
| 5 | Brookdale Community College Lincroft Public · Associate degree | $30,595 | 59 | 30% | — | $9,721 |
| 6 | Berkeley College - Woodland Park Woodland Park Private for-profit · Associate degree | $29,460 | 62 | 44% | $23,170 | $31,000 |
| 7 | Rowan College of South Jersey-Gloucester Campus Sewell Public · Associate degree | $28,991 | 47 | 39% | — | $12,000 |
| 8 | Rowan College at Burlington County Mount Laurel Public · Associate degree | $27,775 | 62 | 36% | — | $10,000 |
| 9 | Ocean County College Toms River Public · Associate degree | $27,321 | 66 | 42% | — | $11,000 |
| 10 | County College of Morris Randolph Public · Associate degree | $23,024 | 61 | 36% | — | $9,040 |
Colleges awarding the most Criminal Justice and Corrections degrees in New Jersey
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 | Rowan University Glassboro Public | 215 | $33,254 |
| 2 | Rutgers University - New Brunswick New Brunswick Public | 176 | $34,611* |
| 3 | Rutgers University - Newark Newark Public | 168 | $34,611* |
| 4 | Kean University Union Public | 153 | $39,408 |
| 5 | Stockton University Galloway Public | 142 | Not reported |
| 6 | William Paterson University of New Jersey Wayne Public | 142 | $35,864 |
| 7 | New Jersey City University Jersey City Public | 85 | $34,027 |
| 8 | Monmouth University West Long Branch Private not-for-profit | 71 | $37,862 |
| 9 | Rutgers University - Camden Camden Public | 66 | $34,611* |
| 10 | The College of New Jersey Ewing Public | 61 | $36,070 |
ShowHide the other 31 New Jersey 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 New Jersey
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Criminal Justice and Corrections programs in New Jersey.
Which New Jersey colleges award the most Criminal Justice and Corrections degrees?+
Rowan University (215 graduates a year), Rutgers University - New Brunswick (176 graduates a year) and Rutgers University - Newark (168 graduates a year) award the most Criminal Justice and Corrections degrees in New Jersey, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 41 New Jersey colleges offer Criminal Justice and Corrections.
What is the best college for Criminal Justice and Corrections in New Jersey?+
By graduate earnings, Kean University leads among bachelor's Criminal Justice and Corrections programs in New Jersey, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $39,408, College Scorecard. Monmouth University and The College of New Jersey follow. By degrees awarded, Rowan University is the largest, with 215 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Criminal Justice and Corrections program in New Jersey has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Kean University tops the list at $39,408. 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 New Jersey?+
The average annual wage for Correctional Officers and Jailers in New Jersey is $87,780 (median $94,770), across about 7,570 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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