Best colleges for Criminal Justice and Corrections in North Carolina
Ranked by graduate earnings
University of Mount Olive, Campbell University and Lees-McRae College are the top bachelor's Criminal Justice and Corrections programs in North Carolina by graduate earnings. University of Mount Olive leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $40,639, College Scorecard. University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Alamance Community College and North Carolina Central University award the most Criminal Justice and Corrections degrees in North Carolina: 167, 138 and 127 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 91 North Carolina colleges offer Criminal Justice and Corrections and award 3,491 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 Mount Olive Mount Olive Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $40,639 | 31 | 52% | $16,473 | $34,535 |
| 2 | Campbell University Buies Creek Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $40,590 | 27 | 61% | $23,331 | $27,000 |
| 3 | Lees-McRae College Banner Elk Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $39,811 | 34 | 42% | $23,349 | $15,000 |
| 4 | Wingate University Wingate Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $39,498 | 22 | 46% | $21,585 | $27,000 |
| 5 | Brevard College Brevard Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $39,000 | 24 | 49% | $21,334 | $26,000 |
| 6 | Western Carolina University Cullowhee Public · Bachelor's degree | $38,682 | 119 | 60% | — | $21,461 |
| 7 | University of North Carolina at Charlotte Charlotte Public · Bachelor's degree | $36,155 | 167 | 69% | — | $23,250 |
| 8 | Appalachian State University Boone Public · Bachelor's degree | $35,796 | 120 | 75% | — | $18,750 |
| 9 | University of North Carolina at Pembroke Pembroke Public · Bachelor's degree | $35,553 | 116 | 44% | — | $27,000 |
| 10 | North Carolina Central University Durham Public · Bachelor's degree | $33,829 | 127 | 42% | — | $29,500 |
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 | Cape Fear Community College Wilmington Public · Certificate | $52,282 | 107 | 34% | — | $16,042 |
| 2 | Gaston College Dallas Public · Certificate | $50,038 | 59 | 63% | — | — |
| 3 | Durham Technical Community College Durham Public · Certificate | $49,893 | 26 | 45% | — | $17,750 |
| 4 | Forsyth Technical Community College Winston-Salem Public · Certificate | $48,388 | 40 | 34% | — | $21,066 |
| 5 | South Piedmont Community College Polkton Public · Certificate | $47,748 | 42 | 38% | — | $17,823 |
| 6 | Rowan-Cabarrus Community College Salisbury Public · Certificate | $46,993 | 25 | 35% | — | $10,625 |
| 7 | Central Piedmont Community College Charlotte Public · Associate degree | $44,616 | 54 | 31% | — | — |
| 8 | Cleveland Community College Shelby Public · Certificate | $44,116 | 50 | 32% | — | — |
| 9 | Coastal Carolina Community College Jacksonville Public · Certificate | $43,070 | 26 | 49% | — | — |
| 10 | Wilkes Community College Wilkesboro Public · Certificate | $41,251 | 83 | 55% | — | $11,000 |
Colleges awarding the most Criminal Justice and Corrections degrees in North Carolina
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 North Carolina at Charlotte Charlotte Public | 167 | $36,155 |
| 2 | Alamance Community College Graham Public | 138 | Not reported |
| 3 | North Carolina Central University Durham Public | 127 | $33,829 |
| 4 | Appalachian State University Boone Public | 120 | $35,796 |
| 5 | Western Carolina University Cullowhee Public | 119 | $38,682 |
| 6 | University of North Carolina at Pembroke Pembroke Public | 116 | $35,553 |
| 7 | Fayetteville State University Fayetteville Public | 115 | $29,016 |
| 8 | North Carolina A & T State University Greensboro Public | 115 | $32,152 |
| 9 | Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College Asheville Public | 94 | Not reported |
| 10 | Wake Technical Community College Raleigh Public | 81 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 81 North Carolina 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 North Carolina
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Criminal Justice and Corrections programs in North Carolina.
Which North Carolina colleges award the most Criminal Justice and Corrections degrees?+
University of North Carolina at Charlotte (167 graduates a year), Alamance Community College (138 graduates a year) and North Carolina Central University (127 graduates a year) award the most Criminal Justice and Corrections degrees in North Carolina, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 91 North Carolina colleges offer Criminal Justice and Corrections.
What is the best college for Criminal Justice and Corrections in North Carolina?+
By graduate earnings, University of Mount Olive leads among bachelor's Criminal Justice and Corrections programs in North Carolina, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $40,639, College Scorecard. Campbell University and Lees-McRae College follow. By degrees awarded, University of North Carolina at Charlotte is the largest, with 167 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Criminal Justice and Corrections program in North Carolina has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, University of Mount Olive tops the list at $40,639. 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 North Carolina?+
The average annual wage for Correctional Officers and Jailers in North Carolina is $51,390 (median $50,550), across about 11,900 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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