Best degree programs for Correctional Officers and Jailers, ranked by enrollment
4 college programs and 299 schools train Correctional Officers and Jailers. Compare graduates per year, cost and pay, $58,940 median wage, 380,500 U.S. jobs. Federal data.
4 college programs at 299 schools train correctional officers and jailers, graduating 10,938 people a year (IPEDS completions). The largest is Corrections and Criminal Justice, Other. The job pays a median of $58,940 (BLS OEWS May 2025).
About correctional officers and jailers
Guard inmates in penal or rehabilitative institutions in accordance with established regulations and procedures. May guard prisoners in transit between jail, courtroom, prison, or other point. Includes deputy sheriffs and police who spend the majority of their time guarding prisoners in correctional institutions.
Fields of study that lead to this job
Grouped at the 4-digit CIP level, the tier our program pages are built on. Numbers are graduates per year.
4 degree programs that lead to this job
Ranked by graduates per year (IPEDS completions). Graduate earnings and debt are College Scorecard figures for people who finished the program, reported at the 4-digit CIP level, so specializations within one field share a figure. That is a different measurement from the occupation-wide wages further down this page.
| # | Program | Graduates / yr | Share of pipeline | Schools | Grad earnings (1 yr) | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Corrections and Criminal Justice, Othermain feeder CIP 43.0199 | 4,734 | 43.3% | 94 | $37,408 | $24,069 |
| 2 | Correctionsmain feeder CIP 43.0102 | 3,804 | 34.8% | 147 | $37,408 | $24,069 |
| 3 | Criminal Justice and Corrections, Generalmain feeder CIP 43.0100 | 2,344 | 21.4% | 75 | $37,408 | $24,069 |
| 4 | Juvenile Correctionsmain feeder CIP 43.0110 | 56 | 0.5% | 15 | $37,408 | $24,069 |
Top 50 schools by graduates into this job
Counting every feeder program a school offers, not just its largest one.
| # | School | Graduates / yr | Top feeder program | Grad rate | Net price | Acceptance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Southern New Hampshire University Manchester, NH Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 2,115 | Corrections and Criminal Justice, Other | 43% | $34,565 | 100% |
| 2 | Rio Salado College Tempe, AZ Public · 2 feeder programs | 951 | Corrections | 9% | — | — |
| 3 | University of Phoenix - Arizona Phoenix, AZ Private for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 722 | Corrections and Criminal Justice, Other | 21% | $15,478 | — |
| 4 | American InterContinental University System Chandler, AZ Private for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 478 | Criminal Justice and Corrections, General | 9% | $15,785 | — |
| 5 | Ivy Tech Community College Indianapolis, IN Public · 2 feeder programs | 298 | Criminal Justice and Corrections, General | 40% | — | — |
| 6 | Community College of Baltimore County Baltimore, MD Public · 1 feeder programs | 275 | Corrections | 19% | — | — |
| 7 | Purdue University Global West Lafayette, IN Public · 2 feeder programs | 251 | Criminal Justice and Corrections, General | 50% | — | — |
| 8 | Moreno Valley College Moreno Valley, CA Public · 2 feeder programs | 230 | Corrections | 34% | — | — |
| 9 | East Los Angeles College Monterey Park, CA Public · 2 feeder programs | 202 | Corrections | 37% | — | — |
| 10 | Arizona Western College Yuma, AZ Public · 1 feeder programs | 177 | Corrections and Criminal Justice, Other | 20% | — | — |
| 11 | University of Arizona Tucson, AZ Public · 1 feeder programs | 173 | Criminal Justice and Corrections, General | 68% | — | 86% |
| 12 | Camden County College Blackwood, NJ Public · 1 feeder programs | 126 | Corrections | 31% | — | — |
| 13 | Tallahassee State College Tallahassee, FL Public · 1 feeder programs | 125 | Corrections | 38% | — | — |
| 14 | Chipola College Marianna, FL Public · 1 feeder programs | 108 | Corrections | 53% | — | — |
| 15 | CUNY Queensborough Community College Bayside, NY Public · 1 feeder programs | 107 | Criminal Justice and Corrections, General | 24% | — | — |
| 16 | Southwestern Illinois College Belleville, IL Public · 1 feeder programs | 105 | Corrections | 36% | — | — |
| 17 | University of New Mexico - Main Campus Albuquerque, NM Public · 1 feeder programs | 93 | Corrections | 55% | — | 95% |
| 18 | Florida Panhandle Technical College Chipley, FL Public · 1 feeder programs | 87 | Corrections | 41% | — | — |
| 19 | Loyola University Chicago Chicago, IL Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 82 | Criminal Justice and Corrections, General | 73% | $33,454 | 82% |
| 20 | Northwest Career College Las Vegas, NV Private for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 81 | Criminal Justice and Corrections, General | 68% | $15,787 | — |
| 21 | New Jersey City University Jersey City, NJ Public · 1 feeder programs | 80 | Corrections and Criminal Justice, Other | 34% | — | 98% |
| 22 | University of Alabama at Birmingham Birmingham, AL Public · 1 feeder programs | 79 | Corrections and Criminal Justice, Other | 64% | — | 88% |
| 23 | Santa Rosa Junior College Santa Rosa, CA Public · 2 feeder programs | 78 | Corrections | 37% | — | — |
| 24 | Pikes Peak State College Colorado Springs, CO Public · 1 feeder programs | 74 | Criminal Justice and Corrections, General | 21% | — | — |
| 25 | CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice New York, NY Public · 1 feeder programs | 72 | Corrections and Criminal Justice, Other | 56% | — | 57% |
| 26 | American InterContinental University - Atlanta Atlanta, GA Private for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 68 | Criminal Justice and Corrections, General | 21% | $17,531 | — |
| 27 | Sam Houston State University Huntsville, TX Public · 1 feeder programs | 67 | Corrections and Criminal Justice, Other | 55% | — | 90% |
| 28 | Withlacoochee Technical College Inverness, FL Public · 1 feeder programs | 67 | Corrections | 61% | — | — |
| 29 | Worcester State University Worcester, MA Public · 1 feeder programs | 67 | Criminal Justice and Corrections, General | 61% | — | 88% |
| 30 | Florida State College at Jacksonville Jacksonville, FL Public · 1 feeder programs | 66 | Corrections | 37% | — | — |
| 31 | Oakland University Rochester Hills, MI Public · 1 feeder programs | 62 | Corrections and Criminal Justice, Other | 58% | — | 88% |
| 32 | Cameron University Lawton, OK Public · 1 feeder programs | 56 | Corrections and Criminal Justice, Other | 31% | — | — |
| 33 | University of Oklahoma - Norman Campus Norman, OK Public · 1 feeder programs | 56 | Corrections and Criminal Justice, Other | 75% | — | 77% |
| 34 | George Stone Technical College Pensacola, FL Public · 1 feeder programs | 55 | Corrections | 36% | — | — |
| 35 | Suffolk University Boston, MA Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 55 | Corrections and Criminal Justice, Other | 61% | $28,895 | 82% |
| 36 | St Petersburg College St. Petersburg, FL Public · 1 feeder programs | 54 | Corrections | 38% | — | — |
| 37 | Fort Myers Technical College Fort Myers, FL Public · 1 feeder programs | 52 | Corrections | 81% | — | — |
| 38 | Kiamichi Technology Center - McAlester McAlester, OK Public · 1 feeder programs | 52 | Corrections and Criminal Justice, Other | 45% | — | — |
| 39 | Northeastern University Boston, MA Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 52 | Corrections and Criminal Justice, Other | 91% | $18,925 | 5% |
| 40 | Middle Georgia State University Macon, GA Public · 1 feeder programs | 50 | Criminal Justice and Corrections, General | 25% | — | 100% |
| 41 | Kansas Wesleyan University Salina, KS Private not-for-profit · 2 feeder programs | 49 | Corrections and Criminal Justice, Other | 49% | $23,014 | 72% |
| 42 | Florida Gateway College Lake City, FL Public · 1 feeder programs | 47 | Corrections | 54% | — | — |
| 43 | Southeast Missouri State University Cape Girardeau, MO Public · 1 feeder programs | 45 | Corrections | 58% | — | 74% |
| 44 | Ozarks Technical Community College Springfield, MO Public · 1 feeder programs | 44 | Criminal Justice and Corrections, General | 33% | — | — |
| 45 | Valencia College Orlando, FL Public · 1 feeder programs | 44 | Corrections | 48% | — | — |
| 46 | Community College of Philadelphia Philadelphia, PA Public · 1 feeder programs | 41 | Corrections and Criminal Justice, Other | 24% | — | — |
| 47 | Langston University Langston, OK Public · 1 feeder programs | 41 | Corrections | 17% | — | — |
| 48 | Arizona State University Campus Immersion Tempe, AZ Public · 3 feeder programs | 38 | Corrections and Criminal Justice, Other | 68% | — | 90% |
| 49 | Palm Beach State College Lake Worth, FL Public · 1 feeder programs | 38 | Corrections | 41% | — | — |
| 50 | College of Central Florida Ocala, FL Public · 1 feeder programs | 36 | Corrections | 44% | — | — |
What correctional officers and jailers earn
What people already working in this job earn (BLS OEWS May 2025). Not graduate earnings.
Top-paying states
Top-paying metro areas
Job outlook
Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections, 2024 to 2034.
Where the jobs are, state by state
Pick a state for in-state pay, the schools there, and the programs they run.
| State | Median pay | Jobs | Concentration | Schools | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona | $54,970 | 14,230 | 1.79× | 16 | 2,644 |
| New Hampshirelimited | $61,360 | 680 | 0.40× | 2 | 2,133 |
| Florida | $49,710 | 24,280 | 1.00× | 31 | 1,127 |
| California | $96,370 | 37,860 | 0.85× | 29 | 679 |
| Indiana | $48,340 | 8,060 | 1.03× | 5 | 576 |
| Maryland | $64,250 | 6,060 | 0.90× | 5 | 329 |
| Oklahoma | $45,690 | 3,730 | 0.89× | 9 | 280 |
| New York | $76,820 | 27,770 | 1.17× | 8 | 259 |
| New Jersey | $94,770 | 7,570 | 0.72× | 5 | 243 |
| Illinois | $79,190 | 12,190 | 0.82× | 9 | 231 |
| Massachusetts | $86,310 | 6,360 | 0.71× | 9 | 231 |
| Texas | $52,670 | 44,700 | 1.30× | 14 | 214 |
| Michigan | $64,020 | 8,220 | 0.76× | 22 | 193 |
| Georgia | $47,520 | 10,640 | 0.89× | 8 | 191 |
| Colorado | $62,140 | 7,290 | 1.04× | 12 | 184 |
| Pennsylvania | $63,460 | 15,560 | 1.05× | 14 | 165 |
| Ohio | $59,370 | 12,610 | 0.93× | 12 | 148 |
| Missouri | $42,620 | 6,670 | 0.93× | 6 | 126 |
| New Mexicomoderate | $47,940 | 2,740 | 1.29× | 4 | 106 |
| Alabamalimited | $46,660 | 4,970 | 0.96× | 2 | 94 |
| Nevadalimited | $76,490 | 3,240 | 0.85× | 2 | 82 |
| Kentucky | $42,310 | 6,770 | 1.38× | 5 | 78 |
| Mississippi | $38,720 | 4,040 | 1.42× | 5 | 77 |
| Kansasmoderate | $56,120 | 3,380 | 0.96× | 4 | 68 |
| Connecticutmoderate | $64,750 | 3,780 | 0.91× | 3 | 49 |
| Wisconsin | $73,470 | 7,360 | 1.02× | 5 | 48 |
| Tennessee | $50,940 | 6,990 | 0.87× | 11 | 42 |
| Virginia | $50,140 | 11,270 | 1.12× | 5 | 42 |
| Nebraskamoderate | $63,380 | 3,250 | 1.29× | 3 | 37 |
| Alaskalimited | $71,360 | 850 | 1.06× | 2 | 31 |
| South Carolinalimited | $47,890 | 4,870 | 0.86× | 2 | 31 |
| Arkansas | $40,330 | 4,460 | 1.40× | 5 | 28 |
| Delawarelimited | $65,880 | 1,730 | 1.46× | 2 | 25 |
| Minnesotamoderate | $66,040 | 5,350 | 0.74× | 4 | 22 |
| Washingtonlimited | $79,460 | 6,800 | 0.78× | 2 | 22 |
| Mainelimited | $52,730 | 1,090 | 0.69× | 2 | 17 |
| Oregonmoderate | $83,690 | 3,650 | 0.76× | 3 | 16 |
| Utahlimited | $67,290 | 2,050 | 0.48× | 2 | 13 |
| Iowalimited | $53,040 | 3,440 | 0.90× | 1 | 9 |
| Montanalimited | $49,180 | 1,430 | 1.15× | 2 | 9 |
| West Virginialimited | $52,890 | 2,980 | 1.74× | 1 | 4 |
| North Carolinalimited | $50,550 | 11,900 | 0.98× | 1 | 2 |
Skills and tools
From O*NET, the U.S. Department of Labor's occupational database. Importance is a 1 to 5 scale.
What they do day to day
- Conduct head counts to ensure that each prisoner is present.
- Inspect conditions of locks, window bars, grills, doors, and gates at correctional facilities to ensure security and help prevent escapes.
- Monitor conduct of prisoners in housing unit, or during work or recreational activities, according to established policies, regulations, and procedures, to prevent escape or violence.
- Search prisoners and vehicles and conduct shakedowns of cells for valuables and contraband, such as weapons or drugs.
- Guard facility entrances to screen visitors.
- Record information, such as prisoner identification, charges, and incidents of inmate disturbance, keeping daily logs of prisoner activities.
- Inspect mail for the presence of contraband.
- Maintain records of prisoners' identification and charges.
Skills
- Monitoring4.0
- Active Listening4.0
- Speaking3.9
- Critical Thinking3.8
- Reading Comprehension3.6
- Active Learning3.3
- Learning Strategies3.0
- Writing3.0
Knowledge areas
- Public Safety and Security4.1
- English Language4.0
- Law and Government3.8
- Customer and Personal Service3.5
- Administration and Management3.5
- Computers and Electronics3.4
Abilities
- Oral Expression4.0
- Problem Sensitivity4.0
- Oral Comprehension4.0
- Inductive Reasoning3.8
- Deductive Reasoning3.8
- Speech Clarity3.8
Core activities
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems4.4
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates4.2
- Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others4.2
- Documenting/Recording Information4.1
- Getting Information4.0
- Training and Teaching Others4.0
Tools and technology
hotmarks an O*NET hot technologyHow to get in
How to become a Correctional Officer
Job zone 2 of 5 · SVP Below 6.0- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training.
Every major mapped to this job
The official federal mapping behind the rankings above.
All 4 majors mapped to Correctional Officers and Jailers4 of them graduated someone in the latest IPEDS year. NCES CIP 2020 → SOC 2018 crosswalk.+
- 43.0100Criminal Justice and Corrections, General
- 43.0102Corrections
- 43.0110Juvenile Corrections
- 43.0199Corrections and Criminal Justice, Other
Related careers
Jobs O*NET identifies as close to this one, with their own pay and outlook.
Common questions
What degree do you need to become a Correctional Officer?+
High school diploma or equivalent is the typical entry-level education BLS reports for this occupation. The most common program people actually graduate from is Corrections and Criminal Justice, Other, which awarded 4,734 degrees in 2024-25, 43.3% of everyone graduating from a program that feeds this career.
Which college majors lead to becoming a Correctional Officer?+
The NCES CIP-to-SOC crosswalk maps 4 programs to this occupation. The largest are Criminal Justice and Corrections. Together they graduate about 10,938 people a year.
How much do correctional officers and jailers earn?+
The median is $58,940 a year (BLS OEWS May 2025). The middle range runs from $42,760 at the 10th percentile to $93,220 at the 90th. This is pay for people already working in the occupation, not the same thing as graduate earnings one year after finishing a degree.
Is demand for correctional officers and jailers growing?+
BLS projects a -7.8% change in employment between 2024 and 2034, decline, with roughly 30,100 openings a year nationally once retirements and job changes are counted.
How many schools offer programs for this career?+
299 institutions reported graduates from at least one of the 4 programs that feed this occupation in IPEDS 2024-25. Rankings on this page use graduates per year, because the federal data publishes no enrollment count by program.
What other job titles do correctional officers and jailers work under?+
Employers advertise this work under many names. O*NET records Jailer, Detention Officer, Correctional Officer, Corrections Officer (CO) among the most commonly reported, all mapping to SOC 33-3012.
About the data on this page
Rankings use IPEDS completions 2024-25, degrees awarded per year. That is the closest federal measure of how many people a program puts into a career, because no federal dataset publishes enrollment by program. Wages and employment come from BLS OEWS May 2025, growth and openings from BLS Employment Projections 2024-34, and which majors lead to which jobs from the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk. Occupation descriptions, tasks, skills and tools are O*NET 30.3 (CC BY 4.0, U.S. Department of Labor/ETA).
BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics
May 2025Wages, employment counts, location quotients and metro breakdowns.
BLS Employment Projections
2024–34Projected growth, annual openings and typical entry-level education.
IPEDS Completions
2024-25 (provisional)Graduates per year by program and institution — the ranking metric.
College Scorecard, Field of Study
2020-21 cohortsMedian graduate earnings one year after completion, and median debt.
Census Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes
latest availableGraduate earnings 1/5/10 years out, where the state participates.
NCES CIP 2020 and the CIP-to-SOC 2018 crosswalk
CIP 2020 / SOC 2018Which college programs officially lead to this occupation.
O*NET Database 30.3
30.3Tasks, skills, knowledge, tools, job zone and alternate job titles.
Official source →CC BY 4.0, U.S. Department of Labor / ETA
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