Best colleges for Criminal Justice and Corrections in Pennsylvania
Ranked by graduate earnings
DeSales University, York College of Pennsylvania and Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania are the top bachelor's Criminal Justice and Corrections programs in Pennsylvania by graduate earnings. DeSales University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $45,505, College Scorecard. Pennsylvania State University, West Chester University of Pennsylvania and Temple University award the most Criminal Justice and Corrections degrees in Pennsylvania: 250, 156 and 152 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 89 Pennsylvania colleges offer Criminal Justice and Corrections and award 2,704 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 | DeSales University Center Valley Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $45,505 | 37 | 72% | $26,990 | $27,000 |
| 2 | York College of Pennsylvania York Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $42,175 | 33 | 64% | $18,682 | $26,000 |
| 3 | Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania Shippensburg Public · Bachelor's degree | $41,143 | 89 | 56% | — | $26,000 |
| 4 | Delaware Valley University Doylestown Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $39,673 | 26 | 56% | $25,402 | $25,455 |
| 5 | Temple University Philadelphia Public · Bachelor's degree | $38,612 | 152 | 75% | — | $26,000 |
| 6 | Mercyhurst University Erie Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $38,557 | 70 | 60% | $25,987 | $26,000 |
| 7 | Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania Bloomsburg Public · Bachelor's degree | $37,839 | 142 | 54% | — | $27,000 |
| 8 | Waynesburg University Waynesburg Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $37,582 | 41 | 66% | $24,453 | $27,000 |
| 9 | Pennsylvania Western University California Public · Bachelor's degree | $37,542 | 139 | 52% | — | $26,966 |
| 10 | Kutztown University of Pennsylvania Kutztown Public · Bachelor's degree | $37,311 | 62 | 54% | — | $26,000 |
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 | Lackawanna College Scranton Private not-for-profit · Certificate | $49,642 | 122 | 37% | $25,320 | $12,115 |
| 2 | Pennsylvania Highlands Community College Johnstown Public · Associate degree | $31,499 | 29 | 38% | — | $11,315 |
| 3 | Bucks County Community College Newtown Public · Associate degree | $28,719 | 34 | 32% | — | $10,169 |
| 4 | Delaware County Community College Media Public · Certificate | $57,464 | 59 | 24% | — | $16,625 |
| 5 | Montgomery County Community College Blue Bell Public · Associate degree | $47,990 | 23 | 28% | — | $13,335 |
| 6 | Harrisburg Area Community College Harrisburg Public · Associate degree | $37,916 | 37 | 21% | — | $15,750 |
| 7 | Community College of Philadelphia Philadelphia Public · Associate degree | $34,224 | 41 | 24% | — | $14,250 |
| 8 | Lehigh Carbon Community College Schnecksville Public · Associate degree Small program | $33,360 | 19 | 30% | — | $11,000 |
| 9 | Community College of Allegheny County Pittsburgh Public · Associate degree | $32,921 | 21 | 24% | — | $12,004 |
| 10 | Luzerne County Community College Nanticoke Public · Associate degree | $32,847 | 27 | 23% | — | $12,000 |
Colleges awarding the most Criminal Justice and Corrections degrees in Pennsylvania
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 | Pennsylvania State University University Park Public | 250 | $37,240 |
| 2 | West Chester University of Pennsylvania West Chester Public | 156 | Not reported |
| 3 | Temple University Philadelphia Public | 152 | $38,612 |
| 4 | Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania Bloomsburg Public | 142 | $37,839 |
| 5 | Pennsylvania Western University California Public | 139 | $37,542 |
| 6 | University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus Pittsburgh Public | 108 | $36,959 |
| 7 | Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania Shippensburg Public | 89 | $41,143 |
| 8 | Mercyhurst University Erie Private not-for-profit | 70 | $38,557 |
| 9 | Kutztown University of Pennsylvania Kutztown Public | 62 | $37,311 |
| 10 | Waynesburg University Waynesburg Private not-for-profit | 41 | $37,582 |
ShowHide the other 79 Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Criminal Justice and Corrections programs in Pennsylvania.
Which Pennsylvania colleges award the most Criminal Justice and Corrections degrees?+
Pennsylvania State University (250 graduates a year), West Chester University of Pennsylvania (156 graduates a year) and Temple University (152 graduates a year) award the most Criminal Justice and Corrections degrees in Pennsylvania, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 89 Pennsylvania colleges offer Criminal Justice and Corrections.
What is the best college for Criminal Justice and Corrections in Pennsylvania?+
By graduate earnings, DeSales University leads among bachelor's Criminal Justice and Corrections programs in Pennsylvania, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $45,505, College Scorecard. York College of Pennsylvania and Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania follow. By degrees awarded, Pennsylvania State University is the largest, with 250 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Criminal Justice and Corrections program in Pennsylvania has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, DeSales University tops the list at $45,505. 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 Pennsylvania?+
The average annual wage for Correctional Officers and Jailers in Pennsylvania is $64,650 (median $63,460), across about 15,560 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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