Best institutions to study Criminal Justice and Corrections
Compare 1,766 U.S. colleges offering Criminal Justice and Corrections by graduate earnings, cost, and outcomes. Federal data across 57 states.
Criminal Justice and Corrections programs report a median of $37,713 one year after graduation (College Scorecard, 2024), and map to CIP 43.01 and the Correctional Officers and Jailers occupation (BLS SOC).
About Criminal Justice and Corrections programs
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 interested in careers within law enforcement, corrections, and related protective services, offering a comprehensive understanding of the criminal justice system.
Students will gain essential skills in active listening, critical thinking, and monitoring, alongside knowledge in public safety, law, and administration. Coursework may cover topics such as corrections, law enforcement administration, and forensic science, preparing graduates for various roles within the field.
Top 50 institutions, ranked by graduate earnings
Earnings = median 1 year after graduation (College Scorecard, predominant credential).
| # | Institution | Grad earnings (1 yr) | Completions | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Santa Rosa Junior College Santa Rosa, CA Public · Certificate degree | $111,649 | 560 | 37% | — | $14,125 |
| 2 | San Bernardino Valley College San Bernardino, CA Public · Certificate degree | $94,285 | 337 | 28% | — | $19,500 |
| 3 | Monroe Community College Rochester, NY Public · Certificate degree | $85,061 | 48 | 27% | — | $11,000 |
| 4 | Moreno Valley College Moreno Valley, CA Public · Certificate degree | $81,339 | 441 | 34% | — | — |
| 5 | Gateway Technical College Kenosha, WI Public · Certificate degree | $73,818 | 164 | 51% | — | $18,750 |
| 6 | Butte College Oroville, CA Public · Certificate degree | $73,170 | 249 | 45% | — | $15,414 |
| 7 | Red Rocks Community College Lakewood, CO Public · Certificate degree | $72,583 | 109 | 32% | — | $17,667 |
| 8 | Laredo College Laredo, TX Public · Certificate degree | $72,049 | 43 | 30% | — | — |
| 9 | Lamar Institute of Technology Beaumont, TX Public · Certificate degree | $71,733 | 86 | 31% | — | $15,318 |
| 10 | Columbus State University Columbus, GA Public · Certificate degree | $71,153 | 129 | 42% | — | $12,833 |
| 11 | Community College of Baltimore County Baltimore, MD Public · Certificate degree | $70,610 | 431 | 19% | — | $18,097 |
| 12 | Front Range Community College Westminster, CO Public · Certificate degree | $69,776 | 60 | 35% | — | $24,774 |
| 13 | Palm Beach State College Lake Worth, FL Public · Certificate degree | $69,415 | 139 | 41% | — | $16,000 |
| 14 | Charter Oak State College New Britain, CT Public · Bachelor's degree | $68,956 | 44 | 67% | — | $23,000 |
| 15 | Blackhawk Technical College Janesville, WI Public · Certificate degree | $68,669 | 59 | 34% | — | $19,381 |
| 16 | Colorado Mountain College Glenwood Springs, CO Public · Certificate degree | $68,129 | 34 | 27% | — | $19,500 |
| 17 | Alvin Community College Alvin, TX Public · Certificate degree | $67,797 | 46 | 24% | — | — |
| 18 | Washtenaw Community College Ann Arbor, MI Public · Certificate degree | $67,732 | 58 | 33% | — | $28,059 |
| 19 | Herzing University - Birmingham Birmingham, AL Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $67,229 | 1 | 13% | $20,803 | $18,188 |
| 20 | Herzing University - Minneapolis St. Louis Park, MN Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $67,229 | 1 | 47% | $16,383 | $28,399 |
| 21 | Herzing University - Akron Akron, OH Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $67,229 | 3 | 19% | $22,849 | $28,399 |
| 22 | Herzing University - Madison Madison, WI Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $67,229 | 13 | 28% | $20,965 | $28,399 |
| 23 | Herzing University - New Orleans Metairie, LA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $67,229 | 6 | 15% | $22,092 | $28,399 |
| 24 | Herzing University - Kenosha Kenosha, WI Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $67,229 | 3 | 72% | $18,466 | $28,399 |
| 25 | Herzing University - Brookfield Brookfield, WI Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $67,229 | 1 | 42% | $21,076 | $28,399 |
| 26 | Rasmussen University - Minnesota St. Cloud, MN Private for-profit · Certificate degree | $67,135 | 94 | 53% | $19,944 | $24,408 |
| 27 | Siena Heights University Adrian, MI Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $67,009 | 26 | 39% | $17,015 | $22,250 |
| 28 | Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Winona, MN Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $64,894 | 23 | 66% | $18,163 | $28,708 |
| 29 | National University San Diego, CA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $64,143 | 186 | 43% | $31,817 | $28,014 |
| 30 | Owens Community College Perrysburg, OH Public · Certificate degree | $63,966 | 72 | 35% | — | $13,549 |
| 31 | Excelsior University Albany, NY Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $62,703 | 52 | — | — | $14,875 |
| 32 | Yuba College Marysville, CA Public · Certificate degree | $62,350 | 57 | 40% | — | — |
| 33 | Hillsborough College Tampa, FL Public · Certificate degree | $62,249 | 252 | 34% | — | $18,924 |
| 34 | Reinhardt University Waleska, GA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $62,019 | 13 | 44% | $28,040 | $27,475 |
| 35 | Colorado State University Global Denver, CO Public · Bachelor's degree | $61,786 | 94 | — | — | $38,276 |
| 36 | Jefferson College Hillsboro, MO Public · Certificate degree | $61,641 | 41 | 38% | — | — |
| 37 | Galveston College Galveston, TX Public · Certificate degree | $61,086 | 39 | 33% | — | — |
| 38 | Great Oaks Career Campuses Cincinnati, OH Public · Certificate degree | $60,896 | 17 | 90% | — | $16,673 |
| 39 | Southwestern College Winfield, KS Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $60,820 | 22 | 36% | $26,868 | — |
| 40 | Chippewa Valley Technical College Eau Claire, WI Public · Certificate degree | $60,737 | 82 | 50% | — | $15,335 |
| 41 | Columbia Southern University Orange Beach, AL Private for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $60,461 | 582 | 33% | $15,554 | $30,204 |
| 42 | Florida State College at Jacksonville Jacksonville, FL Public · Certificate degree | $60,055 | 171 | 37% | — | $15,796 |
| 43 | Northcentral Technical College Wausau, WI Public · Certificate degree | $59,645 | 49 | 45% | — | $18,750 |
| 44 | Yavapai College Prescott, AZ Public · Certificate degree | $59,511 | 60 | 34% | — | $17,625 |
| 45 | Camden County College Blackwood, NJ Public · Certificate degree | $59,298 | 230 | 31% | — | $15,644 |
| 46 | Grand Rapids Community College Grand Rapids, MI Public · Certificate degree | $59,278 | 34 | 21% | — | $11,600 |
| 47 | Western Technical College La Crosse, WI Public · Certificate degree | $59,276 | 60 | 34% | — | $15,494 |
| 48 | Fort Myers Technical College Fort Myers, FL Public · Certificate degree | $58,949 | 198 | 81% | — | — |
| 49 | Manatee Technical College Bradenton, FL Public · Certificate degree | $58,216 | 34 | 64% | — | — |
| 50 | Aims Community College Greeley, CO Public · Certificate degree | $57,841 | 51 | 40% | — | $9,062 |
Offered across 57 states & territories
The same program, compared state by state. Pick a state for in-state earnings and institutions.
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 33-3012, Correctional Officers and Jailers, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Criminal Justice and Corrections program can pursue careers in various sectors, including corrections and law enforcement. The job outlook indicates a decline of 7.8%, with approximately 30,100 annual openings. The median wage for positions in this field is $57,970, typically requiring at least a high school diploma or equivalent.
Top-paying metros
Related careers
CIP-to-SOC crosswalk for Criminal Justice and Corrections
The SOC occupations NCES officially maps to CIP 43.01.
Under the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk, CIP 43.01 (Criminal Justice and Corrections) maps to 20 Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) occupations, the jobs the U.S. Department of Labor links to this field of study.
| SOC code | Occupation |
|---|---|
| 11-9161 | Emergency Management Directors |
| 11-9199 | Managers, All Other |
| 13-1041 | Compliance Officers |
| 13-2061 | Financial Examiners |
| 19-4092 | Forensic Science Technicians |
| 19-4099 | Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other |
| 21-1021 | Child, Family, and School Social Workers |
| 25-1111 | Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Teachers, Postsecondary |
| 33-1011 | First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers |
| 33-1012 | First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives |
| 33-1091 | First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers |
| 33-1099 | First-Line Supervisors of Protective Service Workers, All Other |
| 33-3011 | Bailiffs |
| 33-3012 | Correctional Officers and Jailersprimary |
| 33-3021 | Detectives and Criminal Investigators |
| 33-3051 | Police and Sheriff’s Patrol Officers |
| 33-3052 | Transit and Railroad Police |
| 33-9021 | Private Detectives and Investigators |
| 33-9031 | Gambling Surveillance Officers and Gambling Investigators |
| 33-9032 | Security Guards |
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 Crosswalk.
Skills & knowledge in Criminal Justice and Corrections programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this program most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
What graduates do on the job
- 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.
Concentrations within Criminal Justice and Corrections
Specializations under this field (NCES CIP 2020).
- Criminal Justice and Corrections, GeneralCIP 43.0100
A program of study that focuses on the general study of criminal justice and corrections
- CorrectionsCIP 43.0102
A program that prepares individuals to study the theories and principles, of correctional science and to function as professional corrections officers and other workers in public and/or private incarc
- Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement AdministrationCIP 43.0103
A program that prepares individuals to apply theories and practices of organization management and criminal justice to the administration of public law enforcement agencies and operations
- Criminal Justice/Safety StudiesCIP 43.0104
A program that focuses on the criminal justice system, its organizational components and processes, and its legal and public policy contexts
- Forensic Science and TechnologyCIP 43.0106
Moved from 43.0106 to 43.0406
- Criminal Justice/Police ScienceCIP 43.0107
A program that prepares individuals to perform the duties of police and public security officers, including patrol and investigative activities, traffic control, crowd control and public relations, wi
- Security and Loss Prevention ServicesCIP 43.0109
A program that prepares individuals to perform routine inspection, patrol and crime prevention services for private clients
- Juvenile CorrectionsCIP 43.0110
A program that prepares individuals to specialize in the provision of correction services to underage minor populations
- Criminalistics and Criminal ScienceCIP 43.0111
Moved from 43.0111 to 43.0402
- Securities Services Administration/ManagementCIP 43.0112
A program that prepares individuals to plan, manage, and supervise services providing private security protection for people and property and related investigative and consulting functions
- Corrections AdministrationCIP 43.0113
A program that prepares individuals to plan and manage institutional facilities and programs for housing and rehabilitating prisoners in the public and/or private sectors
- Law Enforcement Investigation and InterviewingCIP 43.0114
A program focusing on the principles, procedures, techniques, legal concerns, and problems associated with a criminal investigation
Common questions
What careers can I pursue with this degree?+
You can work in corrections, law enforcement, and related protective services.
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop skills in active listening, critical thinking, and monitoring.
What is the job outlook for this field?+
The job outlook shows a decline of 7.8%, with about 30,100 annual openings.
What is the typical education required?+
Most positions require at least a high school diploma or equivalent.
How much do Criminal Justice and Corrections graduates earn?+
Criminal Justice and Corrections graduates report median earnings of $37,713 one year after graduation, per College Scorecard (2024); the Correctional Officers and Jailers occupation pays about $63,630 on average nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025).
What is the CIP code for Criminal Justice and Corrections?+
Criminal Justice and Corrections maps to CIP 43.01 in the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP), the U.S. Department of Education taxonomy used for College Scorecard Field of Study earnings and IPEDS completions.
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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