Best colleges for Criminal Justice and Corrections
Ranked by graduate earnings
The top bachelor's colleges for Criminal Justice and Corrections by graduate earnings are Siena Heights University ($67,009), Saint Mary's University of Minnesota ($64,894) and National University ($64,143), based on median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, among programs with at least 20 graduates a year, excluding online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools and those with a graduation rate under 30%.
- Siena Heights University (Adrian, MI): $67,009, 26 graduates a year
- Saint Mary's University of Minnesota (Winona, MN): $64,894, 23 graduates a year
- National University (San Diego, CA): $64,143, 186 graduates a year
- Southwestern College (Winfield, KS): $60,820, 22 graduates a year
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 median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $37,713 (College Scorecard, 2019), 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 16 bachelor's programs, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, predominant credential. 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 | Siena Heights University Adrian, MI Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $67,009 | 26 | 39% | $17,015 | $22,250 |
| 2 | Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Winona, MN Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $64,894 | 23 | 66% | $18,163 | $28,708 |
| 3 | National University San Diego, CA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $64,143 | 186 | 43% | $31,817 | $28,014 |
| 4 | Southwestern College Winfield, KS Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $60,820 | 22 | 36% | $26,868 | — |
| 5 | Charter Oak State College New Britain, CT Public · Bachelor's degree Online | $68,956 | 44 | 67% | — | $23,000 |
| 6 | Herzing University - Birmingham Birmingham, AL Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $67,229 | 1 | 13% | $20,803 | $18,188 |
| 7 | Herzing University - Minneapolis St. Louis Park, MN Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $67,229 | 1 | 47% | $16,383 | $28,399 |
| 8 | Herzing University - Akron Akron, OH Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $67,229 | 3 | 19% | $22,849 | $28,399 |
| 9 | Herzing University - Madison Madison, WI Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Online Small program | $67,229 | 13 | 28% | $20,965 | $28,399 |
| 10 | Herzing University - New Orleans Metairie, LA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $67,229 | 6 | 15% | $22,092 | $28,399 |
| 11 | Herzing University - Kenosha Kenosha, WI Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $67,229 | 3 | 72% | $18,466 | $28,399 |
| 12 | Herzing University - Brookfield Brookfield, WI Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $67,229 | 1 | 42% | $21,076 | $28,399 |
| 13 | Excelsior University Albany, NY Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Online | $62,703 | 52 | — | — | $14,875 |
| 14 | Reinhardt University Waleska, GA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $62,019 | 13 | 44% | $28,040 | $27,475 |
| 15 | Colorado State University Global Denver, CO Public · Bachelor's degree Online | $61,786 | 94 | — | — | $38,276 |
| 16 | Columbia Southern University Orange Beach, AL Private for-profit · Bachelor's degree Online | $60,461 | 582 | 33% | $15,554 | $30,204 |
Top 25 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 | Santa Rosa Junior College Santa Rosa, CA Public · Certificate | $111,649 | 560 | 37% | — | $14,125 |
| 2 | Moreno Valley College Moreno Valley, CA Public · Certificate | $81,339 | 441 | 34% | — | — |
| 3 | Gateway Technical College Kenosha, WI Public · Certificate | $73,818 | 164 | 51% | — | $18,750 |
| 4 | Butte College Oroville, CA Public · Certificate | $73,170 | 249 | 45% | — | $15,414 |
| 5 | Red Rocks Community College Lakewood, CO Public · Certificate | $72,583 | 109 | 32% | — | $17,667 |
| 6 | Laredo College Laredo, TX Public · Certificate | $72,049 | 43 | 30% | — | — |
| 7 | Lamar Institute of Technology Beaumont, TX Public · Certificate | $71,733 | 86 | 31% | — | $15,318 |
| 8 | Columbus State University Columbus, GA Public · Certificate | $71,153 | 129 | 42% | — | $12,833 |
| 9 | Front Range Community College Westminster, CO Public · Certificate | $69,776 | 60 | 35% | — | $24,774 |
| 10 | Palm Beach State College Lake Worth, FL Public · Certificate | $69,415 | 139 | 41% | — | $16,000 |
| 11 | Blackhawk Technical College Janesville, WI Public · Certificate | $68,669 | 59 | 34% | — | $19,381 |
| 12 | Washtenaw Community College Ann Arbor, MI Public · Certificate | $67,732 | 58 | 33% | — | $28,059 |
| 13 | Owens Community College Perrysburg, OH Public · Certificate | $63,966 | 72 | 35% | — | $13,549 |
| 14 | Yuba College Marysville, CA Public · Certificate | $62,350 | 57 | 40% | — | — |
| 15 | Hillsborough College Tampa, FL Public · Certificate | $62,249 | 252 | 34% | — | $18,924 |
| 16 | Jefferson College Hillsboro, MO Public · Certificate | $61,641 | 41 | 38% | — | — |
| 17 | Galveston College Galveston, TX Public · Certificate | $61,086 | 39 | 33% | — | — |
| 18 | Chippewa Valley Technical College Eau Claire, WI Public · Certificate | $60,737 | 82 | 50% | — | $15,335 |
| 19 | Florida State College at Jacksonville Jacksonville, FL Public · Certificate | $60,055 | 171 | 37% | — | $15,796 |
| 20 | Northcentral Technical College Wausau, WI Public · Certificate | $59,645 | 49 | 45% | — | $18,750 |
| 21 | Yavapai College Prescott, AZ Public · Certificate | $59,511 | 60 | 34% | — | $17,625 |
| 22 | Camden County College Blackwood, NJ Public · Certificate | $59,298 | 230 | 31% | — | $15,644 |
| 23 | Western Technical College La Crosse, WI Public · Certificate | $59,276 | 60 | 34% | — | $15,494 |
| 24 | Fort Myers Technical College Fort Myers, FL Public · Certificate | $58,949 | 198 | 81% | — | — |
| 25 | Manatee Technical College Bradenton, FL Public · Certificate | $58,216 | 34 | 64% | — | — |
Specializations within Criminal Justice and Corrections
13 of the 17 6-digit CIP codes under CIP 43.01 have U.S. graduates (NCES CIP 2020, IPEDS 2024–25). Each links to its own page, ranked by graduates.
- Criminal Justice/CIP 43.0104
Safety Studies 40,687 graduates / yr824 institutions53 states - Criminal Justice/CIP 43.0103
Law Enforcement Administration 26,068 graduates / yr650 institutions54 states - Criminal Justice/CIP 43.0107
Police Science 19,975 graduates / yr540 institutions50 states - Corrections and Criminal JusticeCIP 43.01994,734 graduates / yr94 institutions35 states
- CorrectionsCIP 43.01023,804 graduates / yr147 institutions28 states
- Criminal Justice and CorrectionsCIP 43.0100New in CIP 20202,344 graduates / yr75 institutions28 states
- Securities Services Administration/CIP 43.0112
Management 678 graduates / yr28 institutions17 states - Security and Loss Prevention ServicesCIP 43.0109497 graduates / yr24 institutions11 states
- Law Enforcement Investigation and InterviewingCIP 43.0114310 graduates / yr14 institutions9 states
- Corrections AdministrationCIP 43.0113partial data84 graduates / yr8 institutions8 states
- Juvenile CorrectionsCIP 43.011056 graduates / yr15 institutions11 states
- Protective Services OperationsCIP 43.0120partial data42 graduates / yr6 institutions4 states
- Critical Incident Response/CIP 43.0119
Special Police Operations limited data29 graduates / yr2 institutions2 states
Show all 17 codes (4 with no U.S. programs reported)+
- Law Enforcement Record-Keeping and Evidence Management43.0115
- Suspension and Debarment Investigation43.0121
- Maritime Law Enforcement43.0122
- Cultural/
Archaelogical Resources Protection43.0123
No institution reported completions for these codes in the latest IPEDS year, so they have no page.
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.
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 one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $37,713, College Scorecard (2019); 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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