Best institutions to study Corrections
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 incarceration facilities.
147 U.S. institutions graduated 3,804 Corrections students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 43.0102, a specialization of Criminal Justice and Corrections (CIP 43.01), and leads most directly to the Correctional Officers and Jailers occupation (BLS SOC 33-3012).
About Corrections programs
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 incarceration facilities.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Corrections program, part of the broader Criminal Justice and Corrections field, prepares individuals for careers in correctional science. It focuses on the theories and principles necessary for functioning as professional corrections officers and other roles within public and private incarceration facilities. This program is suitable for those interested in law enforcement and public safety careers.
Students in the Corrections program will develop essential skills such as active listening, critical thinking, and effective communication. Coursework emphasizes knowledge in public safety, law, and security, equipping graduates with the competencies needed to manage and monitor incarcerated individuals effectively.
Credentials awarded
What Corrections graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year3,124 graduates / yr · 94 institutions82%
- Associate's degree284 graduates / yr · 55 institutions7.5%
- Bachelor's degree187 graduates / yr · 12 institutions4.9%
- Award of less than 12 weeks126 graduates / yr · 8 institutions3.3%
- Award of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years79 graduates / yr · 15 institutions2.1%
- Postbaccalaureate certificate4 graduates / yr · 1 institution0.1%
Graduates over time
Corrections completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 4,299 |
| 2013 | 4,246 |
| 2014 | 4,244 |
| 2015 | 5,665 |
| 2016 | 4,991 |
| 2017 | 4,580 |
| 2018 | 4,128 |
| 2019 | 3,742 |
| 2020 | 3,957 |
| 2021 | 4,042 |
| 2022 | 3,026 |
| 2023 | 3,431 |
| 2024 | 4,939 |
| 2025 | 3,804 |
Top 50 institutions for Corrections, ranked by graduates
Graduates (IPEDS completions), 2024–25. Award levels show which credentials each institution confers in this specialization.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Field earnings* (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rio Salado College Tempe, AZPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate's | 922 | 9% | — | $51,384 |
| 2 | Community College of Baltimore County Baltimore, MDPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 275 | 19% | — | $70,610 |
| 3 | Moreno Valley College Moreno Valley, CAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate's | 163 | 34% | — | $81,339 |
| 4 | Camden County College Blackwood, NJPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 126 | 31% | — | $59,298 |
| 5 | East Los Angeles College Monterey Park, CAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 125 | 37% | — | — |
| 6 | Tallahassee State College Tallahassee, FLPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAward of less than 12 weeks | 125 | 38% | — | $43,235 |
| 7 | Chipola College Marianna, FLPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 108 | 53% | — | $38,366 |
| 8 | Southwestern Illinois College Belleville, ILPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 105 | 36% | — | — |
| 9 | University of New Mexico - Main Campus Albuquerque, NMPublicBachelor's | 93 | 55% | — | $38,370 |
| 10 | Florida Panhandle Technical College Chipley, FLPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 87 | 41% | — | $38,381 |
| 11 | Santa Rosa Junior College Santa Rosa, CAPublicAward of less than 12 weeksAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 75 | 37% | — | $111,649 |
| 12 | Withlacoochee Technical College Inverness, FLPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAward of less than 12 weeks | 67 | 61% | — | $37,788 |
| 13 | Florida State College at Jacksonville Jacksonville, FLPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 66 | 37% | — | $60,055 |
| 14 | George Stone Technical College Pensacola, FLPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 55 | 36% | — | $45,951 |
| 15 | St Petersburg College St. Petersburg, FLPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 54 | 38% | — | — |
| 16 | Fort Myers Technical College Fort Myers, FLPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 52 | 81% | — | $58,949 |
| 17 | Florida Gateway College Lake City, FLPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 47 | 54% | — | $44,048 |
| 18 | Southeast Missouri State University Cape Girardeau, MOPublicBachelor'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 45 | 58% | — | $36,537 |
| 19 | Valencia College Orlando, FLPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 44 | 48% | — | $33,246 |
| 20 | Langston University Langston, OKPublicAssociate'sBachelor's | 41 | 17% | — | — |
| 21 | Palm Beach State College Lake Worth, FLPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 38 | 41% | — | $69,415 |
| 22 | College of Central Florida Ocala, FLPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 36 | 44% | — | — |
| 23 | South Florida State College Avon Park, FLPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 34 | 48% | — | — |
| 24 | Sinclair Community College Dayton, OHPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 34 | 41% | — | $29,888 |
| 25 | Gulf Coast State College Panama City, FLPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 32 | 43% | — | $45,648 |
| 26 | Lamar State College - Orange Orange, TXPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 32 | 37% | — | — |
| 27 | Broward College Fort Lauderdale, FLPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 29 | 39% | — | $34,607 |
| 28 | Eastern Florida State College Melbourne, FLPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAward of less than 12 weeks | 26 | 52% | — | $51,461 |
| 29 | Estrella Mountain Community College Avondale, AZPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 26 | 32% | — | — |
| 30 | Baker College Owosso, MIPrivate not-for-profitAssociate'sBachelor's | 24 | 36% | $15,493 | $44,354 |
| 31 | Holmes Community College Goodman, MSPublicAssociate's | 24 | 39% | — | $24,853 |
| 32 | North Florida College Madison, FLPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 23 | 59% | — | — |
| 33 | Eastern Kentucky University Richmond, KYPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearBachelor's | 23 | 50% | — | $31,548 |
| 34 | Polk State College Winter Haven, FLPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 22 | 35% | — | $53,333 |
| 35 | Washington State College of Ohio Marietta, OHPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 22 | 32% | — | — |
| 36 | Lake Technical College Eustis, FLPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 21 | 47% | — | $45,472 |
| 37 | Pennsylvania Highlands Community College Johnstown, PAPublicAssociate'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 21 | 38% | — | $31,499 |
| 38 | Lemoore College Lemoore, CAPublicAssociate'sAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 21 | 49% | — | $30,325 |
| 39 | Glendale Community College Glendale, AZPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 18 | 16% | — | — |
| 40 | Arkansas Tech University Russellville, ARPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 18 | 49% | — | $36,076 |
| 41 | Northwest Florida State College Niceville, FLPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 18 | 39% | — | $48,087 |
| 42 | Indian River State College Fort Pierce, FLPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 17 | 45% | — | $43,351 |
| 43 | Santa Fe College Gainesville, FLPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAward of less than 12 weeks | 17 | 53% | — | — |
| 44 | Wytheville Community College Wytheville, VAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate's | 17 | 47% | — | $38,907 |
| 45 | Fresno City College Fresno, CAPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate's | 16 | 24% | — | $29,467 |
| 46 | Reedley College Reedley, CAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate's | 16 | 42% | — | — |
| 47 | Mesa Community College Mesa, AZPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 15 | 16% | — | — |
| 48 | Green River College Auburn, WAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 15 | 39% | — | — |
| 49 | Pasco - Hernando State College New Port Richey, FLPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 13 | 41% | — | — |
| 50 | Columbiana County Career and Technical Center Lisbon, OHPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 13 | 75% | — | — |
* Median earnings 1 year after graduation for the broader Criminal Justice and Corrections field (CIP 43.01) at these institutions; College Scorecard does not publish earnings at the 6-digit level.
Offered in 28 states
Where Corrections graduates come from. Each state links to all Criminal Justice and Corrections programs offered there.
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 33-3012, Correctional Officers and Jailers, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Corrections program can pursue careers as Correctional Officers and Jailers, with an annual median wage of $57,970. While the job outlook indicates a decline of 7.8%, there are still approximately 30,100 annual openings in the field, typically requiring a high school diploma or equivalent.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 43.0102
The occupations the NCES crosswalk maps this 6-digit code to, with BLS pay and 10-year outlook.
| Occupation | US median pay | Growth | Openings / yr | Typical entry education |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Correctional Officers and Jailersprimary SOC 33-3012 | $58,940 | -7.8% Decline | ~30,100 | High school diploma or equivalent |
First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives SOC 33-1012 | $106,040 | +2.9% About as fast as average | ~10,900 | High school diploma or equivalent |
First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers SOC 33-1011 | $77,970 | -2.8% Decline | ~4,300 | High school diploma or equivalent |
Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Teachers, Postsecondary SOC 25-1111 | $76,590 | +2.0% About as fast as average | ~1,200 | Doctoral or professional degree |
Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
- Education
- Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
- Experience
- 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.
- Training
- Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training.
Related careers
Skills & knowledge in Corrections programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this specialization most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
Abilities that matter most
Day-to-day work activities
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.
Tools and technology used
Other Criminal Justice and Corrections specializations
The 16 other 6-digit CIP codes under Criminal Justice and Corrections (CIP 43.01).
- Criminal Justice/CIP 43.0104
Safety Studies 40,687 graduates / yr824 institutions - Criminal Justice/CIP 43.0103
Law Enforcement Administration 26,068 graduates / yr650 institutions - Criminal Justice/CIP 43.0107
Police Science 19,975 graduates / yr540 institutions - Corrections and Criminal JusticeCIP 43.01994,734 graduates / yr94 institutions
- Criminal Justice and CorrectionsCIP 43.01002,344 graduates / yr75 institutions
- Securities Services Administration/CIP 43.0112
Management 678 graduates / yr28 institutions - Security and Loss Prevention ServicesCIP 43.0109497 graduates / yr24 institutions
- Law Enforcement Investigation and InterviewingCIP 43.0114310 graduates / yr14 institutions
- Corrections AdministrationCIP 43.0113partial data84 graduates / yr8 institutions
- Juvenile CorrectionsCIP 43.011056 graduates / yr15 institutions
- Protective Services OperationsCIP 43.0120partial data42 graduates / yr6 institutions
- Critical Incident Response/CIP 43.0119
Special Police Operations limited data29 graduates / yr2 institutions
Show 4 more CIP codes 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.
Common questions
What types of degrees are offered in the Corrections program?+
The program offers various awards, including those of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year, Associate's degrees, and Bachelor's degrees.
What skills will I learn in this program?+
You will learn skills such as active listening, critical thinking, and monitoring, which are essential for a career in corrections.
What is the job outlook for corrections professionals?+
The job outlook shows a decline of 7.8%, but there are still about 30,100 annual openings in the field.
What is the typical education required for careers in corrections?+
Most positions typically require a high school diploma or equivalent.
What is the CIP code for Corrections?+
Corrections is CIP 43.0102 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Criminal Justice and Corrections (CIP 43.01). NCES defines it as: 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 incarceration facilities.
How many institutions offer Corrections programs?+
147 U.S. institutions reported Corrections graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 28 states, awarding 3,804 credentials in the year. That is 3.8% of all Criminal Justice and Corrections graduates.
How much do Corrections graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Correctional Officers and Jailers occupation, which Corrections most directly leads to, pays a median of $58,940 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader Criminal Justice and Corrections field report median earnings of $40,052 one year after graduation (College Scorecard).
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.
Program definitions are from the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020). Skills, knowledge, abilities, work activities, tools, and job zones are from the O*NET database by the U.S. Department of Labor, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
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