Best institutions to study Corrections Administration
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.
8 U.S. institutions graduated 84 Corrections Administration students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 43.0113, a specialization of Criminal Justice and Corrections (CIP 43.01), and leads most directly to the First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers occupation (BLS SOC 33-1011).
About Corrections Administration programs
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. Includes instruction in the principles and practice of correction, facilities planning and management, safety and security, social and health services, staff and inmate management, budgeting, communication skills, correctional psychology, and applications to specific types of correctional facilities approaches.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Corrections Administration program, a part of Criminal Justice and Corrections, prepares individuals to effectively manage and oversee institutional facilities and programs dedicated to housing and rehabilitating prisoners. This program is ideal for those interested in pursuing careers in the public and private sectors of corrections management.
Students in this program will gain essential skills in critical thinking, communication, and active listening. Coursework covers topics such as facilities planning and management, safety and security, correctional psychology, and the principles of correctional practices.
Credentials awarded
What Corrections Administration graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Bachelor's degree54 graduates / yr · 2 institutions64%
- Award of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years16 graduates / yr · 2 institutions19%
- Master's degree9 graduates / yr · 2 institutions11%
- Associate's degree4 graduates / yr · 2 institutions4.8%
- Postbaccalaureate certificate1 graduates / yr · 1 institution1.2%
Graduates over time
Corrections Administration completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 99 |
| 2013 | 135 |
| 2014 | 132 |
| 2015 | 171 |
| 2016 | 119 |
| 2017 | 106 |
| 2018 | 134 |
| 2019 | 156 |
| 2020 | 147 |
| 2021 | 164 |
| 2022 | 141 |
| 2023 | 102 |
| 2024 | 95 |
| 2025 | 84 |
Top 8 institutions for Corrections Administration, 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 | Western Oregon University Monmouth, ORPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 58 | 47% | — | $40,289 |
| 2 | University of Cincinnati - Main Campus Cincinnati, OHPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 10 | 75% | — | $40,557 |
| 3 | Missouri Southern State University Joplin, MOPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 6 | 42% | — | $34,058 |
| 4 | Adrian College Adrian, MIPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 4 | 48% | $20,357 | $34,112 |
| 5 | University of the District of Columbia Washington, DCPublicAssociate's | 2 | 33% | — | — |
| 6 | Middlesex College Edison, NJPublicAssociate's | 2 | 33% | — | $32,712 |
| 7 | Saint Leo University Saint Leo, FLPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 1 | 45% | $18,986 | $47,853 |
| 8 | Arizona State University Digital Immersion Scottsdale, AZPublicPost-degree cert. | 1 | 0% | — | $42,187 |
* 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 8 states
Where Corrections Administration graduates come from. Each state links to all Criminal Justice and Corrections programs offered there.
| State | Institutions | Graduates / yr | Top institution by graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oregon | 1 | 58 | Western Oregon University58 / yr |
| Ohio | 1 | 10 | University of Cincinnati - Main Campus10 / yr |
| Missouri | 1 | 6 | Missouri Southern State University6 / yr |
| Michigan | 1 | 4 | Adrian College4 / yr |
| District of Columbia | 1 | 2 | University of the District of Columbia2 / yr |
| New Jersey | 1 | 2 | Middlesex College2 / yr |
| Florida | 1 | 1 | Saint Leo University1 / yr |
| Arizona | 1 | 1 | Arizona State University Digital Immersion1 / yr |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 33-1011, First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Corrections Administration program can pursue careers as First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers or Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Teachers. Although the job outlook shows a decline of 2.8%, there are approximately 4,300 annual openings with a median wage of $76,310, typically requiring a high school diploma or equivalent.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 43.0113
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officersprimary 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 Three: Medium Preparation Needed
- Education
- Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
- Experience
- Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.
- Training
- Employees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.
Related careers
Skills & knowledge in Corrections Administration 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
- Take, receive, or check periodic inmate counts.
- Maintain order, discipline, and security within assigned areas in accordance with relevant rules, regulations, policies, and laws.
- Maintain knowledge of, comply with, and enforce all institutional policies, rules, procedures, and regulations.
- Respond to emergencies, such as escapes.
- Supervise and direct the work of correctional officers to ensure the safe custody, discipline, and welfare of inmates.
- Supervise or perform searches of inmates or their quarters to locate contraband items.
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
- CorrectionsCIP 43.01023,804 graduates / yr147 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
- 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 degrees can I earn in this program?+
You can earn a Bachelor's degree, an Award of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years, a Master's degree, or an Associate's degree.
What skills will I develop?+
You will develop skills in critical thinking, active listening, monitoring, and effective communication.
What jobs can I get after graduation?+
You can work as a First-Line Supervisor of Correctional Officers or as a Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Teacher.
What is the job outlook for this field?+
The job outlook shows a decline of 2.8%, but there are still about 4,300 annual openings.
What is the CIP code for Corrections Administration?+
Corrections Administration is CIP 43.0113 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 plan and manage institutional facilities and programs for housing and rehabilitating prisoners in the public and/or private sectors. Includes instruction in the principles and practice of correction, facilities planning and management, safety and security, social and health services, staff and inmate management, budgeting, communication skills, correctional psychology, and applications to specific types of correctional facilities approaches.
How many institutions offer Corrections Administration programs?+
8 U.S. institutions reported Corrections Administration graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 8 states, awarding 84 credentials in the year. That is 0.1% of all Criminal Justice and Corrections graduates.
How much do Corrections Administration graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers occupation, which Corrections Administration most directly leads to, pays a median of $77,970 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader Criminal Justice and Corrections field report median earnings of $40,289 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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