Best institutions to study Corrections and Criminal Justice
Any instructional program in corrections and criminal justice not listed above.
94 U.S. institutions graduated 4,734 Corrections and Criminal Justice students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 43.0199, 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 and Criminal Justice programs
Any instructional program in corrections and criminal justice not listed above.
See also: 03.0208 - Environmental/Natural Resources Law Enforcement and Protective Services.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Corrections and Criminal Justice program provides students with a comprehensive understanding of the criminal justice system, focusing on the corrections aspect. This program is designed for individuals interested in pursuing careers in law enforcement, corrections, and related protective services, offering a pathway to various roles within the field.
Students in this program will develop essential skills such as active listening, critical thinking, and effective communication. They will gain knowledge in public safety, law, and government, along with practical coursework that prepares them for real-world challenges in corrections and criminal justice.
Credentials awarded
What Corrections and Criminal Justice graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Bachelor's degree1,902 graduates / yr · 40 institutions40%
- Associate's degree1,607 graduates / yr · 20 institutions34%
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year569 graduates / yr · 19 institutions12%
- Master's degree397 graduates / yr · 20 institutions8.4%
- Award of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years177 graduates / yr · 7 institutions3.7%
- Award of less than 12 weeks72 graduates / yr · 4 institutions1.5%
- Postbaccalaureate certificate10 graduates / yr · 2 institutions0.2%
Graduates over time
Corrections and Criminal Justice completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 7,221 |
| 2013 | 6,147 |
| 2014 | 5,705 |
| 2015 | 5,194 |
| 2016 | 3,847 |
| 2017 | 3,472 |
| 2018 | 3,235 |
| 2019 | 3,289 |
| 2020 | 3,342 |
| 2021 | 3,672 |
| 2022 | 3,966 |
| 2023 | 4,087 |
| 2024 | 4,297 |
| 2025 | 4,734 |
Top 50 institutions for Corrections and Criminal Justice, 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 | Southern New Hampshire University Manchester, NHPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sAssociate'sMaster'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 2,115 | 43% | $34,565 | $45,836 |
| 2 | University of Phoenix - Arizona Phoenix, AZPrivate for-profitAssociate's | 722 | 21% | $15,478 | $47,987 |
| 3 | Arizona Western College Yuma, AZPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate's | 177 | 20% | — | — |
| 4 | New Jersey City University Jersey City, NJPublicBachelor's | 80 | 34% | — | $34,027 |
| 5 | University of Alabama at Birmingham Birmingham, ALPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 79 | 64% | — | $34,459 |
| 6 | East Los Angeles College Monterey Park, CAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 77 | 37% | — | — |
| 7 | CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice New York, NYPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 72 | 56% | — | $37,284 |
| 8 | Sam Houston State University Huntsville, TXPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 67 | 55% | — | $37,792 |
| 9 | Moreno Valley College Moreno Valley, CAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 67 | 34% | — | $81,339 |
| 10 | Oakland University Rochester Hills, MIPublicBachelor's | 62 | 58% | — | $35,705 |
| 11 | Cameron University Lawton, OKPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate'sBachelor's | 56 | 31% | — | $37,494 |
| 12 | University of Oklahoma - Norman Campus Norman, OKPublicMaster's | 56 | 75% | — | $53,003 |
| 13 | Suffolk University Boston, MAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sMaster'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 55 | 61% | $28,895 | — |
| 14 | Northeastern University Boston, MAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 52 | 91% | $18,925 | $51,363 |
| 15 | Kiamichi Technology Center - McAlester McAlester, OKPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 52 | 45% | — | — |
| 16 | Community College of Philadelphia Philadelphia, PAPublicAssociate's | 41 | 24% | — | $34,224 |
| 17 | Utica University Utica, NYPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 35 | 56% | $20,237 | $45,521 |
| 18 | Arizona State University Campus Immersion Tempe, AZPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 34 | 68% | — | $42,187 |
| 19 | Kansas Wesleyan University Salina, KSPrivate not-for-profitAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 34 | 49% | $23,014 | $37,301 |
| 20 | Northeast Technology Center Pryor, OKPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 34 | 97% | — | — |
| 21 | Sussex County Community College Newton, NJPublicAssociate's | 33 | 37% | — | $32,079 |
| 22 | Hillsborough College Tampa, FLPublicAward of less than 12 weeks | 30 | 34% | — | $62,249 |
| 23 | Rio Salado College Tempe, AZPublicAward of less than 12 weeks | 29 | 9% | — | $51,384 |
| 24 | Francis Tuttle Technology Center Oklahoma City, OKPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 26 | 52% | — | — |
| 25 | Purdue University Global West Lafayette, INPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 26 | 50% | — | $45,984 |
| 26 | Fisher College Boston, MAPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sBachelor's | 25 | 28% | $26,273 | $45,695 |
| 27 | Itawamba Community College Fulton, MSPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate's | 24 | 50% | — | $32,996 |
| 28 | Chadron State College Chadron, NEPublicBachelor's | 23 | 50% | — | $32,454 |
| 29 | Bethune - Cookman University Daytona Beach, FLPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sMaster's | 22 | 31% | $16,818 | — |
| 30 | Boston University Boston, MAPrivate not-for-profitAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsPost-degree cert. | 22 | 89% | $21,956 | — |
| 31 | University of Cincinnati - Main Campus Cincinnati, OHPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 22 | 75% | — | $40,557 |
| 32 | Community College of Allegheny County Pittsburgh, PAPublicAssociate's | 21 | 24% | — | $32,921 |
| 33 | Luzerne County Community College Nanticoke, PAPublicAssociate's | 21 | 23% | — | $32,847 |
| 34 | Savannah State University Savannah, GAPublicBachelor's | 20 | 28% | — | $30,195 |
| 35 | University of Alaska Fairbanks Fairbanks, AKPublicBachelor's | 19 | 38% | — | $34,617 |
| 36 | Anderson University Anderson, SCPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 19 | 66% | $24,812 | $45,583 |
| 37 | Wilmington University New Castle, DEPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 18 | 20% | $16,588 | $43,726 |
| 38 | Keene State College Keene, NHPublicBachelor's | 18 | 60% | — | $42,053 |
| 39 | Cumberland University Lebanon, TNPrivate not-for-profitAssociate's | 16 | 46% | $19,206 | $45,223 |
| 40 | Stillman College Tuscaloosa, ALPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 15 | 25% | $13,151 | — |
| 41 | University of Maine at Presque Isle Presque Isle, MEPublicBachelor'sAssociate's | 15 | 52% | — | — |
| 42 | Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College Perkinston, MSPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate's | 15 | 48% | — | $28,817 |
| 43 | University of Michigan - Flint Flint, MIPublicBachelor's | 14 | 40% | — | $35,912 |
| 44 | Wisconsin Lutheran College Milwaukee, WIPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 14 | 64% | $19,138 | — |
| 45 | Muskingum University New Concord, OHPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 13 | 56% | $19,372 | $35,595 |
| 46 | University of Alaska Anchorage Anchorage, AKPublicBachelor's | 12 | 30% | — | $39,003 |
| 47 | Buckeye Hills Career Center Rio Grande, OHPublicAward of less than 12 weeks | 12 | 90% | — | $39,455 |
| 48 | Rio Hondo College Whittier, CAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 10 | 25% | — | — |
| 49 | Truett McConnell University Cleveland, GAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 10 | 38% | $22,172 | — |
| 50 | Bethany College Lindsborg, KSPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 10 | 36% | $28,916 | — |
* 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 35 states & territories
Where Corrections and Criminal Justice 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 and Criminal Justice program can pursue careers as correctional officers and jailers, with an annual opening of approximately 30,100 positions. The median wage for these roles is around $57,970, and a high school diploma or equivalent is typically required for entry into the field. However, job growth is projected to decline by 7.8%.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 43.0199
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 |
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 and Criminal Justice 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 - 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
- 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 degrees can I earn in this program?+
You can earn a Bachelor's degree, Associate's degree, or an Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year.
What skills will I develop?+
You will develop skills in active listening, critical thinking, and effective communication.
What careers can I pursue after graduation?+
You can work as a correctional officer or jailer, among other roles in the criminal justice field.
What is the job outlook for this field?+
The job outlook shows a decline of 7.8%, with approximately 30,100 annual openings.
What is the CIP code for Corrections and Criminal Justice?+
Corrections and Criminal Justice is CIP 43.0199 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: Any instructional program in corrections and criminal justice not listed above.
How many institutions offer Corrections and Criminal Justice programs?+
94 U.S. institutions reported Corrections and Criminal Justice graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 35 states & territories, awarding 4,734 credentials in the year. That is 4.8% of all Criminal Justice and Corrections graduates.
How much do Corrections and Criminal Justice graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Correctional Officers and Jailers occupation, which Corrections and Criminal Justice 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 $37,301 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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