Best institutions to study Criminal Justice and Corrections
A program of study that focuses on the general study of criminal justice and corrections.
75 U.S. institutions graduated 2,344 Criminal Justice and Corrections students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 43.0100, 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 Criminal Justice and Corrections programs
A program of study that focuses on the general study of criminal justice and corrections. Includes instruction in criminology, criminal justice, correctional science, forensic science, law enforcement, psychology, and ethics.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Criminal Justice and Corrections program offers a comprehensive study of the criminal justice system and correctional practices. It is designed for individuals interested in pursuing careers in law enforcement, corrections, and related protective services. This program provides foundational knowledge and skills necessary for various roles within the field.
Students in this program will learn about criminology, forensic science, law enforcement, and correctional science. Core skills developed include active listening, critical thinking, and an understanding of public safety and security, preparing graduates for various challenges in the criminal justice field.
Credentials awarded
What Criminal Justice and Corrections graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Bachelor's degree905 graduates / yr · 35 institutions39%
- Associate's degree703 graduates / yr · 33 institutions30%
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year621 graduates / yr · 12 institutions27%
- Award of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years64 graduates / yr · 3 institutions2.7%
- Master's degree30 graduates / yr · 5 institutions1.3%
- Award of at least 2 but less than 4 academic years10 graduates / yr · 1 institution0.4%
- Award of less than 12 weeks8 graduates / yr · 1 institution0.3%
- Postbaccalaureate certificate3 graduates / yr · 2 institutions0.1%
Graduates over time
Criminal Justice and Corrections completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 1,134 |
| 2021 | 1,107 |
| 2022 | 1,401 |
| 2023 | 1,974 |
| 2024 | 2,157 |
| 2025 | 2,344 |
CIP 43.0100 was introduced in CIP 2020, so the series starts when institutions began reporting under the new code.
Top 50 institutions for Criminal Justice and 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 | American InterContinental University System Chandler, AZPrivate for-profitBachelor'sAssociate's | 478 | 9% | $15,785 | $35,862 |
| 2 | Ivy Tech Community College Indianapolis, INPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 295 | 40% | — | $34,299 |
| 3 | Purdue University Global West Lafayette, INPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 225 | 50% | — | $45,984 |
| 4 | University of Arizona Tucson, AZPublicBachelor's | 173 | 68% | — | — |
| 5 | CUNY Queensborough Community College Bayside, NYPublicAssociate's | 107 | 24% | — | $26,907 |
| 6 | Loyola University Chicago Chicago, ILPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sMaster's | 82 | 73% | $33,454 | $38,953 |
| 7 | Northwest Career College Las Vegas, NVPrivate for-profitAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate's | 81 | 68% | $15,787 | — |
| 8 | Pikes Peak State College Colorado Springs, COPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate's | 74 | 21% | — | $50,546 |
| 9 | American InterContinental University - Atlanta Atlanta, GAPrivate for-profitBachelor'sAssociate's | 68 | 21% | $17,531 | $35,862 |
| 10 | Worcester State University Worcester, MAPublicBachelor's | 67 | 61% | — | $41,132 |
| 11 | Middle Georgia State University Macon, GAPublicBachelor'sAssociate's | 50 | 25% | — | $35,930 |
| 12 | Ozarks Technical Community College Springfield, MOPublicAssociate's | 44 | 33% | — | — |
| 13 | Long Island University Brookville, NYPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sMaster's | 36 | 57% | $24,639 | $31,432 |
| 14 | Prince George's Community College Largo, MDPublicAssociate's | 30 | 18% | — | — |
| 15 | Charter Oak State College New Britain, CTPublicBachelor's | 27 | 67% | — | $68,956 |
| 16 | Clayton State University Morrow, GAPublicBachelor's | 27 | 40% | — | $30,200 |
| 17 | Sullivan University Louisville, KYPrivate for-profitAssociate'sAward of less than 12 weeksBachelor's | 23 | 71% | $29,703 | — |
| 18 | Hardin - Simmons University Abilene, TXPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sMaster's | 22 | 46% | $19,285 | $39,445 |
| 19 | Bellarmine University Louisville, KYPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 19 | 64% | $22,542 | $30,930 |
| 20 | St Clair County Community College Port Huron, MIPublicAssociate's | 19 | 34% | — | $32,691 |
| 21 | Community College of Aurora Aurora, COPublicAssociate's | 18 | 33% | — | — |
| 22 | Pueblo Community College Pueblo, COPublicAssociate's | 18 | 31% | — | $52,241 |
| 23 | Wayne County Community College District Detroit, MIPublicAssociate'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 17 | 22% | — | — |
| 24 | Front Range Community College Westminster, COPublicAssociate's | 16 | 35% | — | $69,776 |
| 25 | Northland Pioneer College Holbrook, AZPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 15 | 22% | — | — |
| 26 | Kansas Wesleyan University Salina, KSPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 15 | 49% | $23,014 | $37,301 |
| 27 | Rockhurst University Kansas City, MOPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 15 | 75% | $21,890 | — |
| 28 | Aims Community College Greeley, COPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate's | 14 | 40% | — | $57,841 |
| 29 | American InterContinental University - Houston Houston, TXPrivate for-profitBachelor'sAssociate's | 14 | 5% | $18,264 | $35,862 |
| 30 | Red Rocks Community College Lakewood, COPublicAssociate's | 13 | 32% | — | $72,583 |
| 31 | University of New Haven West Haven, CTPrivate not-for-profitAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 13 | 63% | $32,614 | $36,455 |
| 32 | Brewton - Parker Christian University Mount Vernon, GAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sAssociate's | 12 | 21% | $22,628 | — |
| 33 | Indiana Institute of Technology Fort Wayne, INPrivate not-for-profitAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 12 | 48% | $20,661 | $36,510 |
| 34 | Eastern University Saint Davids, PAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 12 | 54% | $25,146 | — |
| 35 | Arapahoe Community College Littleton, COPublicAssociate's | 11 | 29% | — | $54,371 |
| 36 | Coppin State University Baltimore, MDPublicAward of at least 2 but less than 4 academic yearsPost-degree cert. | 11 | 26% | — | $31,419 |
| 37 | University of Minnesota - Crookston Crookston, MNPublicBachelor's | 11 | 50% | — | $33,062 |
| 38 | Newberry College Newberry, SCPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 11 | 45% | $20,306 | — |
| 39 | University of Saint Francis - Fort Wayne Fort Wayne, INPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sAssociate's | 10 | 55% | $20,012 | $36,684 |
| 40 | Community College of Denver Denver, COPublicAssociate's | 9 | 20% | — | — |
| 41 | Eureka College Eureka, ILPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 9 | 42% | $22,446 | $37,886 |
| 42 | National Louis University Chicago, ILPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 9 | 30% | $18,904 | — |
| 43 | University of Kentucky Lexington, KYPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 8 | 71% | — | — |
| 44 | Pennsylvania Western University California, PAPublicAssociate's | 8 | 52% | — | $37,542 |
| 45 | The University of Olivet Olivet, MIPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 6 | 35% | $21,946 | $48,328 |
| 46 | Southeast Community College Area Lincoln, NEPublicAssociate's | 6 | 38% | — | $28,473 |
| 47 | Wright State University - Lake Campus Celina, OHPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 6 | 41% | — | — |
| 48 | University of Valley Forge Phoenixville, PAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 6 | 49% | $27,182 | — |
| 49 | Inter American University of Puerto Rico - Barranquitas Barranquitas, PRPrivate not-for-profitAssociate's | 6 | 38% | $8,476 | — |
| 50 | Mount Vernon Nazarene University Mount Vernon, OHPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 5 | 68% | $20,657 | — |
* 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 & territories
Where Criminal Justice and 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 Criminal Justice and Corrections program can pursue careers as correctional officers, police officers, and other related positions. While the job outlook shows a decline of 7.8%, there are still approximately 30,100 annual openings. The median wage for these positions is around $57,970, typically requiring a high school diploma or equivalent.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 43.0100
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 |
Managers, All Other SOC 11-9199 | $141,900 | +4.5% About as fast as average | ~106,700 | Bachelor's degree |
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers SOC 33-3051 | $76,210 | +3.1% About as fast as average | ~53,700 | 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 |
Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other SOC 19-4099 | $62,280 | +3.5% About as fast as average | ~10,600 | Associate's degree |
Detectives and Criminal Investigators SOC 33-3021 | $93,790 | -0.7% Little or no change | ~7,800 | 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 |
Forensic Science Technicians SOC 19-4092 | $72,060 | +12.8% Much faster than average | ~2,900 | Bachelor's degree |
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 Criminal Justice and 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
- CorrectionsCIP 43.01023,804 graduates / yr147 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 shorter awards ranging from 12 weeks to 2 years.
What skills will I develop?+
You will develop skills in active listening, critical thinking, and knowledge of public safety.
What careers can I pursue after graduation?+
You can work as correctional officers, police officers, and in various law enforcement roles.
What is the job outlook for this field?+
The job outlook shows a decline of 7.8%, but there are still many annual openings.
What is the CIP code for Criminal Justice and Corrections?+
Criminal Justice and Corrections is CIP 43.0100 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 of study that focuses on the general study of criminal justice and corrections. Includes instruction in criminology, criminal justice, correctional science, forensic science, law enforcement, psychology, and ethics.
How many institutions offer Criminal Justice and Corrections programs?+
75 U.S. institutions reported Criminal Justice and Corrections graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 28 states & territories, awarding 2,344 credentials in the year. That is 2.4% of all Criminal Justice and Corrections graduates.
How much do Criminal Justice and Corrections graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Correctional Officers and Jailers occupation, which Criminal Justice and 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 $37,119 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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