Puerto Rico · Criminal Justice and Corrections

Best colleges for Criminal Justice and Corrections in Puerto Rico

Ranked by graduate earnings

NUC University, Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Ponce and Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Metro are the top bachelor's Criminal Justice and Corrections programs in Puerto Rico by graduate earnings. NUC University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $22,882, College Scorecard. NUC University, Universidad Ana G. Mendez-Gurabo Campus and Universidad Ana G. Mendez-Carolina Campus award the most Criminal Justice and Corrections degrees in Puerto Rico: 224, 79 and 69 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 24 Puerto Rico colleges offer Criminal Justice and Corrections and award 777 degrees and certificates a year in all.

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…

Institutions
24
offering CIP 43.01
States & territories
57
with a program page
Degrees / yr
777
IPEDS completions 2024–25
Median starting salary
$16,702
1 yr after graduation, College Scorecard
With earnings data
13
College Scorecard
Median net price
$8,476
IPEDS 2024–25
Avg graduation rate
44%
IPEDS 2024–25
State pay · Correctional Officers and Jailers
$36,560
BLS OEWS May 2025

Top 9 bachelor's programs, ranked by graduate earnings

Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. 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.

Starting salary (1 yr): median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
#InstitutionStarting salary (1 yr)Graduates / yrGrad rateNet priceMedian debt
1NUC University
Bayamon Private for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$22,88222454%$9,377$27,000
2Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Ponce
Mercedita Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$20,1292941%$9,980$8,250
3Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Metro
San Juan Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$19,9322439%$10,446$14,750
4Universidad Ana G. Mendez-Cupey Campus
San Juan Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$19,1645231%$8,290$23,509
5Universidad Ana G. Mendez-Carolina Campus
Carolina Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$19,0526934%$8,847$15,250
6Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Aguadilla
Aguadilla Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$16,7024143%$8,433$5,500
7Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Arecibo
Arecibo Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$13,0722139%$9,729$10,500
8Caribbean University - Bayamon
Bayamon Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program
$15,127743%$6,392$13,500
9Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Fajardo
Fajardo Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program
$5,0871838%$11,242—

Top certificate or associate program

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.

Starting salary (1 yr): median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
#InstitutionStarting salary (1 yr)Graduates / yrGrad rateNet priceMedian debt
1Academia Serrant Inc
Ponce Private for-profit · Certificate Small program
$11,565288%$7,589—

Colleges awarding the most Criminal Justice and Corrections degrees in Puerto Rico

Top 10 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Certificate and associate programs, online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.

Graduates / yr: degrees and certificates awarded in a year, IPEDS completions. Starting salary (1 yr): median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
#InstitutionGraduates / yrStarting salary (1 yr)
1NUC University
Bayamon Private for-profit
224$22,882
2Universidad Ana G. Mendez-Gurabo Campus
Gurabo Private not-for-profit
79Not reported
3Universidad Ana G. Mendez-Carolina Campus
Carolina Private not-for-profit
69$19,052
4University of Puerto Rico-Carolina
Carolina Public
62Not reported
5Universidad Ana G. Mendez-Cupey Campus
San Juan Private not-for-profit
52$19,164
6Caribbean Forensic and Technical College
San Juan Private for-profit
49Not reported
7Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Aguadilla
Aguadilla Private not-for-profit
41$16,702
8Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Ponce
Mercedita Private not-for-profit
29$20,129
9Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Metro
San Juan Private not-for-profit
24$19,932
10Inter American University of Puerto Rico-San German
San German Private not-for-profit
23Not reported
Show the other 14 Puerto Rico colleges offering Criminal Justice and Corrections
InstitutionCityControlGraduates / yr
Inter American University of Puerto Rico-AreciboAreciboPrivate not-for-profit21
Colegio Universitario de San JuanSan JuanPublic20
Inter American University of Puerto Rico-FajardoFajardoPrivate not-for-profit18
Inter American University of Puerto Rico-BarranquitasBarranquitasPrivate not-for-profit17
Inter American University of Puerto Rico-GuayamaGuayamaPrivate not-for-profit12
Caribbean University - BayamonBayamonPrivate not-for-profit7
Charlie's Guard-Detective Bureau and Academy IncAguadillaPrivate for-profit7
EDP University of Puerto Rico Inc-San JuanSan JuanPrivate not-for-profit5
Caribbean University - PoncePoncePrivate not-for-profit5
Caribbean University - Vega BajaVega BajaPrivate not-for-profit5
Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-MayaguezMayaguezPrivate not-for-profit4
Academia Serrant IncPoncePrivate for-profit2
Caribbean University - CarolinaCarolinaPrivate not-for-profit1
EDP University of Puerto Rico Inc-San SebastianSan SebastianPrivate not-for-profit1

Career outlook

What this program leads to: Correctional Officers and Jailers (SOC 33-3012).

Projected growth (2024–2034)
-7.8%
Decline
Openings / yr (US)
~30,100
BLS Employment Projections
US median wage
$57,970
typically High school diploma or equivalent

Top skills

Active ListeningMonitoringSpeakingCritical ThinkingReading ComprehensionActive Learning

What Correctional Officers and Jailers earn in Puerto Rico

Jobs in Puerto Rico
3,740
BLS OEWS May 2025
State average pay
$36,560
median $36,030
Best-paying metro
—

Related careers

Security Guards
$22,590 avg · 26,100 jobs
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers
$42,920 avg · 11,640 jobs
Compliance Officers
$57,160 avg · 5,470 jobs
Correctional Officers and Jailers
$36,560 avg · 3,740 jobs
Child, Family, and School Social Workers
$45,460 avg · 3,370 jobs

Common questions

Answers for students comparing Criminal Justice and Corrections programs in Puerto Rico.

Which Puerto Rico colleges award the most Criminal Justice and Corrections degrees?+

NUC University (224 graduates a year), Universidad Ana G. Mendez-Gurabo Campus (79 graduates a year) and Universidad Ana G. Mendez-Carolina Campus (69 graduates a year) award the most Criminal Justice and Corrections degrees in Puerto Rico, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 24 Puerto Rico colleges offer Criminal Justice and Corrections.

What is the best college for Criminal Justice and Corrections in Puerto Rico?+

By graduate earnings, NUC University leads among bachelor's Criminal Justice and Corrections programs in Puerto Rico, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $22,882, College Scorecard. Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Ponce and Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Metro follow. By degrees awarded, NUC University is the largest, with 224 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).

Which Criminal Justice and Corrections program in Puerto Rico has the highest-earning graduates?+

By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, NUC University tops the list at $22,882. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.

How much do Correctional Officers and Jailers earn in Puerto Rico?+

The average annual wage for Correctional Officers and Jailers in Puerto Rico is $36,560 (median $36,030), across about 3,740 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.

What is the focus of the Criminal Justice and Corrections program?+

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…

What skills will I develop in this program?+

You will develop active listening, monitoring, speaking, critical thinking, and related professional skills.

What is the job outlook for Correctional Officers and Jailers?+

The national job outlook is about -7.8% growth with around 30,100 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).

What is the typical education requirement?+

A High school diploma or equivalent is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).

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.

IPEDSFall 2025–26 release, published July 28, 2026
Enrollment, completions, graduation rates, tuition, financial aid, staffing, and finance for every U.S. institution in federal student aid programs.
College ScorecardJune 10, 2026 release (merged 2025–26 files)
Institution and field-of-study costs, graduate earnings, debt, completion, and admissions outcomes compiled from federal aid records, tax data, and IPEDS.
PSEO graduate earnings2019–21 graduation cohorts (release V4.13.0)
Earnings and employment outcomes of graduates by institution, degree level, and field of study, measured from state wage records.
BLS wages & outlookOEWS May 2025 release
Occupational employment and wage estimates plus 10-year job outlook, used to connect programs to real-world earnings.
FVT/GE program performanceProvisional preview, May 18, 2026 release
Program-level debt-to-earnings and earnings-premium measures behind the FVT/GE and STATS accountability frameworks.

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