Best colleges for Criminal Justice and Corrections in South Carolina
Ranked by graduate earnings
Columbia College, Anderson University and Citadel Military College of South Carolina are the top bachelor's Criminal Justice and Corrections programs in South Carolina by graduate earnings. Columbia College leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $50,519, College Scorecard. University of South Carolina-Columbia, Columbia College and University of South Carolina-Upstate award the most Criminal Justice and Corrections degrees in South Carolina: 220, 63 and 58 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 36 South Carolina colleges offer Criminal Justice and Corrections and award 1,040 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…
Top 10 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.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Columbia College Columbia Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $50,519 | 63 | 37% | $23,986 | $26,773 |
| 2 | Anderson University Anderson Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $45,583 | 24 | 66% | $24,812 | $28,500 |
| 3 | Citadel Military College of South Carolina Charleston Public · Bachelor's degree | $45,235 | 36 | 75% | — | $24,966 |
| 4 | University of South Carolina-Columbia Columbia Public · Bachelor's degree | $35,781 | 220 | 79% | — | $25,000 |
| 5 | University of South Carolina-Upstate Spartanburg Public · Bachelor's degree | $34,447 | 58 | 43% | — | $27,000 |
| 6 | Charleston Southern University Charleston Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $33,633 | 27 | 47% | $21,848 | $27,000 |
| 7 | South Carolina State University Orangeburg Public · Bachelor's degree | $32,576 | 20 | 37% | — | $31,000 |
| 8 | Claflin University Orangeburg Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $29,424 | 33 | 52% | $23,698 | $37,009 |
| 9 | Strayer University - South Carolina Greenville Private for-profit · Bachelor's degree Online | $43,405 | 27 | 17% | $22,134 | $56,937 |
| 10 | North Greenville University Tigerville Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $39,415 | 13 | 55% | $20,327 | — |
Top 6 certificate and associate programs
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.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | York Technical College Rock Hill Public · Associate degree | $44,401 | 50 | 30% | — | $8,500 |
| 2 | Piedmont Technical College Greenwood Public · Associate degree | $32,721 | 26 | 33% | — | $20,650 |
| 3 | Horry-Georgetown Technical College Conway Public · Associate degree | $30,840 | 67 | 38% | — | $15,500 |
| 4 | Tri-County Technical College Pendleton Public · Associate degree Small program | $35,726 | 18 | 42% | — | — |
| 5 | Greenville Technical College Greenville Public · Associate degree | $33,307 | 34 | 21% | — | $15,475 |
| 6 | Midlands Technical College West Columbia Public · Associate degree | $20,266 | 39 | 18% | — | $17,313 |
Colleges awarding the most Criminal Justice and Corrections degrees in South Carolina
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.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Starting salary (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of South Carolina-Columbia Columbia Public | 220 | $35,781 |
| 2 | Columbia College Columbia Private not-for-profit | 63 | $50,519 |
| 3 | University of South Carolina-Upstate Spartanburg Public | 58 | $34,447 |
| 4 | Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College Orangeburg Public | 44 | Not reported |
| 5 | Citadel Military College of South Carolina Charleston Public | 36 | $45,235 |
| 6 | Trident Technical College Charleston Public | 34 | Not reported |
| 7 | Claflin University Orangeburg Private not-for-profit | 33 | $29,424 |
| 8 | Charleston Southern University Charleston Private not-for-profit | 27 | $33,633 |
| 9 | Anderson University Anderson Private not-for-profit | 24 | $45,583 |
| 10 | Florence-Darlington Technical College Florence Public | 24 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 26 South Carolina colleges offering Criminal Justice and Corrections
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Correctional Officers and Jailers (SOC 33-3012).
Top skills
What Correctional Officers and Jailers earn in South Carolina
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Criminal Justice and Corrections programs in South Carolina.
Which South Carolina colleges award the most Criminal Justice and Corrections degrees?+
University of South Carolina-Columbia (220 graduates a year), Columbia College (63 graduates a year) and University of South Carolina-Upstate (58 graduates a year) award the most Criminal Justice and Corrections degrees in South Carolina, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 36 South Carolina colleges offer Criminal Justice and Corrections.
What is the best college for Criminal Justice and Corrections in South Carolina?+
By graduate earnings, Columbia College leads among bachelor's Criminal Justice and Corrections programs in South Carolina, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $50,519, College Scorecard. Anderson University and Citadel Military College of South Carolina follow. By degrees awarded, University of South Carolina-Columbia is the largest, with 220 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Criminal Justice and Corrections program in South Carolina has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Columbia College tops the list at $50,519. 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 South Carolina?+
The average annual wage for Correctional Officers and Jailers in South Carolina is $51,520 (median $47,890), across about 4,870 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.
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