Best colleges for Criminal Justice and Corrections in Tennessee
Ranked by graduate earnings
Bethel University, Cumberland University and Middle Tennessee State University are the top bachelor's Criminal Justice and Corrections programs in Tennessee by graduate earnings. Bethel University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $54,207, College Scorecard. Bethel University, The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga and Middle Tennessee State University award the most Criminal Justice and Corrections degrees in Tennessee: 131, 107 and 99 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 44 Tennessee colleges offer Criminal Justice and Corrections and award 1,320 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 | Bethel University McKenzie Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $54,207 | 131 | 35% | $21,324 | $31,250 |
| 2 | Cumberland University Lebanon Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $45,223 | 32 | 46% | $19,206 | — |
| 3 | Middle Tennessee State University Murfreesboro Public · Bachelor's degree | $37,952 | 99 | 54% | — | $24,093 |
| 4 | The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga Chattanooga Public · Bachelor's degree | $37,403 | 107 | 50% | — | $22,995 |
| 5 | Austin Peay State University Clarksville Public · Bachelor's degree | $36,749 | 97 | 40% | — | $25,281 |
| 6 | University of Memphis Memphis Public · Bachelor's degree | $35,900 | 79 | 51% | — | $27,000 |
| 7 | Tennessee State University Nashville Public · Bachelor's degree | $32,555 | 39 | 34% | — | $28,001 |
| 8 | The University of Tennessee-Martin Martin Public · Bachelor's degree | $32,167 | 51 | 53% | — | $22,671 |
| 9 | East Tennessee State University Johnson City Public · Bachelor's degree | $30,097 | 92 | 53% | — | $25,942 |
| 10 | Strayer University - Tennessee Nashville Private for-profit · Bachelor's degree Online | $43,405 | 20 | 0% | $18,466 | $56,937 |
Top 3 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 | Walters State Community College Morristown Public · Certificate | $44,624 | 208 | 33% | — | $16,702 |
| 2 | Cleveland State Community College Cleveland Public · Certificate | $41,488 | 80 | 37% | — | $6,318 |
| 3 | South College Knoxville Private for-profit · Associate degree | $24,095 | 42 | 42% | $20,346 | — |
Colleges awarding the most Criminal Justice and Corrections degrees in Tennessee
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 | Bethel University McKenzie Private not-for-profit | 131 | $54,207 |
| 2 | The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga Chattanooga Public | 107 | $37,403 |
| 3 | Middle Tennessee State University Murfreesboro Public | 99 | $37,952 |
| 4 | Austin Peay State University Clarksville Public | 97 | $36,749 |
| 5 | East Tennessee State University Johnson City Public | 92 | $30,097 |
| 6 | University of Memphis Memphis Public | 79 | $35,900 |
| 7 | The University of Tennessee-Martin Martin Public | 51 | $32,167 |
| 8 | Tennessee State University Nashville Public | 39 | $32,555 |
| 9 | Cumberland University Lebanon Private not-for-profit | 32 | $45,223 |
| 10 | Lincoln Memorial University Harrogate Private not-for-profit | 19 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 34 Tennessee 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 Tennessee
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Criminal Justice and Corrections programs in Tennessee.
Which Tennessee colleges award the most Criminal Justice and Corrections degrees?+
Bethel University (131 graduates a year), The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga (107 graduates a year) and Middle Tennessee State University (99 graduates a year) award the most Criminal Justice and Corrections degrees in Tennessee, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 44 Tennessee colleges offer Criminal Justice and Corrections.
What is the best college for Criminal Justice and Corrections in Tennessee?+
By graduate earnings, Bethel University leads among bachelor's Criminal Justice and Corrections programs in Tennessee, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $54,207, College Scorecard. Cumberland University and Middle Tennessee State University follow. By degrees awarded, Bethel University is the largest, with 131 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Criminal Justice and Corrections program in Tennessee has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Bethel University tops the list at $54,207. 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 Tennessee?+
The average annual wage for Correctional Officers and Jailers in Tennessee is $51,420 (median $50,940), across about 6,990 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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