Tennessee · Criminal Justice and Corrections

Best Criminal Justice and Corrections institutions in Tennessee, ranked by earnings

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
41
offering CIP 43.01
States offered
9
with a program page
Degrees / yr
1,456
IPEDS completions 2026
Median grad earnings
$37,403
1 year after graduation
With earnings data
14
College Scorecard
Median net price
$19,206
IPEDS 2026
Avg graduation rate
44%
IPEDS 2026
State pay · Correctional Officers and Jailers
$51,290
BLS OEWS 2024

Top 10 institutions, ranked by graduate earnings

Earnings = median 1 year after graduation (College Scorecard).

#InstitutionGrad earnings (1 yr)CompletionsGrad rateNet priceMedian debt
1Bethel University
McKenzie Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$54,20713635%$21,324$31,250
2Cumberland University
Lebanon Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$45,2232846%$19,206
3Walters State Community College
Morristown Public · Certificate degree
$44,62422433%$16,702
4Cleveland State Community College
Cleveland Public · Certificate degree
$41,4887937%$6,318
5Middle Tennessee State University
Murfreesboro Public · Bachelor's degree
$37,95217254%$24,093
6The University of Tennessee - Chattanooga
Chattanooga Public · Bachelor's degree
$37,40311050%$22,995
7Austin Peay State University
Clarksville Public · Bachelor's degree
$36,7499140%$25,281
8Lane College
Jackson Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$35,9171318%$14,494$38,680
9University of Memphis
Memphis Public · Bachelor's degree
$35,90010651%$27,000
10King University
Bristol Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$33,580848%$23,546$22,702

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 Tennessee

Jobs in Tennessee
7,610
BLS OEWS May 2024
State average pay
$51,290
median $51,490
Best-paying metro
$56,410
Memphis, TN-MS-AR

Related careers

Security Guards
$39,630 avg · 28,260 jobs
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers
$60,280 avg · 13,780 jobs
Compliance Officers
$70,580 avg · 8,140 jobs
Correctional Officers and Jailers
$51,290 avg · 7,610 jobs
Child, Family, and School Social Workers
$57,890 avg · 7,150 jobs

Common questions

Answers for students comparing Criminal Justice and Corrections programs in Tennessee.

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

By median earnings one year after graduation (College Scorecard), Bethel University tops the list at $54,207. Compare it against completions, 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 $51,290 (median $51,490), across about 7,610 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2024.

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).

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