Best colleges for Criminal Justice and Corrections in Virginia
Ranked by graduate earnings
Liberty University, Shenandoah University and George Mason University are the top bachelor's Criminal Justice and Corrections programs in Virginia by graduate earnings. Liberty University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $48,855, College Scorecard. Liberty University, University of Virginia and George Mason University award the most Criminal Justice and Corrections degrees in Virginia: 1,252, 1,171 and 361 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 46 Virginia colleges offer Criminal Justice and Corrections and award 4,156 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 | Liberty University Lynchburg Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $48,855 | 1,252 | 65% | $28,911 | $29,728 |
| 2 | Shenandoah University Winchester Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $46,816 | 20 | 67% | $27,455 | $25,810 |
| 3 | George Mason University Fairfax Public · Bachelor's degree | $43,612 | 361 | 68% | — | $20,761 |
| 4 | Averett University Danville Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $43,494 | 25 | 48% | $23,171 | $29,703 |
| 5 | Virginia Wesleyan University Virginia Beach Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $39,404 | 21 | 42% | $20,171 | $27,000 |
| 6 | Virginia Commonwealth University Richmond Public · Bachelor's degree | $38,495 | 151 | 63% | — | $23,250 |
| 7 | ECPI University Virginia Beach Private for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $36,287 | 54 | 42% | $21,909 | $29,903 |
| 8 | Longwood University Farmville Public · Bachelor's degree | $36,254 | 38 | 61% | — | $23,375 |
| 9 | Radford University Radford Public · Bachelor's degree | $35,935 | 81 | 49% | — | $25,000 |
| 10 | Virginia State University Petersburg Public · Bachelor's degree | $34,604 | 80 | 39% | — | $30,000 |
Top 4 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 | Wytheville Community College Wytheville Public · Associate degree | $38,907 | 53 | 47% | — | — |
| 2 | Brightpoint Community College Chester Public · Associate degree | $34,171 | 61 | 38% | — | — |
| 3 | Tidewater Community College Norfolk Public · Certificate | $27,916 | 83 | 32% | — | $14,795 |
| 4 | Bryant & Stratton College - Virginia Beach Virginia Beach Private not-for-profit · Associate degree Small program | $32,211 | 9 | 24% | $12,786 | $22,960 |
Colleges awarding the most Criminal Justice and Corrections degrees in Virginia
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 | Liberty University Lynchburg Private not-for-profit | 1,252 | $48,855 |
| 2 | University of Virginia Charlottesville Public | 1,171 | Not reported |
| 3 | George Mason University Fairfax Public | 361 | $43,612 |
| 4 | Northern Virginia Community College Annandale Public | 191 | Not reported |
| 5 | Virginia Commonwealth University Richmond Public | 151 | $38,495 |
| 6 | Radford University Radford Public | 81 | $35,935 |
| 7 | Virginia State University Petersburg Public | 80 | $34,604 |
| 8 | Central Virginia Community College Lynchburg Public | 68 | Not reported |
| 9 | ECPI University Virginia Beach Private for-profit | 54 | $36,287 |
| 10 | Longwood University Farmville Public | 38 | $36,254 |
ShowHide the other 36 Virginia 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 Virginia
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Criminal Justice and Corrections programs in Virginia.
Which Virginia colleges award the most Criminal Justice and Corrections degrees?+
Liberty University (1,252 graduates a year), University of Virginia (1,171 graduates a year) and George Mason University (361 graduates a year) award the most Criminal Justice and Corrections degrees in Virginia, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 46 Virginia colleges offer Criminal Justice and Corrections.
What is the best college for Criminal Justice and Corrections in Virginia?+
By graduate earnings, Liberty University leads among bachelor's Criminal Justice and Corrections programs in Virginia, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $48,855, College Scorecard. Shenandoah University and George Mason University follow. By degrees awarded, Liberty University is the largest, with 1,252 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Criminal Justice and Corrections program in Virginia has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Liberty University tops the list at $48,855. 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 Virginia?+
The average annual wage for Correctional Officers and Jailers in Virginia is $54,450 (median $50,140), across about 11,270 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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