Best colleges for Criminal Justice and Corrections in Washington
Ranked by graduate earnings
Seattle University, Central Washington University and University of Washington-Tacoma Campus are the top bachelor's Criminal Justice and Corrections programs in Washington by graduate earnings. Seattle University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $51,100, College Scorecard. Central Washington University, University of Washington-Tacoma Campus and Green River College award the most Criminal Justice and Corrections degrees in Washington: 101, 50 and 49 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 24 Washington colleges offer Criminal Justice and Corrections and award 409 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 3 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 | Seattle University Seattle Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $51,100 | 29 | 76% | $31,900 | $21,247 |
| 2 | Central Washington University Ellensburg Public · Bachelor's degree | $44,172 | 101 | 54% | — | $21,954 |
| 3 | University of Washington-Tacoma Campus Tacoma Public · Bachelor's degree | $40,669 | 50 | 63% | — | $15,269 |
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.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Spokane Community College Spokane Public · Associate degree Small program | $41,451 | 6 | 33% | — | — |
Colleges awarding the most Criminal Justice and Corrections degrees in Washington
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 | Central Washington University Ellensburg Public | 101 | $44,172 |
| 2 | University of Washington-Tacoma Campus Tacoma Public | 50 | $40,669 |
| 3 | Green River College Auburn Public | 49 | Not reported |
| 4 | Pierce College District Lakewood Public | 47 | Not reported |
| 5 | Seattle University Seattle Private not-for-profit | 29 | $51,100 |
| 6 | Saint Martin's University Lacey Private not-for-profit | 15 | Not reported |
| 7 | Walla Walla Community College Walla Walla Public | 13 | Not reported |
| 8 | Heritage University Toppenish Private not-for-profit | 12 | Not reported |
| 9 | Bellevue College Bellevue Public | 8 | Not reported |
| 10 | Columbia Basin College Pasco Public | 8 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 14 Washington colleges offering Criminal Justice and Corrections
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yakima Valley College | Yakima | Public | 22 |
| Shoreline College | Shoreline | Public | 10 |
| Seattle Pacific University | Seattle | Private not-for-profit | 7 |
| Centralia College | Centralia | Public | 6 |
| Spokane Community College | Spokane | Public | 6 |
| Peninsula College | Port Angeles | Public | 5 |
| Whatcom Community College | Bellingham | Public | 5 |
| Grays Harbor College | Aberdeen | Public | 4 |
| Wenatchee Valley College | Wenatchee | Public | 4 |
| Highline College | Des Moines | Public | 3 |
| City University of Seattle (Online) | Seattle | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Big Bend Community College | Moses Lake | Public | 1 |
| Everett Community College | Everett | Public | 1 |
| Lower Columbia College | Longview | Public | 1 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Correctional Officers and Jailers (SOC 33-3012).
Top skills
What Correctional Officers and Jailers earn in Washington
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Criminal Justice and Corrections programs in Washington.
Which Washington colleges award the most Criminal Justice and Corrections degrees?+
Central Washington University (101 graduates a year), University of Washington-Tacoma Campus (50 graduates a year) and Green River College (49 graduates a year) award the most Criminal Justice and Corrections degrees in Washington, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 24 Washington colleges offer Criminal Justice and Corrections.
What is the best college for Criminal Justice and Corrections in Washington?+
By graduate earnings, Seattle University leads among bachelor's Criminal Justice and Corrections programs in Washington, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $51,100, College Scorecard. Central Washington University and University of Washington-Tacoma Campus follow. By degrees awarded, Central Washington University is the largest, with 101 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Criminal Justice and Corrections program in Washington has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Seattle University tops the list at $51,100. 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 Washington?+
The average annual wage for Correctional Officers and Jailers in Washington is $78,150 (median $79,460), across about 6,800 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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