Best colleges for Criminal Justice and Corrections in West Virginia
Ranked by graduate earnings
West Virginia State University, Fairmont State University and Marshall University are the top bachelor's Criminal Justice and Corrections programs in West Virginia by graduate earnings. West Virginia State University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $39,056, College Scorecard. Marshall University, West Virginia State University and Fairmont State University award the most Criminal Justice and Corrections degrees in West Virginia: 49, 49 and 41 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 25 West Virginia colleges offer Criminal Justice and Corrections and award 1,263 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 8 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 | West Virginia State University Institute Public · Bachelor's degree | $39,056 | 49 | 39% | — | $25,860 |
| 2 | Fairmont State University Fairmont Public · Bachelor's degree | $36,179 | 41 | 44% | — | $25,557 |
| 3 | Marshall University Huntington Public · Bachelor's degree | $32,747 | 49 | 51% | — | $25,873 |
| 4 | American Public University System Charles Town Private for-profit · Bachelor's degree Online | $57,409 | 912 | 57% | $10,199 | $19,000 |
| 5 | Strayer University - West Virginia Scott Depot Private for-profit · Bachelor's degree Online Small program | $43,405 | 1 | 0% | $16,943 | $56,937 |
| 6 | West Virginia Wesleyan College Buckhannon Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $31,400 | 13 | 57% | $17,325 | $27,000 |
| 7 | Bluefield State University Bluefield Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $30,506 | 9 | 37% | — | $30,250 |
| 8 | Salem University Salem Private for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $25,665 | 24 | 20% | $14,845 | $30,949 |
Colleges awarding the most Criminal Justice and Corrections degrees in West 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 | Marshall University Huntington Public | 49 | $32,747 |
| 2 | West Virginia State University Institute Public | 49 | $39,056 |
| 3 | Fairmont State University Fairmont Public | 41 | $36,179 |
| 4 | Blue Ridge Community and Technical College Martinsburg Public | 30 | Not reported |
| 5 | Shepherd University Shepherdstown Public | 20 | Not reported |
| 6 | Potomac State College of West Virginia University Keyser Public | 16 | Not reported |
| 7 | West Virginia Wesleyan College Buckhannon Private not-for-profit | 13 | $31,400 |
| 8 | Bluefield State University Bluefield Public | 9 | $30,506 |
| 9 | West Virginia Northern Community College Wheeling Public | 8 | Not reported |
| 10 | West Virginia University Institute of Technology Beckley Public | 7 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 15 West Virginia colleges offering Criminal Justice and Corrections
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| American Public University System (Online) | Charles Town | Private for-profit | 912 |
| West Virginia University at Parkersburg | Parkersburg | Public | 48 |
| Salem University | Salem | Private for-profit | 24 |
| Wheeling University | Wheeling | Private not-for-profit | 6 |
| BridgeValley Community & Technical College | South Charleston | Public | 6 |
| Bethany College | Bethany | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College | Logan | Public | 4 |
| West Liberty University | West Liberty | Public | 4 |
| University of Charleston | Charleston | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Pierpont Community and Technical College | Fairmont | Public | 3 |
| Mountwest Community and Technical College | Huntington | Public | 2 |
| New River Community and Technical College | Beaver | Public | 2 |
| Davis & Elkins College | Elkins | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Glenville State University | Glenville | Public | 1 |
| Strayer University - West Virginia (Online) | Scott Depot | Private for-profit | 1 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Correctional Officers and Jailers (SOC 33-3012).
Top skills
What Correctional Officers and Jailers earn in West Virginia
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Criminal Justice and Corrections programs in West Virginia.
Which West Virginia colleges award the most Criminal Justice and Corrections degrees?+
Marshall University (49 graduates a year), West Virginia State University (49 graduates a year) and Fairmont State University (41 graduates a year) award the most Criminal Justice and Corrections degrees in West Virginia, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 25 West Virginia colleges offer Criminal Justice and Corrections.
What is the best college for Criminal Justice and Corrections in West Virginia?+
By graduate earnings, West Virginia State University leads among bachelor's Criminal Justice and Corrections programs in West Virginia, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $39,056, College Scorecard. Fairmont State University and Marshall University follow. By degrees awarded, Marshall University is the largest, with 49 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Criminal Justice and Corrections program in West Virginia has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, West Virginia State University tops the list at $39,056. 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 West Virginia?+
The average annual wage for Correctional Officers and Jailers in West Virginia is $56,670 (median $52,890), across about 2,980 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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