Best colleges for Criminal Justice and Corrections in Wisconsin
Ranked by graduate earnings
University of Wisconsin-Parkside, University of Wisconsin-Platteville and Concordia University - Wisconsin are the top bachelor's Criminal Justice and Corrections programs in Wisconsin by graduate earnings. University of Wisconsin-Parkside leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $42,342, College Scorecard. University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, University of Wisconsin-Platteville and Mid-State Technical College award the most Criminal Justice and Corrections degrees in Wisconsin: 115, 81 and 67 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 35 Wisconsin colleges offer Criminal Justice and Corrections and award 1,507 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 9 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 | University of Wisconsin-Parkside Kenosha Public · Bachelor's degree | $42,342 | 34 | 40% | — | $20,745 |
| 2 | University of Wisconsin-Platteville Platteville Public · Bachelor's degree | $41,636 | 81 | 56% | — | $25,000 |
| 3 | Concordia University - Wisconsin Mequon Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $41,527 | 21 | 68% | $24,409 | $27,000 |
| 4 | University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire Eau Claire Public · Bachelor's degree | $41,258 | 38 | 64% | — | $21,500 |
| 5 | University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh Oshkosh Public · Bachelor's degree | $39,394 | 55 | 46% | — | $25,000 |
| 6 | University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Milwaukee Public · Bachelor's degree | $38,640 | 115 | 49% | — | $25,715 |
| 7 | Herzing University - Madison Madison Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Online Small program | $67,229 | 13 | 28% | $20,965 | $28,399 |
| 8 | Carthage College Kenosha Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $39,551 | 18 | 64% | $22,844 | $27,000 |
| 9 | Carroll University Waukesha Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $38,101 | 12 | 71% | $22,601 | $27,000 |
Top 10 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 | Gateway Technical College Kenosha Public · Certificate | $73,818 | 164 | 51% | — | $18,750 |
| 2 | Blackhawk Technical College Janesville Public · Certificate | $68,669 | 59 | 34% | — | $19,381 |
| 3 | Chippewa Valley Technical College Eau Claire Public · Certificate | $60,737 | 82 | 50% | — | $15,335 |
| 4 | Northcentral Technical College Wausau Public · Certificate | $59,645 | 49 | 45% | — | $18,750 |
| 5 | Western Technical College La Crosse Public · Certificate | $59,276 | 60 | 34% | — | $15,494 |
| 6 | Southwest Wisconsin Technical College Fennimore Public · Associate degree | $51,806 | 32 | 66% | — | $12,750 |
| 7 | Northwood Technical College Rice Lake Public · Associate degree | $44,966 | 51 | 56% | — | $10,252 |
| 8 | Waukesha County Technical College Pewaukee Public · Associate degree | $41,591 | 113 | 44% | — | $14,125 |
| 9 | Fox Valley Technical College Appleton Public · Associate degree | $39,571 | 126 | 65% | — | $12,000 |
| 10 | Northeast Wisconsin Technical College Green Bay Public · Associate degree | $36,713 | 70 | 51% | — | — |
Colleges awarding the most Criminal Justice and Corrections degrees in Wisconsin
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 | University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Milwaukee Public | 115 | $38,640 |
| 2 | University of Wisconsin-Platteville Platteville Public | 81 | $41,636 |
| 3 | Mid-State Technical College Wisconsin Rapids Public | 67 | Not reported |
| 4 | University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh Oshkosh Public | 55 | $39,394 |
| 5 | University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire Eau Claire Public | 38 | $41,258 |
| 6 | University of Wisconsin-Parkside Kenosha Public | 34 | $42,342 |
| 7 | Lakeshore Technical College Cleveland Public | 32 | Not reported |
| 8 | Concordia University - Wisconsin Mequon Private not-for-profit | 21 | $41,527 |
| 9 | Marian University Fond Du Lac Private not-for-profit | 21 | Not reported |
| 10 | Carthage College Kenosha Private not-for-profit | 18 | $39,551 |
ShowHide the other 25 Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Criminal Justice and Corrections programs in Wisconsin.
Which Wisconsin colleges award the most Criminal Justice and Corrections degrees?+
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (115 graduates a year), University of Wisconsin-Platteville (81 graduates a year) and Mid-State Technical College (67 graduates a year) award the most Criminal Justice and Corrections degrees in Wisconsin, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 35 Wisconsin colleges offer Criminal Justice and Corrections.
What is the best college for Criminal Justice and Corrections in Wisconsin?+
By graduate earnings, University of Wisconsin-Parkside leads among bachelor's Criminal Justice and Corrections programs in Wisconsin, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $42,342, College Scorecard. University of Wisconsin-Platteville and Concordia University - Wisconsin follow. By degrees awarded, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee is the largest, with 115 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Criminal Justice and Corrections program in Wisconsin has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, University of Wisconsin-Parkside tops the list at $42,342. 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 Wisconsin?+
The average annual wage for Correctional Officers and Jailers in Wisconsin is $73,690 (median $73,470), across about 7,360 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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