2024 Best Colleges for Criminal Justice

If you’re searching for the best colleges and universities for Criminal Justice, you’re in the right place. Below is a list of all universities in the US offering a Criminal Justice degree or major, along with earnings after graduation, average student loan debt, acceptance rate and more. Read More

We rigorously analyzed a host of variables to determine what colleges and universities offer the best Criminal Justice programs in America. The list includes 993 programs and you can sort by average salary, debt, acceptance rate and more to hone in on the the best programs for you.

If you’re still wondering whether Criminal Justice is the right field of study for you, check out our guide to majoring in Criminal Justice: what you can do with the major, how much you’ll make, and more.

For the purposes of these rankings we prioritized earnings after graduation 6 years and 10 years out for students that majored in Criminal Justice. Please note that earnings are one metric of success that can be used to judge a Criminal Justice program, but are by no means the best or only option. However, because this variable is provided by the vast majority of universities offering Criminal Justice we used it as the primary method or ordering the best universities for Criminal Justice.

By scrolling all the way through the list you’ll find every college or university that offers a Criminal Justice in America.

Frequently Asked Questions about the Best Universities offering Criminal Justice Majors and Degrees

What is the best university for majoring in Criminal Justice?

Union Institute & University is the best university for majoring in Criminal Justice based on earnings data. On average, graduates from Union Institute & University earned an average of $117,766 2 years after graduating.

What is the cheapest university for majoring in Criminal Justice?

Aspen University is the cheapest university for majoring in Criminal Justice based on the Department of Education tuition data. On average, students pay $3,750 to attend Aspen University.

What is the most expensive university for majoring in Criminal Justice?

George Washington University (GWU) is the most expensive university for majoring in Criminal Justice based on the Department of Education tuition data. On average, students pay $50,435 to attend George Washington University (GWU).

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#166 Best College for Criminal Justice
Average Salary $39,297
Average Debt $28,196
Program Size 172
Saginaw Valley State University
4 Year
University Center, MI
Saginaw Valley State University, located in University Center, MI has 172 students majoring in Criminal Justice. On average, graduates earn $39,297.
Acceptance Rate 76%
Undergraduates 1,777 students
Tuition $8,968
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#167 Best College for Criminal Justice
Average Salary $39,271
Average Debt $20,490
Program Size 104
Bellevue University
4 Year
Bellevue, NE
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Bellevue University, located in Bellevue, NE has 104 students majoring in Criminal Justice. On average, graduates earn $39,271.
Acceptance Rate N/A
Undergraduates 2,879 students
Tuition $7,050
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#168 Best College for Criminal Justice
Average Salary $39,249
Average Debt $24,671
Program Size 133
University of South Dakota
4 Year
Vermillion, SD
University of South Dakota, located in Vermillion, SD has 133 students majoring in Criminal Justice. On average, graduates earn $39,249.
Acceptance Rate 74%
Undergraduates 2,053 students
Tuition $8,457
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#169 Best College for Criminal Justice
Average Salary $39,153
Average Debt $26,000
Program Size 69
SUNY College at Potsdam
4 Year
Potsdam, NY
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SUNY College at Potsdam , located in Potsdam, NY has 69 students majoring in Criminal Justice. On average, graduates earn $39,153.
Acceptance Rate 74%
Undergraduates 882 students
Tuition $7,923
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#170 Best College for Criminal Justice
Average Salary $39,153
Average Debt $25,946
Program Size 32
Harding University
4 Year
Searcy, AR
Harding University, located in Searcy, AR has 32 students majoring in Criminal Justice. On average, graduates earn $39,153.
Acceptance Rate 99%
Undergraduates 1,382 students
Tuition $17,805
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#171 Best College for Criminal Justice
Average Salary $39,009
Average Debt $25,549
Program Size 65
University of Dubuque
4 Year
Dubuque, IA
University of Dubuque, located in Dubuque, IA has 65 students majoring in Criminal Justice. On average, graduates earn $39,009.
Acceptance Rate 77%
Undergraduates 558 students
Tuition $27,895
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#172 Best College for Criminal Justice
Average Salary $39,009
Average Debt $30,841
Program Size 42
New England Institute of Technology
4 Year
East Greenwich, RI
New England Institute of Technology, located in East Greenwich, RI has 42 students majoring in Criminal Justice. On average, graduates earn $39,009.
Acceptance Rate N/A
Undergraduates 293 students
Tuition N/A
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#173 Best College for Criminal Justice
Average Salary $39,009
Average Debt $28,500
Program Size 36
The University of Findlay
4 Year
Findlay, OH
The University of Findlay, located in Findlay, OH has 36 students majoring in Criminal Justice. On average, graduates earn $39,009.
Acceptance Rate 76%
Undergraduates 1,020 students
Tuition $31,508
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#174 Best College for Criminal Justice
Average Salary $39,009
Average Debt $23,875
Program Size 35
University of Northwestern-St Paul
4 Year
Saint Paul, MN
University of Northwestern-St Paul, located in Saint Paul, MN has 35 students majoring in Criminal Justice. On average, graduates earn $39,009.
Acceptance Rate 87%
Undergraduates 675 students
Tuition $28,730
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#175 Best College for Criminal Justice
Average Salary $38,959
Average Debt $24,233
Program Size 357
Grand Valley State University
4 Year
Allendale, MI
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Grand Valley State University, located in Allendale, MI has 357 students majoring in Criminal Justice. On average, graduates earn $38,959.
Acceptance Rate 81%
Undergraduates 5,548 students
Tuition $11,363
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#176 Best College for Criminal Justice
Average Salary $38,924
Average Debt $22,259
Program Size 329
St John's University-New York (SJU)
4 Year
Queens, NY
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St John's University-New York (SJU), located in Queens, NY has 329 students majoring in Criminal Justice. On average, graduates earn $38,924.
Acceptance Rate 65%
Undergraduates 3,859 students
Tuition $38,680
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#177 Best College for Criminal Justice
Average Salary $38,878
Average Debt $24,874
Program Size 171
Bowling Green State University-Main Campus (BGSU)
4 Year
Bowling Green, OH
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Bowling Green State University-Main Campus (BGSU), located in Bowling Green, OH has 171 students majoring in Criminal Justice. On average, graduates earn $38,878.
Acceptance Rate 73%
Undergraduates 3,877 students
Tuition $10,796
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#178 Best College for Criminal Justice
Average Salary $38,870
Average Debt $29,504
Program Size 497
Columbia College
4 Year
Columbia, MO
Columbia College, located in Columbia, MO has 497 students majoring in Criminal Justice. On average, graduates earn $38,870.
Acceptance Rate N/A
Undergraduates 2,940 students
Tuition $8,240
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#179 Best College for Criminal Justice
Average Salary $38,857
Average Debt $23,077
Program Size 414
Bridgewater State University (BSU)
4 Year
Bridgewater, MA
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Bridgewater State University (BSU), located in Bridgewater, MA has 414 students majoring in Criminal Justice. On average, graduates earn $38,857.
Acceptance Rate 81%
Undergraduates 2,415 students
Tuition $8,903
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#180 Best College for Criminal Justice
Average Salary $38,829
Average Debt $20,488
Program Size 90
The College of New Jersey (TCNJ)
4 Year
Ewing, NJ
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The College of New Jersey (TCNJ), located in Ewing, NJ has 90 students majoring in Criminal Justice. On average, graduates earn $38,829.
Acceptance Rate 49%
Undergraduates 1,990 students
Tuition $15,466
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Other Major Rankings
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