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).

Show Less

Sort By:

#106 Best College for Criminal Justice
Average Salary $40,582
Average Debt $21,138
Program Size 200
Western Oregon University (WOU)
4 Year
Monmouth, OR
Video Rating
Western Oregon University (WOU), located in Monmouth, OR has 200 students majoring in Criminal Justice. On average, graduates earn $40,582.
Acceptance Rate 88%
Undergraduates 1,146 students
Tuition $9,369
0
4.0
My GPA
#107 Best College for Criminal Justice
Average Salary $40,485
Average Debt $22,657
Program Size 195
Lamar University
4 Year
Beaumont, TX
Video Rating
Lamar University, located in Beaumont, TX has 195 students majoring in Criminal Justice. On average, graduates earn $40,485.
Acceptance Rate 79%
Undergraduates 3,973 students
Tuition $8,002
0
4.0
My GPA
#108 Best College for Criminal Justice
Average Salary $40,461
Average Debt N/A
Program Size 18
College of Our Lady of the Elms
4 Year
Chicopee, MA
College of Our Lady of the Elms, located in Chicopee, MA has 18 students majoring in Criminal Justice. On average, graduates earn $40,461.
Acceptance Rate 75%
Undergraduates 520 students
Tuition $32,280
0
4.0
My GPA
#109 Best College for Criminal Justice
Average Salary $40,448
Average Debt $39,018
Program Size 200
Strayer University-Virginia
4 Year
Arlington, VA
Strayer University-Virginia, located in Arlington, VA has 200 students majoring in Criminal Justice. On average, graduates earn $40,448.
Acceptance Rate N/A
Undergraduates 1,463 students
Tuition $12,975
0
4.0
My GPA
#110 Best College for Criminal Justice
Average Salary $40,448
Average Debt $39,018
Program Size 122
Strayer University-Georgia
4 Year
Atlanta, GA
Strayer University-Georgia, located in Atlanta, GA has 122 students majoring in Criminal Justice. On average, graduates earn $40,448.
Acceptance Rate N/A
Undergraduates 742 students
Tuition $12,975
0
4.0
My GPA
#111 Best College for Criminal Justice
Average Salary $40,448
Average Debt $39,018
Program Size 83
Strayer University-Florida
4 Year
Tampa, FL
Strayer University-Florida, located in Tampa, FL has 83 students majoring in Criminal Justice. On average, graduates earn $40,448.
Acceptance Rate N/A
Undergraduates 472 students
Tuition $12,975
0
4.0
My GPA
#112 Best College for Criminal Justice
Average Salary $40,448
Average Debt $39,018
Program Size 77
Strayer University-Global Region
4 Year
Washington, DC
Strayer University-Global Region, located in Washington, DC has 77 students majoring in Criminal Justice. On average, graduates earn $40,448.
Acceptance Rate N/A
Undergraduates 1,064 students
Tuition $12,975
0
4.0
My GPA
#113 Best College for Criminal Justice
Average Salary $40,448
Average Debt $39,018
Program Size 64
Strayer University-North Carolina
4 Year
Morrisville, NC
Strayer University-North Carolina, located in Morrisville, NC has 64 students majoring in Criminal Justice. On average, graduates earn $40,448.
Acceptance Rate N/A
Undergraduates 551 students
Tuition $12,975
0
4.0
My GPA
#114 Best College for Criminal Justice
Average Salary $40,448
Average Debt $39,018
Program Size 64
Strayer University-Pennsylvania
4 Year
Trevose, PA
Strayer University-Pennsylvania, located in Trevose, PA has 64 students majoring in Criminal Justice. On average, graduates earn $40,448.
Acceptance Rate N/A
Undergraduates 306 students
Tuition $12,975
0
4.0
My GPA
#115 Best College for Criminal Justice
Average Salary $40,448
Average Debt $39,018
Program Size 41
Strayer University-Texas
4 Year
Austin, TX
Strayer University-Texas, located in Austin, TX has 41 students majoring in Criminal Justice. On average, graduates earn $40,448.
Acceptance Rate N/A
Undergraduates 232 students
Tuition $12,975
0
4.0
My GPA
#116 Best College for Criminal Justice
Average Salary $40,448
Average Debt $39,018
Program Size 26
Strayer University-Tennessee
4 Year
Memphis, TN
Strayer University-Tennessee, located in Memphis, TN has 26 students majoring in Criminal Justice. On average, graduates earn $40,448.
Acceptance Rate N/A
Undergraduates 233 students
Tuition $12,975
0
4.0
My GPA
#117 Best College for Criminal Justice
Average Salary $40,448
Average Debt $39,018
Program Size 26
Strayer University-South Carolina
4 Year
Greenville, SC
Strayer University-South Carolina, located in Greenville, SC has 26 students majoring in Criminal Justice. On average, graduates earn $40,448.
Acceptance Rate N/A
Undergraduates 292 students
Tuition $12,975
0
4.0
My GPA
#118 Best College for Criminal Justice
Average Salary $40,448
Average Debt $39,018
Program Size 19
Strayer University-New Jersey
4 Year
Cherry Hill, NJ
Strayer University-New Jersey, located in Cherry Hill, NJ has 19 students majoring in Criminal Justice. On average, graduates earn $40,448.
Acceptance Rate N/A
Undergraduates 121 students
Tuition $12,975
0
4.0
My GPA
#119 Best College for Criminal Justice
Average Salary $40,448
Average Debt $39,018
Program Size 18
Strayer University-District of Columbia
4 Year
Washington, DC
Strayer University-District of Columbia, located in Washington, DC has 18 students majoring in Criminal Justice. On average, graduates earn $40,448.
Acceptance Rate N/A
Undergraduates 165 students
Tuition $12,975
0
4.0
My GPA
#120 Best College for Criminal Justice
Average Salary $40,448
Average Debt $39,018
Program Size 9
Strayer University-Alabama
4 Year
Birmingham, AL
Strayer University-Alabama, located in Birmingham, AL has 9 students majoring in Criminal Justice. On average, graduates earn $40,448.
Acceptance Rate N/A
Undergraduates 129 students
Tuition $12,975
0
4.0
My GPA
Other Major Rankings
Best Criminal Justice Programs by State
Most Popular Major Rankings