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Best Schools for Criminal Justice and Corrections

Criminal Justice and Corrections graduates earn a median of $34,693 within two years of graduation, ranking #163 out of 292 tracked majors — 2% below the median across all fields. There are 663 colleges nationwide with tracked earnings for this major, producing 79,310 recent graduates.

Where you study matters: Union Institute & University graduates earn $117,766 while Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Barranquitas graduates earn $9,118 — a $108,648 difference. Factors like location, employer networks, co-op programs, and curriculum focus drive this gap.

Early career salary growth is modest: Criminal Justice and Corrections graduates see an average 2% increase between year 1 and year 2 post-graduation, reflecting career advancement and skill development in the first years after college.

663
Schools
$34,693
Avg. 2yr Earnings
#163
of 292 Majors
79,310
Graduates

Public vs Private: Criminal Justice and Corrections

Public (273 schools)
$34,353
avg. 2yr earnings
Private (254 schools)
$35,109
avg. 2yr earnings

Private schools produce $756 more in early earnings on average for Criminal Justice and Corrections graduates. Factor in tuition difference to calculate which offers better ROI.

Criminal Justice and Corrections by State

Texas
47 schools
$32,726
New York
38 schools
$35,393
Pennsylvania
35 schools
$34,053
California
29 schools
$33,668
Georgia
28 schools
$34,776
Ohio
27 schools
$38,274
North Carolina
27 schools
$31,467
Florida
25 schools
$34,600

Top Criminal Justice and Corrections Schools by Graduate Earnings

#1
U

Union Institute & University

Cincinnati, OH ·

$117,766
2yr Earnings
1yr: $114,947
Grads: 270
Acceptance: N/A
#2
H

Herzing University-Birmingham

Birmingham, AL · Private

$58,943
2yr Earnings
1yr: $52,717
Grads: 90
Acceptance: 94.5%
#3
H

Herzing University-Atlanta

Atlanta, GA · Private

$58,943
2yr Earnings
1yr: $52,717
Grads: 90
Acceptance: 94.1%
#4
H

Herzing University-Minneapolis

St. Louis Park, MN · Private

$58,943
2yr Earnings
1yr: $52,717
Grads: 90
Acceptance: 93.8%
#5
H

Herzing University-Akron

Akron, OH · Private

$58,943
2yr Earnings
1yr: $52,717
Grads: 90
Acceptance: 94.0%
#6
H

Herzing University-Madison

Madison, WI · Private

$58,943
2yr Earnings
1yr: $52,717
Grads: 90
Acceptance: 94.2%
#7
H

Herzing University-Orlando

Winter Park, FL · Private

$58,943
2yr Earnings
1yr: $52,717
Grads: 90
Acceptance: 89.9%
#8
H

Herzing University-New Orleans

Metairie, LA · Private

$58,943
2yr Earnings
1yr: $52,717
Grads: 90
Acceptance: 89.1%
#9
H

Herzing University-Kenosha

Kenosha, WI · Private

$58,943
2yr Earnings
1yr: $52,717
Grads: 90
Acceptance: 89.4%
#10
H

Herzing University-Brookfield

Brookfield, WI · Private

$58,943
2yr Earnings
1yr: $52,717
Grads: 90
Acceptance: 90.8%
#11
F

Farmingdale State College

Farmingdale, NY · Public

$57,318
2yr Earnings
1yr: $37,839
Grads: 179
Acceptance: 69.1%
#12
O

Oakland City University

Oakland City, IN · Private

$56,544
2yr Earnings
1yr: $45,808
Grads: 42
Acceptance: 68.2%
#13
S

Siena Heights University

Adrian, MI · Private

$55,338
2yr Earnings
1yr: $66,436
Grads: 66
Acceptance: 66.6%
#14
E

Excelsior University

Albany, NY ·

$53,358
2yr Earnings
1yr: $46,784
Grads: 55
Acceptance: N/A
#15
C

Central Christian College of Kansas

McPherson, KS · Private

$52,941
2yr Earnings
1yr: $54,338
Grads: 76
Acceptance: N/A
#16
G

George Washington University

Washington, DC · Private

$52,107
2yr Earnings
1yr: $40,192
Grads: 31
Acceptance: 43.5%
#17
A

American Public University System

Charles Town, WV ·

$51,899
2yr Earnings
1yr: $49,354
Grads: 407
Acceptance: N/A
#18
C

Colorado State University Global

Denver, CO · Public

$50,439
2yr Earnings
1yr: $50,031
Grads: 95
Acceptance: 92.9%
#19
B

Bethel University

McKenzie, TN · Private

$50,022
2yr Earnings
1yr: $47,898
Grads: 174
Acceptance: 97.2%
#20
S

Saint Mary's University of Minnesota

Winona, MN · Private

$49,631
2yr Earnings
1yr: $52,779
Grads: 29
Acceptance: 88.8%
#21
M

Marymount University

Arlington, VA · Private

$49,019
2yr Earnings
1yr: $44,543
Grads: 47
Acceptance: 80.5%
#22
U

University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus

Norman, OK · Public

$48,823
2yr Earnings
1yr: $48,204
Grads: 51
Acceptance: 76.5%
#23
C

Columbia Southern University

Orange Beach, AL ·

$48,667
2yr Earnings
1yr: $52,800
Grads: 142
Acceptance: N/A
#24
R

Reinhardt University

Waleska, GA · Private

$47,260
2yr Earnings
1yr: $56,089
Grads: 28
Acceptance: 55.2%
#25
U

University of Maryland Global Campus

Adelphi, MD ·

$46,527
2yr Earnings
1yr: $46,672
Grads: 302
Acceptance: N/A
#26
W

Walden University

Minneapolis, MN ·

$46,321
2yr Earnings
1yr: $46,339
Grads: 47
Acceptance: N/A
#27
C

Concordia University-Saint Paul

Saint Paul, MN · Private

$46,087
2yr Earnings
1yr: $47,698
Grads: 37
Acceptance: 74.9%
#28
W

Widener University

Chester, PA · Private

$46,087
2yr Earnings
1yr: $37,102
Grads: 34
Acceptance: 84.0%
#29
U

Utah Valley University

Orem, UT ·

$45,696
2yr Earnings
1yr: $41,727
Grads: 93
Acceptance: N/A
#30
U

University of Arkansas Grantham

LIttle Rock, AR ·

$45,696
2yr Earnings
1yr: $37,972
Grads: 66
Acceptance: N/A
#31
T

Thomas More University

Crestview Hills, KY · Private

$45,500
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 97.0%
#32
L

Lynn University

Boca Raton, FL · Private

$45,198
2yr Earnings
1yr: $37,834
Grads: 22
Acceptance: 74.0%
#33
A

American University

Washington, DC · Private

$45,175
2yr Earnings
1yr: $39,002
Grads: 45
Acceptance: 47.4%
#34
A

Anna Maria College

Paxton, MA · Private

$44,971
2yr Earnings
1yr: $27,563
Grads: 32
Acceptance: 89.6%
#35
S

Southern New Hampshire University

Manchester, NH · Private

$44,595
2yr Earnings
1yr: $40,917
Grads: 302
Acceptance: 96.1%
#36
U

University of New Hampshire College of Professional Studies Online

Manchester, NH ·

$44,170
2yr Earnings
1yr: $46,361
Grads: 24
Acceptance: N/A
#37
T

Texas Christian University

Fort Worth, TX · Private

$44,021
2yr Earnings
1yr: $38,562
Grads: 43
Acceptance: 42.6%
#38
M

Metropolitan State University

Saint Paul, MN · Public

$43,485
2yr Earnings
1yr: $42,056
Grads: 196
Acceptance: 96.5%
#39
A

Auburn University at Montgomery

Montgomery, AL · Public

$43,426
2yr Earnings
1yr: $24,957
Grads: 37
Acceptance: 92.6%
#40
S

Saint Cloud State University

Saint Cloud, MN · Public

$43,426
2yr Earnings
1yr: $43,607
Grads: 116
Acceptance: 95.0%
#41
G

George Mason University

Fairfax, VA · Public

$43,143
2yr Earnings
1yr: $40,661
Grads: 410
Acceptance: 88.8%
#42
C

Capella University

Minneapolis, MN ·

$42,712
2yr Earnings
1yr: $41,437
Grads: 55
Acceptance: N/A
#43
N

National University

San Diego, CA · Private

$42,682
2yr Earnings
1yr: $53,819
Grads: 83
Acceptance: N/A
#44
M

Minnesota State University-Mankato

Mankato, MN · Public

$42,682
2yr Earnings
1yr: $41,544
Grads: 157
Acceptance: 91.3%
#45
N

Norwich University

Northfield, VT · Private

$42,682
2yr Earnings
1yr: $39,043
Grads: 152
Acceptance: 73.6%
#46
N

Northeastern University

Boston, MA · Private

$42,363
2yr Earnings
1yr: $44,672
Grads: 48
Acceptance: 5.7%
#47
W

Westfield State University

Westfield, MA · Public

$42,123
2yr Earnings
1yr: $36,915
Grads: 296
Acceptance: 80.7%
#48
U

University of Massachusetts-Boston

Boston, MA · Public

$42,025
2yr Earnings
1yr: $43,068
Grads: 173
Acceptance: 83.0%
#49
B

Baldwin Wallace University

Berea, OH · Private

$41,937
2yr Earnings
1yr: $36,486
Grads: 26
Acceptance: 76.8%
#50
C

California Baptist University

Riverside, CA · Private

$41,789
2yr Earnings
1yr: $33,512
Grads: 66
Acceptance: 73.6%

Showing top 50 of 663 schools. View all or filter by state above.

Majors with Similar Earnings

Natural Resources Management and Policy $35,215 Agricultural Production Operations $34,898 Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution $34,823 Social Sciences, Other $34,758 Urban Studies/Affairs $34,682 Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology $34,495

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best school for Criminal Justice and Corrections?
Union Institute & University ranks #1 for Criminal Justice and Corrections with median graduate earnings of $117,766 within two years. There are 663 schools nationwide offering this major with tracked earnings data.
How much do Criminal Justice and Corrections graduates earn?
Criminal Justice and Corrections graduates earn an average of $34,693 within two years of graduation. This is near the median across all majors. Earnings range from $9,118 to $117,766 depending on the school.
How hard is it to get into a top Criminal Justice and Corrections program?
The average acceptance rate across Criminal Justice and Corrections programs is 79.1%. The most selective program is at Northeastern University with a 5.7% acceptance rate. Competitive programs value strong math/analytical skills and relevant coursework.
Is a public or private school better for Criminal Justice and Corrections?
Private Criminal Justice and Corrections programs average $35,109 in early earnings vs $34,353 at public schools. Private schools lead in earnings, but cost significantly more — calculate net price before deciding.

Data updated June 2026. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings are median 2 years after graduation for bachelor's degree holders.

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