55,297
Graduates Per Year
$41K
Average Salary
#8
Most Popular Major
TOP
10
Degree Stats
Popular
55,297
13% NATIONAL AVG
Diplomas Received Last Year
1,005
5% NATIONAL AVG
Colleges Offering this Degree
Most Popular Degrees
7
Biology
82,869
8
Criminal Justice
55,297
9
Communication and Media Studies
55,113
Most Widely Offered Degrees
35
/
1.852
Worse
Better
Top 100 Colleges offering this degree
Degree Granting Schools that are Public
Most Graduates
By Region
Southeast
Florida State University
By State
California
California State University-Sacramento
By Conference
Conference USA
Florida Atlantic University
By School
Chattahoochee Valley Community College
If you think life as a litigation paralegal, criminal justice lawyer, or public safety officer sounds interesting, then a degree in criminal justice may just be for you. You could even become a judge for corporate fraud cases!
Criminal justice is the 8th most popular degree in America, with 55,297 students receiving their bachelors degree last year. It just beat out #9 Communication and Media Studies, and narrowly lost to #7 Biology.
The degree is offered at a total of 1,005 colleges across the nation, and is the 16th most widely offered degree. It is only offered at 6% of the Top 100 Best Colleges in America.
It is also worth noting that a bit over 5/8ths of colleges offering criminal justice are public making it a quite accessible field.
The southeast produces the most criminal justice graduates, largely led by Florida State University, while it’s the Conference USA that leads conference totals. As far as states, California ranks highest, with particular help from California State University-Sacramento and San Diego State University.
All that being said, no individual school produces more criminal justice graduates than Chattahoochee Valley Community College, which graduated 1701 students last year alone. Although size is critical, another important factor to consider is the program’s density (the percent of all students that study criminal justice). More students studied criminal justice as a percentage of total students at Remington College-Dallas Campus than any other college.
We wish you luck on your college search. We hope you enjoy Authority's 2022 official Best Colleges for Criminal Justice list. Some of our picks may surprise you!
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#1 Best Colleges for Criminal Justice
CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice is a large public institution located in New York, NY ranked 62nd in New York. It has a total of 16,573 full-time undergraduate students and is not very competitive, with a 40.53% acceptance rate. CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice offers 65 different majors and is best known for its Criminal Justice, Forensic Psychology, and Public Administration programs (nationally ranked 1st, 1st, and 3rd respectively). With an annual tuition of $6,930 for in-state students and $14,880 for those from out-of-state, CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice is reasonably priced. 48.97% of students graduate beginning the next stage of their lives, entering the workforce. After graduation, alumni go on to take home around $44,900 per year, which is 8% greater than the national median.
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New York, NY
www.jjay.cuny.edu
B
Rating
41%
Acceptance
19,194
Students
# 127
Ranking
$14,880
Tuition
#2 Best Colleges for Criminal Justice
Read More
West Haven, CT
www.newhaven.edu
B
Rating
83%
Acceptance
7,634
Students
# 332
Ranking
$39,000
Tuition
#3 Best Colleges for Criminal Justice
Read More
Tallahassee, FL
www.fsu.edu
A
Rating
36%
Acceptance
46,825
Students
# 32
Ranking
$16,540
Tuition
#4 Best Colleges for Criminal Justice
Northeastern University is a very large private university located in Boston, MA ranked 36th in the nation. It has a total of 18,753 full-time undergraduate students and is quite competitive, with a 18.05% acceptance rate. Northeastern University offers 186 different majors and is best known for its Human Services, Physical Therapy, and Data Modeling and Database Administration programs (nationally ranked 1st, 2nd, and 2nd respectively). With an annual tuition of $52,420 per year, Northeastern University is exceptionally costly. 73.11% of students graduate beginning the next phase of their lives, working. After college, alumni go on to generate near $67,400 per year, which is 62% above the national median.
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Boston, MA
www.northeastern.edu
A+
Rating
18%
Acceptance
28,374
Students
# 35
Ranking
$52,420
Tuition
#5 Best Colleges for Criminal Justice
George Washington University is a very large private university located in Washington, DC ranked 69th in the nation. It has a total of 13,428 full-time undergraduate students and is not very competitive, accepting nearly 2 in every 5 applicants. George Washington University offers 462 different majors and is best known for its International Relations and Affairs, Computer and Information Systems Security, and Information Technology Administration and Management programs (nationally ranked 1st, 1st, and 2nd respectively). With an annual tuition of $56,845 per year, George Washington University is very pricey. 75.47% of students graduate ready to the next stage of their lives, working. After finishing their studies, alumni go on to earn roughly $69,600 per year, which is 68% greater than the national median.
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Washington, DC
https://www.gwu.edu
A+
Rating
41%
Acceptance
31,641
Students
# 62
Ranking
$56,845
Tuition
#6 Best Colleges for Criminal Justice
University of Central Florida is a very large public university located in Orlando, FL ranked 195th in America. It has a total of 68,412 full-time undergraduate students and is not very competitive, with a 44.36% acceptance rate. University of Central Florida offers 195 different majors and is best known for its Hospitality Management, Interdisciplinary Studies, and Physical Education programs, which are all nationally ranked 1st. With an annual tuition of $4,478 for in-state students and $19,810 for those from out-of-state, University of Central Florida is reasonably priced. 66.14% of students graduate beginning the next chapter of their lives, working. After college, alumni go on to make near $45,400 per year, which is 9% greater than the national median.
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Orlando, FL
www.ucf.edu/
A
Rating
44%
Acceptance
80,378
Students
# 52
Ranking
$19,810
Tuition
#7 Best Colleges for Criminal Justice
George Mason University is a very large public university located in Fairfax, VA ranked 285th in the nation. It has a total of 34,722 full-time undergraduate students and is not competitive, with a 86.74% acceptance rate. George Mason University offers 272 different majors and is best known for its Rhetoric and Composition, Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution, and Health Teacher Education programs (nationally ranked 1st, 2nd, and 4th respectively). With an annual tuition of $9,060 for students from Virginia and $32,520 for those from out-of-state, George Mason University is somewhat moderately costly. 72.25% of students graduate starting the next stage of their lives, entering the labor force. After college, alumni go on to make roughly $59,900 per year, which is 44% greater than the national median.
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Fairfax, VA
https://www2.gmu.edu/
A-
Rating
87%
Acceptance
48,678
Students
# 80
Ranking
$32,520
Tuition
#8 Best Colleges for Criminal Justice
San Diego State University is a very large public university located in San Diego, CA ranked 168th in the US. It has a total of 32,543 full-time undergraduate students and is somewhat competitive, with a 34.13% acceptance rate. San Diego State University offers 232 different majors and is best known for its Speech-Language Pathology, Gerontology, and Health and Fitness programs (nationally ranked 2nd, 4th, and 5th respectively). With an annual tuition of $5,742 for in-state students and $17,622 for those from out-of-state, San Diego State University is moderately priced. 72.69% of students graduate starting the next chapter of their lives, employment. After graduation, alumni go on to generate about $51,000 per year, which is 23% greater than the national median.
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San Diego, CA
www.sdsu.edu
A
Rating
34%
Acceptance
37,838
Students
# 43
Ranking
$17,622
Tuition
#9 Best Colleges for Criminal Justice
American University is a large private university located in Washington, DC ranked 107th in the nation. It has a total of 9,034 full-time undergraduate students and is somewhat competitive, accepting close to 3/8 of applicants. American University offers 199 different majors and is best known for its International Relations and Affairs, Recording Arts Technology, and Musical Theatre programs (nationally ranked 2nd, 4th, and 7th respectively). With an annual tuition of $49,070 per year, American University is very high-priced. 75.84% of students graduate beginning the next phase of their lives, joining the labor market. After graduation, alumni go on to make near $61,000 per year, which is 47% over the national median.
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Washington, DC
WWW.AMERICAN.EDU
A
Rating
36%
Acceptance
16,079
Students
# 93
Ranking
$49,070
Tuition
#10 Best Colleges for Criminal Justice
Syracuse University is a very large private university located in Syracuse, NY ranked 109th in the nation. It has a total of 28,546 full-time undergraduate students and is not very competitive, accepting 44.38% of applicants. Syracuse University offers 368 different majors and is best known for its Broadcast Journalism, Public Administration, and Photojournalism programs (nationally ranked 1st, 2nd, and 2nd respectively). With an annual tuition of $52,210 per year, Syracuse University is exceptionally high-priced. 77.41% of students graduate ready to the next phase of their lives, employment. After graduation, alumni go on to earn near $62,100 per year, which is 50% greater than the national median.
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Syracuse, NY
https://www.syracuse.edu
A
Rating
44%
Acceptance
38,110
Students
# 95
Ranking
$52,210
Tuition
#11 Best Colleges for Criminal Justice
Rutgers University-New Brunswick is a very large public university located in New Brunswick, NJ ranked 144th in the US. It has a total of 40,836 full-time undergraduate students and is not very competitive, accepting 61.22% of applicants. Rutgers University-New Brunswick offers 374 different majors and is best known for its Human Resources, Social Work, and Logistics, Materials, and Supply Chain Management programs (nationally ranked 2nd, 2nd, and 3rd respectively). With an annual tuition of $12,230 for students from New Jersey and $29,012 for those from out-of-state, Rutgers University-New Brunswick is somewhat moderately costly. 72.03% of students graduate beginning the next stage of their lives, employment. After college, alumni go on to draw more or less $57,900 per year, which is 39% above the national median.
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New Brunswick, NJ
https://newbrunswick.rutgers.edu
A
Rating
61%
Acceptance
57,162
Students
# 31
Ranking
$29,012
Tuition
#12 Best Colleges for Criminal Justice
University of Cincinnati-Main Campus is a very large public university located in Cincinnati, OH ranked 25th in Ohio. It has a total of 30,173 full-time undergraduate students and is not very competitive, with a 76.67% acceptance rate. University of Cincinnati-Main Campus offers 459 different majors and is best known for its Respiratory Care Therapy, Clinical Laboratory Science, and Commercial and Advertising Art programs (nationally ranked 2nd, 3rd, and 3rd respectively). With an annual tuition of $9,982 for in-state students and $25,316 for those from out-of-state, University of Cincinnati-Main Campus is somewhat moderately costly. 48.08% of students graduate starting the next phase of their lives, working. After finishing college, alumni go on to earn more or less $42,300 per year, which is 2% greater than the national median.
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Cincinnati, OH
www.uc.edu
C+
Rating
77%
Acceptance
43,692
Students
# 199
Ranking
$25,316
Tuition
#13 Best Colleges for Criminal Justice
Florida International University is a very large public university located in Miami, FL ranked 13th in Florida. It has a total of 59,764 full-time undergraduate students and is not very competitive, accepting roughly four out of seven applicants. Florida International University offers 250 different majors and is best known for its International Business, Clinical Nutrition Services, and Marketing programs (nationally ranked 1st, 1st, and 2nd respectively). With an annual tuition of $4,721 for in-state students and $16,529 for those from out-of-state, Florida International University is reasonably priced. 54.63% of students graduate beginning the next phase of their lives, working. After graduation, alumni go on to earn around $46,300 per year, which is 11% above the national median.
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Miami, FL
www.fiu.edu
B+
Rating
58%
Acceptance
72,780
Students
# 93
Ranking
$16,529
Tuition
#14 Best Colleges for Criminal Justice
Texas Christian University is a large private university located in Fort Worth, TX ranked 119th in the United States. It has a total of 9,780 full-time undergraduate students and is not very competitive, accepting 47.12% of applicants. Texas Christian University offers 199 different majors and is best known for its Computer Systems Analysis, Entrepreneurship, and Fashion Merchandising programs (nationally ranked 2nd, 3rd, and 3rd respectively). With an annual tuition of $49,160 per year, Texas Christian University is very expensive. 77.26% of students graduate ready to the next phase of their lives, working. After college, alumni go on to bring in close to $52,800 per year, which is 27% above the national median.
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Fort Worth, TX
www.tcu.edu/
A
Rating
47%
Acceptance
11,499
Students
# 98
Ranking
$49,160
Tuition
#15 Best Colleges for Criminal Justice
Rutgers University-Newark is a large public university located in Newark, NJ ranked 8th in New Jersey. It has a total of 10,928 full-time undergraduate students and is not very competitive, accepting 71.9% of applicants. Rutgers University-Newark offers 99 different majors and is best known for its Logistics, Materials, and Supply Chain Management, Criminal Justice, and Legal Studies programs (nationally ranked 9th, 15th, and 20th respectively). With an annual tuition of $12,230 for students from New Jersey and $29,012 for those from out-of-state, Rutgers University-Newark is somewhat moderately pricey. 72.03% of students graduate beginning the next phase of their lives, employment. After finishing their studies, alumni go on to draw roughly $57,900 per year, which is 39% greater than the national median.
Read More
Newark, NJ
https://www.newark.rutgers.edu
A-
Rating
72%
Acceptance
15,897
Students
# 84
Ranking
$29,012
Tuition
#16 Best Colleges for Criminal Justice
Michigan State University is a very large public university located in East Lansing, MI ranked 163rd in the US. It has a total of 42,492 full-time undergraduate students and is not very competitive, accepting 71.12% of applicants. Michigan State University offers 384 different majors and is best known for its Logistics, Materials, and Supply Chain Management, Pre-Law Studies, and Soil Sciences programs, which are all nationally ranked 1st. With an annual tuition of $14,460 for in-state students and $39,766 for those from out-of-state, Michigan State University is rather pricey. 76.24% of students graduate starting the next stage of their lives, entering the labor force. After college, alumni go on to take in close to $53,600 per year, which is 29% over the national median.
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East Lansing, MI
https://www.msu.edu
A
Rating
71%
Acceptance
55,332
Students
# 41
Ranking
$39,766
Tuition
#17 Best Colleges for Criminal Justice
University of Georgia is a very large public university located in Athens, GA ranked 127th in the nation. It has a total of 32,548 full-time undergraduate students and is not very competitive, with a 45.3% acceptance rate. University of Georgia offers 419 different majors and is best known for its Insurance, Landscape Architecture, and Mathematics Teacher Education programs, which are all nationally ranked 1st. With an annual tuition of $9,790 for in-state students and $28,830 for those from out-of-state, University of Georgia is reasonably expensive. 74.72% of students graduate moving on to the next chapter of their lives, employment. After finishing their studies, alumni go on to draw near $50,500 per year, which is 22% over the national median.
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Athens, GA
www.uga.edu
A
Rating
45%
Acceptance
42,708
Students
# 24
Ranking
$28,830
Tuition
#18 Best Colleges for Criminal Justice
Arizona State University-Skysong is a very large public university located in Scottsdale, AZ ranked 6th in Arizona. It has a total of 46,027 full-time undergraduate students and is not very competitive, accepting roughly 5 in 8 applicants. Arizona State University-Skysong offers 131 different majors and is best known for its Family and Consumer Economics, Organizational Leadership, and Community Organization and Advocacy programs (nationally ranked 1st, 3rd, and 6th respectively). With an annual tuition of $10,388 for students from Arizona and $18,980 for those from out-of-state, Arizona State University-Skysong is moderately priced. 60.21% of students graduate starting the next chapter of their lives, working. After finishing their studies, alumni go on to earn close to $47,700 per year, which is 15% above the national median.
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Scottsdale, AZ
www.asu.edu/
B
Rating
64%
Acceptance
58,961
Students
# 155
Ranking
$18,980
Tuition
#19 Best Colleges for Criminal Justice
University of Massachusetts-Lowell is a large public university located in Lowell, MA ranked 31st in Massachusetts. It has a total of 16,769 full-time undergraduate students and is not very competitive, with a 73.35% acceptance rate. University of Massachusetts-Lowell offers 188 different majors and is best known for its Information Science, Criminal Justice, and Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution programs (nationally ranked 18th, 19th, and 27th respectively). With an annual tuition of $15,078 for students from Massachusetts and $33,004 for those from out-of-state, University of Massachusetts-Lowell is reasonably pricey. 57.3% of students graduate beginning the next stage of their lives, working. After graduation, alumni go on to take home more or less $53,300 per year, which is 28% above the national median.
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Lowell, MA
www.uml.edu
B+
Rating
73%
Acceptance
22,084
Students
# 110
Ranking
$33,004
Tuition
#20 Best Colleges for Criminal Justice
Texas A & M University-College Station is a very large public university located in College Station, TX ranked 124th in the United States. It has a total of 56,527 full-time undergraduate students and is not very competitive, accepting something like 4 out of every 7 applicants. Texas A & M University-College Station offers 409 different majors and is best known for its Construction Engineering Technology, Fitness Administration, and Petroleum Engineering programs, which are all nationally ranked 1st. With an annual tuition of $8,532 for students from Texas and $34,981 for those from out-of-state, Texas A & M University-College Station is somewhat moderately high-priced. 76.91% of students graduate ready to the next chapter of their lives, joining the labor force. After finishing college, alumni go on to earn approximately $58,000 per year, which is 40% greater than the national median.
Read More
College Station, TX
https://www.tamu.edu
A
Rating
58%
Acceptance
73,267
Students
# 23
Ranking
$34,981
Tuition
#21 Best Colleges for Criminal Justice
California State University-Fullerton is a very large public institution located in Fullerton, CA ranked 41st in California. It has a total of 40,350 full-time undergraduate students and is not very competitive, accepting 52.69% of applicants. California State University-Fullerton offers 114 different majors and is best known for its Early Childhood Education and Teaching, Health and Fitness, and Human Services programs (nationally ranked 1st, 2nd, and 4th respectively). With an annual tuition of $5,742 for students from California and $17,622 for those from out-of-state, California State University-Fullerton is moderately priced. 70.58% of students graduate starting the next phase of their lives, entering the labor force. After college, alumni go on to take home more or less $47,200 per year, which is 14% above the national median.
Read More
Fullerton, CA
www.fullerton.edu
B+
Rating
53%
Acceptance
46,588
Students
# 98
Ranking
$17,622
Tuition
#22 Best Colleges for Criminal Justice
The College of New Jersey is a mid-sized public college located in Ewing, NJ ranked 166th in the nation. It has a total of 7,418 full-time undergraduate students and is not very competitive, with a 49.28% acceptance rate. The College of New Jersey offers 83 different majors and is best known for its Multimedia Art, Technology Teacher Education, and Art Teacher Education programs (nationally ranked 3rd, 5th, and 6th respectively). With an annual tuition of $13,239 for in-state students and $25,217 for those from out-of-state, The College of New Jersey is somewhat moderately expensive. 80.47% of students graduate ready to the next stage of their lives, joining the workforce. After college, alumni go on to make roughly $58,500 per year, which is 41% over the national median.
Read More
Ewing, NJ
https://www.tcnj.edu
A
Rating
49%
Acceptance
8,825
Students
# 42
Ranking
$25,217
Tuition
#23 Best Colleges for Criminal Justice
St John's University-New York is a very large private university located in Queens, NY ranked 47th in New York. It has a total of 18,300 full-time undergraduate students and is not very competitive, with a 72.34% acceptance rate. St John's University-New York offers 181 different majors and is best known for its Photojournalism, Physician Assistant Studies, and Mathematics Teacher Education programs (nationally ranked 3rd, 4th, and 6th respectively). With an annual tuition of $41,900 per year, St John's University-New York is quite pricey. 53.91% of students graduate starting the next chapter of their lives, entering the workforce. Open graduating, alumni go on to draw approximately $55,200 per year, which is 33% above the national median.
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Queens, NY
www.stjohns.edu
B+
Rating
72%
Acceptance
23,679
Students
# 247
Ranking
$41,900
Tuition
#24 Best Colleges for Criminal Justice
SUNY at Albany is a large public university located in Albany, NY ranked 43rd in New York. It has a total of 15,304 full-time undergraduate students and is not very competitive, accepting hardly shy of 5 out of 9 applicants. SUNY at Albany offers 248 different majors and is best known for its Homeland Security, Human Biology, and Informatics programs (nationally ranked 1st, 5th, and 5th respectively). With an annual tuition of $7,070 for in-state students and $24,660 for those from out-of-state, SUNY at Albany is somewhat moderately costly. 63.7% of students graduate beginning the next stage of their lives, employment. Open graduating, alumni go on to make near $51,500 per year, which is 24% over the national median.
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Albany, NY
www.albany.edu
A-
Rating
54%
Acceptance
20,325
Students
# 86
Ranking
$24,660
Tuition
#25 Best Colleges for Criminal Justice
Salve Regina University is a small private institution located in Newport, RI ranked 5th in Rhode Island. It has a total of 2,059 full-time undergraduate students and is not very competitive, accepting 73.78% of applicants. Salve Regina University offers 81 different majors and is best known for its International Economics, Criminal Justice, and Secondary Education and Teaching programs (nationally ranked 6th, 25th, and 33rd respectively). With an annual tuition of $40,750 per year, Salve Regina University is quite expensive. 68.18% of students graduate beginning the next chapter of their lives, working. Open graduating, alumni go on to earn approximately $53,500 per year, which is 29% over the national median.
Read More
Newport, RI
www.salve.edu
A-
Rating
74%
Acceptance
2,886
Students
# 222
Ranking
$40,750
Tuition