### SUMMARY

 Majoring in Criminal Justice is a valuable choice and commonly a necessary first step for scholars aspiring to pursue a career as a litigation paralegal, a criminal justice lawyer, or a public safety officer. In fact, nationally, criminal justice is a very popular major choice, ranking as the 8th most popular area of study. Last year alone, there were 55,297 criminal justice diplomas received. In-state tuition for criminal justice at private colleges is, on average, 3 times more spendy than their public rivals.

 With an impressive 1005 institutions offering criminal justice odds are that any colleges you are interested in will have an option for you. If you're hoping to surround yourself with other criminal justice students, consider universities in California which have the most undergrads admitted to criminal justice annually. More generally, the best region to get a degree in criminal justice is in the Southeast region with [Florida State University](/colleges/florida-state-university), [Liberty University](/colleges/liberty-university), and [American Public University System](/colleges/american-public-university-system) best representing the region. Interestingly, our selection of the top conference to major in criminal justice is the Conference USA with [Florida Atlantic University](/colleges/florida-atlantic-university), [Florida International University](/colleges/florida-international-university), and [The University of Texas at El Paso](/colleges/the-university-of-texas-at-el-paso) representing the conference. From our comprehensive list of the [best colleges](/rankings/best-colleges), our belief is that the best university for criminal justice is [Northeastern University](/colleges/northeastern-university).

 The objectively 'best' school does not have to be the 'best' school for every student. There might be lots of facets to consider when deciding on institution. Things such as campus amenities, transportation services, and food would definitely modify one's decision on where to go to school. At Authority, we have weighed the pros and cons for you. If, for example, you want to know which criminal justice university has the top campus, the answer is [Northeastern University](/colleges/northeastern-university). If you are very interested in which college is home to the best campus, we have a whole page [dedicated to that](/rankings/best-college-campuses). We have carefully pored through student reviews, professor reviews, government databases, and more so we can compare every major in an unbiased and informative way. You can find our well researched list for the schools with the [best student life](/rankings/best-student-life)&nbsphere and, from that list, our choice for the university with the best student life for criminal justice is [The College of New Jersey](/colleges/the-college-of-new-jersey). Curious why? Keep scrolling to discover more about our top choices. Some of our decisions will probably surprise you.

 If expense is a primary influence in your decision on where to go to college, you might consider avoiding [George Washington University](/colleges/george-washington-university). [George Washington University](/colleges/george-washington-university)&nbspappears to be our most expensive school for criminal justice, at least for out of state enrollment. That being said, we have a list of the [most expensive](/rankings/most-expensive-colleges)&nbspschools that could put the expense of [George Washington University](/colleges/george-washington-university)&nbspinto perspective. For more context, you may be interested to know that criminal justice is the 156th most expensive major in the US, with an average associated cost of $33,100. To zoom out a little, the most costly state for criminal justice nationally is Vermont with expenses at the primary three schools amounting to $27,984 at Castleton University, equalling $41,728 at Champlain College, and costs amounting to $41,728 at Norwich University. Even more broadly, the most expensive region for criminal justice is the New England region which is best demonstrated with [Quinnipiac University](/colleges/quinnipiac-university) with a cost of $46,790, [Sacred Heart University](/colleges/sacred-heart-university) with a cost of $42,800, and [Northeastern University](/colleges/northeastern-university) with a cost of $52,420.

 Our cheapest region for criminal justice is the Rocky Mountains region which is represented by [Colorado Technical University-Colorado Springs](/colleges/colorado-technical-university-colorado-springs) with a cost of $11,896, [Aspen University](/colleges/aspen-university) with a cost of $3,600, and [Colorado State University-Global Campus](/colleges/colorado-state-university-global-campus) with a cost of $8,400. In better news, the most affordable college for criminal justice is [CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice](/colleges/cuny-john-jay-college-of-criminal-justice). Authority.org's full list of the most affordable colleges can be explored [here](/rankings/most-affordable-colleges).

 In-state learners can expect to pay around $9,200 for a degree in criminal justice. That price swells by a lot to an average of $19,400 for the out-of-state public-school undergrad. On that note, our selection for the college constituting the best value for criminal justice: [George Washington University](/colleges/george-washington-university). Through this link you will see our comprehensive list for the schools we see as being the [best value](/rankings/best-value-colleges)&nbspoverall. That being said, this idea is based on out-of-state tuition costs. A discussion of value changes when in-state tuition costs are considered, as such, we are using out-of-state tuition as the baseline.

 Earnings for criminal justice majors can cover a wide range, but within two-years of leaving college students will typically make around $41,100. While there is a lot of variation in salary; highest paid earners can rake in up to $80,300. Even straight out of college, the minimum earning positions within the criminal justice field make $20,000, which could be worse. The highest earning grads for criminal justice have come from [Northeastern University](/colleges/northeastern-university)&nbspand if you want to find the universities with all of the [highest earning graduates](/rankings/highest-earning-graduates), we have that too.

 The overall diversity of criminal justice stands high, being within the 81st percentile of majors nationally. The college with the highest composite diversity for criminal justice is [George Washington University](/colleges/george-washington-university)&nbspand here you can find our general list of the colleges which have the [most diversity](/rankings/most-diverse-colleges). The overall financial diversity of Criminal Justice ranks only within the 53rd percentile of all majors. Racial diversity is actually above financial diversity, ranking in the 77th percentile. White collegians compose the largest share, 51%, of students studying criminal justice. Additionally, 55% of undergrads pursuing a criminal justice major are women.

 The median rating for criminal justice's professors is 4.3 stars, a score which is 8% greater than the average score across every major; this is a fairly good score. If you are searching for the most popular criminal justice professor in the country, look no further than Douglas Klutz from [The University of Alabama](/colleges/the-university-of-alabama). It might come as a surprise, but the best rated professors for criminal justice from student rankings come from [CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice](/colleges/cuny-john-jay-college-of-criminal-justice). If we consider data other than simply rankings it becomes clear that the school possessing the best professors for criminal justice is [Northeastern University](/colleges/northeastern-university). You can find more detail on our ever evolving ranking methodology for the [best overall professors here](/rankings/best-professors), along with some of the best examples of professors in the U.S.

 Finally, the most difficult college to get into for criminal justice is [Northeastern University](/colleges/northeastern-university). While we think of this list more as a novelty, we have a general list for the [hardest colleges to get into](/rankings/hardest-colleges-to-get-into). That being said, here at Authority we do hope you understand that looking at higher education with a lens only formed from superlatives can cause issues. We hope you look at some of our more nuanced pages on individual topics and read some of Authority's background pages on beneficial details to look for as you continue your school search.



 ### POPULARITY

 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](/rankings/best-colleges-for-communication-and-media-studies), and narrowly lost to #7 [Biology](/rankings/best-colleges-for-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](/rankings/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](/colleges/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](/colleges/california-state-university-sacramento) and [San Diego State University](/colleges/san-diego-state-university).

 All that being said, no individual school produces more criminal justice graduates than [Chattahoochee Valley Community College](/colleges/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](/colleges/remington-college-dallas-campus) than any other college.



 ### COST

 Criminal justice is the 156th most expensive major in the US, with a median cost of $33,137 for the top 50 programs (just ahead of #157, [Molecular Biology](rankings/best-colleges-for-molecular-biology), with a median cost of $33,128).

 New England has the most expensive schools with great criminal justice programs predominantly led by [Quinnipiac University](/colleges/quinnipiac-university) with an annual cost of $46,790. The most expensive state for criminal justice is Vermont led by [Castleton University](/colleges/castleton-university) and [Champlain College](/colleges/champlain-college).

 Public schools with good programs by and large charge 67.16% less than private schools for in-state students. However, when looking at out-of-state tuition, the median top 50 Public school charges 30.59% less than the median private school. So, if you're applying to a state school, make sure you're eligible for in-state tuition sooner rather than later.

 The most expensive option in the top 25 is [George Washington University](/colleges/george-washington-university), which is the 19th most expensive college in the nation. The most affordable option in the top 100 is [Citadel Military College of South Carolina](/colleges/citadel-military-college-of-south-carolina). It costs just $75 per year, but it is its criminal justice program is ranked #55. If you’re looking for a higher ranked, but still affordable school, [CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice](/colleges/cuny-john-jay-college-of-criminal-justice)  is probably right for you, ranked #1 with an in-state cost of just $6,930. Another more affordable option would be #13, [Florida International University](/colleges/florida-international-university) in Miami-Dade County, FL with a cost of $4,721 for in-state students and $16,529 for out-of-state students.



### SALARY

 College is a massive investment for most people. It's important to make sure you are well positioned to justify that investment. We aim for the following career and income info to assist you in making a well informed decision when picking your focus.

 Right out of university, Criminal Justice majors take home $36,101 per annum on average (close to national median 58th percentile). With experience in their jobs, they can make up to $80,316 to as little as $19,990, but average about $41,084. For context, that is 6% greater than average.

 The most common job title for a Criminal Justice graduate is Analyst, which ordinarily make more or less $54,000; next are Sales Consultant and Service Officer, which predominantly make about $36,000 and $34,000 respectively.

 The most well paid region for Criminal Justice graduates is New England. The best paid state for Criminal Justice graduates is WV. The highest grossing conference for Criminal Justice graduates is Division II Independents.



### PROFESSORS

 Fast Facts for Criminal Justice: Median Professor Rating: 4.3 / 5, which is Top 100.

 Professors often have a monumental influence your college experience, regardless of your focus. An effective instructor might provide inspiration and even make a difficult subject seem easy. On the flip side, an ineffective professor can bring unnecessary frustration or even worse... flunk you!

 Professors of Criminal Justice boast a median student rating of 4.3 / 5, putting them in 56th place in the United States grounded in overall professor quality. For context a 4.3 rating is 7.5% greater than the national median professor rating for all subjects. Professors of Criminal Justice barely surpassed those from ["Organizational Behavior Studies"](/rankings/best-colleges-for-organizational-behavior-studies), whereas ["Apparel and Textiles"](/rankings/best-colleges-for-apparel-and-textiles)&nbspprofessors ranked one slot above Criminal Justice.

 Now for some statistics about Criminal Justice professors. Colleges located in fringe rural areas tend to have the best Criminal Justice professors. The USA South Athletic Conference has the highest rated Criminal Justice professors. The Mid East region has the highest rated Criminal Justice professors. Public colleges tend to have higher rated Criminal Justice professors than private institutions. Finally, Montana has the highest rated Criminal Justice professors in America.

 Douglas Klutz, instructor at [The University of Alabama](/colleges/the-university-of-alabama)&nbspin Tuscaloosa, AL is the most popular Criminal Justice professor in the US. Douglas Klutz, professor at [The University of Alabama](/colleges/the-university-of-alabama)&nbspin Tuscaloosa, AL is the highest rated Criminal Justice professor in America, with a rating of 5 / 5.

 Learn which institutions have the [Best Professors](/rankings/best-professors)!



### STUDENTS

 College can be an incredibly meaningful time in one's life; it's an opportunity for individual progress and maturation. Undergraduates try to find out who they are as people and build many of the rudimentary skills to be a thriving adult. But learning is deeper than what one learns in a classroom environment - the interactions which one has with her classmates, the life lesson gained from a tenured professor, the exposure to a different outlook. As such, attending a diverse college tremendously enriches what you gain from your time spent at university.

 Criminal Justice is a more racially diverse subject than average\*. 51% of the US' Criminal Justice majors are white students, followed by latino students (25%), black students (13%), and students of other races\*\*(6%). The most racially diverse college\* in the top 100 is [University of Nevada-Las Vegas](/colleges/university-of-nevada-las-vegas) located in Las Vegas, NV.

 Additionally, Criminal Justice significatly skews female, with 55% of students majoring in Criminal Justice identifying as women. The most gender balanced school in the top 100 is [Adelphi University](/colleges/adelphi-university) in Garden City, NY.

 Another critical type of diversity is class diversity. Criminal Justice is around average for economic diversity (47th percentile). 29% of its majors come from high income homes, 16% are from middle income households, and 25% grew up in homes that earn less than $30,000 a year. [University of North Carolina at Charlotte](/colleges/university-of-north-carolina-at-charlotte) has the most socioeconomically diverse students in the top 100.

 Considering each type of diversity, overall NV is the most diverse state for Criminal Justice. The Mid East is the most diverse region, and the Atlantic 10 Conference is the most diverse conference.

   \* diversity calculations and comparisons are based on [Simpson's Diversity Index](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diversity_index)   
  \*\* other races is used to refer to non asian, black, latino, or white

  #### Diversity Statistics

  ##### Racial Diversity

 * Asian: 5%
* Black: 13%
* Latino: 25%
* White: 51%
* Other: 6%
  ##### Gender Diversity

 * Male: 45%
* Female: 55%
  ##### Socioeconomic Diversity (By Household Income)

 * Under 30k: 25%
* 30k - 48k: 15%
* 48k - 75k: 16%
* 75k - 110k: 15%
* Over 110k: 29%
  ##### Geographic Diversity

 * In State: 73%
* Out of State: 24%
* International: 4%


CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice

Florida State University

University of Pennsylvania

Boston University

University of Florida

University of South Florida

University of California-Irvine

Monroe College

Florida International University

Northeastern University

University of Miami

Liberty University

Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University

Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus

Ohio State University-Main Campus

University of Georgia

Rutgers University-New Brunswick

University of Maryland-College Park

American University

University of Alabama at Birmingham

California State University-Long Beach

Texas Christian University

University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus

University of South Florida-Sarasota-Manatee

Villanova University

Search for the best Criminal Justice colleges according to your filter parameters.

2023 Criminal Justice Salary

There are about 552,699 students enrolled in Criminal Justice in the USA.

SALARY