Criminal Justice is a field that includes the study of the criminal mind and behavior. It also covers the inner workings of government corrections and law enforcement agencies. Students could also study criminal and constitutional law, scientific forensics, and more.
This exciting major can serve as a foundation for a career in law enforcement, or it may be a springboard into law school. There are many opportunities a degree in criminal justice could unlock. Here, we have assembled a comprehensive list of the very best criminal justice programs in the United States. Each is unique in its own right, and students should investigate each to determine the best college for them. You might want to consider factors such as academics, internships, location, and whether programs are available online. Once students launch from one of these excellent criminal justice degree programs, the sky is the limit.
Why a Criminal Justice Major?
A criminal justice major is an excellent choice for students interested in understanding the complexities of crime, law enforcement, and the justice system. This field provides a comprehensive overview of how laws are created, enforced, and interpreted, while also examining the social issues that contribute to criminal behavior and justice system outcomes. Pursuing a criminal justice degree opens the door to a variety of career paths, including law enforcement, criminal law, corrections, social work, forensic science, and criminology. This field is particularly well-suited for individuals passionate about making a positive impact on their communities and those who want to contribute to the fair administration of justice.
What to Look for in These Programs
When choosing a criminal justice program, ensure that it is accredited by a recognized body like the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences (ACJS), or at least has regional accreditation from your local CHEA-approved accreditor. Accreditation guarantees that the program meets high academic standards and is respected by employers and graduate schools. You should also look for a program that offers a well-rounded curriculum, covering key areas such as criminal law, criminology, ethics, and forensic science. Some programs also provide specializations like cyber-crime or juvenile justice, allowing you to focus on areas that align with your career goals.
Practical experience can also be essential in criminal justice. Check if the program offers internships, field placements, or partnerships with law enforcement and criminal justice agencies. These opportunities help build real-world skills and provide valuable networking connections. You can also research each program’s job placement rates and the success of its graduates in securing employment. A strong alumni network can also be a helpful resource for career guidance and job opportunities in the criminal justice field.
Finally, you might want to consider the program’s flexibility. Some schools offer online courses or evening classes to accommodate working students. If you're looking to finish your degree quickly, check if the program offers accelerated options. All of these things can help you to find a program that is the absolute best option for you.
Top 25 Best Campus Criminal Justice Colleges
Boston University
Score: 88
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $65,168
- Out-of-State:$65,168
- Net Price: $27,829
- Acceptance Rate: 14%
- Retention Rate: 94%
- Graduation Rate: 89%
- Total Enrollment: 36,714
- Undergrad Students: 18,459
- Graduate Students: 18,255
- Grads Salary: $85,000
- Student-to-faculty: 11:1
Northeastern University
Score: 85.7
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $63,141
- Out-of-State:$63,141
- Net Price: $35,827
- Acceptance Rate: 7%
- Retention Rate: 97%
- Graduation Rate: 91%
- Total Enrollment: 30,013
- Undergrad Students: 16,302
- Graduate Students: 13,711
- Grads Salary: $87,000
- Student-to-faculty: 16:1
Rutgers University-New Brunswick
Score: 84.61
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $17,239
- Out-of-State:$36,001
- Net Price: $17,535
- Acceptance Rate: 66%
- Retention Rate: 92%
- Graduation Rate: 84%
- Total Enrollment: 50,637
- Undergrad Students: 36,344
- Graduate Students: 14,293
- Grads Salary: $81,000
- Student-to-faculty: 15:1
San Diego State University
Score: 83.52
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $8,290
- Out-of-State:$20,170
- Net Price: $13,017
- Acceptance Rate: 39%
- Retention Rate: 89%
- Graduation Rate: 78%
- Total Enrollment: 37,402
- Undergrad Students: 32,194
- Graduate Students: 5,208
- Grads Salary: $82,000
- Student-to-faculty: 25:1
Florida State University
Score: 83.49
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $5,656
- Out-of-State:$18,786
- Net Price: $14,003
- Acceptance Rate: 25%
- Retention Rate: 94%
- Graduation Rate: 85%
- Total Enrollment: 44,161
- Undergrad Students: 32,936
- Graduate Students: 11,225
- Grads Salary: $71,000
- Student-to-faculty: 17:1
University of Georgia
Score: 83.05
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $11,180
- Out-of-State:$30,220
- Net Price: $17,180
- Acceptance Rate: 43%
- Retention Rate: 94%
- Graduation Rate: 88%
- Total Enrollment: 40,607
- Undergrad Students: 30,714
- Graduate Students: 9,893
- Grads Salary: $73,000
- Student-to-faculty: 17:1
California State University-Long Beach
Score: 82.54
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $7,008
- Out-of-State:$18,888
- Net Price: $9,346
- Acceptance Rate: 40%
- Retention Rate: 85%
- Graduation Rate: 73%
- Total Enrollment: 38,973
- Undergrad Students: 32,931
- Graduate Students: 6,042
- Grads Salary: $79,000
- Student-to-faculty: 22:1
The Pennsylvania State University
Score: 81.3
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $20,234
- Out-of-State:$40,188
- Net Price: $26,747
- Acceptance Rate: 55%
- Retention Rate: 91%
- Graduation Rate: 83%
- Total Enrollment: 50,028
- Undergrad Students: 41,745
- Graduate Students: 8,283
- Grads Salary: $81,000
- Student-to-faculty: 15:1
Indiana University-Bloomington
Score: 80.36
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $11,790
- Out-of-State:$40,482
- Net Price: $16,234
- Acceptance Rate: 82%
- Retention Rate: 90%
- Graduation Rate: 81%
- Total Enrollment: 47,005
- Undergrad Students: 35,660
- Graduate Students: 11,345
- Grads Salary: $76,000
- Student-to-faculty: 17:1
Rutgers University-Newark
Score: 79.59
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $16,586
- Out-of-State:$35,348
- Net Price: $16,578
- Acceptance Rate: 74%
- Retention Rate: 82%
- Graduation Rate: 66%
- Total Enrollment: 11,017
- Undergrad Students: 7,511
- Graduate Students: 3,506
- Grads Salary: $82,000
- Student-to-faculty: 13:1
Michigan State University
Score: 79.08
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $15,988
- Out-of-State:$43,372
- Net Price: $22,803
- Acceptance Rate: 88%
- Retention Rate: 89%
- Graduation Rate: 82%
- Total Enrollment: 50,023
- Undergrad Students: 39,201
- Graduate Students: 10,822
- Grads Salary: $79,000
- Student-to-faculty: 17:1
George Mason University
Score: 78.85
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $13,815
- Out-of-State:$39,397
- Net Price: $18,479
- Acceptance Rate: 90%
- Retention Rate: 85%
- Graduation Rate: 71%
- Total Enrollment: 39,049
- Undergrad Students: 27,014
- Graduate Students: 12,035
- Grads Salary: $82,000
- Student-to-faculty: 16:1
George Washington University
Score: 78.63
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $64,990
- Out-of-State:$64,990
- Net Price: $42,723
- Acceptance Rate: 49%
- Retention Rate: 90%
- Graduation Rate: 85%
- Total Enrollment: 25,939
- Undergrad Students: 11,482
- Graduate Students: 14,457
- Grads Salary: $85,000
- Student-to-faculty: 12:1
University of Arizona
Score: 77.63
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $13,626
- Out-of-State:$41,095
- Net Price: $17,075
- Acceptance Rate: 87%
- Retention Rate: 86%
- Graduation Rate: 68%
- Total Enrollment: 49,403
- Undergrad Students: 38,751
- Graduate Students: 10,652
- Grads Salary: $80,000
- Student-to-faculty: 17:1
Iowa State University
Score: 76.75
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $10,497
- Out-of-State:$27,683
- Net Price: $15,310
- Acceptance Rate: 90%
- Retention Rate: 86%
- Graduation Rate: 74%
- Total Enrollment: 29,969
- Undergrad Students: 25,241
- Graduate Students: 4,728
- Grads Salary: $74,000
- Student-to-faculty: 18:1
Saint Louis University
Score: 76.52
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $53,244
- Out-of-State:$53,244
- Net Price: $29,651
- Acceptance Rate: 85%
- Retention Rate: 87%
- Graduation Rate: 81%
- Total Enrollment: 15,755
- Undergrad Students: 10,662
- Graduate Students: 5,093
- Grads Salary: $75,000
- Student-to-faculty: 9:1
Drexel University
Score: 76.42
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $60,663
- Out-of-State:$60,663
- Net Price: $39,267
- Acceptance Rate: 80%
- Retention Rate: 87%
- Graduation Rate: 78%
- Total Enrollment: 22,344
- Undergrad Students: 14,021
- Graduate Students: 8,323
- Grads Salary: $84,000
- Student-to-faculty: 9:1
Temple University
Score: 76.09
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $22,082
- Out-of-State:$37,462
- Net Price: $23,935
- Acceptance Rate: 80%
- Retention Rate: 84%
- Graduation Rate: 78%
- Total Enrollment: 33,196
- Undergrad Students: 24,106
- Graduate Students: 9,090
- Grads Salary: $73,000
- Student-to-faculty: 12:1
Arizona State University
Score: 76.02
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $12,051
- Out-of-State:$32,193
- Net Price: $14,808
- Acceptance Rate: 90%
- Retention Rate: 85%
- Graduation Rate: 67%
- Total Enrollment: 80,065
- Undergrad Students: 65,492
- Graduate Students: 14,573
- Grads Salary: $77,000
- Student-to-faculty: 19:1
CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice
Score: 75.45
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $7,470
- Out-of-State:$15,420
- Net Price: $5,001
- Acceptance Rate: 51%
- Retention Rate: 76%
- Graduation Rate: 54%
- Total Enrollment: 13,921
- Undergrad Students: 12,061
- Graduate Students: 1,860
- Grads Salary: $71,000
- Student-to-faculty: 16:1
Niagara University
Score: 75.42
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $38,135
- Out-of-State:$38,135
- Net Price: $18,165
- Acceptance Rate: 90%
- Retention Rate: 79%
- Graduation Rate: 72%
- Total Enrollment: 3,858
- Undergrad Students: 2,709
- Graduate Students: 1,149
- Grads Salary: $72,000
- Student-to-faculty: 11:1
Rochester Institute of Technology
Score: 74.49
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $57,016
- Out-of-State:$57,016
- Net Price: $39,600
- Acceptance Rate: 67%
- Retention Rate: 85%
- Graduation Rate: 72%
- Total Enrollment: 16,615
- Undergrad Students: 13,940
- Graduate Students: 2,675
- Grads Salary: $85,000
- Student-to-faculty: 13:1
Lincoln Memorial University
Score: 74.22
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $26,150
- Out-of-State:$26,150
- Net Price: $19,162
- Acceptance Rate: 78%
- Retention Rate: 77%
- Graduation Rate: 51%
- Total Enrollment: 5,418
- Undergrad Students: 1,560
- Graduate Students: 3,858
- Grads Salary: $80,000
- Student-to-faculty: 8:1
University of North Florida
Score: 73.99
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $6,389
- Out-of-State:$20,793
- Net Price: $11,338
- Acceptance Rate: 71%
- Retention Rate: 80%
- Graduation Rate: 68%
- Total Enrollment: 16,406
- Undergrad Students: 14,171
- Graduate Students: 2,235
- Grads Salary: $68,000
- Student-to-faculty: 19:1
Creighton University
Score: 73.99
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $47,000
- Out-of-State:$47,000
- Net Price: $32,877
- Acceptance Rate: 76%
- Retention Rate: 92%
- Graduation Rate: 78%
- Total Enrollment: 8,397
- Undergrad Students: 4,290
- Graduate Students: 4,107
- Grads Salary: $73,000
- Student-to-faculty: 11:1
