Best Schools for Criminal Justice and Corrections in 2026

629 schools ranked by DegreeWorth Score · Updated 2026

These are the top schools offering Criminal Justice and Corrections, ranked by DegreeWorth Score. The score combines graduate earnings, AI automation resilience, job market demand, and return on tuition investment. The average Criminal Justice and Corrections graduate earns $38,544/yr across 629 schools.

Programs Ranked
629
Avg Earnings
$38,544/yr
Avg DW Score
51/100
AI Risk
Moderate
40% task exposure

All Criminal Justice and Corrections Programs Ranked

Click any row for full AI scenario analysis, earnings projections, and career path breakdown.

# School DW Score Earnings ROI
1 American Public University System
Charles Town, WV · Private for-profit
73
65–73
$57,409/yr 19.8x
2 Columbia Southern University
Orange Beach, AL · Private for-profit
73
65–73
$60,461/yr 25.5x
3 Colorado State University Global
Aurora, CO · Public
73
65–73
$61,786/yr 18.9x
4 University of Maryland Global Campus
Adelphi, MD · Public
72
64–73
$55,479/yr 20.5x
5 California State University-East Bay
Hayward, CA · Public
71
61–71
$45,387/yr 23.7x
6 Utah Valley University
Orem, UT · Public
68
58–68
$44,051/yr 23.4x
7 Herzing University-Birmingham
Birmingham, AL · Private nonprofit
67
60–68
$67,229/yr 10.9x
8 San Francisco State University
San Francisco, CA · Public
67
57–68
$42,211/yr 20.7x
9 Charter Oak State College
New Britain, CT · Public
67
60–67
$68,956/yr 19.3x
10 Herzing University-Atlanta
Atlanta, GA · Private nonprofit
67
60–68
$67,229/yr 10.9x
11 University of Baltimore
Baltimore, MD · Public
67
58–68
$48,991/yr 15.2x
12 Minnesota State University-Mankato
Mankato, MN · Public
67
57–67
$49,019/yr 15.2x
13 Metropolitan State University
Saint Paul, MN · Public
67
58–67
$52,125/yr 14.4x
14 Herzing University-Minneapolis
St. Louis Park, MN · Private nonprofit
67
60–68
$67,229/yr 10.9x
15 Herzing University-Akron
Akron, OH · Private nonprofit
67
60–68
$67,229/yr 10.9x
16 Herzing University-Madison
Madison, WI · Private nonprofit
67
60–68
$67,229/yr 10.9x
17 Herzing University-Orlando
Winter Park, FL · Private nonprofit
67
60–68
$67,229/yr 10.9x
18 Herzing University-New Orleans
Metairie, LA · Private nonprofit
67
60–68
$67,229/yr 10.9x
19 Herzing University-Kenosha
Kenosha, WI · Private nonprofit
67
60–68
$67,229/yr 10.9x
20 Herzing University-Brookfield
Brookfield, WI · Private nonprofit
67
60–68
$67,229/yr 10.9x
21 Sonoma State University
Rohnert Park, CA · Public
66
55–66
$38,444/yr 19.8x
22 Thomas University
Thomasville, GA · Private nonprofit
66
57–66
$52,991/yr 12.5x
23 Vincennes University
Vincennes, IN · Public
66
56–66
$46,644/yr 19.0x
24 Bemidji State University
Bemidji, MN · Public
66
57–67
$49,617/yr 14.2x
25 Winona State University
Winona, MN · Public
66
57–66
$48,861/yr 13.9x
26 University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus
Norman, OK · Public
66
57–66
$53,003/yr 14.2x
27 California State University-Sacramento
Sacramento, CA · Public
65
55–66
$38,606/yr 20.0x
28 Citadel Military College of South Carolina
Charleston, SC · Public
65
55–65
$45,235/yr 12.4x
29 Central Washington University
Ellensburg, WA · Public
65
55–66
$44,172/yr 15.8x
30 University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh
Oshkosh, WI · Public
65
55–66
$39,394/yr 18.8x
31 University of North Georgia
Dahlonega, GA · Public
65
54–65
$41,598/yr 25.8x
32 Indian River State College
Fort Pierce, FL · Public
64
54–65
$43,351/yr 42.9x
33 Frostburg State University
Frostburg, MD · Public
64
54–65
$40,844/yr 15.1x
34 Westfield State University
Westfield, MA · Public
64
54–64
$42,228/yr 13.2x
35 Worcester State University
Worcester, MA · Public
64
53–64
$41,132/yr 13.7x
36 Saint Cloud State University
Saint Cloud, MN · Public
64
54–64
$49,412/yr 13.1x
37 CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice
New York, NY · Public
64
53–64
$37,284/yr 19.8x
38 Lamar University
Beaumont, TX · Public
64
54–65
$43,707/yr 15.8x
39 Weber State University
Ogden, UT · Public
64
54–64
$43,281/yr 19.8x
40 George Mason University
Fairfax, VA · Public
64
54–64
$43,612/yr 11.7x
41 California State University-Long Beach
Long Beach, CA · Public
63
53–63
$34,247/yr 21.5x
42 National University
San Diego, CA · Private nonprofit
63
56–64
$64,143/yr 9.7x
43 Polk State College
Winter Haven, FL · Public
63
53–64
$40,808/yr 35.8x
44 Bowie State University
Bowie, MD · Public
63
53–64
$41,367/yr 15.6x
45 Bridgewater State University
Bridgewater, MA · Public
63
53–63
$43,735/yr 12.6x
46 Fitchburg State University
Fitchburg, MA · Public
63
52–63
$43,418/yr 12.8x
47 Siena Heights University
Adrian, MI · Private nonprofit
63
56–63
$67,009/yr 4.9x
48 Western Carolina University
Cullowhee, NC · Public
63
53–64
$38,682/yr 28.5x
49 University of Houston-Downtown
Houston, TX · Public
63
53–63
$42,122/yr 16.9x
50 University of Wisconsin-Platteville
Platteville, WI · Public
63
53–64
$41,636/yr 16.3x

Methodology

Programs are ranked by DegreeWorth Score, which combines four equally weighted factors: graduate earnings (Year 1 after graduation), AI automation resilience (based on OpenAI and academic research), job market size (BLS annual openings), and earnings-to-tuition multiple (10-year projected earnings vs. 4-year tuition).

Earnings data comes from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, which reports actual median earnings of graduates — not self-reported surveys.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best school for Criminal Justice and Corrections?
Based on our DegreeWorth Score, American Public University System ranks #1 for Criminal Justice and Corrections with a score of 73/100 and graduate earnings of $57,409/yr.
How much do Criminal Justice and Corrections graduates earn?
Across 629 schools, Criminal Justice and Corrections graduates earn an average of $38,544/yr in their first year. The highest-earning program reports $68,956/yr.
Is Criminal Justice and Corrections a good major for AI resistance?
Criminal Justice and Corrections has an average AI task exposure of 40%, rated "Moderate". This field has moderate AI exposure — some career paths are more resilient than others.
Data: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (earnings, debt), Bureau of Labor Statistics 2024–2034 (employment projections), OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs research (AI task exposure), Felten et al. AIOE. Last updated 2025.