Best Criminal Justice Schools by Graduate Salary & ROI (2026)

629 schools ranked by DegreeOutlook Score · Updated 2026

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

What do Criminal Justice graduates do? See career paths and salaries →

Why a For-Profit Online School is #1

American Public University System’s #1 rank is driven by its laser focus on a specific student: active-duty military and federal employees. Its flexible online format is built for professionals seeking credentials for promotion within agencies like the DHS, FBI, and local police departments. This creates a powerful career pipeline, where a degree directly translates into advancement and higher pay, explaining its strong $57,409/yr post-graduation earnings and outranking of traditional universities.

The Surprising Power of Online Programs

It's shocking to see two for-profit, online universities—American Public University System (#1) and Columbia Southern University (#2)—beat every traditional program in the country. This isn't a fluke; it reveals that for many in law enforcement, a degree is a practical tool for promotion, not a four-year campus experience. These schools cater specifically to working adults who need flexibility, affordability, and a direct path to a career boost, a model that delivers high ROI (25.5x for Columbia Southern) and impressive earnings.

AI Won't Replace Cops, But It Will Change Their Desks

The 39.6% AI risk score means your core job as a police or corrections officer is safe—robots aren't patrolling streets or managing cell blocks. However, AI is rapidly automating the administrative side of justice, like writing reports, analyzing evidence, and reviewing compliance documents. Graduates will enter a field where tech literacy is no longer optional; your value will come from interpreting AI-generated data and making critical human judgments, not from manual paperwork.

Public Schools: The Undisputed ROI Champions

While online schools grab headlines, public institutions offer the smartest financial investment in this field. Look past the top 20 to find the true "hidden gems" like Indian River State College (#32), which delivers a staggering 42.9x ROI on a low $11,056 tuition. These schools leverage deep local ties to police and sheriff's departments, creating direct, affordable pipelines to stable careers that deliver exceptional value for your dollar.

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

All Criminal Justice 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

Scores calculated using College Scorecard, BLS, and AI task-exposure data. See full methodology →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best school for Criminal Justice?
Based on our DegreeOutlook Score, American Public University System ranks #1 for Criminal Justice with a score of 73/100 and graduate earnings of $57,409/yr.
How much do Criminal Justice graduates earn?
Across 629 schools, Criminal Justice graduates earn an average of $38,544/yr in their first year. The highest-earning program reports $68,956/yr.
Is Criminal Justice a good major for AI resistance?
Criminal Justice has an average AI task exposure of 40%, rated "Moderate". This field has moderate AI exposure — some career paths are more resilient than others.

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