Best Colleges for Criminal Justice

Find the leading schools for criminal justice and criminology majors pursuing careers in law enforcement, corrections, legal advocacy, and public safety policy. This ranking evaluates internship placements, faculty practitioner experience, and career outcomes so you can choose a program that combines academic rigor with real-world preparation for protecting and serving communities.

162 schools ranked in this list.

RankSchool
#1Neumann UniversityAston, PA, 19014
#2The Citadel, the Military College of South CarolinaCharleston, SC, 29409
#3Elmira CollegeElmira, NY, 14901
#4Farmingdale State College--SUNYFarmingdale, NY, 11735
#5Florida State UniversityTallahassee, FL, 32306
#6Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona BeachDaytona Beach, FL, 32114
#7Elizabeth City State UniversityElizabeth City, NC, 27909
#8Robert Morris UniversityMoon Township, PA, 15108
#9Florida A&M UniversityTallahassee, FL, 32307
#10Dillard UniversityNew Orleans, LA, 70122
#11Claflin UniversityOrangeburg, SC, 29115
#12Rutgers University--NewarkNewark, NJ, 07102
#13Jackson State UniversityJackson, MS, 39217
#14Keiser UniversityFort Lauderdale, FL, 33309
#15Rutgers University--CamdenCamden, NJ, 08102
#16George Mason UniversityFairfax, VA, 22030
#17San Diego State UniversitySan Diego, CA, 92182
#18Johnson C. Smith UniversityCharlotte, NC, 28216
#19Stonehill CollegeEaston, MA, 02357
#20California State University--FresnoFresno, CA, 93740
#21American UniversityWashington, DC, 20016
#22Husson UniversityBangor, ME, 04401
#23Stockton UniversityGalloway, NJ, 08205
#24La Salle UniversityPhiladelphia, PA, 19141
#25St. John's University (NY)Queens, NY, 11439
#26Sam Houston State UniversityHuntsville, TX, 77340
#27Gannon UniversityErie, PA, 16541
#28Regent UniversityVirginia Beach, VA, 23464
#29Bowling Green State UniversityBowling Green, OH, 43403
#30Alvernia UniversityReading, PA, 19607
#31Gwynedd Mercy UniversityGwynedd Valley, PA, 19437
#32Eastern Kentucky UniversityRIchmond, KY, 40475
#33Ferris State UniversityBig Rapids, MI, 49307
#34University of Nevada--RenoReno, NV, 89557
#35University of WyomingLaramie, WY, 82071
#36East Texas A&M UniversityCommerce, TX, 75429
#37Texas State UniversitySan Marcos, TX, 78666
#38Kean UniversityUnion, NJ, 07083
#39University of Nebraska OmahaOmaha, NE, 68182
#40The University of Texas--El PasoEl Paso, TX, 79968
#41The University of AkronAkron, OH, 44325
#42Massachusetts Maritime AcademyBuzzards Bay, MA, 02532
#43CUNY--John Jay College of Criminal JusticeNew York, NY, 10019
#44La Sierra UniversityRiverside, CA, 92515
#45Monroe UniversityBronx, NY, 11468
#46Alice Lloyd CollegePippa Passes, KY, 41844
#47West Virginia Wesleyan CollegeBuckhannon, WV, 26201
#48California Lutheran UniversityThousand Oaks, CA, 91360
#49Saint Peter's UniversityJersey City, NJ, 07306
#50Berkeley College (NY)New York, NY, 10017
#51Lake Superior State UniversityMarie, MI, 49783
#52University of New HavenWest Haven, CT, 06516
#53SUNY OswegoOswego, NY, 13126
#54Lees-McRae CollegeBanner Elk, NC, 28604
#55Champlain CollegeBURLINGTON, VT, 05401
#56Roger Williams UniversityBristol, RI, 02809
#57Stevenson UniversityOwings Mills, MD, 21117
#58University of Pittsburgh at BradfordBradford, PA, 16701
#59Trine UniversityAngola, IN, 46703
#60Chaminade University of HonoluluHonolulu, HI, 96816
#61University of Wisconsin--PlattevillePlatteville, WI, 53818
#62Alfred State College--SUNYAlfred, NY, 14802
#63SUNY MorrisvilleMorrisville, NY, 13408
#64Miami Dade CollegeMiami, FL, 33132
#65Hamline UniversityPaul, MN, 55104
#66Howard Payne UniversityBrownwood, TX, 76801
#67Albertus Magnus CollegeNew Haven, CT, 06511
#68California State University--Los AngelesLos Angeles, CA, 90032
#69Western Illinois UniversityMacomb, IL, 61455
#70Brevard CollegeBrevard, NC, 28712
#71North Carolina Wesleyan UniversityRocky Mount, NC, 27804
#72Holy Family UniversityPhiladelphia, PA, 19114
#73Bowie State UniversityBowie, MD, 20715
#74University of Central MissouriWarrensburg, MO, 64093
#75Virginia State UniversityPetersburg, VA, 23806
#76University of Arkansas--Pine BluffPine Bluff, AR, 71601
#77Columbia College (SC)Columbia, SC, 29203
#78Fitchburg State UniversityFitchburg, MA, 01420
#79Lincoln University (PA)Lincoln University, PA, 19352
#80Texas A&M International UniversityLaredo, TX, 78041
#81Merrimack CollegeNorth Andover, MA, 01845
#82University of North Carolina--PembrokePembroke, NC, 28372
#83University of the District of ColumbiaWashington, DC, 20008
#84Lewis UniversityRomeoville, IL, 60446
#85University of BaltimoreBaltimore, MD, 21201
#86Shippensburg University of PennsylvaniaShippensburg, PA, 17257
#87Jacksonville State UniversityJacksonville, AL, 36265
#88Keystone CollegeLa Plume, PA, 18440
#89Salem State UniversitySalem, MA, 01970
#90Harris-Stowe State UniversityLouis, MO, 63103
#91The University of North Texas at DallasDallas, TX, 75241
#92Felician UniversityLodi, NJ, 07644
#93Piedmont UniversityDemorest, GA, 30535
#94Washburn UniversityTopeka, KS, 66621
#95Arcadia UniversityGlenside, PA, 19038
#96William Paterson University of New JerseyWayne, NJ, 07470
#97Bridgewater State UniversityBridgewater, MA, 02325
#98Voorhees UniversityDenmark, SC, 29042
#99Mercy UniversityDobbs Ferry, NY, 10522
#100University of GuamMangilao, GU, 96923
#101Calumet College of St. JosephWhiting, IN, 46394
#102Olivet Nazarene UniversityBourbonnais, IL, 60914
#103University of Maryland Eastern ShorePrincess Anne, MD, 21853
#104Fort Valley State UniversityFort Valley, GA, 31030
#105Fayetteville State UniversityFayetteville, NC, 28301
#106Framingham State UniversityFramingham, MA, 01701
#107Madonna UniversityLivonia, MI, 48150
#108Eureka CollegeEureka, IL, 61530
#109Commonwealth University of PennsylvaniaBloomsburg, PA, 17815
#110Plymouth State UniversityPlymouth, NH, 03264
#111Berkeley College (NJ)Woodland Park, NJ, 07424
#112Coppin State UniversityBaltimore, MD, 21216
#113Eastern Oregon UniversityLa Grande, OR, 97850
#114University of Houston--DowntownHouston, TX, 77002
#115Indiana University EastRichmond, IN, 47374
#116University of DubuqueDubuque, IA, 52001
#117Iona UniversityNew Rochelle, NY, 10801
#118Livingstone CollegeSalisbury, NC, 28144
#119South Carolina State UniversityOrangeburg, SC, 29117
#120Alabama A&M UniversityNormal, AL, 35762
#121Sul Ross State UniversityAlpine, TX, 79832
#122Alabama State UniversityMontgomery, AL, 36101
#123University of Wisconsin--ParksideKenosha, WI, 53141
#124SUNY Buffalo State UniversityBuffalo, NY, 14222
#125East Stroudsburg UniversityEast Stroudsburg, PA, 18301
#126Greensboro CollegeGreensboro, NC, 27401
#127Albany State UniversityAlbany, GA, 31705
#128Georgia Southwestern State UniversityAmericus, GA, 31709
#129Truett McConnell UniversityCleveland, GA, 30528
#130Norwich UniversityNorthfield, VT, 05663
#131Southern University and A&M CollegeBaton Rouge, LA, 70813
#132Missouri Southern State UniversityJoplin, MO, 64801
#133University of the Virgin IslandsThomas, VI, 00802
#134Tiffin UniversityTiffin, OH, 44883
#135New Jersey City UniversityJersey City, NJ, 07305
#136Texas Southern UniversityHouston, TX, 77004
#137Brewton-Parker CollegeMount Vernon, GA, 30445
#138Jessup UniversityRocklin, CA, 95765
#139Charleston Southern UniversityCharleston, SC, 29423
#140St. Thomas UniversityMiami Gardens, FL, 33054
#141Stillman CollegeTuscaloosa, AL, 35401
#142York College of PennsylvaniaYork, PA, 17403
#143Benedict CollegeColumbia, SC, 29204
#144Southern University at New OrleansNew Orleans, LA, 70126
#145Shaw UniversityRaleigh, NC, 27601
#146Waynesburg UniversityWaynesburg, PA, 15370
#147King's CollegeBarre, PA, 18711
#148St. Thomas Aquinas CollegeSparkill, NY, 10976
#149Delaware Valley UniversityDoylestown, PA, 18901
#150Faulkner UniversityMontgomery, AL, 36109
#151Indiana TechFort Wayne, IN, 46803
#152Bethel University (TN)McKenzie, TN, 38201
#153New England CollegeHenniker, NH, 03242
#154Methodist UniversityFayetteville, NC, 28311
#155Hawaii Pacific UniversityHonolulu, HI, 96813
#156Shorter UniversityRome, GA, 30165
#157National Louis UniversityChicago, IL, 60603
#158Our Lady of the Lake UniversitySan Antonio, TX, 78207
#159Post UniversityWaterbury, CT, 06708
#160Lamar UniversityBeaumont, TX, 77710
#161Wayland Baptist UniversityPlainview, TX, 79072
#162Florida SouthWestern State CollegeFort Myers, FL, 33919