# Criminal Justice and Corrections

> A program of study that focuses on the general study of criminal justice and corrections. Includes instruction in criminology, criminal justice, correctional science, forensic science, law enforcement, psychology, and ethics.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/programs/criminal-justice-and-corrections
- CIP code: 43.01 (Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services)
- Colleges offering it: 1,048 at its most common degree level
- Value ranking: https://www.collegesref.com/best-colleges/criminal-justice

## Outcomes by degree level (College Scorecard, 2025)

| Degree level | Colleges | Median earnings 1 yr | Median earnings 4 yrs | Median federal debt |
| --- | ---: | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| Certificate | 730 | $56,539 | $58,771 | $12,512 |
| Associate's | 1,048 | $40,123 | $47,306 | $13,485 |
| Bachelor's | 873 | $42,840 | $54,469 | $22,759 |
| Master's | 318 | $56,875 | $66,266 | $32,758 |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 15 | $85,176 | $104,592 | not reported |
| Doctoral | 38 | $95,023 | $109,172 | $102,420 |
| First professional | 1 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Graduate/professional certificate | 84 | $63,242 | $75,547 | $34,203 |

## Colleges whose graduates earn the most (Bachelor's)

Only programs with at least 10 graduates are listed.

| College | Location | Median earnings 4 yrs | Median debt |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: |
| [Calumet College of Saint Joseph](https://www.collegesref.com/college/calumet-college-of-saint-joseph-380) | Whiting, IN | $106,465 | $20,417 |
| [National University-California](https://www.collegesref.com/college/national-university-california-1825) | La Jolla, CA | $81,299 | $25,000 |
| [Fisher College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/fisher-college-957) | Boston, MA | $80,136 | $26,875 |
| [George Washington University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/george-washington-university-1066) | Washington, DC | $80,070 | $19,500 |
| [Saint Mary's University of Minnesota](https://www.collegesref.com/college/saint-mary-s-university-of-minnesota-2317) | Winona, MN | $79,464 | not reported |
| [Quinnipiac University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/quinnipiac-university-2168) | Hamden, CT | $79,098 | $23,375 |
| [Northeastern University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/northeastern-university-1923) | Boston, MA | $77,477 | $17,750 |
| [Anna Maria College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/anna-maria-college-82) | Paxton, MA | $76,013 | $26,500 |
| [Nichols College-Massachusetts](https://www.collegesref.com/college/nichols-college-massachusetts-1874) | Dudley, MA | $75,321 | $26,500 |
| [Central Christian College of Kansas](https://www.collegesref.com/college/central-christian-college-of-kansas-457) | McPherson, KS | $74,997 | $41,707 |

## Related careers (NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk)

- [Brownfield Redevelopment Specialists and Site Managers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/brownfield-redevelopment-specialists-and-site-managers): $141,900 median pay
- [Compliance Managers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/compliance-managers): $141,900 median pay
- [Loss Prevention Managers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/loss-prevention-managers): $141,900 median pay
- [Managers, All Other](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/managers-all-other): $141,900 median pay
- [Regulatory Affairs Managers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/regulatory-affairs-managers): $141,900 median pay
- [Wind Energy Development Managers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/wind-energy-development-managers): $141,900 median pay
- [Wind Energy Operations Managers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/wind-energy-operations-managers): $141,900 median pay
- [First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/first-line-supervisors-of-police-and-detectives): $106,040 median pay
- [Financial Examiners](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/financial-examiners): $94,160 median pay
- [Detectives and Criminal Investigators](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/detectives-and-criminal-investigators): $93,790 median pay
- [Intelligence Analysts](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/intelligence-analysts): $93,790 median pay
- [Police Identification and Records Officers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/police-identification-and-records-officers): $93,790 median pay
- [Emergency Management Directors](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/emergency-management-directors): $93,330 median pay
- [Transit and Railroad Police](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/transit-and-railroad-police): $90,230 median pay
- [Compliance Officers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/compliance-officers): $80,730 median pay
- [Coroners](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/coroners): $80,730 median pay
- [Customs Brokers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/customs-brokers): $80,730 median pay
- [Environmental Compliance Inspectors](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/environmental-compliance-inspectors): $80,730 median pay
- [Equal Opportunity Representatives and Officers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/equal-opportunity-representatives-and-officers): $80,730 median pay
- [Government Property Inspectors and Investigators](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/government-property-inspectors-and-investigators): $80,730 median pay
- [Regulatory Affairs Specialists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/regulatory-affairs-specialists): $80,730 median pay
- [First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/first-line-supervisors-of-correctional-officers): $77,970 median pay
- [Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Teachers, Postsecondary](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/criminal-justice-and-law-enforcement-teachers-postsecondary): $76,590 median pay
- [First-Line Supervisors of Protective Service Workers, All Other](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/first-line-supervisors-of-protective-service-workers-all-other): $76,400 median pay

## More in Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services

- [Fire Protection](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/fire-protection): 387 colleges
- [Security Science and Technology](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/security-science-and-technology): 197 colleges
- [Homeland Security](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/homeland-security): 134 colleges
- [Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services, Other](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/homeland-security-law-enforcement-firefighting-and-related-protective-services-other): 42 colleges

## Sources

- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard field-of-study data, 2025: https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/data/
- NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) 2020: https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/