by our College Data Analytics TeamA major in Criminal Justice and Corrections prepares students to work in the field of public law and criminal justice. You will learn about crime, law, and the justice system through studying different disciplines.
There are many different concentrations in this major that allow students to focus on an area of specific interest. For example, students could choose a concentration in Maritime Law Enforcement to learn how to effectively stop smuggling, piracy, drug trafficking, and sex trafficking. Another focus is Corrections; this concentration will teach you about prison life and other correctional facilities including the study of social reform. Or they could choose Juvenile Corrections if they are more interested in working with children and adolescents.
Other popular specializations are Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement Administrations, Criminal Justice/Safety Studies, Forensic Science and Technology, Criminal Justice/Police Science, and Securities Services Administration/Management to name just a few.
In any of these concentrations, you can expect to take classes in criminology, ethics in law enforcement, victims of crime, gender issues in law, correctional administration, policing society, the U. S. criminal-justice system, criminal law, and statistics.
Criminal Justice & Corrections was the 7th most popular major in the 2021-2022 school year. Colleges in the United States reported awarding 109,996 degrees in this year alone. Our 2025 Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools ranking analyzes 807 of these schools to determine the best overall colleges for criminal justice & corrections students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of criminal justice programs later in this article.
Students should have a vast and absorbing interest in law, justice and social reform. This major requires math, statistics and science. Students will need to memorize theories and be able to apply methods to real-life situations. Critical reading skills will help you pull important information from dry texts as you read court cases, prison procedures and reports.
Interpersonal skills are important as you will work with various people from lawyers to criminals. Develop sharp listening and observational skills in order to pick up on crucial details. Students who are detail-oriented, organized and have a good memory will find success. This major involves the study of controversial and difficult information. This is in order to prepare students for tense and potentially dangerous situations in a career.
New students will need to have completed high school or a GED program and each school will have their own minimum GPA and SAT/ACT test requirements. Once you obtain your degree, additional criminal justice certifications required to pursue a career in this field.
There are many different criminal justice degree levels. Criminal Justice & Corrections programs offered by schools range from a to a , which is the highest criminal justice degree you can get. The type of criminal justice degree you choose will determine how long it takes to get your diploma.
| Degree | Credit Requirements | Typical Program Length |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 60-70 credits | 2 years |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 120 credits | 4 years |
| Master’s Degree | 50-70 credits | 1-3 years |
| Doctorate | Program required coursework including thesis or dissertation | At least 4 years |
A bachelor's degree is the most common level of education achieved by those in careers related to criminal justice, with approximately 34.5% of workers getting one. Find out other typical degree levels for criminal justice workers below.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 31.9% |
| High School Diploma | 22.4% |
| Some College Courses | 12.7% |
| Associate’s Degree (or other 2-year degree) | 12.1% |
| Master’s Degree | 8.8% |
61.0% of criminal justice workers have at least a associate. The chart below shows what degree level those who work in criminal justice & corrections have obtained.
This of course varies depending on which criminal justice career you choose.
Graduates who major in Criminal Justice and Corrections will have the skills to work in a prison or another type of correctional facility. They are also found working for law enforcement or the coast guard. The interdisciplinary skills gained also prepare graduates for careers as psychologists, public administrators, or lawyers. Many of these careers will require graduate school.
Want a job when you graduate with your criminal justice degree? Criminal Justice & Corrections careers are expected to grow 7.6% between 2016 and 2026.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to criminal justice & corrections.
| Occupation Name | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Accountants and Auditors | 1,537,600 | 10.0% |
| Managers | 1,071,700 | 8.0% |
| Police and Sheriff’s Patrol Officers | 731,900 | 7.0% |
| Correctional Officers and Jailers | 415,500 | -7.7% |
| Child, Family, and School Social Workers | 362,600 | 14.2% |
Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates between <nil> reported earning an average of $40,717 in the <nil> timeframe. Earnings can range from as low as $5,087 to as high as $143,943. As you might expect, salaries for criminal justice graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.
Salaries for criminal justice & corrections graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top highest paying careers criminal justice grads often go into.
| Occupation Name | Median Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Managers | $115,590 |
| Information Security Analysts | $102,470 |
| Computer Workers | $93,350 |
| Police and Detective Supervisors | $93,100 |
| Financial Examiners | $90,310 |
With over 4,748 different criminal justice degree programs to choose from, finding the best fit for you can be a challenge. Fortunately you have come to the right place. We have analyzed all of these schools to come up with hundreds of unbiased criminal justice school rankings to help you with this.
Criminal Justice & Corrections is one of 4 different types of Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting programs to choose from.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Criminal Justice Studies | 46,895 |
| Criminal Justice | 31,754 |
| Criminal Justice & Police Science | 20,976 |
| Other Corrections & Criminal Justice | 3,988 |
| Corrections | 3,042 |
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Fire Protection | 13,901 |
| Security Science and Technology | 7,884 |
| Homeland Security | 6,812 |
| Other Homeland Security | 1,612 |
