by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 1,766 U.S. colleges awarded 100,497 degrees and certificates in Criminal Justice & Corrections. Bachelor’s degrees are the most popular award, at 44% of graduates. College Factual ranks 1,275 schools in its 2027 Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $40,221 one year after completing, rising to $53,914 after four years.
A 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.
A major in Criminal Justice & Corrections explores Criminal Justice And Corrections.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
In the U.S., criminal justice & corrections is a popular field of study, with 100,497 degrees awarded annually. 1,766 colleges award criminal justice & corrections degrees, an average of 57 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 2,115.
By level, the 100,497 awards include 5,912 certificates, 22,145 associate degrees, 44,615 bachelor’s degrees, 26,657 master’s degrees and 359 doctorates.
Women earned 54% of criminal justice & corrections degrees and certificates in the latest year (53,998 of 100,497). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (42,014) and Hispanic or Latino (29,932), and international students earned 821.
College Factual ranks 1,275 schools in its 2027 Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools ranking, including 504 for associate degrees, 638 for bachelor’s degrees, 152 for master’s degrees and 7 for doctorates. It also ranks criminal justice & corrections schools within 53 states. In all, 1,766 colleges offer criminal justice & corrections programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Criminal Justice & Corrections Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common criminal justice & corrections credential is the bachelor’s degree: 44,615 of the 100,497 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to criminal justice & corrections call most for Active Listening, Speaking and Critical Thinking, and for knowledge of Law and Government, English Language and Public Safety and Security, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Comprehension, Oral Expression and Problem Sensitivity.
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.
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How long a criminal justice & corrections degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 5,912 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 22,145 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 44,615 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 26,657 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 359 |
High school diploma or equivalent is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to criminal justice & corrections, at 32.4%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| High school diploma or equivalent | 32.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 29.2% |
| Some college courses | 12.4% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 11.9% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 7.1% |
| Master’s degree | 3.7% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 2.0% |
| Doctoral degree | 0.7% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.3% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 0.1% |
| First professional degree | 0.1% |
| Post-doctoral training | 0.1% |
Source: O*NET Online.
30 occupations are related to Criminal Justice & Corrections, with an average median salary of $78,569; the strongest outlook belongs to Detectives and Criminal Investigators, at 14.5% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Investigator, Law Enforcement Specialist, Police Officer and Criminalist.
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.
The occupation related to criminal justice & corrections with the most projected jobs is Equal Opportunity Representatives and Officers, at 735,120.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Equal Opportunity Representatives and Officers | 735,120 | 1.8% |
| Environmental Compliance Inspectors | 674,467 | 10.0% |
| Police Identification and Records Officers | 532,882 | 7.1% |
| Correctional Officers and Jailers | 514,818 | 8.7% |
| Coroners | 499,816 | -4.9% |
| First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers | 489,192 | 4.7% |
| Detectives and Criminal Investigators | 469,816 | 14.5% |
| Managers, All Other | 468,025 | 6.2% |
Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates earn a median $40,221 one year after completing their program, $53,914 after four years and $50,331 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $40,221 |
| 4 years | $53,914 |
| 5 years | $50,331 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to criminal justice & corrections is Wind Energy Development Managers, with a median salary of $169,952.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Wind Energy Development Managers | $169,952 |
| Loss Prevention Managers | $165,723 |
| Wind Energy Operations Managers | $122,567 |
| Environmental Compliance Inspectors | $119,630 |
| Compliance Managers | $117,178 |
| Coroners | $110,095 |
| Brownfield Redevelopment Specialists and Site Managers | $99,321 |
| Managers, All Other | $95,684 |
Criminal Justice & Corrections includes 13 concentrations that together award 100,497 degrees a year; by graduates, the largest are Criminal Justice/Safety Studies (41,501), Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement Administration (26,299) and Criminal Justice/Police Science (20,024). It has 4 similar majors in the Law Enforcement & Firefighting field, which together award 34,621 degrees a year; the largest are Fire Protection (16,265), Security Science and Technology (10,534) and Homeland Security (6,611). Browse all Law Enforcement & Firefighting majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Fire Protection | 16,265 |
| Security Science and Technology | 10,534 |
| Homeland Security | 6,611 |
| Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services, Other | 1,211 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
