by our College Data Analytics TeamCorrections was the 434th most popular major in the 2020-2021 school year. Colleges in the United States reported awarding 4,039 degrees in this year alone. This is a difference of 55 over the prior year, a growth of 1.4%.
This year's Best Corrections Schools ranking compares 38 of them to identify the best overall programs in the country. Explore this or one of our many other custom corrections rankings further below.
A major in corrections prepares you for careers in which talking to others to convey information effectively is crucial. Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times and monitoring assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action are all required skills for careers related to this major.
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 corrections certifications required to pursue a career in this field.
Corrections degree levels vary. You can get anything from a in corrections to the highest corrections degree, a . Corrections programs can take anywhere between one to four or more years for a full-time student to complete.
| 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 master's degree is the most common level of education achieved by those in careers related to corrections, with approximately 10.6% of workers getting one. See the the most common levels of education for corrections workers below.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma | 50.6% |
| Associate’s Degree (or other 2-year degree) | 11.2% |
| Some College Courses | 10.5% |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 7.8% |
| Master’s Degree | 7.6% |
The chart below shows what degree level those who work in corrections have obtained.
The education level required is different depending on the corrections career you are seeking.
Want a job when you graduate with your corrections degree?
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to corrections.
| Occupation Name | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Correctional Officers and Jailers | 415,500 | -7.7% |
| Police and Detective Supervisors | 111,600 | 6.6% |
| Correctional Officer Supervisors | 41,700 | -7.7% |
| Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Professors | 19,400 | 12.1% |
As you might expect, salaries for corrections graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.
Salaries for corrections graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top highest paying careers corrections grads often go into.
| Occupation Name | Median Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Police and Detective Supervisors | $93,100 |
| Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Professors | $72,390 |
| Correctional Officer Supervisors | $68,350 |
| Correctional Officers and Jailers | $49,300 |
With over 346 different corrections 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 corrections school rankings to help you with this.
One of 13 majors within the Criminal Justice & Corrections area of study, Corrections has other similar majors worth exploring.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Criminal Justice Studies | 46,814 |
| Criminal Justice | 32,891 |
| Criminal Justice & Police Science | 22,722 |
| Other Corrections & Criminal Justice | 3,675 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections, General | 1,133 |
