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2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Criminal Justice Major

144 Ranked Colleges
2,823 Degrees Awarded
$31,100 Avg Cost*
Schools for a Master's Highly Focused on Criminal Justice Major

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Criminal Justice Major” ranking.

In 2021-2022, 31,754 people earned their degree in criminal justice, making the major the 27th most popular in the United States.

At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 2,823 criminal justice graduates with average earnings and debt of $58,979 and $43,370 respectively.

For this year’s “Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Criminal Justice Major” ranking, we looked at 144 colleges that offer a degree in criminal justice. That schools that top this list have a program in criminal justice in which the largest percentage of students at the school are enrolled.

See our ranking methodology to learn more.

One Size Does Not Fit All

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When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Criminal Justice Major” list to help you make the college decision.

One of our other unique offerings is College Combat. This tool lets you build your own customized comparisons utilizing the factors that are most important to you. Test it out when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.

Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Criminal Justice Major

The following schools top our list of the Best “Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Criminal Justice Major”.

Top 25 Most Focused Master’s Degree Colleges for Criminal Justice

1
Hilbert College crest
Hilbert College
Hamburg, New York

Out of the 144 schools in the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Criminal Justice Major that were part of this year’s ranking, Hilbert College landed the #1 spot on the list. This small school is located in Hamburg, New York, and it awarded 18 masters’s criminal justice degrees in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about Criminal Justice at Hilbert College

2
Anna Maria crest
Anna Maria College
Paxton, Massachusetts

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Anna Maria College. The school came in at #2 for the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Criminal Justice Major. Anna Maria is located in Paxton, Massachusetts and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 83 masters’s criminal justice degrees to qualified students.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Anna Maria College Criminal Justice Report

3
Faulkner crest
Faulkner University
Montgomery, Alabama

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Faulkner University. The school came in at #3 for the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Criminal Justice Major. Faulkner is located in Montgomery, Alabama and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 55 masters’s criminal justice degrees to qualified students.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Criminal Justice at Faulkner

4
Salve Regina crest
Salve Regina University
Newport, Rhode Island

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Salve Regina University. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Criminal Justice Major list. Salve Regina University is located in Newport, Rhode Island and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 54 masters’s criminal justice degrees to qualified students.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Criminal Justice at Salve Regina

5
Bethel crest
Bethel University
McKenzie, Tennessee

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Bethel University. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Criminal Justice Major list. Bethel University is a small school located in McKenzie, Tennessee that handed out 14 masters’s criminal justice degrees in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.5% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about Criminal Justice at Bethel

6

Webber International University ranked #6 on this year’s Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Criminal Justice Major list. Webber International University is located in Babson Park, Florida and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 2 masters’s criminal justice degrees to qualified students.

Read more about Criminal Justice at Webber International University

7
South University, Virginia Beach crest
South University, Virginia Beach
Virginia Beach, Virginia

South University, Virginia Beach came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Criminal Justice Major ranking. Located in Virginia Beach, Virginia, this small private for-profit school handed out 3 diplomas to qualified masters’s criminal justice students in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. With a freshman retention rate of 100%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read more about Criminal Justice at South University, Virginia Beach

8
North Carolina Wesleyan College crest
North Carolina Wesleyan College
Rocky Mount, North Carolina

North Carolina Wesleyan College did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Criminal Justice Major ranking, coming in at #8. Located in Rocky Mount, North Carolina, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 18 degrees to qualified masters’s criminal justice students in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.2% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on Criminal Justice at North Carolina Wesleyan College

9

John Jay College of Criminal Justice ranked #9 on this year’s Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Criminal Justice Major list. John Jay College of Criminal Justice is a public institution located in New York, New York. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 158 masters’s degrees in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.5% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on Criminal Justice at John Jay

10
USD crest
University of San Diego
San Diego, California

University of San Diego landed the #10 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Criminal Justice Major ranking. Located in San Diego, California, this medium-sized private not-for-profit school awarded 161 degrees to qualified masters’s criminal justice students in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 92%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about Criminal Justice at USD

11
South University, Montgomery crest
South University, Montgomery
Montgomery, Alabama

South University, Montgomery ranked #11 on this year’s Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Criminal Justice Major list. South University, Montgomery is a small private for-profit school situated in Montgomery, Alabama. It awarded 1 masters’s criminal justice degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Criminal Justice at South University, Montgomery

12

Trine University-Regional/Non-Traditional Campuses came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Criminal Justice Major ranking. This small school is located in Angola, Indiana, and it awarded 0 masters’s criminal justice degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Read more about Criminal Justice at Trine

13
Mount Mercy crest
Mount Mercy University
Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Mount Mercy University ranked #13 on this year’s Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Criminal Justice Major list. Mount Mercy University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. It awarded 3 masters’s criminal justice degrees in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.4% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on Criminal Justice at Mount Mercy University

14
Curry crest
Curry College
Milton, Massachusetts

Curry College did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Criminal Justice Major ranking, coming in at #14. Located in Milton, Massachusetts, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 20 diplomas to qualified masters’s criminal justice students in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Criminal Justice at Curry

15
South University, Columbia crest
South University, Columbia
Columbia, South Carolina

South University, Columbia landed the #15 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Criminal Justice Major ranking. South University, Columbia is a private for-profit institution located in Columbia, South Carolina. The school has a small population, and it awarded 7 masters’s degrees in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.1% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about Criminal Justice at South University, Columbia

16
UNE crest
Universidad del Este
Carolina, Puerto Rico

Universidad del Este landed the #16 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Criminal Justice Major ranking. UNE is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in Carolina, Puerto Rico. It awarded 24 masters’s criminal justice degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Criminal Justice at UNE

17
CSE crest
College of Saint Elizabeth
Morristown, New Jersey

With a ranking of #17, College of Saint Elizabeth did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Criminal Justice Major list. College of Saint Elizabeth is a private not-for-profit institution located in Morristown, New Jersey. The school has a small population, and it awarded 19 masters’s degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full College of Saint Elizabeth Criminal Justice Report

18
Tiffin University crest
Tiffin University
Tiffin, Ohio

With a ranking of #18, Tiffin University did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Criminal Justice Major list. This small school is located in Tiffin, Ohio, and it awarded 15 masters’s criminal justice degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Tiffin University Criminal Justice Report

19
Mars Hill crest
Mars Hill University
Mars Hill, North Carolina

Mars Hill University landed the #19 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Criminal Justice Major ranking. Mars Hill is a small school located in Mars Hill, North Carolina that handed out 8 masters’s criminal justice degrees in 2021-2022.

Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Criminal Justice at Mars Hill

20
RWU crest
Roger Williams University
Bristol, Rhode Island

Roger Williams University came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Criminal Justice Major ranking. Roger Williams University is a small school located in Bristol, Rhode Island that handed out 24 masters’s criminal justice degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full RWU Criminal Justice Report

21

Chaminade University of Honolulu came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Criminal Justice Major ranking. Chaminade University of Honolulu is a private not-for-profit institution located in Honolulu, Hawaii. The school has a small population, and it awarded 20 masters’s degrees in 2021-2022.

The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Criminal Justice at Chaminade University of Honolulu

22

University of Massachusetts - Lowell did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Criminal Justice Major ranking, coming in at #22. UMass Lowell is a fairly large school located in Lowell, Massachusetts that handed out 87 masters’s criminal justice degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Criminal Justice at UMass Lowell

23

With a ranking of #23, Western Illinois University did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Criminal Justice Major list. Western Illinois University is located in Macomb, Illinois and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 25 masters’s criminal justice degrees to qualified students.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full WIU Criminal Justice Report

24
JWU Online crest
Johnson & Wales University - Online
Providence, Rhode Island

Johnson & Wales University - Online came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Criminal Justice Major ranking. Providence, Rhode Island is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s criminal justice degrees to 21 students in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Criminal Justice at Johnson & Wales University - Online

25

Texas A&M International University came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Criminal Justice Major ranking. Texas A&M International University is located in Laredo, Texas and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 67 masters’s criminal justice degrees to qualified students.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Texas A&M International University Criminal Justice Report

Notes and References

References

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

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