by our College Data Analytics TeamIn 2025, College Factual analyzed 23 schools in order to identify the top ones for its Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Associate Degree Schools in California ranking. When you put them all together, these colleges and universities awarded 6,014 associate degrees in criminal justice & corrections during the 2022-2023 academic year.
What's on this page: * Our Methodology
Your choice of criminal justice & corrections for getting your associate degree school matters. This section explores some of the factors we include in our ranking and how much they vary depending on the school you select. To make it into this list, a school must excel in the following areas.
A school that excels in educating for a particular major and degree level must be a great school overall as well. To take this into account we consider a school's overall Best Colleges ranking which itself looks at a collection of various factors like degree completion, educational resources, student body caliber and post-graduation earnings for the school as a whole.
Average early-career salary of those graduating with their associate degree is one indicator we use in our analysis to find the schools that offer the highest-quality education. That is, everyone wants their associate degree to be worth something, and salaries are one measure of determining that.
The metrics below are just some of the other metrics that we use to determine our rankings.
Our complete ranking methodology documents in more detail how we consider these factors to identify the best schools for criminal justice & corrections students working on their associate degree.
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 Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Associate Degree Schools in California list to help you make the college decision.
The following list ranks the best colleges and universities for pursuing an associate degree in criminal justice & corrections.
It's hard to beat Santa Rosa Junior College if you want to pursue an associate degree in criminal justice & corrections. Located in the medium-sized city of Santa Rosa, SRJC is a public college with a fairly large student population.More information about a associate in criminal justice & corrections from Santa Rosa Junior College
It is hard to beat Butte College if you want to pursue an associate degree in criminal justice & corrections. Butte College is a large public college located in the rural area of Oroville.More information about a associate in criminal justice & corrections from Butte College
Southwestern College is one of the best schools in the United States for getting an associate degree in criminal justice & corrections. SWC Chula Vista is a fairly large public college located in the city of Chula Vista.
Associate students who receive their degree from the criminal justice program earn around $30,983 in their early career salary.
More information about a associate in criminal justice & corrections from Southwestern College
Every student pursuing a degree in an associate degree in criminal justice & corrections has to check out Moreno Valley College. Moreno Valley College is a fairly large public college located in the large suburb of Moreno Valley.More information about a associate in criminal justice & corrections from Moreno Valley College
Located in the city of Modesto, MJC is a public college with a large student population.
Soon after graduating, criminal justice associate recipients typically earn around $28,102 at the beginning of their careers.
More information about a associate in criminal justice & corrections from Modesto Junior College
Located in the city of Palm Desert, College of the Desert is a public college with a large student population.
Associate graduates who receive their degree from the criminal justice program make around $32,482 in their early career salary.
More information about a associate in criminal justice & corrections from College of the Desert
Located in the midsize suburb of Marysville, Yuba College is a public college with a moderately-sized student population.More information about a associate in criminal justice & corrections from Yuba College
East Los Angeles College is a fairly large public college located in the suburb of Monterey Park.More information about a associate in criminal justice & corrections from East Los Angeles College
Located in the large city of Fresno, Fresno City College is a public college with a very large student population.
Students who graduate with their associate from the criminal justice program report average early career wages of $29,467.
More information about a associate in criminal justice & corrections from Fresno City College
Located in the city of Sacramento, Sacramento City is a public college with a fairly large student population.
Associate graduates who receive their degree from the criminal justice program make about $31,146 for their early career.
More information about a associate in criminal justice & corrections from Sacramento City CollegeExplore all the Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Colleges in the Far Western US Area or other specific states within that region.
| State | Colleges | Degrees Awarded |
|---|---|---|
| Oregon | 147 | 170 |
| Washington | 131 | 155 |
| Nevada | 112 | 274 |
| Hawaii | 59 | 47 |
| Alaska | 54 | 1 |
Criminal Justice & Corrections is one of 4 different types of Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting programs to choose from.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Criminal Justice | 5,303 |
| Criminal Justice & Police Science | 508 |
| Corrections | 178 |
| Criminal Justice Studies | 25 |
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Fire Protection | 1,097 |
| Security Science and Technology | 83 |
| Homeland Security | 15 |