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2024 Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Associate Degree Schools

412 Colleges in the United States
29,944 Associate Degrees
$31,065 Avg Early-Career Salary
If you pursue a associate degree in criminal justice & corrections, you won't be alone. The field of study is the #4 most popular program in the country. This makes choosing the right school a hard decision.

College Factual looked at 412 colleges and universities when compiling its 2024 Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Associate Degree Schools ranking. Combined, these schools handed out 29,944 associate degrees in criminal justice & corrections to qualified students.

What's on this page: * Our Methodology

Choosing a Great Criminal Justice & Corrections School for Your Associate Degree

Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Associate Degree Schools 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. When choosing a school we recommend considering some of the following factors:

Quality Overall Is Important

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 include a college's overall Best Colleges ranking which itself looks at a collection of different factors like degree completion, educational resources, student body caliber and post-graduation earnings for the school as a whole.

Average Earnings

One measure we use to determine the quality of a school is to look at the average salary of associate graduates during the early years of their career. This is because one of the main reasons people pursue their associate degree is to enable themselves to find better-paying positions.

Other Factors We Consider

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 colleges for criminal justice & corrections students working on their associate degree.

More Ways to Rank Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools

Rankings by Location Check Out Other Locales
More Criminal Justice Rankings Other Ranking Categories

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 list to help you make the college decision.


 

Best Schools for Associate Students to Study Criminal Justice & Corrections in the United States

Below you'll see a list of the best colleges and universities for pursuing an associate degree in criminal justice & corrections. Only those schools that rank in the top 15% of all the schools we analyze get awarded with a place on this list.

25 Top Schools for an Associate in Criminal Justice

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178 Annual Graduates
$46,115 Median Starting Salary
$17,078 Median Student Debt

Any student pursuing a degree in an associate degree in criminal justice & corrections needs to look into Columbia Southern University. Columbia Southern University is a fairly large private for-profit university located in the town of Orange Beach.

Associate recipients from the criminal justice & corrections major at Columbia Southern University earn $15,050 more than the standard graduate with the same degree when they enter the workforce.

More information about a associate in criminal justice & corrections from Columbia Southern University

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502 Annual Graduates
$31,200 Median Starting Salary
$25,245 Median Student Debt

Every student who is interested in an associate degree in criminal justice & corrections has to take a look at University of Phoenix - Arizona. Located in the city of Phoenix, UOPX - Arizona is a private for-profit university with a fairly large student population.

After graduating, criminal justice associate recipients typically earn about $31,200 in the first five years of their career.

More information about a associate in criminal justice & corrections from University of Phoenix - Arizona

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Purdue University Global crest
Purdue University Global
West Lafayette, IN
$40,787 Median Starting Salary
$8,416 Median Student Debt

Purdue University Global is a great decision for individuals pursuing an associate degree in criminal justice & corrections. Purdue University Global is a very large public university located in the small city of West Lafayette.

Those criminal justice & corrections students who get their associate degree from Purdue University Global receive $9,722 more than the typical criminal justice student.

More information about a associate in criminal justice & corrections from Purdue University Global

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Golden West College
Huntington Beach, CA

Golden West College is one of the finest schools in the country for getting an associate degree in criminal justice & corrections. Golden West College is a large public college located in the large suburb of Huntington Beach.

Criminal Justice & Corrections associate degree recipients from Golden West College earn a boost of around $36,089 above the typical earnings of criminal justice & corrections graduates.

More information about a associate in criminal justice & corrections from Golden West College

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188 Annual Graduates
$33,336 Median Starting Salary
$6,687 Median Student Debt

Located in the city of Las Vegas, CSN is a public college with a fairly large student population.

Those criminal justice & corrections students who get their associate degree from College of Southern Nevada earn $2,271 more than the average criminal justice student.

More information about a associate in criminal justice & corrections from College of Southern Nevada

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68 Annual Graduates
$28,014 Median Starting Salary
$25,366 Median Student Debt

Located in the city of Fort Lauderdale, Keiser University - Ft Lauderdale is a private not-for-profit university with a fairly large student population.

Associate students who receive their degree from the criminal justice program make an average of $28,014 in the first couple years of working.

More information about a associate in criminal justice & corrections from Keiser University - Ft Lauderdale

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108 Annual Graduates
$35,309 Median Starting Salary
$23,486 Median Student Debt

American Military University is a fairly large private for-profit university located in the fringe town of Charles Town.

Those criminal justice & corrections students who get their associate degree from American Public University System earn $4,244 more than the average criminal justice student.

More information about a associate in criminal justice & corrections from American Public University System

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Located in the midsize city of Santa Rosa, SRJC is a public college with a large student population.

Associate recipients from the criminal justice & corrections major at Santa Rosa Junior College make $27,474 more than the typical college grad in this field shortly after graduation.

More information about a associate in criminal justice & corrections from Santa Rosa Junior College

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Century College
White Bear Lake, MN
81 Annual Graduates
$37,538 Median Starting Salary
$19,366 Median Student Debt

Century College is a medium-sized public college located in the large suburb of White Bear Lake.

Those criminal justice & corrections students who get their associate degree from Century College receive $6,473 more than the typical criminal justice student.

More information about a associate in criminal justice & corrections from Century College

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Eastern Gateway Community College is a very large public college located in the small city of Steubenville.

Criminal Justice & Corrections associate degree recipients from Eastern Gateway Community College receive an earnings boost of around $13,338 over the typical earnings of criminal justice & corrections graduates.

More information about a associate in criminal justice & corrections from Eastern Gateway Community College

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295 Annual Graduates
$35,932 Median Starting Salary
$22,232 Median Student Debt

SNHU is a very large private not-for-profit university located in the suburb of Manchester.

Those criminal justice & corrections students who get their associate degree from Southern New Hampshire University make $4,867 more than the standard criminal justice graduate.

More information about a associate in criminal justice & corrections from Southern New Hampshire University

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58 Annual Graduates
$40,851 Median Starting Salary
$12,000 Median Student Debt

ATCC is a small public college located in the town of Alexandria.

Associate recipients from the criminal justice & corrections program at Alexandria Technical & Community College earn $9,786 above the average graduate in this field when they enter the workforce.

More information about a associate in criminal justice & corrections from Alexandria Technical & Community College

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38 Annual Graduates
$47,335 Median Starting Salary
$12,101 Median Student Debt

Located in the city of Grand Rapids, Grand Rapids Community College is a public college with a fairly large student population.

Those criminal justice & corrections students who get their associate degree from Grand Rapids Community College earn $16,270 more than the average criminal justice student.

More information about a associate in criminal justice & corrections from Grand Rapids Community College

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59 Annual Graduates
$33,217 Median Starting Salary
$13,417 Median Student Debt

Gateway Technical College is a moderately-sized public college located in the medium-sized suburb of Kenosha.

Criminal Justice & Corrections associate degree recipients from Gateway Technical College earn a boost of approximately $2,152 above the average income of criminal justice & corrections majors.

More information about a associate in criminal justice & corrections from Gateway Technical College

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Moreno Valley College
Moreno Valley, CA
53 Annual Graduates

Moreno Valley College is a medium-sized public college located in the suburb of Moreno Valley.More information about a associate in criminal justice & corrections from Moreno Valley College

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Southwestern College
Chula Vista, CA

SWC Chula Vista is a large public college located in the large city of Chula Vista.

After graduation, criminal justice associate recipients typically make about $30,359 at the beginning of their careers.

More information about a associate in criminal justice & corrections from Southwestern College

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El Centro College crest
El Centro College
Dallas, TX
169 Annual Graduates
$33,859 Median Starting Salary
$11,457 Median Student Debt

Located in the large city of Dallas, El Centro College is a public college with a very large student population.

Criminal Justice & Corrections associate degree recipients from El Centro College earn a boost of approximately $2,794 above the average earnings of criminal justice & corrections majors.

More information about a associate in criminal justice & corrections from El Centro College

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Valencia College crest
Valencia College
Orlando, FL
91 Annual Graduates
$27,977 Median Starting Salary
$10,500 Median Student Debt

Valencia College is a very large public college located in the large city of Orlando.

Students who graduate with their associate from the criminal justice program report average early career income of $27,977.

More information about a associate in criminal justice & corrections from Valencia College

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Located in the town of Adrian, Siena Heights University is a private not-for-profit university with a small student population.More information about a associate in criminal justice & corrections from Siena Heights University

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Blinn College crest
Blinn College
Brenham, TX
74 Annual Graduates
$36,772 Median Starting Salary
$14,230 Median Student Debt

Blinn College is a large public college located in the distant town of Brenham.

Criminal Justice & Corrections associate degree recipients from Blinn College receive an earnings boost of about $5,707 over the average income of criminal justice & corrections graduates.

More information about a associate in criminal justice & corrections from Blinn College

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328 Annual Graduates
$22,514 Median Starting Salary
$6,500 Median Student Debt

Located in the midsize city of McAllen, South Texas College is a public college with a very large student population.

Associate graduates who receive their degree from the criminal justice program earn around $22,514 in their early career salary.

More information about a associate in criminal justice & corrections from South Texas College

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205 Annual Graduates
$34,656 Median Starting Salary
$25,999 Median Student Debt

Northern Virginia Community College is a fairly large public college located in the large suburb of Annandale.

Criminal Justice & Corrections associate degree recipients from Northern Virginia Community College earn a boost of about $3,591 above the typical income of criminal justice & corrections graduates.

More information about a associate in criminal justice & corrections from Northern Virginia Community College

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47 Annual Graduates
$42,975 Median Starting Salary
$6,964 Median Student Debt

Macomb Community College is a large public college located in the city of Warren.

Associate recipients from the criminal justice & corrections degree program at Macomb Community College make $11,910 more than the typical graduate with the same degree when they enter the workforce.

More information about a associate in criminal justice & corrections from Macomb Community College

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49 Annual Graduates
$37,429 Median Starting Salary
$13,750 Median Student Debt

Madison College is a fairly large public college located in the large city of Madison.

Criminal Justice & Corrections associate degree recipients from Madison Area Technical College earn a boost of about $6,364 over the average earnings of criminal justice & corrections majors.

More information about a associate in criminal justice & corrections from Madison Area Technical College

Rest of the Top Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Associate Degree Schools

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27
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Monroe College
Bronx, NY
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Ivy Tech Community College crest
Ivy Tech Community College
Indianapolis, IN
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East Los Angeles College
Monterey Park, CA
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Liberty University
Lynchburg, VA

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Lake Superior State University
Sault Ste Marie, MI
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Santa Ana College
Santa Ana, CA
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Ferris State University
Big Rapids, MI

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Additional Award Winners

This list shows the rest of the schools awarded a Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Associate Degree Schools badge. Showing in this list means the school was ranked in the top 15% of the 412 different United States criminal justice & corrections schools we analyzed.

Rank College Location
51 Indiana Wesleyan University - National & Global Marion, IN
52 Arizona Western College Yuma, AZ
53 Park University Parkville, MO
54 Queensborough Community College Bayside, NY
55 Southwest Wisconsin Technical College Fennimore, WI
56 Amarillo College Amarillo, TX
57 Post University Waterbury, CT
58 Mid-State Technical College Wisconsin Rapids, WI
59 Normandale Community College Bloomington, MN
60 Northern Michigan University Marquette, MI
61 Rio Salado College Tempe, AZ

Honorable Mentions

Here are some additional great schools for Criminal Justice & Corrections students that almost earned our Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Associate Degree Schools award.

Rank College Location
62 University of Arkansas at Little Rock Little Rock, AR
63 Endicott College Beverly, MA
64 Miami Dade College Miami, FL
65 Waukesha County Technical College Pewaukee, WI
66 Northcentral Technical College Wausau, WI
67 El Paso Community College El Paso, TX
68 North Hennepin Community College Brooklyn Park, MN
69 Community College of Baltimore County Baltimore, MD
70 Borough of Manhattan Community College New York, NY
71 Riverside City College Riverside, CA
72 Sacramento City College Sacramento, CA
73 Rasmussen University - Minnesota St. Cloud, MN
74 Chippewa Valley Technical College Eau Claire, WI
75 Raritan Valley Community College Branchburg, NJ
76 Bethel University McKenzie, TN
77 Fisher College Boston, MA
77 Reinhardt University Waleska, GA
78 Inver Hills Community College Inver Grove Heights, MN
79 Lansing Community College Lansing, MI
80 Kingsborough Community College Brooklyn, NY
81 Community College of Philadelphia Philadelphia, PA
82 Herzing University - Madison Madison, WI

Criminal Justice & Corrections by Region

View the Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Associate Degree Schools for a specific region near you.

Region
Southeast
New England
Rocky Mountains
Plains States
Middle Atlantic
Far Western US
Southwest
Other U.S. Territories
Great Lakes

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Criminal Justice & Corrections is one of 4 different types of Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting programs to choose from.

Criminal Justice Concentrations

Major Annual Graduates
Criminal Justice 12,208
Criminal Justice Studies 7,871
Criminal Justice & Police Science 7,763
Other Corrections & Criminal Justice 1,127
Corrections 669
Criminal Justice and Corrections, General 246
Law Enforcement Investigation & Interviewing 17
Security & Loss Prevention Services 12
Juvenile Corrections 12
Securities Services Administration/Management 12

Majors Similar to Criminal Justice

Related Major Annual Graduates
Fire Protection 3,986
Security Science and Technology 728
Homeland Security 499
Other Homeland Security 147

Notes and References

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