2026 Best Criminal Justice And Corrections Doctoral Degree Schools
Looking for the best Criminal Justice And Corrections doctoral degree programs in the United States? This list ranks 1846 colleges by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. The rankings below weigh factors such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and admissions selectivity.
To help you make your decision, Course Advisor evaluated schools to produce this 2026 ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Criminal Justice And Corrections Doctoral Degree Schools in the United States
Explore the leading schools below:
Leading the list is North Dakota State University Main Campus, our #1 Criminal Justice And Corrections school in the United States. Located in Fargo, ND, North Dakota State University Main Campus is a public institution. About 64% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,910, with out-of-state students paying around $15,564. Students borrow a median of $23,125 to complete their Criminal Justice And Corrections program here. Read more about North Dakota State University Main Campus
University Of North Dakota came in at #2 on this year's Criminal Justice And Corrections ranking in the United States. Set in Grand Forks, ND, University Of North Dakota is a public institution. University Of North Dakota graduates 60% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $10,951, with out-of-state students paying around $15,570. Students borrow a median of $19,875 to complete their Criminal Justice And Corrections program here. More on University Of North Dakota
The strong Criminal Justice And Corrections programs at Walden University earned it the #3 place in the United States. Located in Minneapolis, MN, Walden University is a private for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,067. Graduates carry a median of $48,133 in student loans. More on Walden University
You'll be in good company at Michigan State University, which ranked #4 this year. Located in East Lansing, MI, Michigan State University is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 81%. In-state tuition and fees run about $18,079, compared with $44,850 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete their Criminal Justice And Corrections program here. Read the full report on Michigan State University
University Of Nebraska At Omaha did well this year, earning the #6 position. Set in Omaha, NE, University Of Nebraska At Omaha is a public institution. University Of Nebraska At Omaha posts a six-year graduation rate of 49%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,718, with out-of-state students paying around $23,206. University Of Nebraska At Omaha Criminal Justice And Corrections students take on a median of $22,561 in debt. More on University Of Nebraska At Omaha
Northeastern University came in at #7 in this year's ranking. Set in Boston, MA, Northeastern University is a private not-for-profit institution. About 90% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $66,162. Typical Criminal Justice And Corrections student debt is $22,809. More on Northeastern University
George Mason University landed the #8 spot in the United States this year. This public school is set in Fairfax, VA. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,220, compared with $38,688 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $20,761 to complete their Criminal Justice And Corrections program here. Get the full George Mason University report
Sam Houston State University came in at #9 in this year's ranking. This public school is set in Huntsville, TX. The six-year graduation rate is 55%. Students from in state pay about $9,228 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $19,068. Typical Criminal Justice And Corrections student debt is $23,218. More on Sam Houston State University
Indiana University Bloomington did well this year, earning the #10 position. Based in Bloomington, IN, Indiana University Bloomington is a public institution. Roughly 80% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,144, while out-of-state students pay about $41,891. Students borrow a median of $19,464 to complete their Criminal Justice And Corrections program here. Read more about Indiana University Bloomington
Nova Southeastern University came in at #11 in this year's ranking. Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL, Nova Southeastern University is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 63%. In-state tuition and fees run about $38,700. The median Criminal Justice And Corrections program debt is $25,021. See the full Nova Southeastern University profile
American University came in at #12 in this year's ranking. Set in Washington, DC, American University is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 76% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $58,771. Typical Criminal Justice And Corrections student debt is $23,250. Read the full report on American University
Capella University ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best Criminal Justice And Corrections schools. Set in Minneapolis, MN, Capella University is a private for-profit institution. Capella University graduates 20% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,400. Capella University Criminal Justice And Corrections students take on a median of $36,500 in debt. Get the full Capella University report
Rutgers University Newark came in at #14 in this year's ranking. Rutgers University Newark is a public school based in Newark, NJ. About 64% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $17,250, with out-of-state students paying around $36,762. The median Criminal Justice And Corrections program debt is $22,431. See the full Rutgers University Newark profile
Liberty University ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best Criminal Justice And Corrections schools. Liberty University is a private not-for-profit school based in Lynchburg, VA. Liberty University graduates 67% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $16,173. Students borrow a median of $29,323 to complete their Criminal Justice And Corrections program here. See the full Liberty University profile
University Of Louisville placed #16 among Criminal Justice And Corrections schools in the United States. University Of Louisville is a public school based in Louisville, KY. Roughly 61% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,136, compared with $29,482 for out-of-state students. University Of Louisville Criminal Justice And Corrections students take on a median of $18,258 in debt. Read the full report on University Of Louisville
Florida State University came in at #17 in this year's ranking. Based in Tallahassee, FL, Florida State University is a public institution. Florida State University graduates 86% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,517, while out-of-state students pay about $21,683. Typical Criminal Justice And Corrections student debt is $21,170. See the full Florida State University profile
Temple University came in at #18 in this year's ranking. Based in Philadelphia, PA, Temple University is a public institution. Roughly 75% of students complete a degree within six years here. Students from in state pay about $23,005 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $38,805. Typical Criminal Justice And Corrections student debt is $26,000. Read more about Temple University
University Of Cincinnati Main Campus ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best Criminal Justice And Corrections schools. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a public school based in Cincinnati, OH. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus graduates 74% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,363, compared with $28,697 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $21,253 to complete their Criminal Justice And Corrections program here. More on University Of Cincinnati Main Campus
University Of Nevada Las Vegas came in at #20 in this year's ranking. University Of Nevada Las Vegas is a public school based in Las Vegas, NV. University Of Nevada Las Vegas posts a six-year graduation rate of 50%. In-state tuition and fees average $9,748, compared with $27,411 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $20,484 to complete their Criminal Justice And Corrections program here. See the full University Of Nevada Las Vegas profile
Georgia State University ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best Criminal Justice And Corrections schools. Set in Atlanta, GA, Georgia State University is a public institution. About 53% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $8,664, compared with $24,840 for out-of-state students. The median Criminal Justice And Corrections program debt is $26,812. More on Georgia State University
Texas State University San Marcos ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best Criminal Justice And Corrections schools. Set in San Marcos, TX, Texas State University San Marcos is a public institution. Texas State University San Marcos posts a six-year graduation rate of 55%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,450, compared with $22,930 for out-of-state students. Typical Criminal Justice And Corrections student debt is $19,500. More on Texas State University San Marcos
Florida International University did well this year, earning the #23 position. Based in Miami, FL, Florida International University is a public institution. Florida International University posts a six-year graduation rate of 74%. In-state tuition and fees run about $6,565, with out-of-state students paying around $18,964. Graduates carry a median of $18,623 in student loans. See the full Florida International University profile
University Of Central Florida ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best Criminal Justice And Corrections schools. Located in Orlando, FL, University Of Central Florida is a public institution. University Of Central Florida posts a six-year graduation rate of 78%. In-state tuition and fees average $6,368, with out-of-state students paying around $22,467. Typical Criminal Justice And Corrections student debt is $21,731. More on University Of Central Florida
Prairie View A And M University did well this year, earning the #25 position. Set in Prairie View, TX, Prairie View A And M University is a public institution. About 43% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,299, compared with $26,874 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $26,750 to complete their Criminal Justice And Corrections program here. Read more about Prairie View A And M University
University Of New Haven placed #26 among Criminal Justice And Corrections schools in the United States. This private not-for-profit school is set in West Haven, CT. University Of New Haven posts a six-year graduation rate of 63%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $47,332. Typical Criminal Justice And Corrections student debt is $27,000. Read the full report on University Of New Haven
Rest of the Top 50 Best Criminal Justice And Corrections Doctoral Degree Schools in the United States
Not far behind, these schools also made the top of the list:
University Of Arkansas At Little Rock ranked #27 on our 2026 list of the best Criminal Justice And Corrections schools. Set in Little Rock, AR, University Of Arkansas At Little Rock is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 37%. Students from in state pay about $9,911 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $22,721. University Of Arkansas At Little Rock Criminal Justice And Corrections students take on a median of $30,026 in debt. More on University Of Arkansas At Little Rock
Texas Southern University did well this year, earning the #28 position. Texas Southern University is a public school based in Houston, TX. Texas Southern University posts a six-year graduation rate of 22%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,637, compared with $21,473 for out-of-state students. Texas Southern University Criminal Justice And Corrections students take on a median of $36,250 in debt. Get the full Texas Southern University report
Suny At Albany landed the #29 spot in the United States this year. Based in Albany, NY, Suny At Albany is a public institution. Roughly 61% of students complete a degree within six years here. Students from in state pay about $10,601 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $30,991. Graduates carry a median of $23,521 in student loans. See the full Suny At Albany profile
Coastline Community College ranked #29 on our 2026 list of the best Criminal Justice And Corrections schools. Read more about Coastline Community College
Imperial Valley College landed the #30 spot in the United States this year. Get the full Imperial Valley College report
Miami University Hamilton came in at #31 in this year's ranking. More on Miami University Hamilton
Mid America Christian University came in at #32 in this year's ranking. More on Mid America Christian University
Monterey Peninsula College came in at #33 in this year's ranking. Read more about Monterey Peninsula College
North Iowa Area Community College ranked #34 on our 2026 list of the best Criminal Justice And Corrections schools. More on North Iowa Area Community College
Regis College
Regis College landed the #35 spot in the United States this year. More on Regis College
Rock Valley College landed the #36 spot in the United States this year. See the full Rock Valley College profile
University Of Central Oklahoma landed the #37 spot in the United States this year. More on University Of Central Oklahoma
Azusa Pacific University College landed the #38 spot in the United States this year. Read the full report on Azusa Pacific University College
Chaffey College
Chaffey College came in at #39 in this year's ranking. Read more about Chaffey College
Edp University Of Puerto Rico Caguas ranked #40 on our 2026 list of the best Criminal Justice And Corrections schools. Read the full report on Edp University Of Puerto Rico Caguas
Saint Josephs College Of Maine came in at #41 in this year's ranking. Get the full Saint Josephs College Of Maine report
University Of Colorado At Colorado Springs placed #42 among Criminal Justice And Corrections schools in the United States. See the full University Of Colorado At Colorado Springs profile
University Of Hawaii At Hilo placed #43 among Criminal Justice And Corrections schools in the United States. See the full University Of Hawaii At Hilo profile
Bay Mills Community College placed #44 among Criminal Justice And Corrections schools in the United States. Get the full Bay Mills Community College report
Central Pennsylvania College did well this year, earning the #45 position. Get the full Central Pennsylvania College report
College Of Marin
College Of Marin came in at #46 in this year's ranking. More on College Of Marin
Lake Area Technical Institute landed the #47 spot in the United States this year. See the full Lake Area Technical Institute profile
Bemidji State University came in at #48 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on Bemidji State University
Franklin Pierce University placed #49 among Criminal Justice And Corrections schools in the United States. Read more about Franklin Pierce University
Muskingum University landed the #50 spot in the United States this year. More on Muskingum University
Related Criminal Justice And Corrections Rankings
Compare rankings at other degree levels:
- Best Criminal Justice And Corrections Schools (All Levels)
- Best Criminal Justice And Corrections Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Criminal Justice And Corrections Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Criminal Justice And Corrections Associate’s Degree Schools
- Best Criminal Justice And Corrections Bachelor’s Degree Schools
- Best Criminal Justice And Corrections Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Criminal Justice And Corrections Master’s Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
The ranking above is published by Course Advisor (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. Rankings consider a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and admissions data drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: Dms College Quality · Scope: Nation. *Averages shown above reflect the top 1846 ranked schools only.
References
- Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) — National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education (core institutional data).
- College Scorecard — U.S. Department of Education (graduate earnings and outcomes data).