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Most Popular Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools in California

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2023 Most Popular Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools in California

164 Colleges
$32,381 Avg Salary
$19,225 Avg Student Debt

Finding the Best Criminal Justice & Corrections School for You

Criminal Justice & Corrections is one of the most popular subjects to study in California. With 13,151 degrees and certificates handed out in 2020-2021, it ranked 8th out of all the majors we track in the state.

It's not easy to decide which program to enroll in when you have so many options available. With more and more schools offering online options, you could even register for a great program on the other side of the country. On top of that, there are a considerable number of trade schools that offer fast-track entry to many fields.

To help you arm yourself with the information you need to make your decision, Course Advisor has developed this Most Popular Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools in California ranking. This report analyzed 164 schools in California to see which ones were the most popular programs for students. To create this ranking we looked at how many students graduated from the Criminal Justice & Corrections program at each school on the list.

Check out the criminal justice programs at these schools if you want to attend one of the most popular in California.

#1

East Los Angeles College

Monterey Park, CA

Our 2023 rankings named East Los Angeles College the most popular school in California for criminal justice and corrections students. Located in the suburb of Monterey Park, East Los Angeles College is a public college with a very large student population.

Read full report on Criminal Justice & Corrections at East Los Angeles College

Out of the 164 schools in California that were part of this year’s ranking, California State University - Sacramento landed the # 3 spot on the list. Located in the large city of Sacramento, Sac State is a public college with a very large student population.

The average amount in student loans that criminal justice majors at Sac State take out is $15,000. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $189, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.

Read full report on Criminal Justice & Corrections at California State University - Sacramento

#4

San Diego State University

San Diego, CA

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend San Diego State University. The school came in at #4 on this year’s Most Popular Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools in California list. Located in the city of San Diego, SDSU is a public school with a very large student population.

The average amount in student loans that criminal justice majors at SDSU take out is $13,000. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $271.

Full Criminal Justice & Corrections at San Diego State University Report

A rank of #5 on this year’s list means California State University - Fullerton is a great place for criminal justice and corrections students. Cal State Fullerton is a fairly large public school located in the suburb of Fullerton.

The average amount in student loans that criminal justice majors at Cal State Fullerton take out is $11,866.

Full Criminal Justice & Corrections at California State University - Fullerton Report

With a ranking of #6, California State University - Northridge did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for criminal justice and corrections students. Located in the large city of Northridge, CSUN is a public college with a fairly large student population.

Criminal Justice majors at CSUN take out an average of $11,750 in student loans while working on their egree.

Full Criminal Justice & Corrections at California State University - Northridge Report

California State University - Los Angeles came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools in California ranking. Located in the large city of Los Angeles, Cal State LA is a public school with a fairly large student population.

Criminal Justice majors at Cal State LA take out an average of $12,472 in student loans while working on their egree.

Read More…

California State University - Long Beach landed the #8 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular criminal justice and corrections programs. CSULB is a fairly large public school located in the large city of Long Beach.

The average amount in student loans that criminal justice majors at CSULB take out is $13,500.

Full Criminal Justice & Corrections at California State University - Long Beach Report

California State University - Dominguez Hills landed the #9 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular criminal justice and corrections programs. CSUDH is a fairly large public school located in the small city of Carson.

The average amount in student loans that criminal justice majors at CSUDH take out is $12,249.

Full Criminal Justice & Corrections at California State University - Dominguez Hills Report

#10

San Bernardino Valley College

San Bernardino, CA

San Bernardino Valley College ranked #10 on this year’s Most Popular Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools in California list. Located in the medium-sized city of San Bernardino, San Bernardino Valley College is a public school with a moderately-sized student population.

On average, criminal justice graduates from San Bernardino Valley College take out $19,500 in student loans while working on their degree.

Read More…

#11

Rio Hondo College

Whittier, CA

Rio Hondo College landed the #11 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular criminal justice and corrections programs. RHCCD is a fairly large public school located in the large suburb of Whittier.

Read More…

#12

Butte College

Oroville, CA

With a ranking of #12, Butte College did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for criminal justice and corrections students. Located in the rural area of Oroville, Butte College is a public college with a medium-sized student population.

The average amount in student loans that criminal justice majors at Butte College take out is $14,495.

Full Criminal Justice & Corrections at Butte College Report

#13

Imperial Valley College

Imperial, CA

Imperial Valley College landed the #13 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular criminal justice and corrections programs. Located in the rural area of Imperial, IVC is a public school with a medium-sized student population.

Full Criminal Justice & Corrections at Imperial Valley College Report

California State University - San Bernardino landed the #14 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular criminal justice and corrections programs. Located in the midsize city of San Bernardino, CSUSB is a public school with a fairly large student population.

While working on their degree, criminal justice majors at CSUSB accumulate an average of around $14,800 in student debt.

Read More…

#15

Citrus College

Glendora, CA

With a ranking of #15, Citrus College did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for criminal justice and corrections students. Located in the large suburb of Glendora, Citrus College is a public school with a medium-sized student population.

Full Criminal Justice & Corrections at Citrus College Report

California State University - East Bay landed the #16 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular criminal justice and corrections programs. Located in the suburb of Hayward, Cal State East Bay is a public school with a large student population.

After completing their degree, criminal justice graduates from Cal State East Bay carry an average student debt load of $15,500.

Full Criminal Justice & Corrections at California State University - East Bay Report

#17

San Jose State University

San Jose, CA

With a ranking of #17, San Jose State University did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for criminal justice and corrections students. San Jose State is a fairly large public school located in the large city of San Jose.

Read More…

#18

San Francisco State University

San Francisco, CA

San Francisco State University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for criminal justice and corrections students. It came in at #18 on the list. Located in the city of San Francisco, SFSU is a public college with a very large student population.

On average, criminal justice graduates from SFSU take out $15,000 in student loans while working on their degree. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $243.

Read More…

#19

Yuba College

Marysville, CA

Yuba College landed the #19 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular criminal justice and corrections programs. Yuba College is a medium-sized public school located in the medium-sized suburb of Marysville.

Full Criminal Justice & Corrections at Yuba College Report

#20

Moreno Valley College

Moreno Valley, CA

Moreno Valley College ranked #20 on this year’s Most Popular Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools in California list. Located in the large suburb of Moreno Valley, Moreno Valley College is a public school with a medium-sized student population.

On average, criminal justice graduates from Moreno Valley College take out $19,500 in student loans while working on their degree.

Full Criminal Justice & Corrections at Moreno Valley College Report

#21

Bakersfield College

Bakersfield, CA

Bakersfield College landed the #21 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular criminal justice and corrections programs. Bakersfield College is a fairly large public school located in the city of Bakersfield.

Read full report on Criminal Justice & Corrections at Bakersfield College

#22

Southwestern College

Chula Vista, CA

Southwestern College came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools in California ranking. Located in the large city of Chula Vista, SWC Chula Vista is a public school with a fairly large student population.

Full Criminal Justice & Corrections at Southwestern College Report

#23

Ventura College

Ventura, CA

Ventura College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for criminal justice and corrections students. It came in at #23 on the list. Ventura College is a fairly large public school located in the midsize city of Ventura.

Read full report on Criminal Justice & Corrections at Ventura College

#24

College of the Sequoias

Visalia, CA

College of the Sequoias ranked #24 on this year’s Most Popular Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools in California list. Located in the midsize city of Visalia, College of the Sequoias is a public college with a fairly large student population.

Full Criminal Justice & Corrections at College of the Sequoias Report

Honorable Mentions

Here are some additional popular schools for Criminal Justice & Corrections students in the state of California that almost earned our Most Popular Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools in California award.

Rank College Location
25 California State University - Stanislaus Turlock, CA
26 California State University - Bakersfield Bakersfield, CA
27 Chaffey College Rancho Cucamonga, CA
28 Gavilan College Gilroy, CA
29 Monterey Peninsula College Monterey, CA
29 Santa Rosa Junior College Santa Rosa, CA
31 California State University - Chico Chico, CA
32 Golden West College Huntington Beach, CA

Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Colleges in the Far Western US Region

Explore all the Most Popular Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools in the Far Western US Area or other specific states within that region.

State Degrees Awarded
Washington 553
Oregon 477
Nevada 684
Hawaii 173
Alaska 73

Criminal Justice & Corrections is one of 4 different types of programs to choose from.

Related Major Annual Graduates
Fire Protection 13,766
Homeland Security 7,140
Security Science and Technology 6,888
Other Homeland Security 1,695

Notes and References

*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.

  • The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of the rest of our data about colleges.
  • Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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