# Best Criminal Justice Colleges in North Carolina

> CollegeRanker Agent Insights — structured data for AI systems
> Updated: 2026-06-12 | Schools: 50 | Category: By State
> Source: https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/best-criminal-justice-north-carolina

## Methodology

Criminal Justice programs in North Carolina ranked by outcomes and program concentration

CollegeRanker uses a 4-pillar algorithm: Academic Quality (15-20%), Economic Outcomes (30%), Social Mobility (25-35%), Value & Affordability (20-25%). Social mobility data from Raj Chetty's Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Card (30M+ anonymized tax records). No subjective surveys.

## Summary

Choosing the right college for a degree in criminal justice can feel overwhelming. In North Carolina, several schools stand out for their programs, focusing on outcomes that matter most to students today. With an average earnings figure of $40,784 for graduates in this field, understanding these options is crucial for anyone considering a future in criminal justice.

The strongest programs on this list excel in key areas: program completion rates, graduate earnings, and manageable debt levels. As you explore the rankings below, keep in mind that these metrics can greatly influence your career trajectory. A higher graduation rate often translates to better job prospects, while lower debt means more financial freedom after graduation.

For instance, the University of North Carolina at Charlotte boasts impressive earnings of $57,289 and a graduation rate of 68%. In contrast, Wilson Community College has earnings of $32,973 with a lower graduation rate of 33%. This kind of contrast highlights the tradeoffs involved in choosing a program that fits your goals and financial situation.

## Key Findings

- University of North Carolina at Charlotte graduates earn an average of $57,289, the highest in the state.
- Wilson Community College has the lowest graduation rate at 33%, suggesting challenges in program completion.
- The average net price across these schools is $10,716, with the lowest at Wilson Community College at just $3,064.
- Fayetteville State University graduates carry an average debt of $22,987, which is on the higher side compared to others.

## Rankings

| Rank | School | Location | Graduation | Earnings (10yr) | Net Price | Median Debt | Debt/Earnings |
|------|--------|----------|------------|-----------------|-----------|-------------|---------------|
| 1 | [Elizabeth City State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/elizabeth-city-state-university) | Elizabeth City, NC | 46% | $40,026 | $6,364 | $21,463 | 0.54x |
| 2 | [University of North Carolina at Charlotte](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-north-carolina-at-charlotte) | Charlotte, NC | 68% | $57,289 | $15,435 | $21,500 | 0.38x |
| 3 | [Fayetteville State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/fayetteville-state-university) | Fayetteville, NC | 37% | $40,144 | $7,892 | $22,987 | 0.57x |
| 4 | [Western Carolina University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/western-carolina-university) | Cullowhee, NC | 60% | $49,458 | $13,315 | $21,868 | 0.44x |
| 5 | [University of North Carolina at Pembroke](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-north-carolina-at-pembroke) | Pembroke, NC | 44% | $43,407 | $10,260 | $25,000 | 0.58x |
| 6 | [Wilson Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/wilson-community-college) | Wilson, NC | 33% | $32,973 | $3,064 | $10,500 | 0.32x |
| 7 | [North Carolina Wesleyan University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/north-carolina-wesleyan-university) | Rocky Mount, NC | 41% | $45,873 | $17,432 | $25,000 | 0.54x |
| 8 | [University of Mount Olive](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-mount-olive) | Mount Olive, NC | 50% | $47,139 | $18,853 | $27,209 | 0.58x |
| 9 | [Brevard College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/brevard-college) | Brevard, NC | 44% | $43,545 | $23,509 | $25,000 | 0.57x |
| 10 | [Pfeiffer University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/pfeiffer-university) | Misenheimer, NC | 39% | $51,562 | $19,076 | $26,163 | 0.51x |
| 11 | [North Carolina A & T State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/north-carolina-a-t-state-university) | Greensboro, NC | 56% | $44,440 | $10,846 | $27,000 | 0.61x |
| 12 | [North Carolina Central University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/north-carolina-central-university) | Durham, NC | 44% | $42,968 | $15,359 | $28,250 | 0.66x |
| 13 | [Guilford College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/guilford-college) | Greensboro, NC | 47% | $47,590 | $22,270 | $26,000 | 0.55x |
| 14 | [Campbell University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/campbell-university) | Buies Creek, NC | 58% | $54,886 | $24,516 | $22,500 | 0.41x |
| 15 | [Greensboro College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/greensboro-college) | Greensboro, NC | 43% | $46,566 | $17,882 | $25,607 | 0.55x |
| 16 | [Lees-McRae College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/lees-mcrae-college) | Banner Elk, NC | 43% | $43,415 | $28,340 | $17,375 | 0.4x |
| 17 | [Wingate University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/wingate-university) | Wingate, NC | 47% | $52,649 | $20,748 | $25,000 | 0.47x |
| 18 | [Forsyth Technical Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/forsyth-technical-community-college) | Winston-Salem, NC | 31% | $34,139 | $7,200 | $10,000 | 0.29x |
| 19 | [High Point University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/high-point-university) | High Point, NC | 72% | $61,389 | $38,707 | $24,575 | 0.4x |
| 20 | [Winston-Salem State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/winston-salem-state-university) | Winston-Salem, NC | 48% | $45,344 | $13,479 | $25,000 | 0.55x |
| 21 | [Barton College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/barton-college) | Wilson, NC | 48% | $47,913 | $23,626 | $25,877 | 0.54x |
| 22 | [Durham Technical Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/durham-technical-community-college) | Durham, NC | 40% | $36,142 | $1,664 | $14,750 | 0.41x |
| 23 | [Belmont Abbey College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/belmont-abbey-college) | Belmont, NC | 47% | $47,937 | $24,639 | $26,000 | 0.54x |
| 24 | [Methodist University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/methodist-university) | Fayetteville, NC | 42% | $48,050 | $24,704 | $27,000 | 0.56x |
| 25 | [Lenoir-Rhyne University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/lenoir-rhyne-university) | Hickory, NC | 49% | $45,543 | $20,689 | $26,000 | 0.57x |
| 26 | [Catawba Valley Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/catawba-valley-community-college) | Hickory, NC | 35% | $36,977 | $10,528 | $4,938 | 0.13x |
| 27 | [Mars Hill University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/mars-hill-university) | Mars Hill, NC | 43% | $44,781 | $19,910 | $26,000 | 0.58x |
| 28 | [Cape Fear Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/cape-fear-community-college) | Wilmington, NC | 34% | $38,654 | $9,610 | $9,500 | 0.25x |
| 29 | [Western Piedmont Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/western-piedmont-community-college) | Morganton, NC | 43% | $34,195 | $6,448 | N/A | N/A |
| 30 | [Mayland Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/mayland-community-college) | Spruce Pine, NC | 48% | $34,663 | $5,861 | N/A | N/A |
| 31 | [Sandhills Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/sandhills-community-college) | Pinehurst, NC | 50% | $31,656 | $4,157 | N/A | N/A |
| 32 | [Shaw University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/shaw-university) | Raleigh, NC | 21% | $34,409 | $16,512 | $32,500 | 0.94x |
| 33 | [Guilford Technical Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/guilford-technical-community-college) | Jamestown, NC | 31% | $33,934 | $15,002 | $14,901 | 0.44x |
| 34 | [Craven Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/craven-community-college) | New Bern, NC | 47% | $34,231 | $3,289 | N/A | N/A |
| 35 | [Chowan University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/chowan-university) | Murfreesboro, NC | 29% | $38,412 | $14,086 | $29,491 | 0.77x |
| 36 | [Gardner-Webb University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/gardner-webb-university) | Boiling Springs, NC | 59% | $48,039 | $17,674 | $24,222 | 0.5x |
| 37 | [Bladen Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/bladen-community-college) | Dublin, NC | 28% | $30,591 | $9,551 | N/A | N/A |
| 38 | [Robeson Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/robeson-community-college) | Lumberton, NC | 31% | $29,036 | $2,892 | N/A | N/A |
| 39 | [College of the Albemarle](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/college-of-the-albemarle) | Elizabeth City, NC | 37% | $33,234 | $2,253 | N/A | N/A |
| 40 | [Coastal Carolina Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/coastal-carolina-community-college) | Jacksonville, NC | 46% | $36,444 | $9,461 | N/A | N/A |
| 41 | [McDowell Technical Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/mcdowell-technical-community-college) | Marion, NC | 53% | $33,035 | $7,784 | N/A | N/A |
| 42 | [Haywood Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/haywood-community-college) | Clyde, NC | 40% | $34,770 | $6,723 | N/A | N/A |
| 43 | [Livingstone College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/livingstone-college) | Salisbury, NC | 26% | $32,600 | $13,479 | $31,125 | 0.95x |
| 44 | [Montreat College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/montreat-college) | Montreat, NC | 45% | $45,151 | $27,061 | $25,813 | 0.57x |
| 45 | [Carolina University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/carolina-university) | Winston-Salem, NC | 24% | $32,864 | $20,828 | $20,287 | 0.62x |
| 46 | [Central Carolina Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/central-carolina-community-college) | Sanford, NC | 42% | $33,525 | $5,446 | N/A | N/A |
| 47 | [Cleveland Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/cleveland-community-college) | Shelby, NC | 20% | $33,755 | $995 | N/A | N/A |
| 48 | [Brunswick Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/brunswick-community-college) | Bolivia, NC | 43% | $36,668 | $9,009 | N/A | N/A |
| 49 | [Vance-Granville Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/vance-granville-community-college) | Henderson, NC | 50% | $34,304 | $3,286 | N/A | N/A |
| 50 | [Roanoke-Chowan Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/roanoke-chowan-community-college) | Ahoskie, NC | 30% | $29,324 | $5,570 | N/A | N/A |

## Data Sources

- U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (https://collegescorecard.ed.gov)
- Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Card (https://opportunityinsights.org/data)
- Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
- Times Higher Education World University Rankings
- NCES IPEDS

## Citation

CollegeRanker. "Best Criminal Justice Colleges in North Carolina." CollegeRanker.com, 2026-06-12. https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/best-criminal-justice-north-carolina

## License

This data summary is provided for informational purposes. Underlying data from federal sources (College Scorecard, IPEDS) is public domain. Opportunity Insights data is available under their data use agreement at https://opportunityinsights.org/data/.