# Best Master's in Criminal Justice

> CollegeRanker Agent Insights — structured data for AI systems
> Updated: 2026-05-31 | Schools: 50 | Category: Masters
> Source: https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/best-masters-criminal-justice

## Methodology

Master's programs ranked by graduate earnings, mobility, and program concentration in Criminal Justice

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

Finding the right master's program in criminal justice can significantly impact your career prospects. With average earnings hovering around $59,885, it's essential to choose a school that not only provides quality education but also supports your future financial stability.

The most effective programs here prioritize graduation rates, earnings potential, and manageable debt levels. As you explore the list below, consider how each school stacks up in these areas. A high graduation rate often correlates with a supportive learning environment, while lower debt can mean more financial freedom after graduation.

For example, the University of Virginia-Main Campus boasts an impressive $86,863 in graduate earnings and a remarkable 95% graduation rate. In contrast, CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice, while offering a solid education, shows earnings of $56,195 and a graduation rate of 56%. This illustrates the trade-offs in terms of potential income and support you might encounter at different institutions.

## Key Findings

- University of Virginia-Main Campus graduates earn an average of $86,863, the highest in this ranking.
- CUNY John Jay College has the lowest graduation rate at 56%, compared to the top school's 95%.
- Florida State University graduates face an average debt of $18,000, more than Farmingdale State College's $14,718.
- The average net price across these programs is $11,568, showing a range from $3,203 to $21,565.

## Rankings

| Rank | School | Location | Graduation | Earnings (10yr) | Net Price | Median Debt | Debt/Earnings |
|------|--------|----------|------------|-----------------|-----------|-------------|---------------|
| 1 | [CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/cuny-john-jay-college-of-criminal-justice) | New York, NY | 56% | $56,195 | $3,203 | $11,000 | 0.2x |
| 2 | [Bethel University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/bethel-university-tn) | McKenzie, TN | 35% | $47,482 | $12,595 | $27,249 | 0.57x |
| 3 | [Sam Houston State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/sam-houston-state-university) | Huntsville, TX | 55% | $54,211 | $16,404 | $21,983 | 0.41x |
| 4 | [Massachusetts Maritime Academy](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/massachusetts-maritime-academy) | Buzzards Bay, MA | 77% | $82,392 | $21,582 | $25,000 | 0.3x |
| 5 | [University of Central Florida](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-central-florida) | Orlando, FL | 77% | $58,308 | $10,411 | $18,190 | 0.31x |
| 6 | [East Texas A&M University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/east-texas-am-university) | Commerce, TX | 44% | $50,296 | $11,841 | $20,500 | 0.41x |
| 7 | [George Mason University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/george-mason-university) | Fairfax, VA | 69% | $76,343 | $17,915 | $19,500 | 0.26x |
| 8 | [University of North Florida](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-north-florida) | Jacksonville, FL | 69% | $56,343 | $10,154 | $15,531 | 0.28x |
| 9 | [Florida State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/florida-state-university) | Tallahassee, FL | 84% | $61,675 | $11,297 | $18,000 | 0.29x |
| 10 | [Westfield State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/westfield-state-university) | Westfield, MA | 55% | $57,346 | $16,721 | $22,457 | 0.39x |
| 11 | [San Jose State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/san-jose-state-university) | San Jose, CA | 67% | $78,988 | $13,760 | $15,000 | 0.19x |
| 12 | [Trinity Valley Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/trinity-valley-community-college) | Athens, TX | 26% | $38,567 | $4,092 | $10,426 | 0.27x |
| 13 | [Madonna University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/madonna-university) | Livonia, MI | 59% | $59,058 | $17,755 | $23,000 | 0.39x |
| 14 | [Florida International University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/florida-international-university) | Miami, FL | 74% | $60,249 | $9,288 | $16,500 | 0.27x |
| 15 | [University of New Haven](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-new-haven) | West Haven, CT | 61% | $60,126 | $34,192 | $27,000 | 0.45x |
| 16 | [Florida Atlantic University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/florida-atlantic-university) | Boca Raton, FL | 63% | $56,746 | $8,752 | $17,236 | 0.3x |
| 17 | [Western Illinois University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/western-illinois-university) | Macomb, IL | 45% | $54,163 | $12,937 | $25,251 | 0.47x |
| 18 | [Ferris State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/ferris-state-university) | Big Rapids, MI | 47% | $54,735 | $8,624 | $21,000 | 0.38x |
| 19 | [Missouri Southern State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/missouri-southern-state-university) | Joplin, MO | 40% | $42,620 | $12,007 | $19,174 | 0.45x |
| 20 | [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 |
| 21 | [Lewis University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/lewis-university) | Romeoville, IL | 65% | $66,099 | $17,028 | $21,500 | 0.33x |
| 22 | [Utica University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/utica-university) | Utica, NY | 56% | $63,277 | $19,108 | $22,500 | 0.36x |
| 23 | [Lake Superior State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/lake-superior-state-university) | Sault Ste Marie, MI | 54% | $49,045 | $12,822 | $23,250 | 0.47x |
| 24 | [Norwich University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/norwich-university) | Northfield, VT | 61% | $65,575 | $22,257 | $25,000 | 0.38x |
| 25 | [Florida Gulf Coast University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/florida-gulf-coast-university) | Fort Myers, FL | 57% | $54,560 | $12,568 | $17,622 | 0.32x |
| 26 | [Saint Peter's University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/saint-peters-university) | Jersey City, NJ | 61% | $57,815 | $12,199 | $20,500 | 0.35x |
| 27 | [Hilbert College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/hilbert-college) | Hamburg, NY | 52% | $48,309 | $22,723 | $24,750 | 0.51x |
| 28 | [San Diego State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/san-diego-state-university) | San Diego, CA | 77% | $64,909 | $15,364 | $15,000 | 0.23x |
| 29 | [University of West Florida](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-west-florida) | Pensacola, FL | 60% | $49,137 | $9,364 | $16,624 | 0.34x |
| 30 | [University of Florida-Online](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-florida-online) | Gainesville, FL | 81% | $71,588 | $4,815 | $15,000 | 0.21x |
| 31 | [Southern Illinois University Edwardsville](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/southern-illinois-university-edwardsville) | Edwardsville, IL | 56% | $56,346 | $14,889 | $20,500 | 0.36x |
| 32 | [Saint Leo University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/saint-leo-university) | Saint Leo, FL | 47% | $48,364 | $21,293 | $25,278 | 0.52x |
| 33 | [Worcester State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/worcester-state-university) | Worcester, MA | 58% | $60,624 | $13,381 | $19,500 | 0.32x |
| 34 | [San Francisco State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/san-francisco-state-university) | San Francisco, CA | 50% | $68,077 | $12,278 | $15,371 | 0.23x |
| 35 | [New Jersey City University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/new-jersey-city-university) | Jersey City, NJ | 36% | $52,745 | $16,053 | $18,500 | 0.35x |
| 36 | [University of Central Missouri](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-central-missouri) | Warrensburg, MO | 52% | $49,560 | $14,462 | $21,000 | 0.42x |
| 37 | [Illinois State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/illinois-state-university) | Normal, IL | 65% | $62,117 | $19,398 | $20,482 | 0.33x |
| 38 | [Minot State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/minot-state-university) | Minot, ND | 46% | $51,759 | $12,703 | $19,609 | 0.38x |
| 39 | [Rhode Island College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/rhode-island-college) | Providence, RI | 47% | $56,318 | $9,478 | $20,500 | 0.36x |
| 40 | [Florida Gateway College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/florida-gateway-college) | Lake City, FL | 55% | $37,894 | $5,364 | $6,992 | 0.18x |
| 41 | [Eastern Kentucky University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/eastern-kentucky-university) | Richmond, KY | 50% | $45,795 | $11,040 | $22,500 | 0.49x |
| 42 | [Sonoma State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/sonoma-state-university) | Rohnert Park, CA | 59% | $65,986 | $12,885 | $16,705 | 0.25x |
| 43 | [Western Connecticut State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/western-connecticut-state-university) | Danbury, CT | 51% | $59,115 | $17,604 | $24,147 | 0.41x |
| 44 | [Northeastern State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/northeastern-state-university) | Tahlequah, OK | 36% | $45,379 | $12,710 | $17,367 | 0.38x |
| 45 | [Nevada State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/nevada-state-university) | Henderson, NV | 32% | $53,166 | $14,068 | $19,691 | 0.37x |
| 46 | [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 |
| 47 | [University of North Dakota](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-north-dakota) | Grand Forks, ND | 62% | $63,552 | $18,551 | $22,057 | 0.35x |
| 48 | [Southeastern Oklahoma State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/southeastern-oklahoma-state-university) | Durant, OK | 32% | $45,079 | $8,039 | $17,000 | 0.38x |
| 49 | [University of North Texas](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-north-texas) | Denton, TX | 60% | $57,010 | $15,649 | $19,250 | 0.34x |
| 50 | [University of Central Oklahoma](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-central-oklahoma) | Edmond, OK | 37% | $48,351 | $18,309 | $21,000 | 0.43x |

## 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 Master's in Criminal Justice." CollegeRanker.com, 2026-05-31. https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/best-masters-criminal-justice

## 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/.