Rankings / Social Mobility
Best Social Mobility Colleges for Criminal Justice
- 50
- Schools
- $58,225
- Avg. Earnings
- 57%
- Avg. Graduation
- $14,279
- Avg. Net Price
- $19,508
- Avg. Debt
CollegeRanker Research
What Surprised Us Most
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Median graduate earnings across these 50 schools run from $38,663 to $82,652, a 2.1× gap. The category label alone says little about payoff.
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CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice delivers the most for the money: roughly $56,195 in median earnings against $3,203 a year in net price, the strongest earnings-to-cost ratio on the list.
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The most affordable option, CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice ($3,203 net price), still posts $56,195 in earnings, at or above the list average. Paying more does not guarantee a better outcome.
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The College of New Jersey graduates 86% of its students, versus a 57% average across the list. Completion, more than selectivity, signals whether a degree actually gets finished.
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San Jose State University carries the healthiest debt load, with graduates owing just 0.19× their annual earnings.
Surprising Comparisons
- #1 CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice ($56,195 earnings) outranks the list's highest earner, Loyola University Maryland ($82,652), because it does more on mobility and cost.
- CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice costs $3,203 a year and Seattle University costs $34,662. Yet their graduates earn $56,195 and $75,272, nowhere near the $31,459 price gap.
- On value, CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice beats Loyola University Maryland: comparable career payoff at a fraction of the net price.
The Takeaway
The through line among the top-ranked schools is plain. They pair solid graduate earnings with affordable costs and meaningful social mobility. Prestige and selectivity matter far less than whether students end up better off.
What This Means for Students
Your shortlist should start with CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice and The College of New Jersey. For each school, look up the net price your family would actually pay, weigh it against typical graduate earnings, and build the decision around the return instead of the name recognition.
Why this ranking matters
These schools are ranked on outcomes that compound: graduate earnings, upward mobility, debt, and value, all drawn from federal tax records and Scorecard data rather than reputation surveys. The list rewards results over prestige, led by institutions whose graduates earn a median of about $57K ten years after enrollment.
How we measure this — full methodology →How we rank · 4 pillars
Federal-source data only. Build your own weighting →
Data Behind This Page Updated 2026-07-13
Source datasets
- Chetty, R., Friedman, J., Saez, E., Turner, N., & Yagan, D. (2017). Mobility Report Cards: The Role of Colleges in Intergenerational Mobility. NBER Working Paper No. 23618.
- Chetty, R., Jackson, M., Kuchler, T., et al. (2022). Social Capital I: Measurement and Associations with Economic Mobility. Nature, 608, 108-121.
- U.S. Department of Education. College Scorecard Data. Federal Student Aid, National Center for Education Statistics.
Methodology
Schools are scored on the CollegeRanker 4-Pillar Algorithm: Economic Outcomes (30%), Social Mobility (25–35%), Academic Quality (15–20%), and Value (20–25%). Every weight is published and every figure traces to a public dataset.
See the full methodology and weights →Confidence notes
- Earnings, completion, and debt figures come from federal administrative records — tax data and student-aid filings — not surveys or self-reports, the highest-confidence tier of education data available.
- Social-mobility estimates are drawn from de-identified tax records covering more than 30 million students (Opportunity Insights).
- Where an institution is missing a metric, it is excluded from that metric rather than imputed, so averages are never inflated by guesses.
Limitations
- Federal earnings data primarily cover students who received federal financial aid; outcomes for non-aided students may differ.
- Earnings are measured roughly ten years after enrollment, so they describe how earlier cohorts fared — historical outcomes, not guarantees of future results.
- An institution's field-of-study mix affects raw earnings; scores reflect measured outcomes and are not fully major-adjusted unless explicitly noted.
- Net price is an average; the actual cost a given student pays varies widely by family income.
At a Glance
How the Top Schools Compare
| School | Earnings | Net Price | Graduation | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice #1 overall | $56,195 ▼ -3% vs avg | $3,203 | 56% | 83 |
| 2 East Texas A&M University #2 overall | $50,296 ▼ -14% vs avg | $11,841 | 44% | 78 |
| 3 George Mason University #3 overall | $76,343 ▲ +31% vs avg | $17,915 | 69% | 77 |
| $78,988 ▲ +36% vs avg | $13,760 | 67% | 77 | |
| $60,249 ▲ +3% vs avg | $9,288 | 74% | 76 |
Score uses our 4-pillar methodology. Earnings % is vs. this list's average.
See full ranking →Executive Summary
Best Social Mobility Colleges for Criminal Justice
This analysis ranks 50 institutions on graduate earnings, social mobility, completion, and cost. Across the list, alumni earn a median of $58,225 ten years after enrolling, against an average graduation rate of 57% and an average net price of $14,279.
Key takeaways
- Strongest Earnings-to-Cost Ratio: CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice — Net Price: $3,203 | Graduation Rate: 56%
- Strongest Completion Outcomes: The College of New Jersey — 86% completion rate
- Highest Earnings Generator: Loyola University Maryland — Median alumni earnings: $82,652
Research Note
Low-income students at colleges in the top quartile of economic connectedness are 267% more likely to reach the top income quintile than peers at the least-connected schools.
Legal Profession Analysis
What does this ranking tell us about the legal profession and the justice system?
$56,826
Median earnings (10yr)
56%
Median graduation rate
$13,159
Median net price
2.4%
Avg. mobility rate
Law and criminal-justice programs feed careers where outcomes hinge on two numbers most rankings ignore: bar passage and employment in the field. Salaries are famously bimodal, with a cluster at large firms and a long tail in public-interest and government roles. Debt loads can be heavy, so program quality carries unusual stakes.
The median graduation rate across these 50 schools is 56%. Median graduate earnings reach $56,826 ten years after enrollment, roughly $8,826 more than the national worker average of $48,000. Average net price, the cost after grants, is $13,159 a year, and median federal debt at graduation is about $20,183. Some 36% of students receive Pell grants, and mobility, the share of low-income students who reach the top quintile, averages 2.4%.
What we’re seeing: the gap between programs with strong bar-passage and placement records and the rest is wide, and debt makes that gap consequential. Median earnings of $56,826 against $20,183 in typical debt show why fit and outcomes matter more here than prestige alone.
The podium
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Full rankings
New York, NY · 57% accepted · $3,203 net
Why it ranks #1
CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice lands at #1 with a 83/100 composite, led by value per dollar (90/100) and pulled down by academic quality (63/100). Graduates earn a median $56,195 a decade after enrolling, 3% below this list's average, and net price runs $3,203 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what puts it near the top, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #2
East Texas A&M University lands at #2 with a 78/100 composite, led by social mobility (92/100) and pulled down by academic quality (53/100). Graduates earn a median $50,296 a decade after enrolling, 14% below this list's average, and net price runs $11,841 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #3
George Mason University lands at #3 with a 77/100 composite, led by social mobility (83/100) and pulled down by academic quality (60/100). Graduates earn a median $76,343 a decade after enrolling, 31% above this list's average, and net price runs $17,915 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #4
San Jose State University lands at #4 with a 77/100 composite, led by social mobility (84/100) and pulled down by academic quality (71/100). Graduates earn a median $78,988 a decade after enrolling, 36% above this list's average, and net price runs $13,760 a year. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #5
Florida International University lands at #5 with a 76/100 composite, led by social mobility (82/100) and pulled down by academic quality (66/100). Graduates earn a median $60,249 a decade after enrolling, 3% above this list's average, and net price runs $9,288 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top.
Pillar breakdown
Edwardsville, IL · 98% accepted · $14,889 net
Why it ranks #6
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville lands at #6 with a 76/100 composite, led by social mobility (90/100) and pulled down by academic quality (67/100). Graduates earn a median $56,346 a decade after enrolling, 3% below this list's average, and net price runs $14,889 a year. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #7
University of Central Florida lands at #7 with a 76/100 composite, led by academic quality (87/100) and pulled down by economic outcomes (70/100). Graduates earn a median $58,308 a decade after enrolling, 0% above this list's average, and net price runs $10,411 a year, well under the field. Academics score well here, yet mobility (35%) and value (20%) carry the most weight, so outcome-per-dollar sets the final position.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #8
University of North Florida lands at #8 with a 76/100 composite, led by social mobility (82/100) and pulled down by economic outcomes (70/100). Graduates earn a median $56,343 a decade after enrolling, 3% below this list's average, and net price runs $10,154 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #9
Florida State University lands at #9 with a 76/100 composite, led by social mobility (80/100) and pulled down by economic outcomes (71/100). Graduates earn a median $61,675 a decade after enrolling, 6% above this list's average, and net price runs $11,297 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #10
Sam Houston State University lands at #10 with a 75/100 composite, led by social mobility (83/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (60/100). Graduates earn a median $54,211 a decade after enrolling, 7% below this list's average, and net price runs $16,404 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #11
Florida Atlantic University lands at #11 with a 75/100 composite, led by social mobility (81/100) and pulled down by economic outcomes (69/100). Graduates earn a median $56,746 a decade after enrolling, 3% below this list's average, and net price runs $8,752 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #12
Bay Path University lands at #12 with a 75/100 composite, led by social mobility (97/100) and pulled down by academic quality (54/100). Graduates earn a median $55,383 a decade after enrolling, 5% below this list's average, and net price runs $14,271 a year. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Plattsburgh, NY · 78% accepted · $17,156 net
Why it ranks #13
State University of New York at Plattsburgh lands at #13 with a 75/100 composite, led by social mobility (92/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (61/100). Graduates earn a median $56,403 a decade after enrolling, 3% below this list's average, and net price runs $17,156 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #14
San Francisco State University lands at #14 with a 75/100 composite, led by social mobility (85/100) and pulled down by academic quality (66/100). Graduates earn a median $68,077 a decade after enrolling, 17% above this list's average, and net price runs $12,278 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #15
Waldorf University lands at #15 with a 75/100 composite, led by social mobility (91/100) and pulled down by academic quality (41/100). Graduates earn a median $51,165 a decade after enrolling, 12% below this list's average, and net price runs $19,693 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #16
Bethel University lands at #16 with a 75/100 composite, led by social mobility (84/100) and pulled down by economic outcomes (60/100). Graduates earn a median $47,482 a decade after enrolling, 18% below this list's average, and net price runs $12,595 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #17
University of the Cumberlands lands at #17 with a 74/100 composite, led by social mobility (94/100) and pulled down by academic quality (49/100). Graduates earn a median $45,036 a decade after enrolling, 23% below this list's average, and net price runs $14,107 a year. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #18
University of Florida-Online lands at #18 with a 74/100 composite, led by value per dollar (87/100) and pulled down by academic quality (68/100). Graduates earn a median $71,588 a decade after enrolling, 23% above this list's average, and net price runs $4,815 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #19
Ferris State University lands at #19 with a 74/100 composite, led by social mobility (82/100) and pulled down by academic quality (62/100). Graduates earn a median $54,735 a decade after enrolling, 6% below this list's average, and net price runs $8,624 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #20
San Diego State University lands at #20 with a 74/100 composite, led by social mobility (82/100) and pulled down by academic quality (62/100). Graduates earn a median $64,909 a decade after enrolling, 11% above this list's average, and net price runs $15,364 a year. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #21
Bristol Community College lands at #21 with a 74/100 composite, led by social mobility (93/100) and pulled down by academic quality (56/100). Graduates earn a median $38,663 a decade after enrolling, 34% below this list's average, and net price runs $5,547 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #22
The College of New Jersey lands at #22 with a 74/100 composite, led by social mobility (82/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (57/100). Graduates earn a median $73,323 a decade after enrolling, 26% above this list's average, and net price runs $27,646 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #23
Portland State University lands at #23 with a 74/100 composite, led by social mobility (83/100) and pulled down by academic quality (52/100). Graduates earn a median $57,906 a decade after enrolling, 1% below this list's average, and net price runs $9,552 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #24
Florida Gulf Coast University lands at #24 with a 74/100 composite, led by social mobility (81/100) and pulled down by economic outcomes (68/100). Graduates earn a median $54,560 a decade after enrolling, 6% below this list's average, and net price runs $12,568 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #25
Illinois State University lands at #25 with a 74/100 composite, led by social mobility (83/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (61/100). Graduates earn a median $62,117 a decade after enrolling, 7% above this list's average, and net price runs $19,398 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #26
Massachusetts Maritime Academy lands at #26 with a 74/100 composite, led by social mobility (81/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (53/100). Graduates earn a median $82,392 a decade after enrolling, 42% above this list's average, and net price runs $21,582 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #27
Southeastern Oklahoma State University lands at #27 with a 74/100 composite, led by social mobility (83/100) and pulled down by academic quality (63/100). Graduates earn a median $45,079 a decade after enrolling, 23% below this list's average, and net price runs $8,039 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #28
Sonoma State University lands at #28 with a 74/100 composite, led by social mobility (83/100) and pulled down by academic quality (66/100). Graduates earn a median $65,986 a decade after enrolling, 13% above this list's average, and net price runs $12,885 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #29
Lewis University lands at #29 with a 74/100 composite, led by social mobility (83/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (63/100). Graduates earn a median $66,099 a decade after enrolling, 14% above this list's average, and net price runs $17,028 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #30
Saint Peter's University lands at #30 with a 73/100 composite, led by social mobility (84/100) and pulled down by academic quality (62/100). Graduates earn a median $57,815 a decade after enrolling, 1% below this list's average, and net price runs $12,199 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #31
University of North Texas lands at #31 with a 73/100 composite, led by social mobility (82/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (64/100). Graduates earn a median $57,010 a decade after enrolling, 2% below this list's average, and net price runs $15,649 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #32
Rhode Island College lands at #32 with a 73/100 composite, led by social mobility (83/100) and pulled down by economic outcomes (67/100). Graduates earn a median $56,318 a decade after enrolling, 3% below this list's average, and net price runs $9,478 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
San Antonio, TX · 87% accepted · $10,836 net
Why it ranks #33
The University of Texas at San Antonio lands at #33 with a 73/100 composite, led by social mobility (82/100) and pulled down by academic quality (55/100). Graduates earn a median $57,131 a decade after enrolling, 2% below this list's average, and net price runs $10,836 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #34
Kennesaw State University lands at #34 with a 73/100 composite, led by social mobility (83/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (63/100). Graduates earn a median $57,552 a decade after enrolling, 1% below this list's average, and net price runs $15,048 a year. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #35
Madonna University lands at #35 with a 73/100 composite, led by social mobility (81/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (56/100). Graduates earn a median $59,058 a decade after enrolling, 1% above this list's average, and net price runs $17,755 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #36
SUNY College of Technology at Alfred lands at #36 with a 73/100 composite, led by social mobility (83/100) and pulled down by academic quality (63/100). Graduates earn a median $50,445 a decade after enrolling, 13% below this list's average, and net price runs $15,016 a year. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #37
SUNY Oneonta lands at #37 with a 73/100 composite, led by social mobility (84/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (59/100). Graduates earn a median $60,386 a decade after enrolling, 4% above this list's average, and net price runs $19,158 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #38
Temple College lands at #38 with a 73/100 composite, led by social mobility (91/100) and pulled down by academic quality (56/100). Graduates earn a median $38,678 a decade after enrolling, 34% below this list's average, and net price runs $10,682 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #39
Northeastern State University lands at #39 with a 73/100 composite, led by social mobility (83/100) and pulled down by academic quality (60/100). Graduates earn a median $45,379 a decade after enrolling, 22% below this list's average, and net price runs $12,710 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #40
The University of Texas at El Paso lands at #40 with a 73/100 composite, led by social mobility (81/100) and pulled down by academic quality (46/100). Graduates earn a median $50,923 a decade after enrolling, 13% below this list's average, and net price runs $9,403 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #41
Saint Leo University lands at #41 with a 73/100 composite, led by social mobility (90/100) and pulled down by academic quality (52/100). Graduates earn a median $48,364 a decade after enrolling, 17% below this list's average, and net price runs $21,293 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #42
Texas State University lands at #42 with a 73/100 composite, led by social mobility (83/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (61/100). Graduates earn a median $56,906 a decade after enrolling, 2% below this list's average, and net price runs $16,805 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #43
University of North Dakota lands at #43 with a 73/100 composite, led by social mobility (81/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (60/100). Graduates earn a median $63,552 a decade after enrolling, 9% above this list's average, and net price runs $18,551 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #44
Lake Superior State University lands at #44 with a 72/100 composite, led by social mobility (82/100) and pulled down by economic outcomes (62/100). Graduates earn a median $49,045 a decade after enrolling, 16% below this list's average, and net price runs $12,822 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #45
Worcester State University lands at #45 with a 72/100 composite, led by social mobility (78/100) and pulled down by academic quality (64/100). Graduates earn a median $60,624 a decade after enrolling, 4% above this list's average, and net price runs $13,381 a year. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #46
Western Illinois University lands at #46 with a 72/100 composite, led by social mobility (81/100) and pulled down by academic quality (63/100). Graduates earn a median $54,163 a decade after enrolling, 7% below this list's average, and net price runs $12,937 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #47
Seattle University lands at #47 with a 72/100 composite, led by social mobility (84/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (41/100). Graduates earn a median $75,272 a decade after enrolling, 29% above this list's average, and net price runs $34,662 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #48
Lamar University lands at #48 with a 72/100 composite, led by social mobility (82/100) and pulled down by academic quality (60/100). Graduates earn a median $49,652 a decade after enrolling, 15% below this list's average, and net price runs $9,366 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #49
Loyola University Maryland lands at #49 with a 72/100 composite, led by academic quality (85/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (42/100). Graduates earn a median $82,652 a decade after enrolling, 42% above this list's average, and net price runs $30,574 a year, above the field. Academics score well here, yet mobility (35%) and value (20%) carry the most weight, so outcome-per-dollar sets the final position.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #50
Radford University lands at #50 with a 72/100 composite, led by social mobility (83/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (62/100). Graduates earn a median $53,739 a decade after enrolling, 8% below this list's average, and net price runs $14,578 a year. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Cut it by what you care about
The same 50 schools, re-ranked by the outcome that matters to you.
Where the programs are
Top states on this list
Choosing the right college can feel overwhelming, especially for those interested in criminal justice. This list highlights schools that excel in social mobility, helping students from diverse backgrounds achieve their career goals in this vital field.
What sets these institutions apart is their commitment to measurable outcomes. The data reveals significant differences in earnings, graduation rates, debt levels, and overall mobility for graduates. Understanding these metrics is essential for making an informed decision about which college can best support your aspirations in criminal justice.
For example, CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice offers an average earning of $56,195, but with a graduation rate of only 56%. In contrast, the University of Virginia boasts a much higher earning potential of $86,863 with a graduation rate of 95%. These figures illustrate the trade-offs and opportunities available at different schools, encouraging a closer look at what each has to offer.
The story behind the ranking
A ranking gives you an order; these charts give you the shape. They show how this group of schools spreads across the four things that decide whether a degree pays off — what graduates earn, whether they finish, how far they move up, and what it costs. Look for the standouts, the outliers, and the trade-offs the list alone can't show.
Earnings Outcomes
What graduates earn 10 years after enrolling. Data from College Scorecard.
Distribution of Median Earnings
Earnings vs. Net Price
Top-left = best value. Top-ranked schools are highlighted.
Completion & Access
Graduation rates and who gets in. Data from College Scorecard & IPEDS.
Graduation Rates
Pell Grant Rate vs. Graduation Rate
Right = more low-income students. Higher = more graduate.
What the Mobility Data Says
The backbone of this ranking is social-mobility data from Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card, which draws on more than 30 million tax records. A school's mobility rate is the share of its students who move from the bottom income quintile to the top. Among the 49 schools on this list with available data, that rate averages 2.4%. CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice leads the group at 9.7%, with The University of Texas at El Paso (6.8%) and Saint Peter's University (5.5%) close behind.
Who gets in matters as much as what happens after. Across these schools, an average of 9.4% of students start in the bottom income quintile. The University of Texas at El Paso leads at 28%, which signals an admissions door that is actually open to low-income students. Schools that pair high access with high mobility are the ones driving generational change.
Once low-income students enroll, their odds of reaching the top income quintile average 27.7% across this list. Massachusetts Maritime Academy posts the highest success rate at 61.3%. Access without completion and career momentum is an incomplete picture, and this is the number that completes it.
Social capital, measured by economic connectedness, captures the degree of cross-class friendship on campus, another dimension Opportunity Insights ties to long-run outcomes. Across these schools it averages 1.61 against a national benchmark of 1.0. Loyola University Maryland reaches 1.86, the highest on the list.
Mobility, access, and social-capital figures from Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card & the Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas.
Cost & Debt
What families actually pay and what students owe. Data from College Scorecard.
Median Debt at Graduation
Where These Schools Are Located
Frequently Asked Questions
Best Social Mobility Colleges for Criminal Justice: Your Questions, Answered
What is the #1 school in the Best Social Mobility Colleges for Criminal Justice ranking? +
CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York, NY ranks #1 in our 2026 Best Social Mobility Colleges for Criminal Justice ranking. It earns the top spot on the strength of a median $56,195 in graduate earnings ten years after enrollment and a 56% graduation rate. Our score is built entirely from federal data on graduation rates, graduate earnings, debt, and social mobility. Reputation surveys play no part.
Which school has the highest graduate earnings? +
Loyola University Maryland posts the highest median earnings on this list: $82,652 ten years after enrollment, well above the $58,225 average across the 50 ranked schools with earnings data. Earnings that outpace cost are what separate a degree that pays off from one that does not.
Which school offers the best value? +
On a pure return-on-cost basis, CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice leads: graduates earn a median $56,195 against net price of about $3,203 a year, the strongest earnings-to-cost ratio in the ranking. Applicants should weigh that payback against sticker price rather than prestige.
Which school has the highest graduation rate? +
The College of New Jersey has the highest graduation rate in this ranking at 86%, compared with a 57% average across the list. Completion matters because the students who finish are the ones who actually capture the earnings and mobility gains a degree promises.
How much does it cost to attend these schools? +
The average net price, meaning what students actually pay after grants and scholarships, is about $14,279 a year across the 50 ranked schools with cost data. CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice is among the most affordable at roughly $3,203. Net price is a far better guide to affordability than the published sticker price.
How is the Best Social Mobility Colleges for Criminal Justice ranking calculated? +
We score every school on a four-pillar algorithm: economic outcomes (graduate earnings and debt), social mobility (Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card, built on more than 30 million anonymized tax records), academic quality (graduation and retention), and value (net price and loan burden). Social mobility carries the heaviest weight, so schools that lift low-income students into higher earnings rank above those that simply admit wealthy students. Every input comes from federal data, and schools that withhold their numbers are scored lower for it.
How many schools are ranked and where does the data come from? +
This ranking evaluates 50 institutions using the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard, the Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Card and Social Capital Atlas, Times Higher Education, and NCES IPEDS. There are no opinion surveys or paid placements. The order is determined by the data alone and refreshed as new federal figures are released.
Sources & Citations
Chetty, R., Friedman, J., Saez, E., Turner, N., & Yagan, D. (2017). Mobility Report Cards: The Role of Colleges in Intergenerational Mobility. NBER Working Paper No. 23618. →
Chetty, R., Jackson, M., Kuchler, T., et al. (2022). Social Capital I: Measurement and Associations with Economic Mobility. Nature, 608, 108-121. →
U.S. Department of Education. College Scorecard Data. Federal Student Aid, National Center for Education Statistics. →
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