# Highest-Paying Colleges for Criminal Justice

> CollegeRanker Agent Insights — structured data for AI systems
> Updated: 2026-08-03 | Schools: 50 | Category: Outcomes
> Source: https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/highest-paying-criminal-justice

## Methodology

Ranked by graduate earnings with 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

When considering a degree in Criminal Justice, prospective students often look for programs that not only provide a solid education but also lead to strong earnings after graduation. The schools on this list have demonstrated their ability to prepare graduates for lucrative careers in this field, with average earnings reaching $97,581. 

What sets these institutions apart are the critical outcomes that matter most in a Criminal Justice program. Factors like graduate earnings, completion rates, debt levels, and mobility play key roles in determining the value of a degree. The schools listed below have excelled in these areas, making them top choices for students who want to ensure a return on their investment. 

For example, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology stands out with impressive earnings of $143,372 and a high graduation rate of 96%. In contrast, MCPHS University, while offering a decent earning potential at $125,557, has a significantly lower graduation rate of 63%. This disparity highlights the importance of not just the earnings potential, but also the support systems in place for students to succeed.

## Key Findings

- The average earnings for graduates in this list is $97,581.
- MIT leads with $143,372 in earnings, while MCPHS has a lower earning potential at $125,557.
- Graduation rates vary significantly: MIT at 96% vs. MCPHS at 63%.
- Babson College and Bentley University also show strong earnings, $123,938 and $120,959 respectively.

## Rankings

| Rank | School | Location | Graduation | Earnings (10yr) | Net Price | Median Debt | Debt/Earnings |
|------|--------|----------|------------|-----------------|-----------|-------------|---------------|
| 1 | [University of Virginia-Main Campus](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-virginia-main-campus) | Charlottesville, VA | 95% | $86,863 | $21,565 | $17,500 | 0.2x |
| 2 | [Massachusetts Maritime Academy](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/massachusetts-maritime-academy) | Buzzards Bay, MA | 77% | $82,392 | $21,582 | $25,000 | 0.3x |
| 3 | [Loyola University Maryland](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/loyola-university-maryland) | Baltimore, MD | 80% | $82,652 | $30,574 | $27,000 | 0.33x |
| 4 | [Ohio Northern University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/ohio-northern-university) | Ada, OH | 75% | $80,928 | $24,478 | $27,000 | 0.33x |
| 5 | [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 |
| 6 | [George Mason University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/george-mason-university) | Fairfax, VA | 69% | $76,343 | $17,915 | $19,500 | 0.26x |
| 7 | [American University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/american-university) | Washington, DC | 77% | $77,370 | $41,943 | $22,750 | 0.29x |
| 8 | [Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/embry-riddle-aeronautical-university-prescott) | Prescott, AZ | 69% | $84,131 | $40,287 | $23,666 | 0.28x |
| 9 | [Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/embry-riddle-aeronautical-university-daytona-beach) | Daytona Beach, FL | 67% | $84,131 | $41,272 | $23,666 | 0.28x |
| 10 | [Marist University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/marist-university) | Poughkeepsie, NY | 80% | $77,819 | $41,544 | $25,000 | 0.32x |
| 11 | [Seattle University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/seattle-university) | Seattle, WA | 74% | $75,272 | $34,662 | $19,883 | 0.26x |
| 12 | [Immaculata University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/immaculata-university) | Immaculata, PA | 68% | $75,701 | $24,258 | $27,000 | 0.36x |
| 13 | [The College of New Jersey](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/the-college-of-new-jersey) | Ewing, NJ | 86% | $73,323 | $27,646 | $23,250 | 0.32x |
| 14 | [University of Scranton](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-scranton) | Scranton, PA | 80% | $74,652 | $32,568 | $27,000 | 0.36x |
| 15 | [Western New England University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/western-new-england-university) | Springfield, MA | 64% | $73,157 | $27,290 | $25,500 | 0.35x |
| 16 | [Iona University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/iona-university) | New Rochelle, NY | 57% | $73,595 | $29,188 | $25,999 | 0.35x |
| 17 | [Salve Regina University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/salve-regina-university) | Newport, RI | 76% | $72,975 | $36,967 | $27,000 | 0.37x |
| 18 | [University of Florida-Online](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-florida-online) | Gainesville, FL | 81% | $71,588 | $4,815 | $15,000 | 0.21x |
| 19 | [Rutgers University-Newark](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/rutgers-university-newark) | Newark, NJ | 66% | $74,479 | $19,703 | $21,500 | 0.29x |
| 20 | [Merrimack College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/merrimack-college) | North Andover, MA | 71% | $75,584 | $37,927 | $27,000 | 0.36x |
| 21 | [University of Washington-Tacoma Campus](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-washington-tacoma-campus) | Tacoma, WA | 63% | $78,466 | $10,163 | $14,615 | 0.19x |
| 22 | [Saint Louis University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/saint-louis-university) | Saint Louis, MO | 80% | $70,783 | $24,398 | $25,000 | 0.35x |
| 23 | [Loyola University Chicago](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/loyola-university-chicago) | Chicago, IL | 75% | $71,530 | $36,079 | $24,157 | 0.34x |
| 24 | [Rutgers University-Camden](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/rutgers-university-camden) | Camden, NJ | 67% | $74,479 | $18,745 | $21,500 | 0.29x |
| 25 | [Seton Hall University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/seton-hall-university) | South Orange, NJ | 70% | $70,196 | $31,446 | $22,750 | 0.32x |
| 26 | [Sacred Heart University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/sacred-heart-university) | Fairfield, CT | 74% | $75,059 | $46,174 | $25,000 | 0.33x |
| 27 | [Roger Williams University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/roger-williams-university) | Bristol, RI | 68% | $70,266 | $37,999 | $26,940 | 0.38x |
| 28 | [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 |
| 29 | [Farmingdale State College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/farmingdale-state-college) | Farmingdale, NY | 55% | $69,781 | $10,867 | $14,718 | 0.21x |
| 30 | [Monmouth University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/monmouth-university) | West Long Branch, NJ | 71% | $67,991 | $30,988 | $27,000 | 0.4x |
| 31 | [Citadel Military College of South Carolina](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/citadel-military-college-of-south-carolina) | Charleston, SC | 74% | $72,085 | $20,723 | $21,096 | 0.29x |
| 32 | [Lewis University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/lewis-university) | Romeoville, IL | 65% | $66,099 | $17,028 | $21,500 | 0.33x |
| 33 | [Rockhurst University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/rockhurst-university) | Kansas City, MO | 75% | $67,102 | $25,884 | $18,250 | 0.27x |
| 34 | [California State University-East Bay](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/california-state-university-east-bay) | Hayward, CA | 47% | $71,401 | $9,320 | $16,544 | 0.23x |
| 35 | [Norwich University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/norwich-university) | Northfield, VT | 61% | $65,575 | $22,257 | $25,000 | 0.38x |
| 36 | [Suffolk University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/suffolk-university) | Boston, MA | 60% | $67,506 | $29,618 | $26,889 | 0.4x |
| 37 | [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 |
| 38 | [Sonoma State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/sonoma-state-university) | Rohnert Park, CA | 59% | $65,986 | $12,885 | $16,705 | 0.25x |
| 39 | [Gwynedd Mercy University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/gwynedd-mercy-university) | Gwynedd Valley, PA | 58% | $67,145 | $27,483 | $25,000 | 0.37x |
| 40 | [University at Albany](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-at-albany) | Albany, NY | 63% | $67,979 | $17,167 | $19,500 | 0.29x |
| 41 | [Florida State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/florida-state-university) | Tallahassee, FL | 84% | $61,675 | $11,297 | $18,000 | 0.29x |
| 42 | [La Salle University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/la-salle-university) | Philadelphia, PA | 58% | $67,416 | $19,409 | $25,000 | 0.37x |
| 43 | [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 |
| 44 | [Utica University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/utica-university) | Utica, NY | 56% | $63,277 | $19,108 | $22,500 | 0.36x |
| 45 | [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 |
| 46 | [St. John's University-New York](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/st-johns-university-new-york) | Queens, NY | 67% | $69,571 | $29,999 | $25,000 | 0.36x |
| 47 | [Marymount University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/marymount-university) | Arlington, VA | 56% | $67,516 | $29,137 | $25,000 | 0.37x |
| 48 | [Illinois State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/illinois-state-university) | Normal, IL | 65% | $62,117 | $19,398 | $20,482 | 0.33x |
| 49 | [National University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/national-university) | San Diego, CA | 42% | $67,548 | $22,878 | $25,000 | 0.37x |
| 50 | [Florida International University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/florida-international-university) | Miami, FL | 74% | $60,249 | $9,288 | $16,500 | 0.27x |

## 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. "Highest-Paying Colleges for Criminal Justice." CollegeRanker.com, 2026-08-03. https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/highest-paying-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/.