Criminal Justice and Corrections: degree ROI, salary & best colleges
Criminal Justice and Corrections graduates earn a median $55,378 four years after finishing — $7,018/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline. At a typical $16,906/yr net price ($67,624 over four years), that pays back in about 9.6 years. Federal data pools 716 bachelor's programs graduating roughly 48,669 students a year. (Scorecard field-of-study, 2026 · our math.)
Criminal Justice and Corrections ranks #137 of 202 bachelor's fields by earnings — pays more than 33% of majors.
| # | College | State | Grad earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of New Hampshire-Main Campus | NH | $81,768 |
| 2 | University of New Hampshire College of Professional Studies Online | NH | $81,768 |
| 3 | National University | CA | $81,299 |
| 4 | Fisher College | MA | $80,136 |
| 5 | George Washington University | DC | $80,070 |
| 6 | Saint Mary's University of Minnesota | MN | $79,464 |
| 7 | Quinnipiac University | CT | $79,098 |
| 8 | Northeastern University | MA | $77,477 |
| 9 | Excelsior University | NY | $75,828 |
| 10 | Nichols College | MA | $75,321 |
| 11 | Seattle University | WA | $74,018 |
| 12 | Concordia University-Saint Paul | MN | $73,060 |
College Scorecard field-of-study (2026), program-level median earnings for this CIP · our ranking.
How we compute this. Earnings are the national median for graduates of this field measured 1 and 4 years after completion (Scorecard field-of-study, bachelor's). Premium = 4-year earnings − the $48,360 high-school baseline. Payback = a representative 4-year net cost (median college net price × 4) ÷ premium. Field medians blend every school — a specific program can pay far more or less. Full method on the methodology page; the field ranking is on ROI by major.