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Best Colleges for Criminal Justice in Pennsylvania

The best colleges for a Criminal Justice degree in Pennsylvania, led by Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus, University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus and Temple University. Each school is shown with its acceptance rate, tuition, and average SAT so you can weigh Criminal Justice programs side by side.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best college for Criminal Justice in Pennsylvania?

Based on our rankings, Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus is the top-ranked college for Criminal Justice in Pennsylvania. Other top choices include University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus, Temple University, Duquesne University.

What are the best Criminal Justice schools?

The best Criminal Justice schools, based on program-specific federal data including median earnings and graduate counts, are Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus, University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus, Temple University. Our rankings use College Scorecard field-of-study data rather than editorial opinion.

How much does it cost to study Criminal Justice?

The average out-of-state tuition among top Criminal Justice programs is approximately $33,919 per year. However, costs vary significantly — many schools offer generous financial aid packages that can reduce the effective cost.

How long does it take to get a Criminal Justice degree?

A bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice typically takes four years of full-time study. Some programs offer accelerated tracks or combined bachelor's-to-master's options that can extend or shorten the timeline.

How are these Criminal Justice rankings determined?

Our major rankings are independently calculated from U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard field-of-study (CIP) data — primarily median earnings 4 years after graduation and program scale (graduate count), with a 10+ annual graduates minimum per program. They are not derived from US News or any other publication.

Career outcomes for Criminal Justice graduates

Among the top 10 ranked Criminal Justice programs, the average early-career salary is approximately $64,434 per year. Below are the highest-paying Criminal Justice programs based on federal College Scorecard earnings data reported by graduates four years after completion.

  1. 1. Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus — University Park, PA · 60.6% acceptance · SAT 1,337 · $41,790 tuition · 86% grad rate
  2. 2. University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus — Pittsburgh, PA · 58.1% acceptance · SAT 1,370 · $41,430 tuition · 86% grad rate
  3. 3. Temple University — Philadelphia, PA · 80.4% acceptance · $38,958 tuition · 75% grad rate
  4. 4. Duquesne University — Pittsburgh, PA · 83.6% acceptance · SAT 1,276 · $48,986 tuition · 77% grad rate
  5. 5. University of Scranton — Scranton, PA · 81.2% acceptance · SAT 1,237 · $53,983 tuition · 80% grad rate
  6. 6. Elizabethtown College — Elizabethtown, PA · 77.9% acceptance · SAT 1,204 · $37,950 tuition · 76% grad rate
  7. 7. West Chester University of Pennsylvania — West Chester, PA · 78.4% acceptance · SAT 1,187 · $22,599 tuition · 71% grad rate
  8. 8. Holy Family University — Philadelphia, PA · 71% acceptance · SAT 1,060 · $35,330 tuition · 61% grad rate
  9. 9. Juniata College — Huntingdon, PA · 78.9% acceptance · SAT 1,227 · $58,580 tuition · 74% grad rate
  10. 10. Gannon University — Erie, PA · 74.2% acceptance · $40,656 tuition · 66% grad rate
  11. 11. Alvernia University — Reading, PA · 58.1% acceptance · SAT 1,170 · $45,000 tuition · 56% grad rate
  12. 12. Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania — Slippery Rock, PA · 71.5% acceptance · SAT 1,095 · $14,676 tuition · 66% grad rate
  13. 13. Gwynedd Mercy University — Gwynedd Valley, PA · 89.6% acceptance · SAT 1,090 · $40,122 tuition · 57% grad rate
  14. 14. Marywood University — Scranton, PA · 60.6% acceptance · SAT 1,162 · $41,420 tuition · 72% grad rate
  15. 15. Cedar Crest College — Allentown, PA · 84.1% acceptance · $46,314 tuition · 60% grad rate
  16. 16. Millersville University of Pennsylvania — Millersville, PA · 86.2% acceptance · SAT 1,110 · $22,952 tuition · 58% grad rate
  17. 17. Indiana University of Pennsylvania-Main Campus — Indiana, PA · 90.8% acceptance · SAT 1,082 · $16,297 tuition · 56% grad rate
  18. 18. Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania — Shippensburg, PA · 86.5% acceptance · SAT 1,120 · $15,974 tuition · 56% grad rate
  19. 19. Immaculata University — Immaculata, PA · 85.8% acceptance · SAT 1,260 · $29,330 tuition · 71% grad rate
  20. 20. Kutztown University of Pennsylvania — Kutztown, PA · 90.8% acceptance · SAT 1,210 · $16,068 tuition · 54% grad rate
  21. 21. East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania — East Stroudsburg, PA · 92.1% acceptance · SAT 1,084 · $19,502 tuition · 43% grad rate
  22. 22. Keystone College — La Plume, PA · 84.8% acceptance · $18,300 tuition · 36% grad rate

Best Colleges for Criminal Justice in Pennsylvania on PickACampus