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Best Colleges for Criminal Justice in Virginia

The best colleges for a Criminal Justice degree in Virginia, led by University of Virginia-Main Campus, George Mason University and Hampton 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 Virginia?

Based on our rankings, University of Virginia-Main Campus is the top-ranked college for Criminal Justice in Virginia. Other top choices include George Mason University, Hampton University, Old Dominion 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 University of Virginia-Main Campus, George Mason University, Hampton 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 $32,293 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 $57,427 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. University of Virginia-Main Campus — Charlottesville, VA · 16.8% acceptance · SAT 1,480 · $59,512 tuition · 96% grad rate
  2. 2. George Mason University — Fairfax, VA · 87.5% acceptance · SAT 1,274 · $38,688 tuition · 68% grad rate
  3. 3. Hampton University — Hampton, VA · 62.3% acceptance · SAT 969 · $30,592 tuition · 57% grad rate
  4. 4. Old Dominion University — Norfolk, VA · 90.4% acceptance · SAT 1,197 · $33,780 tuition · 46% grad rate
  5. 5. Virginia Wesleyan University — Virginia Beach, VA · 72.9% acceptance · $37,500 tuition · 42% grad rate
  6. 6. Liberty University — Lynchburg, VA · 99% acceptance · $22,465 tuition · 65% grad rate
  7. 7. Averett University — Danville, VA · 56.6% acceptance · SAT 1,135 · $38,550 tuition · 48% grad rate
  8. 8. Regent University — Virginia Beach, VA · 38.1% acceptance · SAT 1,153 · $21,650 tuition · 57% grad rate
  9. 9. Radford University — Radford, VA · 89.5% acceptance · SAT 1,060 · $25,633 tuition · 49% grad rate
  10. 10. Longwood University — Farmville, VA · 90.2% acceptance · SAT 1,120 · $27,978 tuition · 61% grad rate
  11. 11. Virginia State University — Petersburg, VA · 88.6% acceptance · SAT 948 · $22,650 tuition · 39% grad rate
  12. 12. Ferrum College — Ferrum, VA · 89% acceptance · $28,520 tuition · 32% grad rate

Best Colleges for Criminal Justice in Virginia on PickACampus