182 Best Public Master's Criminal Justice Universities in the USA

Compare 350 programs at 182 universities in the USA — graduates, earnings, debt and costs from the federal record on every listing.

Programs 350 Universities 182 Scholarships 0

182 universities · ranked best first

how we rank

Michigan State University

East Lansing, Michigan · Public University · Est. 1855

US #2 QS World #158 ROI B Admissions open

Net price: $19,680/yr
Admission rate: 85%
Earnings (10yr): $67,253
Students: 40,922

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Rutgers University-New Brunswick

New Brunswick, New Jersey · Public University · Est. 1766

US #6 QS World #217 ROI B Admissions open

Net price: $24,406/yr
Admission rate: 58%
Earnings (10yr): $74,479
Students: 37,751

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Florida State University

Tallahassee, Florida · Public University · Est. 1851

US #23 QS World #561 ROI B Admissions open

Net price: $11,297/yr
Admission rate: 24%
Earnings (10yr): $61,675
Students: 32,212

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University of South Florida

Tampa, Florida · Public University · Est. 1956

US #27 QS World #601 ROI B Admissions open

Net price: $9,812/yr
Admission rate: 43%
Earnings (10yr): $57,743
Students: 37,207

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Temple University

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania · Public University · Est. 1884

US #32 QS World #631 ROI B Admissions open

Net price: $28,198/yr
Admission rate: 80%
Earnings (10yr): $63,727
Students: 20,970

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Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus

University Park, Pennsylvania · Public University · Est. 1855

US #40 ROI C Admissions open

Net price: $32,875/yr
Admission rate: 61%
Earnings (10yr): $63,435
Students: 42,284

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Arizona State University Campus Immersion

Tempe, Arizona · Public University · Est. 1885

US #41 ROI B Admissions open

Net price: $14,967/yr
Admission rate: 90%
Earnings (10yr): $62,668
Students: 64,674

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University of Cincinnati-Main Campus

Cincinnati, Ohio · Public University · Est. 1819

US #42 ROI C Admissions open

Net price: $25,648/yr
Admission rate: 85%
Earnings (10yr): $54,810
Students: 29,882

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University of Kansas

Lawrence, Kansas · Public University · Est. 1864

US #50 ROI B Admissions open

Net price: $18,059/yr
Admission rate: 93%
Earnings (10yr): $61,945
Students: 21,217

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University of Nevada-Las Vegas

Las Vegas, Nevada · Public University · Est. 1957

US #52 ROI C Admissions open

Net price: $10,359/yr
Admission rate: 96%
Earnings (10yr): $55,037
Students: 24,622

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University of Virginia-Main Campus

Charlottesville, Virginia · Public University · Est. 1819

US #63 ROI A Admissions open

Net price: $21,565/yr
Admission rate: 17%
Earnings (10yr): $86,863
Students: 17,597

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Kent State University at Kent

Kent, Ohio · Public University · Est. 1910

US #67 ROI F Admissions open

Net price: $20,787/yr
Admission rate: 86%
Earnings (10yr): $45,388
Students: 19,320

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Washington State University

Pullman, Washington · Public University · Est. 1959

US #75 ROI A Admissions open

Net price: $14,971/yr
Admission rate: 87%
Earnings (10yr): $68,905
Students: 21,099

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University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

Milwaukee, Wisconsin · Public University · Est. 1885

US #81 ROI A Admissions open

Net price: $15,014/yr
Admission rate: 91%
Earnings (10yr): $54,990
Students: 16,758

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Virginia Commonwealth University

Richmond, Virginia · Public University · Est. 1968

US #83 ROI A Admissions open

Net price: $23,433/yr
Admission rate: 93%
Earnings (10yr): $58,128
Students: 20,753

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Wright State University-Main Campus

Dayton, Ohio · Public University · Est. 1964

US #85 ROI D Admissions open

Net price: $15,415/yr
Admission rate: 96%
Earnings (10yr): $49,500
Students: 6,762

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Indiana University-Indianapolis

Indianapolis, Indiana · Public University · Est. 2023

US #86 ROI C Admissions open

Net price: $11,668/yr
Admission rate: 76%
Earnings (10yr): $55,198
Students: 13,830

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University at Albany

Albany, New York · Public University · Est. 1844

US #91 ROI B Admissions open

Net price: $17,167/yr
Admission rate: 69%
Earnings (10yr): $67,979
Students: 12,564

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Wayne State University

Detroit, Michigan · Public University · Est. 1868

US #92 ROI C Admissions open

Net price: $12,766/yr
Admission rate: 81%
Earnings (10yr): $53,493
Students: 15,587

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Indiana University-Bloomington

Bloomington, Indiana · Public University · Est. 1820

US #94 ROI B Admissions open

Net price: $16,264/yr
Admission rate: 78%
Earnings (10yr): $63,742
Students: 37,806

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CUNY Graduate School and University Center

New York, New York · Public University · Est. 1961

US #96 ROI A Admissions open

Tuition: USD 15,185/yr
Admission rate: 68%
Earnings (10yr): $65,991
Students: 3,254

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George Mason University

Fairfax, Virginia · Public University · Est. 1957

US #100 ROI A Admissions open

Net price: $17,915/yr
Admission rate: 87%
Earnings (10yr): $76,343
Students: 27,752

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Western Oregon University

Monmouth, Oregon · Public University · Est. 1856

US #101 ROI C Admissions open

Net price: $17,237/yr
Admission rate: 98%
Earnings (10yr): $51,815
Students: 3,103

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University of Memphis

Memphis, Tennessee · Public University · Est. 1912

US #106 ROI B Admissions open

Net price: $12,397/yr
Admission rate: 72%
Earnings (10yr): $48,458
Students: 12,701

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What this subject pays

Graduates of Criminal Justice programmes report a median $35,259 two years after finishing, across 783 programmes that publish the figure , against median debt of $26,000.

Criminal Justice pay by degree level →

By university type

All Criminal Justice universities

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Frequently asked questions

Which are the best universities for public Master's Criminal Justice universities in the USA?

By our composite ranking, the top choices include Michigan State University, Rutgers University-New Brunswick, Florida State University. The full ranked list above shows each one's national rank, costs and admission data.

How much does it cost to study public Master's Criminal Justice universities in the USA?

Costs vary widely by university: public institutions charge in-state residents far less than out-of-state and international students, and private universities set one price for everyone. Every listing above shows the published tuition and net price we hold from the federal College Scorecard, so you can compare like with like.

Can international students work while studying public Master's Criminal Justice universities in the USA?

Yes, within the rules of the F-1 student visa: on-campus work during term, Curricular Practical Training tied to the program, and Optional Practical Training (OPT) after graduating — with a longer extension for eligible STEM degrees.

About public Master's Criminal Justice universities in the USA

This page lists public Master's Criminal Justice universities in the USA held in our database, ordered by a composite score that combines QS World positions, our editorial star rating, academic breadth, internationalisation and student support — never paid placement. Program and cost figures come from the US Department of Education's College Scorecard. Use the filters to narrow by subject, level, university type or location; every combination has its own address you can bookmark or share.

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