The top highest-ranked criminal justice colleges for undergraduate studies include Syracuse University, Drury University and the University of Louisville. These schools all have a high freshman retention rate and accept students with high grade point averages and standardized test scores. The University of Louisville's Criminal Justice program is one of the oldest in the nation, dating back to 1798. Top ranked graduate programs in criminal justice include the University of Maryland College Park, State University of New York at Albany, the University of Cincinnati and the University of Missouri St. Louis. These programs all have small classroom sizes and offer internship opportunities to help students get real world experience in criminal justice.
Ranking criteria for criminal justice colleges is determined by the students and faculty of criminal justice programs, as well as outside groups that evaluate undergraduate and graduate programs. Ranking criteria includes freshman retention rate, faculty reputation, job placement, student-to-teacher ratios and the test scores of incoming freshman. This data is used to provide potential students with an objective look at how the schools they are considering compare to other schools with similar offerings.
Top-ranked criminal justice schools provide students with a broad education in criminology, which prepare them for careers in various criminal justice fields. Typical courses in the best criminal justice colleges include studies in crime prevention, juvenile crime, offender rehabilitation, American courts and drug education. Most type-ranked schools also offer internships for credit which helps to boost their ranking on job placement after graduation. Graduates of criminal justice colleges often pursue careers in local and state law enforcement, the Department of Homeland Security, the FBI, customs, security officers, narcotics bureaus and within the prison system.
The national ranking of criminal justice colleges is only a framework for determining which program is right for you. Determining which program can best suit your needs is highly personal as many other factors can determine your success within the program. For instance, if you would like to specialize in a branch of criminal justice, for instance, crime analysis, schools that offer many electives in this field will be more suited to your demands. Additional considerations may include cost, location, availability of financial aid and any faculty that you may personally wish to work with.