Top 10 Graduate Schools for a Masters Degree in Criminal Justice

University of Maryland, College Park

• The best graduate program in criminal justice according to the 2009 “U.S. News & World Report” rankings is at the University of Maryland. The program offers a master’s, Ph.D. and joint degree with Maryland’s law school.

  Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice

  2220P LeFrak Hall

  College Park, Maryland 20742-8235

  301-405-4699

  ccjs.umd.edu

University at Albany, SUNY

• The State University of New York at Albany offers a master’s and a Ph.D. There is also a joint master’s program with Albany’s School of Social Welfare.

  School of Criminal Justice

  135 Western Avenue

  Albany, NY 12222

  518-442-5214

  albany.edu

University of Cincinnati

• The University of Cincinnati’s criminal justice graduate program is known for its research productivity. The school is home to three research centers. It offers a master’s and doctoral programs.

  School of Criminal Justice

  600 Dyer Hall, Clifton Ave.

  P.O. Box 210389

  Cincinnati, OH 45221-0389

  513-556-5827

  cech.uc.edu

University of Missouri - St. Louis

• The University of Missouri-St. Louis sponsors a yearly youth violence prevention conference attended by academics and experts from around the nation. The department offers master’s and doctoral degrees.

  Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice

  One University Blvd

  324 Lucas Hall

  St. Louis MO 63121-4499

  314-516-5031

  umsl.edu

Pennsylvania State University, University Park

• Penn State-University Park boasts that its ranks number one in research expenditures according to a National Science Foundation report. It offers master’s and doctoral degrees.

  Department of Sociology & Crime, Law and Justice

  211 Oswald Tower

  University Park, PA 16802

  814-865-2527

  sociology.psu.edu

University of California, Irvine

• Students at the University of California, Irvine have access to six research centers. The school offers an online master’s program and a Ph.D.

  Department of Criminology, Law and Society

  2340 Social Ecology II

  Irvine, CA 92697-7080

  949-824-1442

  cls.soceco.uci.edu

Florida State University

• Florida State University offers masters and doctoral degrees including and an online master’s. Undergraduates can apply for an accelerated bachelor’s to master’s program.

  College of Criminology and Criminal Justice

  634 W. Call Street

  Tallahassee, FL 32306-1127

  850-644-4050

  criminology.fsu.edu

Michigan State University

• Michigan State University’s School of Criminal Justice is the oldest degree-granting program in the field. It offers master’s and doctorate degrees.

  School of Criminal Justice

  560 Baker Hall East Lansing, MI 48824

  517-355-2197

  cj.msu.edu

Rutgers, Newark

• Rutgers University’s Newark campus offers masters and doctoral degrees. Students can also enroll in a joint degree program with university’s law school.

  Rutgers School of Criminal Justice

  123 Washington Street

  Newark, NJ 07102

  973-353-3029

  newark.rutgers.edu/rscj/

John Jay College

• John Jay College is dedicated to the study of criminal justice and related disciplines. It offers master’s and doctoral programs as well as study abroad options for graduates students.

  John Jay College

  899 10th Avenue, Room 636T

  New York, NY 10019

  212-237-8443

  jjay.cuny.edu