Best colleges for criminal justice in New Jersey
Colleges that offer a bachelor’s in criminal justice or criminology, ranked by Compass Score.
Best colleges for criminal justice in New Jersey20 schools
20 schools qualify, ranked by the Compass Score.
How this list is made
- Schools in New Jersey.
- Accredited four-year undergraduate colleges.
- Offers a bachelor’s program in criminal justice or criminology, from the College Scorecard field-of-study data (credential level 3).
- Each school needs a complete Compass Score, so every row shows a rating.
- Ordered by Compass Score, highest first. Schools with the same score share a rank.
Updated Oct. 20, 2026. Methodology. Spot an error? Send a correction.
- 1
Rutgers University-New Brunswick
New Brunswick, NJ · PublicHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- Bachelor’s program in criminal justice or criminology
- Value grade B+ · Top 28%
- 2
The College of New Jersey
Ewing, NJ · PublicTop 7% for graduation
- Bachelor’s program in criminal justice or criminology
- Value grade B · Top 45%
- 3
Seton Hall University
South Orange, NJ · Private nonprofitTop 14% for earnings
- Bachelor’s program in criminal justice or criminology
- Value grade B-
- 4
Rutgers University-Camden
Camden, NJ · PublicTop 11% for earnings
- Bachelor’s program in criminal justice or criminology
- Value grade A- · Top 12%
- 5Tie
Monmouth University
West Long Branch, NJ · Private nonprofitTop 16% for earnings
- Bachelor’s program in criminal justice or criminology
- Value grade B-
- 5Tie
Rowan University
Glassboro, NJ · PublicTop 25% for graduation
- Bachelor’s program in criminal justice or criminology
- Value grade B · Top 40%
- 7
Rutgers University-Newark
Newark, NJ · PublicTop 11% for earnings
- Bachelor’s program in criminal justice or criminology
- Value grade A- · Top 15%
- 8
Stockton University
Galloway, NJ · PublicTop 23% for graduation
- Bachelor’s program in criminal justice or criminology
- Value grade B · Top 37%
- 9
Caldwell University
Caldwell, NJ · Private nonprofitVery good: Compass grade B+
- Bachelor’s program in criminal justice or criminology
- Value grade B-
- 10
Rider University
Lawrenceville, NJ · Private nonprofitTop 24% for earnings
- Bachelor’s program in criminal justice or criminology
- Value grade B-
- 11
Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham Campus
Madison, NJ · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B
- Bachelor’s program in criminal justice or criminology
- Value grade B-
- 12
Saint Peter's University
Jersey City, NJ · Private nonprofitTop 22% for low net price
- Bachelor’s program in criminal justice or criminology
- Value grade A- · Top 12%
- 13
Centenary University
Hackettstown, NJ · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B
- Bachelor’s program in criminal justice or criminology
- Value grade B
- 14
Georgian Court University
Lakewood, NJ · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B-
- Bachelor’s program in criminal justice or criminology
- Value grade B · Top 44%
- 15
Fairleigh Dickinson University-Metropolitan Campus
Teaneck, NJ · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B-
- Bachelor’s program in criminal justice or criminology
- Value grade B+ · Top 32%
- 16
Felician University
Lodi, NJ · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B-
- Bachelor’s program in criminal justice or criminology
- Value grade C+
- 17
Kean University
Union, NJ · PublicTop 23% for low net price
- Bachelor’s program in criminal justice or criminology
- Value grade A- · Top 18%
- 18
Saint Elizabeth University
Morristown, NJ · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B-
- Bachelor’s program in criminal justice or criminology
- Value grade B-
- 19
William Paterson University of New Jersey
Wayne, NJ · PublicSolid: Compass grade C+
- Bachelor’s program in criminal justice or criminology
- Value grade B · Top 36%
- 20
Berkeley College-Woodland Park
Woodland Park, NJ · Private for-profit#32 in New Jersey
- Bachelor’s program in criminal justice or criminology
- Value grade C+
Compare cost and outcomes
| School | Net price a year | Median debt | Earnings 10 years out | Graduation rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rutgers University-New Brunswick | About $24,000 | $21,500 | $74,479 | 84% |
| The College of New Jersey | About $28,000 | $23,250 | $73,323 | 86% |
| Seton Hall University | About $31,000 | $22,750 | $70,196 | 69% |
| Rutgers University-Camden | About $19,000 | $21,500 | $74,479 | 67% |
| Monmouth University | About $31,000 | $27,000 | $67,991 | 72% |
| Rowan University | About $22,000 | $20,500 | $59,988 | 67% |
| Rutgers University-Newark | About $20,000 | $21,500 | $74,479 | 64% |
| Stockton University | About $21,000 | $20,500 | $57,602 | 69% |
| Caldwell University | About $25,000 | $25,000 | $53,843 | 57% |
| Rider University | About $25,000 | $26,130 | $62,208 | 61% |
| Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham Campus | About $23,000 | $25,000 | $57,273 | 67% |
| Saint Peter's University | About $12,000 | $20,500 | $57,815 | 58% |
| Centenary University | About $21,000 | $23,163 | $53,726 | 56% |
| Georgian Court University | About $19,000 | $21,816 | $53,096 | 54% |
| Fairleigh Dickinson University-Metropolitan Campus | About $15,000 | $25,000 | $57,273 | 53% |
| Felician University | About $40,000 | $25,000 | $57,602 | 47% |
| Kean University | About $12,000 | $23,250 | $57,237 | 47% |
| Saint Elizabeth University | About $23,000 | $24,934 | $53,038 | 51% |
| William Paterson University of New Jersey | About $19,000 | $22,334 | $57,780 | 44% |
| Berkeley College-Woodland Park | About $27,000 | $23,251 | $40,251 | 44% |
Net price is the average yearly cost after grants. Federal data (College Scorecard). “—” means the school reports no figure.
This list in other states
- Alabama 20
- Arizona 9
- Arkansas 17
- California 40
- Colorado 11
- Connecticut 14
- Delaware 4
- District of Columbia 6
- Florida 38
- Georgia 39
- Hawaii 3
- Idaho 5
- Illinois 36
- Indiana 33
- Iowa 19
- Kansas 21
- Kentucky 17
- Louisiana 17
- Maine 7
- Maryland 13
- Massachusetts 31
- Michigan 22
- Minnesota 22
- Mississippi 12
- Missouri 33
- Montana 3
- Nebraska 14
- Nevada 3
- New Hampshire 10
- New Mexico 8
- New York 52
- North Carolina 39
- North Dakota 6
- Ohio 57
- Oklahoma 17
- Oregon 7
- Pennsylvania 82
- Puerto Rico 22
- Rhode Island 8
- South Carolina 21
- South Dakota 7
- Tennessee 29
- Texas 60
- Utah 8
- Vermont 4
- Virginia 25
- Washington 14
- West Virginia 14
- Wisconsin 22