Best colleges for criminal justice in Washington
Colleges that offer a bachelor’s in criminal justice or criminology, ranked by Compass Score.
Best colleges for criminal justice in Washington14 schools
14 schools qualify, ranked by the Compass Score.
How this list is made
- Schools in Washington.
- 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
University of Washington-Seattle Campus
Seattle, WA · PublicHonor Roll#1 in Washington
- Bachelor’s program in criminal justice or criminology
- Value grade A+ · Top 2%
- 2
Gonzaga University
Spokane, WA · Private nonprofitTop 6% for graduation
- Bachelor’s program in criminal justice or criminology
- Value grade B-
- 3
Seattle University
Seattle, WA · Private nonprofitTop 11% for earnings
- Bachelor’s program in criminal justice or criminology
- Value grade B-
- 4Tie
Northwest University
Kirkland, WA · Private nonprofitTop 20% for graduation
- Bachelor’s program in criminal justice or criminology
- Value grade B · Top 49%
- 4Tie
Western Washington University
Bellingham, WA · PublicTop 24% for earnings
- Bachelor’s program in criminal justice or criminology
- Value grade B+ · Top 26%
- 6
Pacific Lutheran University
Tacoma, WA · Private nonprofitTop 17% for earnings
- Bachelor’s program in criminal justice or criminology
- Value grade B+ · Top 24%
- 7
University of Washington-Tacoma Campus
Tacoma, WA · PublicTop 8% for earnings
- Bachelor’s program in criminal justice or criminology
- Value grade A+ · Top 1%
- 8
Heritage University
Toppenish, WA · Private nonprofitTop 18% for low debt
- Bachelor’s program in criminal justice or criminology
- Value grade A- · Top 18%
- 9
Washington State University
Pullman, WA · PublicTop 16% for earnings
- Bachelor’s program in criminal justice or criminology
- Value grade A · Top 6%
- 10
Seattle Pacific University
Seattle, WA · Private nonprofitTop 20% for earnings
- Bachelor’s program in criminal justice or criminology
- Value grade B · Top 49%
- 11
Central Washington University
Ellensburg, WA · PublicTop 25% for earnings
- Bachelor’s program in criminal justice or criminology
- Value grade B+ · Top 21%
- 12
Saint Martin's University
Lacey, WA · Private nonprofitTop 25% for earnings
- Bachelor’s program in criminal justice or criminology
- Value grade B-
- 13
Northwest University-Center for Online and Extended Education
Kirkland, WA · Private nonprofitSolid: Compass grade C+
- Bachelor’s program in criminal justice or criminology
- Value grade C+
- 14
Eastern Washington University
Cheney, WA · PublicSolid: Compass grade C+
- Bachelor’s program in criminal justice or criminology
- Value grade A- · Top 14%
Compare cost and outcomes
| School | Net price a year | Median debt | Earnings 10 years out | Graduation rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Washington-Seattle Campus | About $14,000 | $14,615 | $78,466 | 85% |
| Gonzaga University | About $35,000 | $24,454 | $78,892 | 86% |
| Seattle University | About $35,000 | $19,883 | $75,272 | 76% |
| Northwest University | About $22,000 | $20,891 | $54,914 | 71% |
| Western Washington University | About $21,000 | $18,500 | $62,569 | 65% |
| Pacific Lutheran University | About $20,000 | $22,578 | $66,990 | 69% |
| University of Washington-Tacoma Campus | About $10,000 | $14,615 | $78,466 | 63% |
| Heritage University | About $15,000 | $14,573 | $49,416 | 54% |
| Washington State University | About $15,000 | $19,500 | $68,905 | 61% |
| Seattle Pacific University | About $24,000 | $24,000 | $64,506 | 62% |
| Central Washington University | About $18,000 | $19,500 | $61,580 | 54% |
| Saint Martin's University | About $28,000 | $22,500 | $62,092 | 52% |
| Northwest University-Center for Online and Extended Education | About $36,000 | $20,891 | $54,914 | 50% |
| Eastern Washington University | About $14,000 | $19,500 | $57,897 | 43% |
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 Jersey 20
- 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
- West Virginia 14
- Wisconsin 22