5 Criminal Justice colleges in Virginia with strong social mobility outcomes. Average earnings: $55,713.
Top Criminal Justice graduates on this list earn over $76,000—and these schools actually serve the students who need them most. With mobility scores at the 60th percentile or above, these 5 programs deliver both access and results.
George Mason University leads the rankings, producing Criminal Justice graduates earning $76,343 while maintaining a 98th percentile mobility score. At the other end, graduates still earn $44,813—demonstrating that schools serving low-income students can compete on outcomes across the spectrum.
Virginia State University serves 71% Pell Grant recipients—students from families earning under $60,000—while producing graduates earning $45,543. The affordability picture varies: George Mason graduates face just an 8% payment burden (Excellent tier), while others reach 27%. Smart program choice matters for long-term financial health.
Earnings: $76,343 | Mobility: 98th percentile
71% Pell students with $45,543 earnings
8.1% payment burden | Excellent
20.2% family burden | Good
| Rank | School | Graduate Earnings | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS | Mobility |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | George Mason UniversityPublic | $76,343 | $19,500 | Excellent | $25,142 | Manageable | 98th percentile mobility |
| #2 | $58,128 | $21,500 | Good | $23,585 | Challenging | 94th percentile mobility | |
| #3 | Radford UniversityPublic | $53,739 | $24,000 | Manageable | $22,158 | High | 87th percentile mobility |
| #4 | $45,543 | $26,500 | Challenging | $22,181 | High | 84th percentile mobility | |
| #5 | Liberty UniversityPrivate | $44,813 | $24,500 | Good | $16,398 | Challenging | 98th percentile mobility |
Our social mobility rankings answer: "Which schools deliver the best outcomes for students from low-income backgrounds?"
This is not simply "which schools admit the most low-income students" — it's which schools both serve low-income students and deliver strong earnings outcomes.
Data based on 2024-2025 Dept of Education reporting standards. Learn about our methodology →
