Criminal Justice programs in Virginia produce graduates with career earnings ranging from $44,296 to $76,343, with the average program generating $48,278 in median earnings. Across 11 programs, this variation in outcomes demonstrates why program selection matters significantly for law enforcement and public safety career trajectories.
Leading the list is George Mason University, achieving the highest program earnings of $65,059. With 46% of programs housed at public universities and the remainder at private colleges, top-performing programs demonstrate strong graduate outcomes that justify their positioning in the Virginia criminal justice landscape.
| Rank | School | Location | Earnings | Net Price | Acceptance Rate | Grad Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | George Mason UniversityPublic | Fairfax, VA | $88,054 Median Criminal Justice Earnings | $11,942 | 87.5% | 67.8% |
| #2 | Marymount UniversityPrivate | Arlington, VA | $73,058 Median Criminal Justice Earnings | $27,413 | 93.2% | 53.5% |
| #3 | Shenandoah UniversityPrivate | Winchester, VA | $63,290 Median Criminal Justice Earnings | $24,356 | 77.0% | 66.8% |
| #4 | Richmond, VA | $62,224 Median Criminal Justice Earnings | $17,512 | 92.6% | 63.2% | |
| #5 | Liberty UniversityPrivate | Lynchburg, VA | $61,715 Median Criminal Justice Earnings | $30,667 | 99.0% | 65.3% |
| #6 | Ferrum CollegePrivate | Ferrum, VA | $60,235 Median Criminal Justice Earnings | $16,940 | 89.0% | 31.9% |
| #7 | Roanoke CollegePrivate | Salem, VA | $58,040 Median Criminal Justice Earnings | $15,204 | 83.1% | 67.4% |
| #8 | Radford UniversityPublic | Radford, VA | $56,996 Median Criminal Justice Earnings | $8,965 | 89.5% | 48.7% |
| #9 | Bluefield UniversityPrivate | Bluefield, VA | $56,811 Median Criminal Justice Earnings | $25,807 | 59.3% | 17.8% |
| #10 | Longwood UniversityPublic | Farmville, VA | $56,685 Median Criminal Justice Earnings | $11,896 | 90.2% | 61.2% |
| #11 | Hampton UniversityPrivate | Hampton, VA | $53,602 Median Criminal Justice Earnings | $32,101 | 62.3% | 57.2% |
| #12 | Averett UniversityPrivate | Danville, VA | $52,318 Median Criminal Justice Earnings | $23,064 | 56.6% | 48.1% |
| #13 | Virginia Wesleyan UniversityPrivate | Virginia Beach, VA | $52,247 Median Criminal Justice Earnings | $14,080 | 72.9% | 41.6% |
| #14 | Petersburg, VA | $48,624 Median Criminal Justice Earnings | $13,220 | 88.6% | 39.4% | |
| #15 | Regent UniversityPrivate | Virginia Beach, VA | $44,176 Median Criminal Justice Earnings | $20,064 | 38.1% | 56.9% |
