Best Criminal Justice Colleges in Connecticut2026 Rankings
Connecticut's higher-education landscape for Criminal Justice students includes 13 programs at institutions ranging from highly selective research universities to open-enrollment community colleges. The rankings below cut through marketing noise and use IPEDS federal data to show which programs give students the best return on their investment.
Key stats for this cohort: average in-state tuition $32,892, out-of-state tuition $34,170, average four-year graduation rate 56%, and median Criminal Justice graduate earnings $41,285/yr. The most selective program is at University of Bridgeport (64% acceptance rate). These figures are drawn directly from IPEDS federal data and refreshed weekly.
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| # | College | Value Score | Admit Rate | Grad Rate | Net Price | Median Earnings | Student:Faculty | Majors Offered | Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Saint JosephPrivate | Great· 39 | 80% | 70% | $27,448 | $67,243 | 9:1 | 32 | 825 |
| 2 | Western Connecticut State UniversityPublic | Strong· 36 | 81% | 50% | $16,697 | $38,235 | 11:1 | 40 | 3,434 |
| 3 | Quinnipiac UniversityPrivate | Strong· 36 | 77% | 77% | $34,111 | $41,989 | 11:1 | 51 | 6,208 |
| 4 | Central Connecticut State UniversityPublic | Strong· 34 | 76% | 49% | $15,178 | $47,818 | 14:1 | 53 | 7,670 |
| 5 | University of HartfordPrivate | Good· 32 | 83% | 58% | $26,720 | $38,309 | 11:1 | 65 | 4,032 |
| 6 | University of BridgeportPrivate | Good· 30 | 64% | 48% | $25,830 | $29,284 | 16:1 | 37 | 1,450 |
| 7 | Albertus Magnus CollegePrivate | Good· 30 | 64% | 46% | $30,898 | $41,520 | 15:1 | 30 | 882 |
| 8 | Sacred Heart UniversityPrivate | Average· 29 | 68% | 75% | $43,128 | $41,113 | 16:1 | 39 | 6,904 |
| 9 | Mitchell CollegePrivate | Average· 26 | 73% | 44% | $26,085 | $32,782 | 14:1 | 14 | 421 |
| 10 | University of New HavenPrivate | Fair· 25 | 81% | 59% | $32,749 | $36,455 | 18:1 | 55 | 4,799 |
| 11 | Post UniversityPrivate | Fair· 24 | — | 35% | $13,231 | $49,449 | 16:1 | 22 | 18,975 |
| 12 | Charter Oak State CollegePublic | Poor· 17 | — | — | $22,558 | $68,956 | 16:1 | 11 | 1,620 |
| 13 | Goodwin UniversityPrivate | Poor· 16 | — | 58% | $30,788 | $57,249 | 14:1 | 14 | 2,761 |