Best Criminal Justice Colleges in Massachusetts2026 Rankings
Choosing the right Criminal Justice program in Massachusetts means weighing more than just name recognition. We analyzed 27 colleges across the state, scoring each on the metrics that matter most to long-term career success: graduation rates, post-graduation earnings, net cost, and academic rigor.
The data tells an interesting story: Northeastern University leads on selectivity (6% acceptance rate), but selectivity is only one dimension of quality. Across Massachusetts's Criminal Justice programs, the typical in-state price is $36,849 and the average graduation rate is 59%. Graduates of these programs earn a median of $41,247 within one year of completing their degree.
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Get My Free Application Review →2026 Rankings: Criminal Justice Programs in Massachusetts
| # | College | Value Score | Admit Rate | Grad Rate | Net Price | Median Earnings | Student:Faculty | Majors Offered | Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Boston CollegePrivate | Excellent· 47 | 16% | 91% | $12,554 | $61,773 | 13:1 | 47 | 9,865 |
| 2 | Northeastern UniversityPrivate | Excellent· 45 | 6% | 90% | $10,482 | $51,363 | 16:1 | 72 | 15,719 |
| 3 | Boston UniversityPrivate | Excellent· 43 | 11% | 90% | $13,639 | $55,834 | 10:1 | 78 | 17,850 |
| 4 | Clark UniversityPrivate | Great· 41 | 42% | 77% | $20,719 | $39,538 | 9:1 | 40 | 2,336 |
| 5 | Springfield CollegePrivate | Strong· 35 | 70% | 68% | $24,226 | $41,441 | 11:1 | 35 | 1,916 |
| 6 | Eastern Nazarene CollegePrivate | Strong· 35 | 59% | 35% | $20,471 | $39,552 | 8:1 | 42 | 378 |
| 7 | Assumption UniversityPrivate | Strong· 34 | 87% | 75% | $25,004 | $47,681 | 11:1 | 57 | 1,664 |
| 8 | Endicott CollegePrivate | Strong· 34 | 72% | 75% | $33,068 | $38,900 | 13:1 | 41 | 3,101 |
| 9 | Westfield State UniversityPublic | Strong· 34 | 81% | 55% | $16,154 | $42,228 | 15:1 | 32 | 3,481 |
| 10 | University of Massachusetts-LowellPublic | Strong· 34 | 85% | 70% | $15,576 | $41,938 | 17:1 | 48 | 11,632 |
| 11 | Fitchburg State UniversityPublic | Good· 33 | 90% | 53% | $15,224 | $43,418 | 11:1 | 36 | 2,825 |
| 12 | Western New England UniversityPrivate | Good· 32 | 83% | 64% | $27,102 | $41,564 | 12:1 | 50 | 2,508 |
| 13 | Merrimack CollegePrivate | Good· 32 | 74% | 72% | $32,926 | $43,323 | 14:1 | 59 | 4,043 |
| 14 | College of Our Lady of the ElmsPrivate | Good· 32 | 88% | 65% | $18,376 | $54,579 | 11:1 | 33 | 951 |
| 15 | University of Massachusetts-BostonPublic | Good· 32 | 83% | 51% | $17,572 | $42,325 | 15:1 | 53 | 11,848 |
| 16 | Worcester State UniversityPublic | Good· 32 | 90% | 56% | $12,665 | $41,132 | 15:1 | 29 | 3,963 |
| 17 | Salem State UniversityPublic | Good· 31 | 96% | 55% | $17,712 | $44,812 | 11:1 | 61 | 4,286 |
| 18 | Anna Maria CollegePrivate | Good· 31 | 90% | 40% | $27,834 | $61,575 | 13:1 | 36 | 948 |
| 19 | Suffolk UniversityPrivate | Good· 30 | 85% | 60% | $27,191 | $47,267 | 15:1 | 61 | 4,434 |
| 20 | Bridgewater State UniversityPublic | Good· 30 | 89% | 55% | $16,464 | $43,735 | 17:1 | 35 | 7,899 |
| 21 | American International CollegePrivate | Good· 30 | 97% | 42% | $21,234 | $37,408 | 16:1 | 33 | 1,097 |
| 22 | Fisher CollegePrivate | Average· 29 | 71% | 28% | $25,874 | $45,695 | 14:1 | 20 | 1,138 |
| 23 | Curry CollegePrivate | Average· 28 | 92% | 48% | $28,670 | $45,103 | 11:1 | 28 | 1,757 |
| 24 | Dean CollegePrivate | Average· 26 | 74% | 43% | $28,970 | $29,263 | 15:1 | 16 | 1,142 |
| 25 | Nichols CollegePrivate | Fair· 24 | 88% | 64% | $28,420 | $45,774 | 15:1 | 19 | 1,152 |
| 26 | Cambridge CollegePrivate | Fair· 22 | — | 13% | $18,072 | $57,241 | 11:1 | 15 | 591 |
| 27 | Springfield College-Regional Online and Continuing EducationPrivate | Very Poor· 11 | — | — | — | $41,441 | 7:1 | 6 | 254 |