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Major · Homeland Security

Corrections Administration

A program that prepares individuals to plan and manage institutional facilities and programs for housing and rehabilitating prisoners in the public and/or private sectors. Includes instruction in the principles and practice of correction, facilities planning and management, safety and security, social and health services, staff and inmate management, budgeting, communication skills, correctional psychology, and applications to specific types of correctional facilities approaches.

Schools offering
10
Annual completions
75
Typical degree level
Associate's + Bachelor's
Median earnings (5yr)
$52k

About this major

A program that prepares individuals to plan and manage institutional facilities and programs for housing and rehabilitating prisoners in the public and/or private sectors. Includes instruction in the principles and practice of correction, facilities planning and management, safety and security, social and health services, staff and inmate management, budgeting, communication skills, correctional psychology, and applications to specific types of correctional facilities approaches.

Section 3 · Careers

Where this major leads

Occupations most often associated with this major, from the federal BLS+O*NET crosswalk. Job-growth projections and median wages are national.

Occupation Median wage Job growth Typical education
First-line supervisors of correctional officers $76k -2.8% High school diploma or equivalent
Criminal justice and law enforcement teachers, postsecondary $71k +2.0% Doctoral or professional degree
Section 4 · Earnings

Earnings at a glance

Median graduate earnings from the federal College Scorecard, 5 and 10 years out.

Median 5-year earnings

$52k

Associate's vs Bachelor's — early-career earnings

Associate's

$47k

Bachelor's

$54k

Section 6 · Where to study

Top colleges for Corrections Administration

Ranked by annual completions at the associate's or bachelor's level — a proxy for program scale.

College Location Assoc. Bach. Total
Western Oregon University Monmouth, OR 0 61 61
Middlesex College Edison, NJ 6 0 6
Adrian College Adrian, MI 0 5 5
Purdue University Global West Lafayette, IN 0 1 1
Bellevue University Bellevue, NE 0 1 1
University of the District of Columbia Washington, DC 1 0 1
CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice New York, NY 0 0 0
University of Mary Bismarck, ND 0 0 0
College of Southern Nevada Las Vegas, NV 0 0 0
New England College Henniker, NH 0 0 0

Considering this direction?

We've taken a hard look at the debt, earnings trajectory, and degree-level tradeoffs for the Corrections Administration field. Read our verdict before you commit.

Is Corrections Administration worth it? Read verdict
Section 9 · Frequently asked

Common questions

What can I do with a Corrections Administration degree?
Graduates commonly pursue careers such as First-line supervisors of correctional officers, Criminal justice and law enforcement teachers, postsecondary.
Is a Corrections Administration associate's enough, or do I need a bachelor's?
Both credentials exist. The associate's is typically faster and cheaper; the bachelor's unlocks higher-earning roles. See our earnings table above.
How many colleges offer Corrections Administration?
10 colleges offered this major in the most recent IPEDS year, graduating about 75 students a year combined.