The online master’s in criminal justice program continues to be recognized among the best in the nation, rising to No. 32 in U.S. News & World Report’s 2026 Best Online Programs.

The online graduate criminal justice program also ranked No. 3 in California after UC Irvine (No. 2 nationally), and ahead of the University of San Diego (No. 18) and Cal State Long Beach (No. 36 and the only other CSU campus listed) and National University (No. 54).

“Our continued recognition among the nation’s top online criminal justice master’s programs — including a No. 32 national ranking and a top-three placement in California — fills me with tremendous pride,” said Christina Hassija, dean of the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences, where the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice is housed.

“These distinctions reflect the exceptional quality of our curriculum and, above all, the deep commitment of our amazing faculty, whose expertise and passion create transformative learning experiences for our students,” she said. “This achievement reinforces our mission to provide accessible, high-quality education that opens doors and advances careers in the field of criminal justice.”

U.S. News & World Report has been evaluating online education programs for the past 13 years, acknowledging the increasing significance of distance learning. The rankings focus on program quality rather than overall institutional rankings and consider only predominantly online degree programs offered by regionally accredited institutions. The methodology ensures that standards are comparable to traditional programs adapted for online delivery.

Visit U.S. News & World Report’s Accredited Online Colleges webpage and the School FAQ: Best Online Programs Rankings to learn more about the ranking criteria.

Also visit the CSUSB School of Criminology and Criminal Justice website.