100 Best colleges for Law Enforcement in the United States

Updated: March 15, 2026

Ranking by academic field

Below is a list of best universities in the United States ranked based on their research performance in Law Enforcement. A graph of 1.33M citations received by 52.7K academic papers made by 280 universities in the United States was used to calculate publications' ratings, which then were adjusted for release dates and added to final scores.

We don't distinguish between undergraduate and graduate programs nor do we adjust for current majors offered. You can find information about granted degrees on a university page but always double-check with the university website.

1. University of California - Berkeley

California | Berkeley

For Law Enforcement

#1 in North America

#1 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Receiving Aid: 63%
Average Aid: $29,608
Enrollment: 45,882

2. University of Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Law Enforcement

#2 in North America

#2 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $23,570

3. University of Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Law Enforcement

#3 in North America

#3 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $28,060

4. Yale University

Connecticut | New Haven

For Law Enforcement

#4 in North America

#4 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $22,408

5. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Michigan | Ann Arbor

For Law Enforcement

#5 in North America

#5 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Average SAT: 1445
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 69%

6. New York University

New York State | New York City

For Law Enforcement

#7 in North America

#8 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $30,325

7. Harvard University

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Law Enforcement

#8 in North America

#9 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $17,525

8. Stanford University

California | Stanford

For Law Enforcement

#9 in North America

#12 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $25,078

9. Rutgers University - New Brunswick

New Jersey | New Brunswick

For Law Enforcement

#10 in North America

#13 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 58%
Average SAT: 1405
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 69%

10. University of Washington - Seattle

Washington | Seattle

For Law Enforcement

#11 in North America

#14 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 39%
Receiving Aid: 56%
Average Aid: $16,156
Enrollment: 56,997

11. George Mason University

Virginia | Fairfax

For Law Enforcement

#12 in North America

#15 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1260
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 79%

12. Arizona State University - Tempe

Arizona | Tempe

For Law Enforcement

#13 in North America

#17 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Receiving Aid: 93%
Average Aid: $12,172
Enrollment: 79,818

13. Columbia University

New York State | New York City

For Law Enforcement

#14 in North America

#18 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $22,520

14. Georgetown University

District of Columbia | Washington

For Law Enforcement

#15 in North America

#19 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Average SAT: 1470
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $39,083

15. Duke University

North Carolina | Durham

For Law Enforcement

#17 in North America

#21 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $21,981

16. Pennsylvania State University

Pennsylvania | University Park

For Law Enforcement

#18 in North America

#22 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 61%
Average SAT: 1330
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 67%

17. Cornell University

New York State | Ithaca

For Law Enforcement

#19 in North America

#23 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $26,361

18. Princeton University

New Jersey | Princeton

For Law Enforcement

#20 in North America

#24 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $15,313

19. University of California - Los Angeles

California | Los Angeles

For Law Enforcement

#21 in North America

#25 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Receiving Aid: 59%
Average Aid: $25,627
Enrollment: 47,335

20. University of Maryland - College Park

Maryland | College Park

For Law Enforcement

#22 in North America

#26 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Average SAT: 1465
Average ACT: 34
Receiving Aid: 67%

21. Michigan State University

Michigan | East Lansing

For Law Enforcement

#23 in North America

#27 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average SAT: 1270
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 92%

22. Florida State University

Florida | Tallahassee

For Law Enforcement

#24 in North America

#29 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 24%
Average SAT: 1340
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 94%

23. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minnesota | Minneapolis

For Law Enforcement

#25 in North America

#30 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Average SAT: 1400
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 81%

24. American University in Washington

District of Columbia | Washington

For Law Enforcement

#26 in North America

#32 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 62%
Average SAT: 1370
Average ACT: 31
Net Price: $39,676

25. University of California - Irvine

California | Irvine

For Law Enforcement

#27 in North America

#35 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 29%
Receiving Aid: 61%
Average Aid: $23,110
Enrollment: 37,297

26. CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice

New York State | New York City

For Law Enforcement

#28 in North America

#36 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 57%
Average SAT: 1075
Receiving Aid: 90%
Average Aid: $9,966

27. University of Southern California

California | Los Angeles

For Law Enforcement

#29 in North America

#38 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Average SAT: 1500
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $43,412

28. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

North Carolina | Chapel Hill

For Law Enforcement

#30 in North America

#43 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Average SAT: 1460
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 59%

29. University of Cincinnati

Ohio | Cincinnati

For Law Enforcement

#31 in North America

#44 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average SAT: 1265
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 88%

30. George Washington University

District of Columbia | Washington

For Law Enforcement

#32 in North America

#45 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Average SAT: 1425
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $46,485

31. University of Virginia

Virginia | Charlottesville

For Law Enforcement

#33 in North America

#47 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Average SAT: 1475
Average ACT: 34
Receiving Aid: 57%

32. University of California-San Diego

California | San Diego

For Law Enforcement

#34 in North America

#52 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 27%
Receiving Aid: 66%
Average Aid: $25,757
Enrollment: 44,256

33. Temple University

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Law Enforcement

#35 in North America

#53 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Receiving Aid: 93%
Average Aid: $14,837
Enrollment: 29,640

34. Carnegie Mellon University

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Law Enforcement

#36 in North America

#54 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $35,552

35. Johns Hopkins University

Maryland | Baltimore

For Law Enforcement

#37 in North America

#55 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,017

36. University of Arizona

Arizona | Tucson

For Law Enforcement

#38 in North America

#56 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 96%

37. University of South Florida

Florida | Tampa

For Law Enforcement

#39 in North America

#58 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 43%
Average SAT: 1225
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 89%

38. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

Illinois | Champaign

For Law Enforcement

#40 in North America

#59 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Average SAT: 1415
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 64%

39. SUNY at Albany

New York State | Albany

For Law Enforcement

#41 in North America

#60 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Receiving Aid: 98%
Average Aid: $11,210
Enrollment: 17,560

40. Georgia State University

Georgia | Atlanta

For Law Enforcement

#42 in North America

#61 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Average SAT: 1060
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 94%

41. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Law Enforcement

#43 in North America

#62 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1550
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $20,996

42. University of California - Davis

California | Davis

For Law Enforcement

#44 in North America

#63 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Receiving Aid: 65%
Average Aid: $24,591
Enrollment: 40,065

43. University of Texas at Austin

Texas | Austin

For Law Enforcement

#45 in North America

#65 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 27%
Average SAT: 1380
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 65%

44. University of Hawaii at Manoa

Hawaii | Honolulu

For Law Enforcement

#46 in North America

#66 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1187
Average ACT: 21
Receiving Aid: 76%

45. University of Florida

Florida | Gainesville

For Law Enforcement

#47 in North America

#68 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 24%
Average SAT: 1400
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 94%

46. University of Illinois at Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Law Enforcement

#48 in North America

#69 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 80%

47. Indiana University - Bloomington

Indiana | Bloomington

For Law Enforcement

#49 in North America

#70 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 82%

48. University of Wisconsin - Madison

Wisconsin | Madison

For Law Enforcement

#50 in North America

#73 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Average SAT: 1450
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 60%

49. Boston College

Massachusetts | Boston

For Law Enforcement

#51 in North America

#74 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Average SAT: 1490
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $32,519

50. Fordham University

New York State | New York City

For Law Enforcement

#52 in North America

#75 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 59%
Average SAT: 1400
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $48,190

51. Northeastern University

Massachusetts | Boston

For Law Enforcement

#53 in North America

#76 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1490
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $34,207

52. Vanderbilt University

Tennessee | Nashville

For Law Enforcement

#54 in North America

#77 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $25,186

53. Boston University

Massachusetts | Boston

For Law Enforcement

#55 in North America

#78 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1475
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $24,420

54. Northwestern University

Illinois | Evanston

For Law Enforcement

#56 in North America

#79 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $26,830

55. Ohio State University

Ohio | Columbus

For Law Enforcement

#57 in North America

#81 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 61%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 80%

56. University of Pittsburgh

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Law Enforcement

#58 in North America

#82 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 58%
Average SAT: 1370
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 74%

57. New York Law School

New York State | New York City

For Law Enforcement

#62 in North America

#87 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Enrollment: 1,062
Male:Female: 35:65
Founded: 1891

58. Washington University in St Louis

Missouri | St. Louis

For Law Enforcement

#63 in North America

#88 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $22,408

59. Purdue University

Indiana | West Lafayette

For Law Enforcement

#65 in North America

#91 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Average SAT: 1340
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 59%

60. University of Kentucky

Kentucky | Lexington

For Law Enforcement

#66 in North America

#92 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Average SAT: 1180
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 97%

61. Iowa State University

Iowa State | Ames

For Law Enforcement

#67 in North America

#93 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 89%

62. Loyola University Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Law Enforcement

#68 in North America

#94 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 82%
Average SAT: 1265
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $39,147

63. Texas A&M University - College Station

Texas | College Station

For Law Enforcement

#69 in North America

#95 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 57%
Average SAT: 1275
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 74%

64. University of South Carolina - Columbia

South Carolina | Columbia

For Law Enforcement

#70 in North America

#97 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Average SAT: 1270
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 94%

65. Florida International University

Florida | Miami

For Law Enforcement

#72 in North America

#103 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Average SAT: 1165
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 91%

66. Emory University

Georgia | Atlanta

For Law Enforcement

#73 in North America

#104 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1510
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $27,303

67. Sam Houston State University

Texas | Huntsville

For Law Enforcement

#74 in North America

#105 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Average SAT: 1025
Average ACT: 21
Receiving Aid: 85%

68. University of California - San Francisco

California | San Francisco

For Law Enforcement

#75 in North America

#106 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Enrollment: 3,007
Male:Female: 36:64
Founded: 1864

69. University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus

Colorado | Denver

For Law Enforcement

#76 in North America

#110 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Average SAT: 1100
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 94%

70. Wayne State University

Michigan | Detroit

For Law Enforcement

#78 in North America

#121 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Average SAT: 1165
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 99%

71. University of Delaware

Delaware | Newark

For Law Enforcement

#79 in North America

#122 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 71%
Average SAT: 1280
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 94%

72. University of Utah

Utah | Salt Lake

For Law Enforcement

#80 in North America

#124 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 79%

73. University of Missouri - Columbia

Missouri | Columbia

For Law Enforcement

#81 in North America

#125 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 97%

74. University of Iowa

Iowa State | Iowa City

For Law Enforcement

#82 in North America

#126 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 84%
Average SAT: 1230
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 90%

75. University of Massachusetts - Amherst

Massachusetts | Amherst

For Law Enforcement

#85 in North America

#131 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Average SAT: 1405
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 89%

76. Dartmouth College

New Hampshire | Hanover

For Law Enforcement

#86 in North America

#132 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $20,322

77. Washington State University

Washington | Pullman

For Law Enforcement

#87 in North America

#133 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Receiving Aid: 89%
Average Aid: $10,886
Enrollment: 25,685

78. Brown University

Rhode Island | Providence

For Law Enforcement

#88 in North America

#136 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,256

79. University at Buffalo

New York State | Buffalo

For Law Enforcement

#89 in North America

#138 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Average SAT: 1295
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 86%

80. DePaul University

Illinois | Chicago

For Law Enforcement

#90 in North America

#139 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 76%
Average SAT: 1235
Average ACT: 28
Net Price: $34,135

81. University of Central Florida

Florida | Orlando

For Law Enforcement

#91 in North America

#140 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Average SAT: 1275
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 92%

82. Villanova University

Pennsylvania | Villanova

For Law Enforcement

#92 in North America

#142 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 27%
Average SAT: 1453
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $37,201

83. California University of Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania | California

For Law Enforcement

#94 in North America

#144 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Receiving Aid: 95%
Average Aid: $6,250
Enrollment: 6,885

84. University of Oklahoma - Norman

Oklahoma State | Norman

For Law Enforcement

#95 in North America

#152 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1235
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 99%

85. University of Miami

Florida | Coral Gables

For Law Enforcement

#96 in North America

#154 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 19%
Average SAT: 1400
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $45,397

86. North Carolina State University at Raleigh

North Carolina | Raleigh

For Law Enforcement

#97 in North America

#155 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Average SAT: 1385
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 69%

87. University of Kansas

Kansas State | Lawrence

For Law Enforcement

#98 in North America

#156 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Average SAT: 1185
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 94%

88. University of Houston

Texas | Houston

For Law Enforcement

#99 in North America

#157 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Average SAT: 1250
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 83%

89. Mitchell Hamline School of Law

Minnesota | Saint Paul

For Law Enforcement

#100 in North America

#158 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Enrollment: 1,163
Male:Female: 34:66
Founded: 2015

90. University of Missouri - St Louis

Missouri | St. Louis

For Law Enforcement

#101 in North America

#159 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Average SAT: 1175
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 100%

91. College of William and Mary

Virginia | Williamsburg

For Law Enforcement

#102 in North America

#161 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Average SAT: 1465
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 55%

92. Syracuse University

New York State | Syracuse

For Law Enforcement

#103 in North America

#162 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 46%
Average SAT: 1355
Average ACT: 31
Net Price: $48,215

93. University of California - Santa Barbara

California | Santa Barbara

For Law Enforcement

#104 in North America

#165 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 33%
Receiving Aid: 61%
Average Aid: $24,695
Enrollment: 26,133

94. University of Georgia

Georgia | Athens

For Law Enforcement

#105 in North America

#167 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Average SAT: 1375
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 89%

95. University of Notre Dame

Indiana | Notre Dame

For Law Enforcement

#106 in North America

#172 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1508
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $29,300

96. Virginia Commonwealth University

Virginia | Richmond

For Law Enforcement

#107 in North America

#177 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Average SAT: 1140
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 92%

97. University of Connecticut

Connecticut | Storrs

For Law Enforcement

#108 in North America

#180 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 52%
Average SAT: 1325
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 88%

98. University of New Mexico

New Mexico | Albuquerque

For Law Enforcement

#109 in North America

#183 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 95%
Average SAT: 1030
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 100%

99. University of Tennessee - Knoxville

Tennessee | Knoxville

For Law Enforcement

#110 in North America

#185 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 96%

100. University of Colorado Boulder

Colorado | Boulder

For Law Enforcement

#111 in North America

#188 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Average SAT: 1335
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 67%

The best cities to study Law Enforcement in the United States based on the number of universities and their ranks are Berkeley, Philadelphia, Chicago, and New Haven.