Indiana University of Pennsylvania’s online master’s program in criminal justice is ranked in the top 21 programs in the nation by U.S. News & World Report.
A total of 1,752 programs were considered for the publication’s “Best Online Programs 2025” ranking. This is the second year IUP’s criminal justice program was selected for the recognition.
Editors evaluated programs on strong traditional academic foundations based on student-instructor access, graduation rates and instructor credentials. The programs also were evaluated on how well they excel at educating distance learners while offering robust career and financial support. Engagement, expert opinion, faculty credentials and training, services and technology, and student excellence were also considered when making decisions about which programs are included in the ranking.
The U.S. News & World Report uses data from Academic Insights, a market intelligence tool that collects published and unpublished data from universities. Data includes the number of faculty with PhD or terminal degrees, graduation rate, alumni giving, and student-to-faculty ratio, among other factors.
This ranking follows a number of national accolades for IUP and specific IUP programs, including Universities.com’s 2025 recognition of IUP’s safety, health, and environmental applied sciences bachelor’s degree program as number one in Pennsylvania and number two in the nation.
IUP has been selected for U.S. News & World Report’s Best Colleges Ranking 2024 and the Wall Street Journal and College Pulse’s “America’s Best Colleges 2024.” IUP is also included in the Princeton Review’s “2024 Best Colleges” guidebook, College Magazine’s “Top 10 Colleges and Universities in Pennsylvania,” Washington Monthly’s national ranking of universities based on contributions to society, Forbes Magazine as one of “America’s Top Colleges,” as the number two most affordable college in Pennsylvania by Academic Influence, and in a number of rankings for excellence and affordability of online programs.
IUP offers 100 undergraduate majors and more than 60 graduate programs. In addition, students can complete more than 70 minors—including a unique teamwork minor—and scores of specialized tracks and certificate programs, including certificates in athletic coaching, preschool education, geospatial intelligence (drones), photography and digital imaging, popular music, and public history.
IUP has a longstanding commitment to research on all levels and in all disciplines. In 2021, IUP was selected as one of only two public universities in Pennsylvania and one of only 93 public universities in the United States selected for the “High Research Activity” designation by the American Council on Education.