Becoming a Correctional Officer in Georgia

The Georgia State Department of Corrections groups all the states county and private prisons; transitional facilities, detention centers; parole and county jails under their jurisdiction. This includes the state's 26 state prisons such as Arrendale State Prison, Central State Prison, and Jimmy Autry State Prison, as well as federal facilities like the Federal Correctional Institutions at Jesup and Atlanta. Altogether, there are 13,004 correctional officers in the state of Georgia and the Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that this number will increase by a steady 5% to 13,654 by 2022. Not included in this tally are significant factors such as jobs opening due to retirement, attrition, and promotion. The median salary for a front line corrections officer in the state is approximately $31,108 - opportunities for growth and advancement are plentiful for willing candidates. Interested in reading more about the corrections industry and where you might fit in? Read on for more information.

49
Schools Analyzed
20
Schools Ranked

Top Schools Supporting Careers in Criminal Justice & Corrections

The following rankings are based on student data, published surveys, and other school and career data collected from several sources which include the following government agencies:

Data Sources

  • National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)
  • The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS)

By obtaining our base data set from the above data sources, schools were ranked using the criteria below:

  • Schools with less than 10 total graduates per year were omitted in order to maintain statistical integrity
  • Schools must have at least 1 graduate in the field of criminal justice
  • Only 4-year, 2-year, and technical public and private non-profit schools were included

Schools were sorted in order of the highest percentage of total students graduating with a degree in the field of criminal justice (CIPCODES: 43.0102, 43.0110, 43.0113, 43.0103, 43.0104, 43.0107, 43.0109, 43.0111, 43.0112, 43.0199).

1

Thomas University

1501 Millpond Rd, Thomasville, GA 31792

Thomas University ranks first in our latest rankings with forty-two students graduating from programs in law enforcement administration out of a total 546 graduates.

Ranking Details

  • Percent of Graduates: 7.69%
  • Program Graduates: 42
  • Total Graduates: 546

School Details

  • School Type: Private, 4-year
  • Website: thomasu.edu
  • School Size: 1,000 - 5,000
2

Columbus State University

4225 University Ave, Columbus, GA 31907-5645

Columbus State University ranks second in our rankings with 220 students graduating from programs in criminal justice out of a total three thousand graduates in the 2012-2013 school year.

Ranking Details

  • Percent of Graduates: 7.05%
  • Program Graduates: 220
  • Total Graduates: 3,122

School Details

3

Albany State University

504 College Dr., Albany, GA 31705

Albany State University ranks third in our latest rankings with 91 students graduating from programs in criminal justice and corrections out of a total a thousand graduates.

Ranking Details

  • Percent of Graduates: 6.70%
  • Program Graduates: 91
  • Total Graduates: 1,358
  • Programs:
    • Criminal Justice
    • Corrections

School Details

  • School Type: Public, 4-year
  • Website: asurams.edu
  • School Size: 1,000 - 5,000
4

Southeastern Technical College

3001 E First St, Vidalia, GA 30474

Southeastern Technical College ranks 4th in our latest rankings with 113 students graduating from programs in criminal justice out of a total a thousand students.

Ranking Details

  • Percent of Graduates: 6.49%
  • Program Graduates: 113
  • Total Graduates: 1,740

School Details

5

South Georgia Technical College

900 South GA Tech Parkway, Americus, GA 31709

South Georgia Technical College ranks fifth in our latest rankings with 124 students completing programs in criminal justice and criminal justice out of a total 2,412 graduates from the 2012-2013 school year.

Ranking Details

  • Percent of Graduates: 5.14%
  • Program Graduates: 124
  • Total Graduates: 2,412
  • Programs:
    • Criminal Justice
    • Police Science

School Details

  • School Type: Public, 2-year
  • Website: southgatech.edu
  • School Size: 1,000 - 5,000
6

Fort Valley State University

1005 State University Dr, Fort Valley, GA 31030-4313

Fort Valley State University ranks 6th in our rankings with 58 students completing programs in criminal justice out of a total a thousand graduates from the 2012-2013 school year.

Ranking Details

  • Percent of Graduates: 5.13%
  • Program Graduates: 58
  • Total Graduates: 1,130

School Details

  • School Type: Public, 4-year
  • Website: www2.fvsu.edu
  • School Size: 1,000 - 5,000
7

Albany Technical College

1704 South Slappey Boulevard, Albany, GA 31701

Albany Technical College ranks seventh in our latest rankings with 225 students graduating from programs in criminal justice and security and loss prevention services out of a total 4,562 students from the 2012-2013 school year.

Ranking Details

  • Percent of Graduates: 4.93%
  • Program Graduates: 225
  • Total Graduates: 4,562
  • Programs:
    • Criminal Justice
    • Security And Loss Prevention Services

School Details

  • School Type: Public, 2-year
  • Website: albanytech.edu
  • School Size: 1,000 - 5,000
8

Athens Technical College

800 U.S. Hwy 29 North, Athens, GA 30601

Athens Technical College ranks eighth in our rankings with 163 students graduating from programs in criminal justice out of a total three thousand students from the 2012-2013 school year.

Ranking Details

  • Percent of Graduates: 4.63%
  • Program Graduates: 163
  • Total Graduates: 3,518

School Details

9

Georgia Military College

201 E Greene St, Milledgeville, GA 31061

Georgia Military College-Distance Learning Campuses ranks ninth in our latest rankings with 102 students graduating from programs in law enforcement administration out of a total 2,418 graduates.

Ranking Details

  • Percent of Graduates: 4.22%
  • Program Graduates: 102
  • Total Graduates: 2,418

School Details

  • School Type: Public, 2-year
  • Website: gmc.edu
  • School Size: 5,000 - 10,000
10

Southern Crescent Technical College

501 Varsity Rd, Griffin, GA 30223-2042

Southern Crescent Technical College ranks 10th in our latest rankings with 108 students completing programs in criminal justice and criminal justice out of a total 2,784 graduates in the 2012-2013 school year.

Ranking Details

  • Percent of Graduates: 3.88%
  • Program Graduates: 108
  • Total Graduates: 2,784
  • Programs:
    • Criminal Justice
    • Police Science

School Details

  • School Type: Public, 2-year
  • Website: sctech.edu
  • School Size: 5,000 - 10,000
11

Wiregrass Georgia Technical College

4089 Val Tech Rd, Valdosta, GA 31602

Wiregrass Georgia Technical College ranks 11th in our rankings with ninety-two students completing programs in criminal justice and criminal justice out of a total 2,440 students from the 2012-2013 school year.

Ranking Details

  • Percent of Graduates: 3.77%
  • Program Graduates: 92
  • Total Graduates: 2,440
  • Programs:
    • Criminal Justice
    • Police Science

School Details

  • School Type: Public, 2-year
  • Website: wiregrass.edu
  • School Size: 1,000 - 5,000
12

Georgia Northwestern Technical College

One Maurice Culberson Drive, Rome, GA 30161

Georgia Northwestern Technical College ranks 12th in our latest rankings with 148 students graduating from programs in criminal justice and criminal justice out of a total four thousand students from the 2012-2013 school year.

Ranking Details

  • Percent of Graduates: 3.69%
  • Program Graduates: 148
  • Total Graduates: 4,008
  • Programs:
    • Criminal Justice
    • Police Science

School Details

  • School Type: Public, 2-year
  • Website: gntc.edu
  • School Size: 5,000 - 10,000
13

Augusta Technical College

3200 Augusta Tech Drive, Augusta, GA 30906

Augusta Technical College ranks 13th in our rankings with 93 students completing programs in criminal justice and criminal justice out of a total two thousand graduates in the 2012-2013 school year.

Ranking Details

  • Percent of Graduates: 3.43%
  • Program Graduates: 93
  • Total Graduates: 2,714
  • Programs:
    • Criminal Justice
    • Police Science

School Details

  • School Type: Public, 2-year
  • Website: augustatech.edu
  • School Size: 1,000 - 5,000
14

Savannah State University

3219 College Street, Savannah, GA 31404-5310

Savannah State University ranks fourteenth in our latest rankings with 31 students graduating from programs in corrections out of a total 928 graduates from the 2012-2013 school year.

Ranking Details

  • Percent of Graduates: 3.34%
  • Program Graduates: 31
  • Total Graduates: 928

School Details

15

Georgia Piedmont Technical College

495 N Indian Creek Dr, Clarkston, GA 30021-2397

Georgia Piedmont Technical College ranks 15th in our latest rankings with ninety-seven students completing programs in criminal justice and criminal justice out of a total 2,928 students from the 2012-2013 school year.

Ranking Details

  • Percent of Graduates: 3.31%
  • Program Graduates: 97
  • Total Graduates: 2,928
  • Programs:
    • Criminal Justice
    • Police Science

School Details

  • School Type: Public, 2-year
  • Website: gptc.edu
  • School Size: 1,000 - 5,000
16

Clark Atlanta University

223 James P Brawley Drive, S.W., Atlanta, GA 30314-4391

Clark Atlanta University ranks sixteenth in our rankings with thirty-nine students graduating from programs in criminal justice out of a total a thousand students in the 2012-2013 school year.

Ranking Details

  • Percent of Graduates: 2.78%
  • Program Graduates: 39
  • Total Graduates: 1,402

School Details

  • School Type: Private, 4-year
  • Website: cau.edu
  • School Size: 1,000 - 5,000
17

Columbus Technical College

928 Manchester Expy, Columbus, GA 31904-6572

Columbus Technical College ranks 17th in our rankings with 63 students graduating from programs in criminal justice out of a total two thousand students in the 2012-2013 school year.

Ranking Details

  • Percent of Graduates: 2.52%
  • Program Graduates: 63
  • Total Graduates: 2,496

School Details

18

Coastal Pines Technical College

1777 W Cherry St, Jesup, GA 31545

Coastal Pines Technical College ranks eighteenth in our rankings with 39 students graduating from programs in criminal justice and criminal justice out of a total 1,564 graduates from the 2012-2013 school year.

Ranking Details

  • Percent of Graduates: 2.49%
  • Program Graduates: 39
  • Total Graduates: 1,564
  • Programs:
    • Criminal Justice
    • Police Science

School Details

19

Ogeechee Technical College

One Joseph E. Kennedy Blvd, Statesboro, GA 30458

Ogeechee Technical College ranks nineteenth in our rankings with fifty-eight students completing programs in criminal justice and criminal justice out of a total 2,420 graduates.

Ranking Details

  • Percent of Graduates: 2.40%
  • Program Graduates: 58
  • Total Graduates: 2,420
  • Programs:
    • Criminal Justice
    • Police Science

School Details

20

Valdosta State University

1500 N Patterson St, Valdosta, GA 31698

Valdosta State University ranks 20th in our latest rankings with 116 students completing programs in criminal justice out of a total five thousand graduates from the 2012-2013 school year.

Ranking Details

  • Percent of Graduates: 2.10%
  • Program Graduates: 116
  • Total Graduates: 5,524

School Details

  • School Type: Public, 4-year
  • Website: valdosta.edu
  • School Size: 10,000 - 20,000

Continued List of All Criminal Jusitice Programs in Georgia

ProgramWebsite

West Georgia Technical College

176 Murphy Campus Blvd., Waco, GA 30182
Phone: (770) 537-6000

Lanier Technical College

2990 Landrum Education Dr, Oakwood, GA 30566
Phone: (770) 531-6300

Bainbridge State College

2500 E Shotwell St, Bainbridge, GA 39819
Phone: (866) 825-1715

Georgia College and State University

231 W Hancock Street, Milledgeville, GA 31061
Phone: (478) 445-2770

University of North Georgia

82 College Circle, Dahlonega, GA 30597
Phone: (706) 864-1400

Chattahoochee Technical College

980 S Cobb Drive Dr SE, Marietta, GA 30060
Phone: (770) 975-4064

Southern Regional Technical College

800 Veterans Parkway North, Moultrie, GA 31788
Phone: (229) 891-7000

Dalton State College

650 College Drive, Dalton, GA 30720-3797
Phone: (706) 272-4436

Clayton State University

2000 Clayton State Boulevard, Morrow, GA 30260-0285
Phone: (678) 466-4000

Armstrong State University

11935 Abercorn St, Savannah, GA 31419-1997
Phone: (912) 344-2806

Central Georgia Technical College

80 Cohen Walker Drive, Warner Robins, GA 31088
Phone: (478) 757-3400

Kennesaw State University

1000 Chastain Rd, Kennesaw, GA 30144-5591
Phone: (770) 423-6000

Georgia Gwinnett College

1000 University Center Lane, Lawrenceville, GA 30043
Phone: (678) 407-5000

Oconee Fall Line Technical College

1189 Deepstep Rd, Sandersville, GA 31082
Phone: (478) 553-2050

Gwinnett Technical College

5150 Sugarloaf Parkway, Lawrenceville, GA 30043-5702
Phone: (770) 962-7580

Mercer University

1400 Coleman Avenue, Macon, GA 31207
Phone: (478) 301-2700

Andrew College

501College St, Cuthbert, GA 39840-5550
Phone: (229) 732-2171

North Georgia Technical College

1500 Georgia Hwy 197 N, Clarkesville, GA 30523
Phone: (706) 754-7700

Savannah Technical College

5717 White Bluff Rd, Savannah, GA 31405-5594
Phone: (912) 443-5700

Georgia Southern University

Brannen Hall, 2670 Southern Drive, Statesboro, GA 30460-8126
Phone: (912) 478-5391

Georgia Regents University

1120 Fifteenth St, Augusta, GA 30912
Phone: (706) 721-0211

Georgia State University

33 gilmer st, Atlanta, GA 30303-3083
Phone: (404) 413-2000

Piedmont College

165 Central Ave, Demorest, GA 30535-0010
Phone: (706) 778-3000

University of Georgia

Administration Building, Athens, GA 30602
Phone: (706) 542-3000

Morehouse College

830 Westview Dr SW, Atlanta, GA 30314
Phone: (404) 681-2800

Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College

2802 Moore Hwy, Tifton, GA 31793-2601
Phone: (229) 391-5001

Shorter University

315 Shorter Ave, Rome, GA 30165
Phone: (706) 291-2121

Georgia Highlands College

3175 Cedartown Highway, S.E., Rome, GA 30161-3897
Phone: (800) 332-2406

Middle Georgia State College

100 College Station Drive, Macon, GA 31206
Phone: (478) 471-2700

Georgia Correctional Officer Certification Requirements

The Georgia Department of Corrections actively solicits applications for corrections officer only when there are job vacancies to fill at the county, state, or federal level. With this in mind, it is important that applicants are prepared to meet the state's eligibility requirements and assessments in a timely fashion. In addition to a completed application, candidates must show initial eligibility by providing the following:

  • Be 18 years of age or more
  • Have earned a high school diploma or equivalent
  • Be a U.S. citizen
  • Have no felony convictions

Upon meeting the eligibility requirements, candidates must then engage in standardized testing in order to determine their aptitude for the job. This testing, known as the POST Entrance Exam, consists of the following:

  • Written or online test
  • Physical assessment
  • Fitness testing

The Department of Corrections reserves the right to test applicants for drug use, and background and character checks as it deems appropriate. Finally, applicants who meet all the academic and physical requirements will be scheduled for additional training at a state Department of Corrections facility in order to complete hands-on training that is key to success on the job. Candidates who are not successful in this endeavor will not be hired for the position of corrections officer.

Georgia Department of Corrections

300 Patrol Road
Forsyth, GA 31029
Phone: (888) 343-5627
http://www.dcor.state.ga.us/

Georgia Correctional Officer Employment & Outlook

Correctional Officer Salary: Georgia vs National Salary Comparison

Source: BLS State Cross-Industry Estimates 2011

The state Department of Corrections in Georgia encourages stability in the field of corrections by supporting careers in state service, namely as front-line correctional officers. At this time, the median income for correctional officers throughout Georgia is lower at $28,000 than the national median income at $39,800, however, professional development for existing officers helps remediate the lower starting salary. and according to occupational data for the state of Georgia, available at http://www.careerinfonet.org/occ_rep.asp?next=occ_rep&Level=&optstatus=011000000&jobfam=33&id=1&nodeid=2&soccode=333012&menuMode=&stfips=13&x=28&y=16 and published by CareerInfoNet.org, state trends are predicted to experience a decline from now until 2022 as compared to the national growth rate of 5%. This predicted pattern translates into 470 less employees per year.

Occupational Employment Statistics for Correctional Officers (http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes333012.htm)

Georgia Correctional Officer Salaries By Area

The table below lists career information collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics for correctional officers in Georgia. The table is sorted by total employment, with the largest metropolitan areas listed first.

AreaTotal EmploymentAverage Hourly WageAverage Annual Salary
Atlanta, Sandy Springs, Marietta4,210$15.24$31,690
Augusta, Richmond County1,050$15.11$31,430
Savannah750$14.36$29,870
Columbus570$14.40$29,960
Macon550$13.21$27,480
Valdosta410$13.16$27,370
Albany360$12.85$26,730
Warner Robins150$15.79$32,850
Athens, Clarke County130$13.24$27,540
Dalton110$12.91$26,840
Gainesville50$12.74$26,490