2027 Best Value Corrections Schools
[Corrections](/majors/protective-security-safety-services/criminal-justice-and-corrections/corrections/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 180 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for corrections students.
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Finding the Best Value Corrections School for You
The corrections program you select can have a big impact on your finances and your future. To help, we created our Best Value Corrections Schools ranking. We score each school on the balance of tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the best value.
Learn more about our methodology
Customize Your Rankings
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we offer several rankings, including this Best Value Corrections Schools list, to help you choose. More interested in schools in a specific area of the country? Filter this list by region or state.
To further help you make the college decision, we have developed a unique tool called College Combat that lets you compare schools on the factors that matter most to you.
Read more about College Factual’s methodology
2027 Best Value Corrections Schools in the United States
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in corrections, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Corrections Schools
Leading the list is Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice, our #1 best value for corrections in the United States. Set in the city of New York, Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $7,470 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $15,420. Students borrow a median of $10,500 to complete the corrections program here. Corrections graduates of Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice earn a median of $43,545 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $10,500 median debt. Roughly 57% of applicants are accepted.
Middlesex County College came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value corrections schools. Set in the suburb of Edison, Middlesex County College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,764, compared with $7,356 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $8,119 to complete the corrections program here. Corrections graduates of Middlesex County College earn a median of $37,975 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in corrections will find it at St Petersburg College, which ranked #3. Located in the city of St. Petersburg, St Petersburg College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,682, while out-of-state students pay about $9,286. Corrections graduates carry a median of $14,080 in student loans. Soon after graduation, corrections degree recipients from St Petersburg College generally make around $48,218. Set against $14,080 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Joliet Junior College earned it the #4 place for corrections. Joliet Junior College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Joliet. In-state tuition and fees average $4,530, compared with $13,800 for out-of-state students. Corrections graduates carry a median of $11,995 in student loans. Soon after graduation, corrections degree recipients from Joliet Junior College generally make around $40,118. Set against $11,995 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Victor Valley College came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value corrections schools. Set in the suburb of Victorville, Victor Valley College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,425, with out-of-state students paying around $10,125. Students borrow a median of $7,995 to complete the corrections program here. Corrections graduates of Victor Valley College earn a median of $31,600 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $7,995 median debt.
Yuba College earned the #6 position for value in corrections this year. Located in the suburb of Marysville, Yuba College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,128, compared with $8,208 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for corrections graduates is $8,729. Corrections graduates of Yuba College earn a median of $89,816 early in their careers. Set against $8,729 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Indian River State College placed #7 among the best values for corrections. Located in the suburb of Fort Pierce, Indian River State College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $2,764, while out-of-state students pay about $10,201. Students borrow a median of $9,176 to complete the corrections program here. Early-career corrections graduates make about $51,825. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
College Of The Sequoias came in at #8 for value in corrections this year. College Of The Sequoias is a large public school located in the city of Visalia. Students from in state pay about $1,394 in tuition and fees, compared with $9,038 for out-of-state students. Corrections graduates carry a median of $10,288 in student loans. Corrections graduates of College Of The Sequoias earn a median of $28,851 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
San Diego Miramar College earned the #9 position for value in corrections this year. San Diego Miramar College is a very large public school located in the city of San Diego. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,146, while out-of-state students pay about $10,002. Typical student debt for corrections graduates is $10,994. Early-career corrections graduates make about $41,038. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Santa Ana College came in at #10 for value in corrections this year. Santa Ana College is a very large public school located in the city of Santa Ana. Students from in state pay about $1,180 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $10,756. Typical student debt for corrections graduates is $11,196. Early-career corrections graduates make about $39,633. That is a strong return on a $11,196 median debt.
North Florida Community College earned the #11 position for value in corrections this year. North Florida Community College is a small public school located in the rural area of Madison. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,994, compared with $11,460 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $7,902 to complete the corrections program here. Corrections graduates of North Florida Community College earn a median of $46,266 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $7,902 median debt.
Chipola College came in at #12 for value in corrections this year. Located in the town of Marianna, Chipola College is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $3,120, with out-of-state students paying around $8,950. Typical student debt for corrections graduates is $8,847. Soon after graduation, corrections degree recipients from Chipola College generally make around $38,366. That is a strong return on a $8,847 median debt.
Hillsborough Community College ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best value corrections schools. Hillsborough Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Tampa. In-state tuition and fees average $2,491, while out-of-state students pay about $9,088. Corrections graduates carry a median of $15,789 in student loans. Soon after graduation, corrections degree recipients from Hillsborough Community College generally make around $44,101. Set against $15,789 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Henry Ford Community College earned the #14 position for value in corrections this year. Located in the city of Dearborn, Henry Ford Community College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,568, compared with $7,816 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $15,200 to complete the corrections program here. Corrections graduates of Henry Ford Community College earn a median of $36,247 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
San Joaquin Delta College came in at #15 for value in corrections this year. Located in the city of Stockton, San Joaquin Delta College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $1,180 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $9,772. Corrections graduates carry a median of $6,382 in student loans. Early-career corrections graduates make about $65,168. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Imperial Valley College came in at #16 for value in corrections this year. Located in the rural area of Imperial, Imperial Valley College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $1,126, with out-of-state students paying around $8,830. Corrections graduates carry a median of $6,176 in student loans. Soon after graduation, corrections degree recipients from Imperial Valley College generally make around $27,313. That is a strong return on a $6,176 median debt.
Florida State College At Jacksonville earned the #17 position for value in corrections this year. Located in the city of Jacksonville, Florida State College At Jacksonville is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $2,657, while out-of-state students pay about $9,631. Students borrow a median of $15,796 to complete the corrections program here. Soon after graduation, corrections degree recipients from Florida State College At Jacksonville generally make around $60,055. Set against $15,796 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Carroll Community College came in at #18 for value in corrections this year. Set in the town of Westminster, Carroll Community College is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,308, with out-of-state students paying around $10,158. Corrections graduates carry a median of $17,398 in student loans. Soon after graduation, corrections degree recipients from Carroll Community College generally make around $49,058. That is a strong return on a $17,398 median debt.
Lamar State College Orange came in at #19 for value in corrections this year. Lamar State College Orange is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Orange. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,832, while out-of-state students pay about $13,824. Typical student debt for corrections graduates is $18,506. Early-career corrections graduates make about $45,299. That is a strong return on a $18,506 median debt.
Cuyahoga Community College District came in at #20 for value in corrections this year. Cuyahoga Community College District is a very large public school located in the city of Cleveland. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,249, compared with $7,249 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $7,149 to complete the corrections program here. Soon after graduation, corrections degree recipients from Cuyahoga Community College District generally make around $39,394. That is a strong return on a $7,149 median debt.
South Florida State College earned the #21 position for value in corrections this year. Located in the suburb of Avon Park, South Florida State College is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $3,165 in tuition and fees, compared with $11,859 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for corrections graduates is $8,204. Corrections graduates of South Florida State College earn a median of $42,415 early in their careers. Set against $8,204 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Grossmont College came in at #22 for value in corrections this year. Grossmont College is a very large public school located in the suburb of El Cajon. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,332, compared with $10,628 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $40,309 ten years after entry.
Taft College landed the #23 spot for corrections value this year. Set in the town of Taft, Taft College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,108, compared with $10,852 for out-of-state students. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $38,861.
Solano Community College came in at #24 for value in corrections this year. Solano Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Fairfield. In-state tuition and fees average $1,172, while out-of-state students pay about $9,772. Corrections graduates carry a median of $10,500 in student loans. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $44,170. Set against $10,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Clovis Community College Fresno ranked #25 on our 2027 list of the best value corrections schools. Located in the city of Fresno, Clovis Community College Fresno is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,378, while out-of-state students pay about $8,638.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Corrections Schools
These schools also delivered strong value for corrections this year:
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 180 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 180 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
