2027 Best Value Corrections Associate’s Degree Schools
[Corrections](/majors/protective-security-safety-services/criminal-justice-and-corrections/corrections/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong corrections education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 124 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for corrections students.
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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
Middlesex County College tops our 2027 list of the best value corrections schools in the United States. Located in the suburb of Edison, Middlesex County College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,764, with out-of-state students paying around $7,356. Corrections graduates carry a median of $8,119 in student loans. Corrections graduates of Middlesex County College earn a median of $37,975 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $8,119 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Santa Ana College earned it the #2 place for corrections. Santa Ana College is a very large public school located in the city of Santa Ana. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,180, 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. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Joliet Junior College came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value corrections schools. Joliet Junior College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Joliet. In-state tuition and fees average $4,530, while out-of-state students pay about $13,800. Typical student debt for corrections graduates is $11,995. Corrections graduates of Joliet Junior College earn a median of $40,118 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #4 makes Victor Valley College one of the best values for corrections. Victor Valley College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Victorville. Students from in state pay about $1,425 in tuition and fees, 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. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in corrections will find it at Yuba College, which ranked #5. Located in the suburb of Marysville, Yuba College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,128, compared with $8,208 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for corrections graduates is $8,729. Early-career corrections graduates make about $89,816. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
College Of The Sequoias ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value corrections schools. Located in the city of Visalia, College Of The Sequoias is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,394, compared with $9,038 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $10,288 to complete the corrections program here. Corrections graduates of College Of The Sequoias earn a median of $28,851 early in their careers. Set against $10,288 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
San Diego Miramar College ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value corrections schools. Located in the city of San Diego, San Diego Miramar College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,146, with out-of-state students paying around $10,002. Corrections graduates carry a median of $8,250 in student loans. Early-career corrections graduates make about $41,038. Set against $8,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Indian River State College landed the #8 spot for corrections value this year. Set in the suburb of Fort Pierce, Indian River State College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,764 in tuition and fees, compared with $10,201 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for corrections graduates is $9,176. Soon after graduation, corrections degree recipients from Indian River State College generally make around $51,825. Set against $9,176 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
San Joaquin Delta College landed the #9 spot for corrections value this year. Located in the city of Stockton, San Joaquin Delta College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,180, with out-of-state students paying around $9,772. Corrections graduates carry a median of $6,382 in student loans. Corrections graduates of San Joaquin Delta College earn a median of $65,168 early in their careers. Set against $6,382 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Henry Ford Community College ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best value corrections schools. Set in the city of Dearborn, Henry Ford Community College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,568, compared with $7,816 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for corrections graduates is $15,200. Corrections graduates of Henry Ford Community College earn a median of $36,247 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $15,200 median debt.
Hillsborough Community College ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best value corrections schools. Set in the city of Tampa, Hillsborough Community College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,491 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $9,088. Students borrow a median of $12,654 to complete the corrections program here. Early-career corrections graduates make about $44,101. Set against $12,654 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Imperial Valley College ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best value corrections schools. Set in the rural area of Imperial, Imperial Valley College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,126, while out-of-state students pay about $8,830. Typical student debt for corrections graduates is $6,176. Corrections graduates of Imperial Valley College earn a median of $27,313 early in their careers. Set against $6,176 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Cuyahoga Community College District earned the #13 position for value in corrections this year. Set in the city of Cleveland, Cuyahoga Community College District is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,249, with out-of-state students paying around $7,249. Students borrow a median of $7,149 to complete the corrections program here. Early-career corrections graduates make about $39,394. That is a strong return on a $7,149 median debt.
Delta College placed #14 among the best values for corrections. Set in the rural area of University Center, Delta College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,820, compared with $7,880 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $9,784 to complete the corrections program here. Soon after graduation, corrections degree recipients from Delta College generally make around $44,637. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Florida State College At Jacksonville ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best value corrections schools. Set in the city of Jacksonville, Florida State College At Jacksonville is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,657, while out-of-state students pay about $9,631. Typical student debt for corrections graduates is $15,796. Early-career corrections graduates make about $60,055. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Grossmont College landed the #16 spot for corrections value this year. Grossmont College is a very large public school located in the suburb of El Cajon. In-state tuition and fees average $1,332, while out-of-state students pay about $10,628. Median earnings reach $40,309 ten years out.
Taft College ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best value corrections schools. Located in the town of Taft, Taft College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $1,108 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $10,852. Median earnings reach $38,861 ten years out.
North Central State College landed the #18 spot for corrections value this year. North Central State College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Mansfield. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,786, compared with $11,374 for out-of-state students. Corrections graduates carry a median of $10,782 in student loans. Corrections graduates of North Central State College earn a median of $47,397 early in their careers. Set against $10,782 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Solano Community College placed #19 among the best values for corrections. Set in the suburb of Fairfield, Solano Community College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,172, with out-of-state students paying around $9,772. Corrections graduates carry a median of $10,500 in student loans. Graduates go on to earn a median of $44,170 ten years after entry. That is a strong return on a $10,500 median debt.
Clovis Community College Fresno came in at #20 for value in corrections this year. Located in the city of Fresno, Clovis Community College Fresno is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $1,378 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $8,638.
Lansing Community College landed the #21 spot for corrections value this year. Set in the city of Lansing, Lansing Community College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,100 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $11,300. Corrections graduates carry a median of $16,700 in student loans. Soon after graduation, corrections degree recipients from Lansing Community College generally make around $46,103. That is a strong return on a $16,700 median debt.
Citrus College came in at #22 for value in corrections this year. Set in the suburb of Glendora, Citrus College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,204, with out-of-state students paying around $10,636. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $42,065.
San Antonio College came in at #23 for value in corrections this year. San Antonio College is a very large public school located in the city of San Antonio. Students from in state pay about $3,412 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $9,952. Typical student debt for corrections graduates is $13,003. Soon after graduation, corrections degree recipients from San Antonio College generally make around $34,867. That is a strong return on a $13,003 median debt.
Golden West College earned the #24 position for value in corrections this year. Located in the suburb of Huntington Beach, Golden West College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,380, compared with $11,628 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $21,500 to complete the corrections program here. Corrections graduates of Golden West College earn a median of $82,984 early in their careers. Set against $21,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Chaffey College earned the #25 position for value in corrections this year. Located in the suburb of Rancho Cucamonga, Chaffey College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $1,184, with out-of-state students paying around $11,120. Typical student debt for corrections graduates is $6,952. Corrections graduates of Chaffey College earn a median of $23,532 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $6,952 median debt.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Corrections Schools
These schools also delivered strong value for corrections this year:
Other Corrections Degree Levels
Explore the best-value corrections schools at other degree levels:
View All Corrections Rankings >
Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 124 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 124 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.
