2026 Best Value Corrections Schools in California
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in corrections, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Corrections Schools
For return on investment in corrections, no school beat San Diego Miramar College this year. San Diego Miramar College is a very large public school located in the city of San Diego. Students from in state pay about $1,146 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $10,002. Students borrow a median of $10,994 to complete the corrections program here. Corrections graduates of San Diego Miramar College earn a median of $41,038 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Reedley College earned it the #2 place for corrections. Reedley College is a large public school located in the town of Reedley. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,378, while out-of-state students pay about $8,638. Typical student debt for corrections graduates is $6,500. Soon after graduation, corrections degree recipients from Reedley College generally make around $30,520. That is a strong return on a $6,500 median debt.
College Of The Sequoias came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value corrections schools. College Of The Sequoias is a large public school located in the city of Visalia. In-state tuition and fees average $1,394, with out-of-state students paying around $9,038. 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. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in corrections will find it at Fresno City College, which ranked #4. Set in the city of Fresno, Fresno City College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,378 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $8,638. Students borrow a median of $6,187 to complete the corrections program here. Early-career corrections graduates make about $32,658. Set against $6,187 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Moreno Valley College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in corrections, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Moreno Valley, Moreno Valley College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,428 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $12,498. Corrections graduates carry a median of $12,643 in student loans. Soon after graduation, corrections degree recipients from Moreno Valley College generally make around $81,339. That is a strong return on a $12,643 median debt.
Grossmont College earned the #6 position for value in corrections this year. Set in the suburb of El Cajon, Grossmont College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,332, compared with $10,628 for out-of-state students. Median earnings reach $40,309 ten years out.
Imperial Valley College came in at #7 for value in corrections this year. Located in the rural area of Imperial, Imperial Valley College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $1,126 in tuition and fees, compared with $8,830 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for corrections graduates is $6,176. Soon after graduation, corrections degree recipients from Imperial Valley College generally make around $27,313. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Mt San Antonio College ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value corrections schools. Mt San Antonio College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Walnut. Students from in state pay about $1,364 in tuition and fees, compared with $10,464 for out-of-state students. Corrections graduates carry a median of $9,384 in student loans. Corrections graduates of Mt San Antonio College earn a median of $44,391 early in their careers. Set against $9,384 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Golden West College placed #9 among the best values for corrections. Set in the suburb of Huntington Beach, Golden West College is a large public institution. 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. Soon after graduation, corrections degree recipients from Golden West College generally make around $82,984. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Taft College came in at #10 for value in corrections this year. Set in the town of Taft, Taft College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,108, compared with $10,852 for out-of-state students. Median earnings reach $38,861 ten years out.
Yuba College placed #11 among the best values for corrections. Yuba College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Marysville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,128, compared with $8,208 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $8,729 to complete the corrections program here. Early-career corrections graduates make about $89,816. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Victor Valley College came in at #12 for value in corrections this year. Located in the suburb of Victorville, Victor Valley College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,425, with out-of-state students paying around $10,125. Corrections graduates carry a median of $7,995 in student loans. Corrections graduates of Victor Valley College earn a median of $37,755 early in their careers. Set against $7,995 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Sacramento City College came in at #13 for value in corrections this year. Set in the city of Sacramento, Sacramento City College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,288, with out-of-state students paying around $12,616. Students borrow a median of $11,760 to complete the corrections program here. Soon after graduation, corrections degree recipients from Sacramento City College generally make around $46,522. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Santa Ana College earned the #14 position for value in corrections this year. Set in the city of Santa Ana, Santa Ana College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,180 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $10,756. Corrections graduates carry a median of $11,196 in student loans. Soon after graduation, corrections degree recipients from Santa Ana College generally make around $39,633. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Citrus College landed the #15 spot for corrections value this year. Set in the suburb of Glendora, Citrus College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,204 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $10,636. Graduates go on to earn a median of $42,065 ten years after entry.
College Of The Redwoods earned the #16 position for value in corrections this year. Located in the rural area of Eureka, College Of The Redwoods is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,196, compared with $8,852 for out-of-state students. Corrections graduates carry a median of $20,000 in student loans. Corrections graduates of College Of The Redwoods earn a median of $98,703 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $20,000 median debt.
Solano Community College came in at #17 for value in corrections this year. Solano Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Fairfield. 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. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $44,170. That is a strong return on a $10,500 median debt.
Riverside City College ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best value corrections schools. Riverside City College is a very large public school located in the city of Riverside. In-state tuition and fees average $1,428, compared with $12,498 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for corrections graduates is $8,767. Soon after graduation, corrections degree recipients from Riverside City College generally make around $37,102. Set against $8,767 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
De Anza College earned the #19 position for value in corrections this year. Set in the city of Cupertino, De Anza College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,571 in tuition and fees, compared with $12,596 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $7,271 to complete the corrections program here. Graduates go on to earn a median of $56,596 ten years after entry. That is a strong return on a $7,271 median debt.
Santa Rosa Junior College came in at #20 for value in corrections this year. Located in the city of Santa Rosa, Santa Rosa Junior College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,318, while out-of-state students pay about $11,308. Corrections graduates carry a median of $14,125 in student loans. Corrections graduates of Santa Rosa Junior College earn a median of $111,649 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $14,125 median debt.
Merced College placed #21 among the best values for corrections. Merced College is a large public school located in the city of Merced. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,200, with out-of-state students paying around $8,520. Students borrow a median of $9,024 to complete the corrections program here. Soon after graduation, corrections degree recipients from Merced College generally make around $45,032. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Woodland Community College came in at #22 for value in corrections this year. Located in the suburb of Woodland, Woodland Community College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $1,124, compared with $7,656 for out-of-state students. Median earnings reach $40,042 ten years out.
Sierra College earned the #23 position for value in corrections this year. Sierra College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Rocklin. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,446. Corrections graduates carry a median of $12,733 in student loans. Corrections graduates of Sierra College earn a median of $29,214 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Bakersfield College placed #24 among the best values for corrections. Set in the city of Bakersfield, Bakersfield College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,430, with out-of-state students paying around $11,300. Typical student debt for corrections graduates is $9,419. Soon after graduation, corrections degree recipients from Bakersfield College generally make around $86,312. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Chaffey College placed #25 among the best values for corrections. Located in the suburb of Rancho Cucamonga, Chaffey College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $1,184 in tuition and fees, compared with $11,120 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $6,952 to complete the corrections program here. Early-career corrections graduates make about $23,532. That is a strong return on a $6,952 median debt.
Rest of the Top 39 Best Value Corrections Schools
These schools also delivered strong value for corrections this year:
Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 46 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 4 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.
[Corrections](/majors/protective-security-safety-services/criminal-justice-and-corrections/corrections/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
