2026 Best Value Corrections Schools in New York

[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.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 9 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for corrections students.
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2026 Best Value Corrections Schools in New York
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the corrections degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Corrections Schools
Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice tops our 2026 list of the best value corrections schools in New York. Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice is a large public school located in the city of New York. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,470, compared with $15,420 for out-of-state students. Corrections graduates carry a median of $10,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, corrections degree recipients from Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice generally make around $43,545. Set against $10,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 57% of applicants are accepted.
Erie Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in corrections, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of Buffalo, Erie Community College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,100, compared with $11,300 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for corrections graduates is $12,938. Corrections graduates of Erie Community College earn a median of $51,676 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #3 makes Monroe Community College one of the best values for corrections. Located in the suburb of Rochester, Monroe Community College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,006, while out-of-state students pay about $11,056. Corrections graduates carry a median of $13,750 in student loans. Early-career corrections graduates make about $38,757. Set against $13,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #4 makes Cayuga County Community College one of the best values for corrections. Cayuga County Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Auburn. In-state tuition and fees average $7,056, while out-of-state students pay about $12,336. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $38,709.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Suny Westchester Community College earned it the #5 place for corrections. Located in the suburb of Valhalla, Suny Westchester Community College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $5,948, while out-of-state students pay about $12,486. Typical student debt for corrections graduates is $8,764. Soon after graduation, corrections degree recipients from Suny Westchester Community College generally make around $57,520. That is a strong return on a $8,764 median debt.
Jamestown Community College came in at #6 for value in corrections this year. Located in the town of Jamestown, Jamestown Community College is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $6,840. Corrections graduates carry a median of $15,876 in student loans. Corrections graduates of Jamestown Community College earn a median of $35,520 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Herkimer County Community College ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value corrections schools. Set in the town of Herkimer, Herkimer County Community College is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,776. Typical student debt for corrections graduates is $12,000. Corrections graduates of Herkimer County Community College earn a median of $31,468 early in their careers. Set against $12,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
More Corrections Rankings
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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 · 9 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 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.